By Dipak Kurmi
Every year on 28 February, India observes National Science Day to commemorate one of the most significant moments in the history of modern science in the country: the discovery of the Raman Effect by the eminent physicist Sir C. V. Raman. The discovery was made while Raman was conducting experiments at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science in Kolkata. This breakthrough, which demonstrated how light changes its wavelength when scattered by molecules, fundamentally advanced the field of spectroscopy and opened new pathways for scientific investigation across chemistry, physics, and material science. In recognition of this achievement, Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, making him the first Asian scientist to receive the prestigious honour in the sciences. Every year, the observance of National Science Day is accompanied by theme-based science communication activities across India’s universities, laboratories, schools, and public institutions, reminding citizens that scientific discovery is not merely an academic pursuit but a social force shaping the future.
The theme chosen for National Science Day 2026, “Women in Science: Catalysing Viksit Bharat,” carries particular significance in contemporary India. The idea of Viksit Bharat represents an aspiration to transform the country into a fully developed society driven by knowledge, innovation, and equitable opportunity. Yet the theme also invites a moment of introspection. If science is to serve as the engine of national progress, the participation of women in scientific inquiry must be both meaningful and unhindered. The celebration of women scientists cannot remain confined to ceremonial acknowledgements or inspirational speeches. Instead, it requires an honest assessment of the social and institutional barriers that continue to shape the experiences of women in laboratories, universities, and research organisations. National Science Day therefore becomes not only a tribute to a historic scientific discovery but also a reminder that the progress of science is inseparable from the progress of society itself.
For many girls in India, the journey towards a scientific career begins with encouragement that is often conditional and carefully moderated. Curiosity may be welcomed during childhood, but ambition is frequently restrained as social expectations gradually intervene. A boy who declares that he wants to become a physicist, an astronomer, or a wildlife biologist is generally perceived as committed and intellectually driven. A girl expressing the same aspiration, however, is often advised to remain realistic and to consider how her professional ambitions might later align with domestic responsibilities. Science demands years of specialised training, intellectual risk, and professional uncertainty. These demands are widely accepted when placed upon men, yet society often hesitates to extend the same latitude to women. Consequently, the path of a girl aspiring to scientific achievement frequently depends on one crucial factor: the support and encouragement of her family. Without that support, the early spark of scientific curiosity can easily be extinguished long before it reaches the laboratory.
Even when women successfully enter scientific institutions, the obstacles they face do not disappear; they merely assume different forms. While explicit discrimination has become less visible in modern professional spaces, subtle forms of male chauvinism remain present in many laboratories, research centres, and academic departments. These attitudes are rarely expressed openly, yet they shape decisions about responsibility, recognition, and professional opportunity. Women scientists often find themselves assigned routine or peripheral work rather than projects that could place them at the forefront of discovery. Research areas that attract visibility, institutional prestige, or leadership roles frequently remain dominated by men. Such patterns do not necessarily arise from formal policy but from longstanding cultural assumptions about authority and expertise. Over time, these subtle exclusions accumulate, limiting both the visibility and advancement of capable women scientists.
Another troubling aspect of the scientific workplace involves the culture of informal gossip and suspicion that frequently targets women researchers. In environments that should ideally be governed by intellectual rigour and ethical professionalism, personal commentary and speculative narratives can undermine reputations and morale. In several national institutions, women scientists report feeling compelled to work quietly and avoid confrontation, fearing that raising concerns could provoke retaliation from senior authorities or affect their career progression. There have also been disturbing instances in which exceptionally talented women scientists are deliberately targeted or marginalised, sometimes because their achievements challenge entrenched hierarchies. In such circumstances, complaints are often discouraged under the pretext of preserving “institutional harmony.” What is praised as resilience frequently translates into silent endurance of injustice. This culture does not merely harm individual careers; it ultimately weakens the scientific enterprise itself by suppressing dissent, discouraging ethical courage, and narrowing the diversity of perspectives essential to genuine innovation.
