Today is birthday of Sir J C Bose-inventor of millimeter wave and one of the pioneer of wireless transmission in 19th century.
He returned to India after successfully obtaining a Tripos in Natural science from University of Cambridge where Lord Raleigh was one of his teacher. What is extraordinary about his story is his determination to continue with scientific research in India when he had neither research grant, nor a lab nor his tight teaching schedule allowed him any time! He even didn't accept any salary for first three years in protest against British discrimination as Indian teachers in Presidency college were paid 40% less than their foreign counterpart.
Yet he succeeded to invent world's first millimeter wave transmitter and receiver in a 24 square foot make shift laboratory in Presidency college working late through night. He built his equipment from local carpenters. He had no research grant and he spent from his own pocket money.
He was very close to discover semiconductor diode as well since for receiver he was using a lead sulfide (Galena) detector and thus he was aware of behavior of semiconductor. However, since he was cut-off from rest of the radio research in USA and UK, he could not fathom merit of pursuing his work for large scale applications in radio which was becoming very important in military and communication in early 20th century.
Most importantly he set the trend of scientific research and education in India. Following him Calcutta University will excel in research in natural science during 1920-40 when Sir CV Raman, Satyen Bose, Meghnad Saha and SK Mitra would conduct their pioneering research in India. What is extra-ordinary about all of them, despite having no research grant or facility in colonial India, they simply defied all the odds to produce ground breaking innovations.
And what is amazing to me, despite having all kinds of grants and facilities in modern India, post independence scientists could not match their brilliance or achievement in international scale. They have proved, in scientific research inspiration is perhaps the single most factor for pioneering success.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagadish_Chandra_Bose
