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By:

Suhas B Naik-Satam

25 November 2025 at 2:24:38 pm

The Institution That Shaped Modern Indian Science

A journey from Mahendra Lal Sircar's vision to global scientific excellence. The year 2026 marks the sesquicentennial of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata, the oldest institution in India devoted exclusively to fundamental scientific research. Founded on 29 July 1876 by the visionary physician and educationist Dr Mahendra Lal Sircar, IACS emerged when India lacked institutions dedicated to experimental science. Convinced that scientific inquiry was...

The Institution That Shaped Modern Indian Science

A journey from Mahendra Lal Sircar's vision to global scientific excellence. The year 2026 marks the sesquicentennial of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata, the oldest institution in India devoted exclusively to fundamental scientific research. Founded on 29 July 1876 by the visionary physician and educationist Dr Mahendra Lal Sircar, IACS emerged when India lacked institutions dedicated to experimental science. Convinced that scientific inquiry was indispensable for national progress, Sircar established an institution to nurture original research by Indians while promoting scientific knowledge among the public. One hundred and fifty years later, IACS remains one of India's foremost research institutions, its history closely intertwined with the evolution of modern science in the country. The genesis of IACS reflected the intellectual ferment of the Bengal Renaissance. Trained in Western medicine yet deeply committed to India's intellectual emancipation, Sircar argued that science should be cultivated through experimentation and discovery rather than merely imported through textbooks. Inspired by institutions such as the Royal Institution of Great Britain, he envisioned a publicly supported national laboratory where Indians could pursue independent scientific research. At a time when such opportunities were scarce under colonial rule, IACS became the country's first permanent home for fundamental scientific investigation. During its early decades, the Association combined public lectures and scientific demonstrations with laboratory research, fostering an interdisciplinary culture spanning physics, chemistry and the natural sciences. Though modest in resources, it established an enduring tradition of curiosity-driven research. The defining chapter in IACS history began with the arrival of Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman in 1907. While serving in the Indian Finance Department, Raman spent his evenings and holidays conducting experiments at IACS on acoustics, optics and the scattering of light. On 28 February 1928, he and his collaborators announced the discovery of the inelastic scattering of light by molecules—the Raman Effect—creating a powerful spectroscopic technique that transformed the study of molecular structure. Today, Raman spectroscopy is indispensable across chemistry, materials science, biology, medicine, pharmaceuticals, environmental monitoring and planetary exploration. For this achievement, Raman received the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics, becoming the first Asian to win a Nobel Prize in the sciences for work conducted entirely in India. His success demonstrated that world-class scientific research could emerge from Indian laboratories. Yet IACS's scientific legacy extends far beyond Raman. Kedareswar Banerjee advanced crystallographic research through pioneering X-ray crystallography, while Satyendra Nath Bose's association with IACS enriched the intellectual environment that fostered advances in quantum physics. Meghnad Saha's theory of thermal ionisation transformed astrophysics, and together Raman, Bose and Saha established Kolkata as one of Asia's leading scientific centres. The institution also made major contributions to chemistry through Jnan Chandra Ghosh, whose work in physical chemistry laid foundations for modern chemical research in India. Following Independence, IACS expanded into chemical sciences, materials science, biological sciences and theoretical physics, reflecting the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of scientific inquiry. Among its distinguished scientists was Asima Chatterjee, whose pioneering research on natural products chemistry and medicinal plant alkaloids transformed phytochemistry and contributed significantly to pharmaceutical science. Ajoy Ghatak further strengthened IACS's reputation through his work in fibre optics, waveguides and laser physics, while his textbooks educated generations of physicists and engineers. More recently, IACS researchers have advanced ultrafast spectroscopy, nanomaterials, renewable energy, molecular electronics, quantum materials and computational biology. Today, IACS functions as a deemed-to-be university under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Its interdisciplinary research spans the chemical, physical and biological sciences, supported by advanced facilities in spectroscopy, microscopy, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, computational modelling and materials characterisation. Its doctoral and postdoctoral programmes continue to produce scientists who contribute to universities, research laboratories and industry worldwide. The institution's enduring strength lies in its commitment to curiosity-driven research. Unlike organisations established primarily for technological development or industrial applications, IACS has consistently recognised that transformative innovation begins with fundamental scientific understanding. This philosophy, articulated by Mahendra Lal Sircar nearly 150 years ago, remains especially relevant in an era defined by quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, sustainable energy and molecular medicine. The sesquicentennial of IACS celebrates not only a remarkable institution but also the evolution of Indian science. From its modest beginnings in colonial Calcutta to its emergence as an internationally respected research institution, IACS has nurtured Nobel laureates, pioneering physicists, eminent chemists and generations of young researchers who continue to expand the frontiers of knowledge. As IACS enters its second century and a half, it carries forward Mahendra Lal Sircar's vision that science should be pursued with intellectual freedom, experimental rigour and an unwavering commitment to the advancement of humanity. Its 150-year legacy remains a powerful reminder that the greatest scientific discoveries begin with curiosity and flourish in institutions dedicated to excellence. (The writer is the Chief Executive for National Centre for Science Communicators, Mumbai. Views personal.)

