Jagadish Chandra Bose
Physicist and plant biologist; pioneer of radio and microwave research
- Lived
- 78 yrs
- 1858 – 1937
- Works listed
- 2
- Book, Science fiction story
- Honours
- 2
- Most recent 1920
- Profile views
- 0
- 0 followers
Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose was a physicist, biologist and inventor who pioneered radio and microwave optics in the 1890s and later studied the responses of plants to stimuli using instruments of his own design, such as the crescograph. He founded the Bose Institute in Calcutta in 1917.
Biography
Radio pioneer
Bose studied at St. Xavier’s College, Calcutta, and Christ’s College, Cambridge, before becoming a professor of physics at Presidency College, Calcutta. In 1895 he publicly demonstrated the transmission of millimetre-wavelength electromagnetic waves and built pioneering detectors and waveguides. He chose not to patent most of his inventions.
Plant science
Bose turned to the physiology of plants, showing with sensitive instruments such as the crescograph that plants respond electrically to stimuli. In 1917 he founded the Bose Institute in Calcutta. He was knighted in 1917 and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1920. He also wrote one of the earliest works of Bengali science fiction. He died in Giridih on 23 November 1937.
Overcoming discrimination
When Bose joined Presidency College in 1885, he was offered a lower salary than his European colleagues. He refused to accept any salary at all for three years in protest, until the college relented and paid him in full. He carried out his early research with equipment he built himself in a small laboratory.
Recognition
In 2012 the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) recognised his 1895 millimetre-wave work as an IEEE Milestone in engineering history. His work on plants anticipated later research in plant electrophysiology. A crater on the Moon and a botanical garden in Howrah are named after him.
Personal life
Bose married Abala Bose, a social reformer and educationist who founded schools for girls and worked for widows’ welfare. He was a close friend of Rabindranath Tagore and of Sister Nivedita, who helped edit his scientific writings. Abala supported his research and, after his death, his institute’s work.
Timeline
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1858
Born in Mymensingh, Bengal Presidency (now Bangladesh)
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1884
Graduates from Christ’s College, Cambridge
Natural sciences tripos.
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1885
Professor of physics, Presidency College
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1895
Demonstrates millimetre-wave transmission in Calcutta
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1896
Writes Niruddesher Kahini
An early work of Bengali science fiction.
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1901
Lecture on plant responses at the Royal Institution
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1917
Founds the Bose Institute; knighted
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1920
Fellow of the Royal Society
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1937
Dies in Giridih
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2012
IEEE Milestone for his millimetre-wave research
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1937
Died, aged 78
Notable works
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1902
Response in the Living and Non-Living Book
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1896
Niruddesher Kahini Science fiction story
Awards and honours
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Knight Bachelor
1917
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Fellow of the Royal Society
1920
Did you know?
-
1
He refused his salary for three years rather than accept less pay than British colleagues.
-
2
He chose not to patent most of his inventions.
-
3
A crater on the Moon is named after him.
Gallery
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Jagadish Chandra Bose?
Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose was a physicist, biologist and inventor who pioneered radio and microwave optics in the 1890s and later studied the responses of plants to stimuli using instruments of his own design, such as the crescograph. He founded the Bose Institute in Calcutta in 1917.
When did Jagadish Chandra Bose die?
Jagadish Chandra Bose died on 23 November 1937 at the age of 78.
Where is Jagadish Chandra Bose from?
Jagadish Chandra Bose was born in Mymensingh, Bengal Presidency (now Bangladesh).
What is Jagadish Chandra Bose known for?
Jagadish Chandra Bose is best known for Early millimetre-wave radio experiments; the crescograph; founding the Bose Institute.
What awards has Jagadish Chandra Bose received?
Notable honours include Knight Bachelor (1917), Fellow of the Royal Society (1920).
References
- Jagadish Chandra Bose — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Jagadish Chandra Bose — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Jagadish Chandra Bose — Goodreads author page. Goodreads. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Jagadish Chandra Bose — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Jagadish Chandra Bose (Q314267) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editors; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal
- First published 26 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Jagadish Chandra Bose.” TrackFame, last updated 26 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/jagadish-chandra-bose
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