Bibha Chowdhuri: The Beam of Light that Lit the Path for Women in Indian Science

Unit 5: Science and Curiosity | Poorvi | Questions and Answers

Let us do these activities before we read

A green oval labelled Qualities of a scientist with six empty arrows pointing outwards, to be filled in as a word web — Word web: Qualities of a scientist.

I

Work in pairs. What qualities do you associate with a scientist? Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. Complete the word web given below.

Sample answers. (Answers will differ from student to student.) Qualities that the chapter shows in Bibha Chowdhuri and other women scientists are:

persistence (she kept doing something difficult)
tenacity and determination
brilliance
curiosity (she delved deeper into cosmic rays)
courage (she defied the odds)
hard work (she continued her work tirelessly)

A rocket launching with a diagram of a spacecraft path from Earth to the Moon inside a blue cloud shape, beside six illustrated portraits of Indian women scientists — Pictures of women scientists, with a rocket and a spacecraft path from Earth to the Moon.

II

Some pictures of women scientists are given below. What do you know about their work? Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Answers will differ from student to student. The chapter tells us about the following women:

Bibha Chowdhuri was India's first woman physicist. She worked on cosmic rays and discovered pi-mesons, a subatomic particle.
Dr. Ritu Karidhal Srivastava, the 'Rocket Woman of India', played a pivotal role in ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission and led work in Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3.
Over 50 women contributed to Chandrayaan-3. They worked on autonomous systems for spacecraft and managed mission-critical operations.

Let us read

Illustrated portrait of Bibha Chowdhuri in a circle against a starry space background — Bibha Chowdhuri, India's first woman physicist.

A bright white star with light rays shining against a dark sky, with a faint figure inside it — The star HD 86081 in the constellation Leo, renamed 'Bibha' in 2019.

Let us discuss

I

Arrange the following events from Bibha Chowdhuri's life in the correct order of occurrence. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
1. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) honoured her legacy by renaming a star in the constellation Leo—HD 86081—as 'Bibha'.
2. She became the first woman faculty member at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
3. Bibha Chowdhuri was born in pre-independent India.
4. The Government of India declared a chair professorship in Bibha's name.
5. She joined the University of Manchester under the guidance of the celebrated Nobel Laureate, Patrick M.S. Blackett.
6. She was nominated for a Nobel Prize by Erwin Schrödinger.

Bibha Chowdhuri was born in pre-independent India. (Statement 3; born in 1913 in Kolkata)
She joined the University of Manchester under the guidance of the celebrated Nobel Laureate, Patrick M.S. Blackett. (Statement 5; 1945)
She became the first woman faculty member at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). (Statement 2; 1949)
She was nominated for a Nobel Prize by Erwin Schrödinger. (Statement 6; 1950)
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) honoured her legacy by renaming a star in the constellation Leo—HD 86081—as 'Bibha'. (Statement 1; 2019)
The Government of India declared a chair professorship in Bibha's name. (Statement 4; 2020)

Let us think and reflect

I. Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.

Extract 1: "In 1945, Bibha's academic journey took her to the University of Manchester..."

1 (i)

Why is the mention of Patrick M.S. Blackett, a Nobel Laureate, significant in this extract?

It shows that Bibha studied under a very famous and respected scientist. This tells us that her work was of a high standard and that she was working at the top level of science.

1 (ii)

What can be inferred about the public perception of women scientists in the 1940s from the title given to her by the press 'India's New Woman Scientist'?
A. Women scientists were widely accepted and celebrated at that time.
B. The world was still doubtful about the capabilities of women scientists.
C. Women scientists were as common and renowned as men in the 1940s.
D. Women were not allowed to study sciences or pursue scientific careers.

B. The world was still doubtful about the capabilities of women scientists. The text says the title "reflected the awe she inspired in a world still sceptical of her capabilities".

