Bibha Chowdhuri: The Pioneering Indian Physicist Who Studied Cosmic Rays

Bibha Chowdhuri was one of India’s pioneering women physicists whose research on cosmic rays and particle physics contributed to the development of modern scientific research in the country. Despite working in a period when women faced considerable barriers in science, Chowdhuri established herself as a respected researcher and earned recognition for her contributions to physics.

Born in 1913, Chowdhuri studied physics at the University of Calcutta, where she developed an interest in understanding high-energy particles arriving from outer space. Her academic achievements led her to pursue research at a time when opportunities for women in advanced scientific fields remained limited.

Chowdhuri worked with physicist Debendra Mohan Bose at the University of Calcutta. Their research focused on cosmic rays, which are high-energy particles that travel through space and interact with Earth’s atmosphere. Their experiments using photographic plates helped investigate the properties of particles produced when cosmic rays interacted with matter.

Their findings contributed to early research on particle physics. However, the significance of their work was not fully recognised at the time, partly because the researchers lacked access to more advanced equipment and resources. Chowdhuri’s scientific contributions subsequently received greater attention as historians and researchers revisited the achievements of early Indian physicists.

She later worked at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai and the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad. During her career, she continued investigating cosmic rays and related phenomena, contributing to the growth of scientific research institutions in post-independence India.

Chowdhuri’s career also represented an important milestone for women in Indian science. At a time when women were underrepresented in research institutions, she pursued demanding scientific work and helped expand the possibilities for future generations of researchers. In 2019, an international astronomical initiative named a star in her honour, recognising her contributions to science and helping bring her achievements to wider public attention.