‘Digital access equalises rural-urban law students’

Justice Milind Jadhav observes that thousands of law students from rural and semi-urban backgrounds are steadily bridging the gap with their urban peers

Mumbai: The digital revolution has emerged as a decisive equalizer and a boon for law education, particularly for students in India’s mofussil regions, according to Justice Milind Narendra Jadhav of the Bombay High Court.

 

Justice Jadhav observed that thousands of law students from rural and semi-urban backgrounds - despite limited infrastructure and other disadvantages - are steadily bridging the gap with their urban peers. It is thanks to access to the internet, online lectures, digital libraries and virtual legal resources that were restricted and once beyond reach of those in need.

 

“The digital era has compressed distances like never before. Today, there is little difference in academic exposure between rural and urban students. The new generation of law students is no longer constrained by geography, and digital-technology has democratised legal education,” Justice Jadhav told ‘The Perfect Voice.’

 

Nevertheless, certain structural and operational gaps remain due to multiple factors. Justice Jadhav pointed out that many students from non-urban backgrounds continue to struggle with proficiency in English - the primary language of higher judiciary proceedings in India.

  

Local Languages

Simultaneously, he flagged a contrasting concern: a section of urban law students and even fresh graduates often lack adequate familiarity with local languages. In Maharashtra, for instance, crucial legal documents like FIRs, witness statements and police records are frequently drafted in Marathi.

 

“There are instances where young lawyers depend on juniors or clerical staff to interpret such local-language documents before they can proceed with a matter. This dependence can undermine professional confidence and efficiency,” he cautioned.

 

Under such circumstances, he urged both categories of students to consciously strengthen their command over English and the local languages respectively, to argue and present cases before constitutional courts effectively.

 

“Linguistic competence must be balanced at all levels. While English remains indispensable in higher courts, proficiency in regional languages is equally critical for effective litigation at the grassroots level. In a multilingual society like ours, language should serve as a bridge - not a barrier - to justice,” Justice Jadhav observed.

 

Moot Court 

His bold remarks came during an informal interaction on the sidelines of the third National Moot Court Competition hosted by Peoples Education Society (PES)'s Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Law College, Wadala, in which 30 student-teams from across India participated, said one of the organisers, Advocate Mangala Waghe.

 

“Moot Courts play a vital role in shaping young legal minds by simulating courtroom environments, helping students overcome hesitation and build advocacy skills. They afford students a ‘feel of the court’. While nothing can truly substitute real courtroom proceedings, these platforms help in shedding inhibitions and sharpening legal reasoning,” Justice Jadhav declared.

 

Broader Exposure 

 

Significantly, the judge suggested premier law institutions in metropolitan centres should take proactive steps to woo students from smaller towns – by physical participation or by facilitating virtual access - to prestigious academic or competitive platforms to ensure broader exposure and inclusivity.

 

Citing his own example, Justice Jadhav highlighted the importance of cultural and linguistic adaptability in legal practice, saying besides English, he routinely converses in Marathi and, where necessary, Gujarati—particularly to put young lawyers at ease in the court.

 

Though acknowledging the growing discourse around conducting court proceedings in regional languages, he felt it is too early to speak of a complete transition - given the complexities involved.

 

However, he was unequivocal that knowledge of local languages cannot be treated as optional for legal practitioners. “Language must act as a facilitator of justice. In a country governed by the rule of law, it should never become an obstacle,” Justice Jadhav asserted.

 

WR clerk to HC judge

Justice Milind Narendra Jadhav’s professional journey reflects determination, academic excellence and professional grit. An alumnus of St. Teresa’s High School, Charni Road, he graduated from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai in Life Sciences and Biochemistry in 1990. Soon after, he joined the Western Railway (WR) as a Senior Clerk in the Establishment/Administration Department, where he served for seven years.

 

Even while working, he continued to pursue higher education - earning an advanced diploma in computers and a postgraduate diploma in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations. He later completed his LL.B. from Government Law College, Mumbai and LL.M. from the University of Mumbai (1997–1998).

 

After interning under Advocate P. Y. Kulkarni, he enrolled as an advocate in February 1998 and built up an enviable practice on both the Original and Appellate sides of Bombay High Court. Notably, he served as Standing Counsel for the Custodian in proceedings before the Special Court dealing with the aftermath of the 1992 Harshad Mehta stock-market scam from 2000 onwards.

 

Justice Jadhav's judicial career took off with his elevation as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in August 2019, then confirmed as a permanent judge in June 2021 - marking the culmination of an inspiring rise from a railway clerk to a distinguished member of the country’s higher judiciary.

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