1 (iii)

In the phrase 'celebrated Nobel Laureate,' the word 'celebrated' refers to all of the following EXCEPT someone who is
A. famous and highly respected
B. frequently seen in public
C. renowned for their achievements
D. well-regarded in their field

B. frequently seen in public. 'Celebrated' means famous, respected and known for achievements. It does not mean that the person is often seen in public.

1 (iv)

Complete the following sentence suitably. The phrase 'She has an eye for Cosmic Rays' suggests that __________.

The phrase 'She has an eye for Cosmic Rays' suggests that she had a special skill and keen interest in studying cosmic rays, and she was able to notice and understand them very well.

Extract 2: "The journey from Bibha Chowdhuri's era to today's women scientists has been long and arduous..."

2 (i)

What can be inferred about the challenges faced by women scientists today, as compared to Bibha Chowdhuri's era?
A. Women scientists no longer face any barriers.
B. The challenges remain, but progress has been made.
C. The struggles have become more difficult over time.
D. The struggles are the same as they were for Chowdhuri.

B. The challenges remain, but progress has been made. The extract says it is a reminder of "how far we've come—and how much further we have to go".

2 (ii)

The phrase 'Bibha Chowdhuri's legacy lives on' suggests that __________.

The phrase 'Bibha Chowdhuri's legacy lives on' suggests that her work and her example are still remembered and continue to inspire young women who want to pursue science, even though she is no longer alive.

2 (iii)

Why is Bibha Chowdhuri referred to as a 'beacon' and a 'beam of light' in the extract?

A beacon is a good example that gives people hope and encouragement, and a beam of light shows the way. Bibha lit the path for other women in science to follow. Her name 'Bibha' also means 'beam of light', and a star was renamed after her. She will "always guide the way".

2 (iv)

State whether the following sentence is a fact or an opinion. Bibha Chowdhuri was the beacon, the 'beam of light' whose story continues to inspire young women.

Opinion. Calling her a 'beacon' or a 'beam of light' is the writer's view and feeling. It cannot be proved in the way that a fact such as her birth year can.

II. Answer the following questions.

II. 1

Why is Bibha Chowdhuri considered a pioneer in the field of science?

She was India's first woman physicist and the first Indian woman to excel in high-energy particle physics. She worked in a male-dominated field at a time when Indian women struggled to get education. She also became the first woman faculty member at TIFR. She cleared the way for the women who came after her.

II. 2

What does Bibha Chowdhuri's nomination by Erwin Schrödinger tell us about her abilities?

It tells us that she was a very talented scientist. Her nomination for a Nobel Prize in 1950, even though it was unsuccessful, "reflected her remarkable talent". Her most notable contribution was the discovery of pi-mesons.

II. 3

Bibha Chowdhuri never worked for awards or recognition. Support this statement with evidence from the text.

She never received any awards during her lifetime, but she "continued her work tirelessly".
Her work went on quietly, and she remained "in the periphery of Indian scientific acclaim".
She kept working through decades of crucial research, from the Kolar Gold Mines to the Physical Research Laboratory.
When she passed away in 1991, her story was untold and her name was largely forgotten. She had worked for science and not for fame.

II. 4

How does the renaming of a star as 'Bibha' serve as both a literal and symbolic recognition of her contributions to science?

Literal: In 2019, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) actually renamed a star in the constellation Leo, HD 86081, as 'Bibha'. This is a real, official honour. Symbolic: 'Bibha' means 'beam of light'. The star stands for the light she brought to Indian science, and she is now a 'star in heaven'. It also fits her work on cosmic rays and the stars.

II. 5

How do the roles of women in ISRO today reflect broader changes in societal attitudes towards women in STEM in India?

Women in ISRO are "no longer participants but leaders" in missions that make global headlines. Dr. Ritu Karidhal Srivastava played a pivotal role in the Mars Orbiter Mission and led in Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3. Over 50 women contributed to Chandrayaan-3, developing autonomous systems and managing critical operations. This shows that women's potential in STEM is now being recognised "beyond doubt", unlike in Bibha's time.

