Authors:
Presents the history of the Calcutta school of physical sciences
Focuses on the role of Asutosh Mukherjee as the founder of the Calcutta school of physics
Highlights the biographies and contributions of seven great scientists associated with the Calcutta school
Will benefit historians, philosophers of science, linguists, anthropologists, students, research scholars, and general readers
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Table of contents (7 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
About this book
The book consists of 10 chapters, which include papers by these distinguished scientists along with detailed accounts of their academic lives and main research contributions, particularly during their time in Calcutta. A synopsis of the contents is provided in the introductory chapter. In the following chapters, detailed discussions are presented in straightforward language. The complete bibliographies of the great scientists have been added at the end. This book will be of interest to historians, philosophers of science, linguists, anthropologists, students, research scholars and general readers with a love for the history of science.
Reviews
“Without doubt the authors have done a good job in highlighting the role of Sir Asutosh Mookerjee as the builder of the Calcutta School of Physical Sciences. … History of the Calcutta School of Physical Sciences will be a useful piece of work for newcomers and for Western historians who have little knowledge about Indian scientists.” (Rajinder Singh, Isis, Vol. 111 (1), 2020)
“The aim of the book is to provide short accounts of the lives and works of the physicists covered in the book – based primarily on the previous historical accounts of these physicists. … scholars as well as general readers will find this book useful as a source of basic information about the important Indian physicists of that era between the two covers of one single book.” (Arnab Rai Choudhuri, Current Science, Vol. 117 (11), December, 2019)
“This hardback, a labour of love of Purabi Mukherji and Atri Mukhopadhyay have not dwelt with the drama which this band of talented men had to face as they rowed upstream. That is why this Springer publication is a better read than run of the mill works on these men. Instead of drama, the authors have focused on scientific information which never descends to the level of jargon. Anyone with a love for the history of science will treasure it.” (The Statesman, thestatesman.com, January, 28, 2019)
“This book is a comprehensive, sensitive and balanced collection of review, analysis and critique of the lives and work of the giants in physical sciences who appeared in the golden renaissance era of Bengal in the early twentieth century. The style and indeed the composition of the authors, Purabi Mukherjee and Atri Mukhopadhyay, is engaging, almost racy, if not brilliant. The book keeps the reader wanting to know more. The meticulous research done by the authors is unique in today’s world. Having read it from the beginning to the end, the reviewer has found no obvious mistake.” (Prof Bikash Sinha, INSA Honorary Scientist & Former Homi Bhabha Professor, DAE, Former Director, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics & Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre)
“This book is an excellent compilation of short biography of the major scientific personae who were instrumental in ensuring the cherished dream of Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee to establish the science education in India through the University of Calcutta against all odds posed by the then British rulers. The true nationalist fervour and the dedication and great scientific spirit reflected in the works of these great men showed how Sir Ashutosh himself being of the great scholarly bent of mind could gather all these men and established a University of great repute. The narration of the individual excellence reflected in the works of each of these stalwarts who curved their name with glory internationally is replete with nuggets of information which reflects the painstaking care that has gone into the writing of this book… This book is a collection of gems and should be considered as a must-read for anyone who would like to be acquainted with the glory of Indian Science that lit up our Renaissance.” (Prof. Ashoke Ranjan Thakur; Vice Chancellor, Sister Nivedita University, West Bengal, India)“It is rare to find well-researched books on the historical development of sciences in India in the modern period. It is very necessary to have such books to record the progress of science in the country, to assess its impact, and to derive the inspiration, it can provide on the future progress in science in the country. It is particularly important to disseminate such accounts of science among the student population in the country. The book gives a very lucid, useful and informative account of the Calcutta school of Physical Sciences. The authors have to be commended for bringing out this book.” (Prof. M.S. Sriram, Former Professor and Head, Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Tamil Nadu, India)
“I had a chance to look at the preview of the book, History of the Calcutta School of Physical Sciences. From a limited truncated reading of the book, I understood the rich content of the book, containing the pioneer role played by Ashutosh Mukherjee in establishing the School of Physics as well as the personal achievement of different scientists of the golden era of Calcutta School of Physical Sciences. I am definite that the book will be of great demand in the Indian scientific community and historians of science.” (Prof. S.C. Roy, Formerly Professor and Chairman, Department of Physics, Bose Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal, India)
Authors and Affiliations
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Department of Mathematics, Gokhale Memorial Girls’ College, Kolkata, India
Purabi Mukherji
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Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, India
Atri Mukhopadhyay
About the authors
Atri Mukhopadhyay is a retired professor of Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, India. He earned his PhD in Physics from the University of Calcutta, Kolkata. He was responsible for restructuring and enriching the Meghnad Saha Archives at the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata. His book entitled Abinash Meghnad Saha (Meghnad Saha the Invincible) in Bengali offers an in-depth analysis of the life and work of Meghnad Saha vis-à-vis the contemporary scientists in colonial India. He was the general secretary of the Indian Physical Society for several consecutive terms and has authored quite a number of articles in English and Bengali, including a classical Indian text on Mahabharata, and has published 40 research papers in international journals. He translated T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land into Bengali. His research has primarily been on the electron structure theory of atoms and molecules.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: History of the Calcutta School of Physical Sciences
Authors: Purabi Mukherji, Atri Mukhopadhyay
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0295-4
Publisher: Springer Singapore
eBook Packages: Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Statistics (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018
Hardcover ISBN: 978-981-13-0294-7Published: 06 July 2018
Softcover ISBN: 978-981-13-4380-3Published: 29 December 2018
eBook ISBN: 978-981-13-0295-4Published: 26 June 2018
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XIX, 170
Number of Illustrations: 32 b/w illustrations
Topics: History of Mathematical Sciences, History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics, History of Science