Bose Institute, Kolkata, founded on 30 November 1917, entered its Centenary year on 30 November 2016. Driven by the nationalist spirit pervading the country at that time, this premier research institute of the country was founded by Acharya Jagadis Chandra Bose, one of the greatest scientists of all times. He was the inventor of microwaves, the first semiconductor detector and a pioneer in electrophysiology. He may as well be the first inter-disciplinary scientist in the world. Even after JC Bose, the Bose Institute carried forward the rich legacy of its founder and several important discoveries have been made by researchers here, for example, signature of pion in cosmic rays by DM Bose, discovery of cholera toxin by SN DeBose and, very recently, during the Centenary Year, the major finding through cosmic ray studies that solar flares suppress the Earth’s magnetic field.
Not surprisingly, the Institute celebrated its Centenary Year with great fervor, and with encouragement and financial support from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, organized a series of national and international conferences and symposia, lectures by leading national and international scientists including several Nobel Laureates and laid the foundations for launching a couple on new research programmes on Climate Change and Systems Biology. A major achievement during the year was the completion of the Rs. 224 crore-Unified Academic Campus for the Institute in Salt Lake, Kolkata which would not only bring all research activities of the Institute under one roof, but also help enlarge the research programmes with scope for new laboratories.
The Hon’ble President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, graced the Closing Ceremony of Centenary Celebrations of Bose Institute on 29 November 2017. The Hon’ble President appreciated the efforts of Bose Institute to maintain its academic excellence, its plans to get into newer areas of research and for greater scientific outreach through society-related programmes. The inspiring presence of the Hon’ble President and his words of wisdom marked a grand end to the Centenary Year.