II. 6

What is the writer's purpose of highlighting the contributions of Bibha Chowdhuri and other modern women scientists?

The writer wants to honour Bibha Chowdhuri, whose story was largely forgotten, and to show that today's women scientists are building on the foundation she laid. The writer also wants to inspire young women to follow their passions, break barriers and leave their mark on the world.

II. 7

How might this text help shape people's perception of the role of women in other traditionally male-dominated fields?

Sample answer: The text shows that a woman could succeed in physics, a male-dominated field, despite great difficulties. It also shows that women are now leaders in ISRO missions. This can make people believe that women can do well in any field if they are given equal opportunities, and that they should be supported and respected. It can also inspire women to enter such fields. (Answers may differ.)

Let us learn

An empty crossword grid with numbered cells 1 to 8, with the across and down clues listed in a table below — Crossword puzzle for antonyms.

I

Complete the crossword puzzle by filling in the antonyms from the clues given below in the table. You may refer to the text.
Across: 4. core, 5. dependent, 7. extinguish, 8. terrestrial
Down: 1. effortless, 2. weakness, 3. neglect, 6. trivial

Across	Answer	Down	Answer
4. core	PERIPHERY	1. effortless	ARDUOUS
5. dependent	AUTONOMOUS	2. weakness	TENACITY
7. extinguish	IGNITE	3. neglect	RECOGNITION
8. terrestrial	COSMIC	6. trivial	PIVOTAL

Note: These words fit the number of boxes and the crossing letters in the grid. 'Tenacity' and 'recognition' are used here as the closest opposites of 'weakness' and 'neglect' that fit the grid.

II

Substitute the underlined phrase in the sentences with the suitable words from the box given below.
(physicist, luminaries, pioneers, peers, barriers, persistence)
1. They are considered to be the first people to start the online markets.
2. A scientist who studies matter, energy, light, etc.
3. Most of my friends are my classmates and are my age.
4. We first welcomed all the famous and important people in folk song for the award ceremony.
5. My brother finally succeeded in his business because of his continuous efforts and determination.
6. We should remove all the things that block our way in achieving success.

They are considered to be pioneers of the online markets.
A physicist (a scientist who studies matter, energy, light, etc.).
Most of my peers are my classmates.
We first welcomed all the luminaries for the award ceremony.
My brother finally succeeded in his business because of his persistence.
We should remove all the barriers in achieving success.

III

The words 'professorship', 'mentorship', and 'leadership' are used in the text. These words are made by adding the suffix '-ship' to the words 'professor', 'mentor' and 'leader'. Similarly, we can make words by adding -ment and -hood to certain words. Now, make words by adding suitable suffixes -ship, -ment, and -hood to the words given below. One example has been done for you: achieve + ment = achievement.

Word	Suffix	New word
1. member	-ship	membership
2. govern	-ment	government
3. partner	-ship	partnership
4. child	-hood	childhood
5. citizen	-ship	citizenship
6. entertain	-ment	entertainment
7. brother	-hood	brotherhood
8. agree	-ment	agreement

IV

The abbreviations—ISRO and STEM—used in the text are called acronyms because they are read or pronounced as full words. The grid given below has acronyms for the following. Circle the acronyms in the grid.
1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2. All India Institute of Medical Sciences
3. Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy
4. National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research
5. World Health Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration: NASA (last row, left to right, columns 3 to 6)
All India Institute of Medical Sciences: AIIMS (first row, left to right, columns 5 to 9)
Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy: AYUSH (first column, top to bottom, rows 1 to 5)
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research: NIPER (fifth row, left to right, columns 3 to 7)
World Health Organization: WHO (third row, left to right, columns 3 to 5)

Clipping (information box)

Clipping is a method of making words from larger words in English. There are three clipping methods.

