Kamala Sohonie, Early Life and Education, Contribution

Kamala Sohonie was an Indian biochemist and a pioneer in Indian science. She became the first Indian woman to earn a PhD in a scientific subject at a time when women were largely kept out of research.

Kamala Sohonie Early Life and Education

• Kamala Sohonie was born on 18 June 1911 in Indore, in present-day Madhya Pradesh.
• She graduated in 1933 with a BSc degree in Chemistry and Physics from Bombay University, securing the top rank in the merit list.
• Despite her excellent academic record, Kamala Sohonie’s application to the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) was first rejected because C.V. Raman, head of IISc,  believed that women were not suited for scientific research. She protested peacefully, and Raman eventually agreed to admit her under strict conditions. Her outstanding work later changed his attitude, and IISc was opened to women researchers.
• She secured admission to Cambridge University, England, in 1936. At Cambridge, she finished her PhD in merely 14 months, and her thesis was just 40 pages.
• In 1939, she came back to India to serve her country.

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Kamala Sohonie Contribution

• As the first woman admitted to the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), she challenged gender bias, leading C.V. Raman to allow her and other women to join the institute.
• During her time in Cambridge University, Kamala Sohonie worked on potatoes and discovered the enzyme ‘Cytochrome C’, a type of protein in the mitochondria which plays an important role in cellular respiration. 
• Kamala Sohonie’s most impactful contribution was her research on Neera, a natural palm extract. She demonstrated that Neera is rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients and could fight malnutrition among children from tribal communities in India. For this socially transformative work, she was awarded the Rashtrapati Award.
• She became the first female director of the Institute of Science, Mumbai.
• She was also a founding member of the Consumer Guidance Society of India, advocating for consumer rights.
• She served as head of the Department of Biochemistry at Lady Hardinge College, New Delhi. 
• She also served as Assistant Director of the Nutrition Research Lab, Coonoor.

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