Kamala Sohonie (née Bhagvat) was born on 8 June 1912 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. She was the first female scientist in India and is considered a pioneer in the field of biochemistry. Her father, Narayanarao Bhagvat, as well as her uncle, Madhavrao Bhagvat, were chemists and alumni of the erstwhile Tata Institute of Sciences (which later became the Indian Institute of Science) in Bangalore. Kamala was inspired by her father and uncle and decided to pursue a career in science.
Kamala completed her B.Sc. in Chemistry from the Queen Mary College in Madras in 1932. She then went on to pursue her M.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of Bombay in 1934. She was the first woman in India to receive a degree in Biochemistry. After completing her M.Sc., she worked as a lecturer at the Government College for Women in Madras.
Kamala was determined to pursue a career in research and in 1936, she went to the University of Cambridge in England to pursue her Ph.D. in Biochemistry. She was the first Indian woman to be awarded a Ph.D. in the field of Biochemistry. Her thesis was titled “The Physico-Chemical Constants of the Proteins of the Human Blood Serum”.
Kamala returned to India in 1938 and was appointed as a research associate at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. She worked in the Department of Biochemistry under the guidance of Professor S.S. Bhatnagar. During her time at the Institute, she conducted research on proteins and enzymes. She also worked on the isolation of enzymes from various plant sources.
Kamala was a brilliant scientist and was the first woman to be awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in 1959 for her contributions to the field of Biochemistry. She was also the first woman to be elected as a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy in 1961.
Kamala was a dedicated teacher and scientist and was appointed as a professor at the Indian Institute of Science in 1963. She was the first woman to be appointed as a professor at the Institute. She held the position until her retirement in 1972.
Kamala was a pioneer in the field of Biochemistry and her work has had a lasting impact on the field. She was a role model for many young women and inspired them to pursue a career in science. Her work has been recognized by the Indian government and she was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1973.
Kamala Sohonie was a remarkable scientist and an inspiration to many. She was the first female scientist in India and her contributions to the field of Biochemistry are invaluable. She was a pioneer in her field and her work has had a lasting impact on the field. She was a role model for many young women and inspired them to pursue a career in science. Her work has been recognized by the Indian government and she was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1973. Kamala Sohonie will always be remembered as the first female scientist in India.