Google honors Indian chemist Asima Chatterjee with doodle
Have you peeped Google today? It's all about Asima Chatterjee, a renowned Indian chemist.
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The search engine site, which sometimes uses its homepage to honor prominent figures, is highlighting the pioneer on what would have been her 100th birthday.
Born in 1917 in Bengal, Chatterjee grew up in a middle class family. When she was encouraged to pursue education, she chose the sciences, earning a bachelor’s degree in organic chemistry.
And she kept going. In 1938, she snagged a master’s degree from the University of Calcutta, and six years later, she became the first woman in India to earn a doctorate degree in science.
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Chatterjee went on to heavily studied the medicinal properties and plants from Indian. Her research was so groundbreaking that she contributed to the development of drugs that treated epilepsy, malaria and most notably cancer.
Her work on vinca alkaloids, a chemical compound made from the Madagascar periwinkle plant, is still relevant today. Vinca alkaloids are now used in chemotherapy treatment as they help stall the multiplying of cancer cells.
But she didn’t keep her knowledge to herself. She founded the department of chemistry at Lady Brabourne College and created a research institute.
Throughout her career, she was recognized by institutions from across the globe, including the Indian government. She received the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honor from the country, and was appointed to the upper house of Parliament.
Now Google is honoring her legacy. Check out the doodle archive to see Hernandez's animated doodle.
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About the Author
Najja Parker is a multimedia journalist covering Black culture for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She is an engaging on-air talent, who has served as a host for the newsroom’s special projects and events, such as the movie premiere of “The South Got Something To Say,” a documentary chronicling the rise of Atlanta hip-hop.
