14 Facts About Kamala Sohonie

Kamala Sohonie was an Indian biochemist who in 1939 became the first Indian woman to receive a PhD in a scientific discipline.

Kamala Sohonie's research delved into the effects of vitamins and into the nutritive values of pulses, paddy, and groups of food items consumed by some of the poorest sections of the Indian population.

Kamala Sohonie was born on 18 June 1911 in Indore, now in Madhya Pradesh, India.

Kamala Sohonie then applied to the Indian Institute of Science for a research fellowship, but her application was turned down by the then-Director and Nobel Laureate Prof.

Kamala Sohonie responded to the rejection by holding a 'satyagraha' outside Prof.

Kamala Sohonie was then invited to UK's Cambridge University to work under Dr Derek Richter in the Frederick G Hopkins laboratory.

Kamala Sohonie was a student of Newnham College, matriculating in 1937 and studying the Biological Natural Sciences Tripos.

Kamala Sohonie was appointed Professor and Head of the Department of Biochemistry at Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi.

Kamala Sohonie joined the Royal Institute of Science as a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, and worked on the nutritional aspects of legumes.

Kamala Sohonie started work on 'Neera' on the suggestion of then-President of India, Rajendra Prasad.

Kamala Sohonie found significant quantities of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and iron in the drink, and that these elements can survive concentration of Neera into palm jaggery and molasses.

Kamala Sohonie was awarded the Rashtrapati Award for her work in this subject.

Kamala Sohonie was an active member of the Consumer Guidance Society of India.

Kamala Sohonie died in 1998, shortly after collapsing during a felicitation ceremony organised by Indian Council of Medical Research in New Delhi.