Prafulla Chandra Ray Biography 
Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray was one of the prominent chemists of India, who lived during the period 1861-1944. He was also an educator and entrepreneur. He was one of the first Indian chemical researchers. His contributions to Indian Chemistry before independence are really remarkable and significant. He started India’s first pharmaceutical company - Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, founded in the year 1901. His research book was ‘A History of Hindu Chemistry from the Earliest Times to the Middle of Sixteenth Century’ (1902). Ray was also a very passionate and devoted social worker and worked for the famine struck people in Bengal in 1922. He led a simple life and promoted the khadi material and started many cottage industries. He was unmarried and was also associated with politics.
He was born in a village in the Khulna District of present day Bangladesh in 1861. His family migrated to Kolkata in 1870 when he continued his studies. Due to a severe attack of dysentery, he had to postpone his studies for a couple of years. But during this time he read many books apart from academic ones, which Ray regards as a blessing. He later took admission in Albert School. Later he got opportunity to graduate from prestigious Edinburgh University. Then he joined as a Chemistry Professor at the Presidency College in 1889, where he was encouraged for his research works on Ayurveda by Berthelot. In 1902, he published his research book.
Later he represented many Indian universities at international seminars and congresses. He always dreamt to use science for the benefits and uplift of humans. He was elected as the Indian Science Congress President in 1920. He was one among the first Chemists outside Europe to be honoured by Royal Society of Chemistry.
Published: N/A
Updated: June 19, 2014
