SCIENTIST WHO SOLD HIS MILLION DOLLAR PATENT FOR FREE
Have you gone through life story of a scientist who was interested in inventions than in claiming patents. I came across one such Indian great genius, polymath, whose name is known by science fraternity but some of his works which were page turners in the communication Industry were claimed by others.
Yes, you are right, I am taking about Sir J.C.Bose, one of the most eminent Indian scientists. Born in the year 1858 and lived up to 1937, Mr. Bose had shown his acumen as physicist, biologist, archaeologist as well as sci-fi writer. How come, he could be gifted with so much of talent, but yes he was.
Born in a family of Dy Magistrate and educated in Bengali medium in early days of his school education, was an extraordinary customer of science. For some time at London university, he studied medicine and finally graduated from Christ’s college, Cambridge in Natural Science.
He started his career as lecturer at Presidency College. What a coincidence that he had among his students, one of the most famous scientists, Mr. Satyendra Nath Bose & Meghnad Saha. During later years he dedicated his life completely to research.
Those who have studied even elementary physics, might have heard of diodes and rectification action of diodes. At end of 19th century, scientists were struggling to find a coherer which could convert the RF input or AC input into DC signal, which could drive a printer. Mr J.C.Bose was the first to carry out experiments to prove the auto-cohere properties of mercury place between metals. He even used telephone in series with it to prove that by varying pressure of mercury layer between metal plungers, it was possible to convert the RF signals into DC signal.
He fabricated a highly sensitive "coherer", the device that detects radio waves. He found that the sensitivity of the coherer decreased when it was used continuously for a long period and it regained its sensitivity when he gave the device some rest. He thus concluded that metals have feelings and memory.
The inventor of "Wireless Telecommunications", Bose was not interested in patenting his invention. He presented his paper on coherer in April’1899, similar to which was patented by Marconi in 1901. He was said to be offered hefty money for his invention which he made public by saying that other people can use it for further application was a page turner in the history of science. It became the radio of Marconi. The name of Marconi became the most published and that of Bose slipped into oblivion from the field of engineering and radio wave studies. Later on after around 90 years he was acknowledged by IEEE for his notable contribution in the field of radio engineering.
He is popularly known as scientist, who proved that plants too have life by inventing an instrument to record the pulse of plants. He studied effect of many changes in surroundings on plant body like that of poisonous substance. He founded the Bose Institute at Calcutta, devoted mainly to the study of plants.
Whenever, I see his mention, I think, one decision by JC Bose to register patent in his name for coherer which was used in radio by Marconi, could have changed the presence of Indian scientists on the pages of engineering and physics text books.
I salute the genius who showers much of inspiration and gives a message to stay ahead of the times. Come on Indian science and Technology! leap forward, leap fast to recapture the lost glory of Mr J C Bose, would you!
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