In the last ten years, gender equality has become one of the reasons for heated debates. Even though most of us understand that women receive the same rights and opportunities as men, but still, many women face several hurdles daily. If we go further into evolution, we'll find that Indian women's contribution in science and technology, the arts, sports, and finance have been just as valuable as men's, but their accomplishments are often overlooked or lost over time.
Technologies have progressed tremendously throughout time, and this would not be accomplished without the contributions of scientists. While many of us are aware of the invaluable contributions of renowned scientists like C V Raman, Meghnad Saha, and Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, many are still unaware of the female eminent Indian scientists and their contributions. Hence, here are five Indian female scientists who have made and keep on making the country proud by contributing to science.
1. Tessy Thomas –
Because of the grand success of the Agni missiles, Tessy Thomas is renowned as the "Missile Lady". She is the first Indian woman scientist to have led a missile project as the Project Director for the Agni-IV and Agni-V missiles in the Defence Research and Development Organization. The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award has also been bestowed to her.
2. Raman Parimala –
Raman Parimala is a well-known mathematician who contributed significantly to the field of algebra. In a move that startled specialists in the area, she showed the first example of a 'non-trivial quadratic space over an affine plane'. Number theory, algebraic geometry, and topology are among her specialties. Parimala is also known for solving the second Serre conjecture.
3. Dr. Ritu Karidhal Srivastava –
Dr. Ritu is known as one of India's renowned "Rocket Women”. She worked as a Deputy Operations Director for India's Mangalyaan Mars orbital project. Since 1997, Karidhal has been a part of the ISRO team. She was a crucial figure in the creation of India's Mangalyaan Mars Orbiter Mission, where she was in charge of the craft's forward autonomous system, and also the mission's Deputy Operations Director. As mission director, Ritu oversaw the Chandrayaan 2 mission.
4. Gagandeep Kang –
A virologist and scientist well-known in India for her multidisciplinary study on the transmission, development, and prevention of enteric infections and related complications in children is Gagandeep Kang. She was named a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), making her the first woman scientist in India to do so. The world's oldest scientific organization - FRS, is committed to fostering scientific achievement.
5. Chandrima Shaha –
Chandrima is a biologist and the first woman president of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA). In 2020, Chandrima took charge of her duties, until she took office, the Academy had never had a female president in its 85-year history. Chandrima was elected to INSA for the first time in 2008 and served as its Vice President from 2016 to 2018. She is a cell biologist who has done a substantial study on the parasite that causes Kala Azar, known as Leishmania.