This is an information box with no question to answer. The three methods are:

Back clipping: the end part is removed and the front part is kept (exam—examination, ad—advertisement, gas—gasoline, memo—memorandum, gym—gymnasium, photo—photograph).
Front clipping: the front part is removed and the end part is kept (phone—telephone, net—internet, bike—motorbike).
Middle clipping: the front and end parts are removed and the middle part is kept (flu—influenza, fridge—refrigerator).

V

Read the following sentence from the text and the table that follows: '…, the foundation was laid by early pioneers like Bibha Chowdhuri…' Now, complete the following news report with the passive form of verbs given in the box below. (Remember that the verb must agree with the subject.)
(discover, test, measure, publish, record, take)
Last year, significant advancements in medical science 1. __________ in leading medical journals when a new vaccine for malaria 2. __________. The vaccine 3. __________ through several clinical trials and results 4. _________ in those journals. During the trials, blood samples 5. __________ regularly from participants to monitor their immune response. The amount of antibodies produced 6. __________ carefully to assess the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Last year, significant advancements in medical science 1. were recorded in leading medical journals when a new vaccine for malaria 2. was discovered. The vaccine 3. was tested through several clinical trials and results 4. were published in those journals. During the trials, blood samples 5. were taken regularly from participants to monitor their immune response. The amount of antibodies produced 6. was measured carefully to assess the effectiveness of the vaccine.

VI

Read the following report of an experiment. Rewrite the report using passive verbs wherever necessary. You may begin like this: An experiment was conducted…
I conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of light on plant growth. I placed various plants under different light conditions and measured their growth over several weeks. I recorded data daily to track the height of each plant. At the end of the experiment, I analysed the results and found that plants exposed to natural light grew significantly taller than those under artificial light. I concluded that sunlight plays a crucial role in plant development. I presented my findings to the class, highlighting the importance of light in enhancing photosynthesis and overall plant health.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of light on plant growth. Various plants were placed under different light conditions and their growth was measured over several weeks. Data was recorded daily to track the height of each plant. At the end of the experiment, the results were analysed and it was found that plants exposed to natural light grew significantly taller than those under artificial light. It was concluded that sunlight plays a crucial role in plant development. The findings were presented to the class, highlighting the importance of light in enhancing photosynthesis and overall plant health.

VII

Read the instructions given in the box on landing of Chandrayaan. Complete the passage by choosing the correct answer from the options given.
Instructions: Launch the spacecraft towards the Moon from Earth. Position the spacecraft to enter the Moon's orbit. Adjust the spacecraft's path for landing. Slow down the spacecraft as it nears the Moon's surface. Release the rover to explore the surface and collect valuable data.
Chandrayaan's landing mission involves several key steps. First, the spacecraft 1.________ towards the Moon from the Earth. Then, it 2. ________ to enter the Moon's orbit. After reaching the Moon's orbit, the spacecraft's path 3. ________ for landing. Next, the spacecraft 4. ________ as it nears the Moon's surface. Finally, the rover 5.________ to explore the surface and collect valuable data.
(i) A. launched B. were launched C. was launched D. is launched
(ii) A. position B. was positioned C. is positioned D. has positioned
(iii) A. adjusted B. was adjusted C. is adjusted D. were adjusted
(iv) A. slowed down B. was slowed down C. is slowed down D. were slowed down
(v) A. is released B. has released C. were released D. was released

(i) D. is launched
(ii) C. is positioned
(iii) C. is adjusted
(iv) C. is slowed down
(v) A. is released

The passage describes the steps of a mission in the present tense, and the doer (the mission team) is not important. So the passive voice in the simple present is used (is/are + past participle).

Let us listen

I

You will listen to a podcast about Artificial Intelligence. As you listen, answer the following questions by selecting the correct options.