The neglect of women’s basic infrastructural needs within scientific institutions reveals another dimension of the problem. It is astonishing that in some of India’s premier laboratories, dedicated restroom facilities for women were absent until relatively recent years. Such oversight is not simply a logistical failure; it reflects a deeper institutional mindset in which the presence of women scientists was never fully anticipated. Laboratories and campuses were historically designed around a male-dominated workforce, and the slow adaptation of these spaces to accommodate women highlights how structural biases can persist long after formal barriers have been removed. Infrastructure may appear to be a minor issue compared to intellectual opportunity, yet the absence of basic facilities sends a powerful message about whose presence is considered normal and whose participation is treated as exceptional.
The earliest stages of scientific training present yet another set of challenges. Many women encounter barriers during postgraduate study or doctoral research, when mentorship becomes critical to academic development. It is not uncommon for male scientists to hesitate before accepting women students, particularly those who are married. The concern often revolves around the possibility of maternity leave or perceived interruptions to research schedules. Such reasoning treats motherhood as a professional inconvenience rather than recognising it as a social responsibility that institutions should be prepared to accommodate. Research timelines, fellowship structures, and institutional policies often lack sufficient flexibility to support scholars during periods of maternity or caregiving. As a result, talented women sometimes face the painful choice between advancing their scientific careers and fulfilling family responsibilities. The irony of this situation is difficult to ignore: these prejudices persist within institutions that pride themselves on rational thinking and evidence-based decision-making.
Despite these obstacles, the contributions of Indian women scientists remain remarkable and deeply inspiring. Figures such as Janaki Ammal, whose pioneering work in plant genetics influenced agricultural science, and Asima Chatterjee, known for her research on medicinal compounds derived from plants, demonstrated that scientific excellence transcends gendered expectations. In more recent decades, scientists like Tessy Thomas have played leading roles in advanced defence research, while Gagandeep Kang has gained international recognition for her contributions to vaccine research and public health. Their achievements show that when women receive opportunities and institutional support, they contribute not only to scientific advancement but also to national development in profound ways. However, celebrating a few prominent individuals should not obscure the systemic difficulties faced by countless others who work without recognition or institutional protection.
Encouragingly, recent policy initiatives have attempted to address some of these challenges. Programmes such as the Women Scientists Scheme launched by the Department of Science and Technology aim to support women researchers who have experienced career interruptions. Fellowships, flexible work arrangements, and mentorship networks have gradually begun to create pathways for women to re-enter scientific careers after breaks related to family responsibilities. Nevertheless, policy interventions alone cannot transform institutional culture unless they are accompanied by genuine shifts in attitude within academic and research communities. Scientific progress depends not only on laboratories and funding but also on an environment that respects intellectual independence and human dignity.
As National Science Day 2026 is observed across the country, the theme “Women in Science: Catalysing Viksit Bharat” must therefore be understood as more than a ceremonial slogan. It is a call for institutions, policymakers, and the broader scientific community to confront uncomfortable realities while celebrating genuine achievements. Recognising women in science cannot be limited to awards, commemorative speeches, or annual observances. It requires sustained efforts to dismantle structural biases, ensure dignity and safety within workplaces, and build systems in which merit is evaluated independently of gendered expectations. When girls can pursue scientific curiosity without hesitation, when laboratories become spaces of genuine equality, and when institutions treat caregiving responsibilities as shared social obligations rather than individual burdens, science itself becomes stronger.
The legacy of Sir C. V. Raman reminds us that transformative discoveries often emerge from curiosity, perseverance, and intellectual freedom. If India seeks to build a future defined by innovation and knowledge, it must ensure that the laboratories of tomorrow are open to every capable mind. Only then will the promise of Viksit Bharat truly reflect the collective genius of all its citizens.
(the writer can be reached at dipakkurmiglpltd@gmail.com)