What is one of the key benefits of AI in the healthcare sector? (ii) Provides personalised treatments and faster diagnoses.
How did AI play a crucial role during the global pandemic? (ii) AI assisted in speeding up the discovery of new medicines.
What example was given regarding AI's role in renewable energy? (iii) AI is improving the performance of wind turbines and solar panels.
What does AI offer to teachers in the field of education? (iii) Helps teachers analyse student performance.
What is one of the user-friendly features that AI is enhancing for people with disabilities? (ii) Improves speech recognition and voice command technologies.

Let us speak

Heading graphic with the words Impact of Mobile Phones for the panel discussion activity — Topic for the panel discussion: Impact of Mobile Phones.

I

Form a group of five. Conduct a panel discussion on the topic, 'Evaluating the Impact of Mobile Phones—Beneficial or Harmful'. Each student will take on one of the following roles: Moderator, Principal (opposed to—focus on discipline in school), Teacher (in favour of—partially in favour, educational use with limitations), Parent (opposed to—concerned about health and social effects on children), Student (in favour of—highlighting the benefits like connectivity and learning). You may use the cues given and add your own ideas when speaking.

This is a group speaking activity, so answers will differ. Sample points for each role, built on the cues in the chapter:

Moderator: "Good morning, everyone. Today we will discuss whether mobile phones are beneficial or harmful. Let us first hear the Principal." At the end: "To sum up, we heard that phones help in learning and connectivity, but they also bring risks to discipline, health and social development. Thank you all."
Principal: "As a Principal, I strongly believe mobile phones are largely disruptive because they distract students from lessons and affect discipline in school."
Teacher: "From an educator's perspective, I think mobile phones can be valuable but only with limits. They can be used for educational purposes under supervision."
Parent: "As a parent, I'm concerned that mobile phones pose certain risks to children's health and social development."
Student: "As a student, I feel mobile phones are essential because they keep us connected and help us learn."

Let us write

I

Your school recently hosted the Zonal Science Exhibition, in which teams of students from 25 schools participated enthusiastically. As the student editor, write a report on the exhibition to be published in your school magazine. Use the cues given below with your own ideas to compose this report. (Who was the organiser and who hosted the exhibition? When and where was it held? Why was it held? Who participated? Who was the Chief Guest? What were the competitions held? What were the topics of models exhibited? Which team got the trophy for best exhibit? What were the observations of the Chief Guest and other visitors?) Points to remember: 1. Write the report in past tense, passive voice, and third person. 2. Follow proper format with a headline, reporter's name, and three paragraphs.

Sample report. The chapter gives no names or dates, so the details below are imagined. (Answers will differ from student to student.)

Young Scientists Shine at the Zonal Science Exhibition
By [Student Editor's Name], Class VIII

The Zonal Science Exhibition was organised by the Education Zone and was hosted by our school on [date], from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., in the school auditorium. The exhibition was held to encourage curiosity and scientific thinking among students. Teams from 25 schools were welcomed, and the event was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, [name].

Several competitions were conducted, including a Science Quiz and a Science Models competition. Models on topics such as renewable energy, rainwater harvesting and the solar system were displayed, and they were explained by the students with great confidence. The trophy for the best exhibit was awarded to the team from [school name].

The Chief Guest was impressed by the creativity of the models, and the young scientists were praised for their hard work. Visitors said that such events should be held more often. The exhibition ended with a vote of thanks.

Let us explore

I

In the recent times, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality are changing the way students learn. Let us know more about them.

This is an information box with no question to answer. The main points are:

Augmented reality (AR) adds digital elements to what a person sees in real time, usually through a smartphone camera.
Virtual reality (VR) gives a fully immersive experience by replacing the real world with a simulated one.
With AR and VR, students can see and interact with things they cannot in real life, which helps younger students understand difficult ideas easily.
NCERT has developed the e-Pathshala AR App under the aegis of MHRD, Government of India. It helps students learn by directly experimenting, and not only by reading and memorising. It aims to change students from passive listeners to active learners.
This effort is in line with the Prime Minister's Digital India vision of skill, scale and speed.

II

The Government of India has come out with a new set of National Awards in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation known as 'Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar'.