Lesson : 9

J.C. Bose: A Beautiful Mind

Let's start :

A biography is the life story of someone, usually eminent. The person may be alive or dead. Biographies are always written by somebody other than the person himself. We read biographies of eminent persons so that we may learn about them and try to be like them.

Let's share :

• ✨ Can you name any eminent person of your district?
• ✨ Who is this person in the picture?
• ✨ Do you know anything about him?

Unit I

Let's read :

Historically, in 1895, India was under the British rule. A different history was made that year at the Town Hall in Calcutta. An interesting demonstration was performed by Jagadish Chandra Bose, an Assistant Professor of Presidency College. Everyone was overawed when the electro-magnetic waves travelled from the Lecture Hall to a third room about 75 metres away. These waves passed through three solid walls. This was a remarkable and path-breaking incident which paved the way for future research all over the world.

Born on 30th November 1858 at Bikrampur (now Munshiganj district of Bangladesh), Jagadish Chandra Bose was a man of diverse talents: a physicist, biologist, botanist as well as a writer of science-fiction. His father, Bhagwan Chandra Bose, was a leader of the Brahmo Samaj. He worked as a Deputy Magistrate in Faridpur, Burdwan and in other places. Jagadish Chandra's education started in a Vernacular school because his father believed that one must know one's mother tongue before learning any other language. Besides, one should know one's own people. Speaking at the Bikrampur Conference in 1915, Bose said:

"At that time, sending children to English schools was a privileged status symbol. In the vernacular school, to which I was sent, the son of the Muslim attendant of my father sat on my right side, and the son of a fisherman sat on my left. They were my playmates. I listened spellbound to their stories of birds, animals and aquatic creatures. Perhaps these stories created in my mind a keen interest in investigating the workings of Nature. When I returned home from school accompanied by my school fellows, my mother welcomed and fed all of us without discrimination. It was because of my childhood friendship with them that I could never feel that there were 'creatures' who might be labelled ‘low-caste'. I never realized that there existed a 'problem' common to the two communities, Hindus and Muslims."

In 1869, Bose joined Hare School and six years later he was admitted to St. Xavier's School in Calcutta. He passed the Entrance Examination and joined St. Xavier's College of Calcutta. It was here that he came in contact with Jesuit Father Eugene Lafont who played a significant role in developing his interest in natural science. Later, Bose went to England and secured admission in Christ College, Cambridge, to study Natural Science. In 1884, he received the Natural Science Tripos from the University of Cambridge and a B. Sc. degree from the University of London.

The following year, Bose joined Presidency College as officiating Professor of Physics. But he was not provided facilities of research. He was also offered lower salary than his European colleagues. Bose had a remarkable sense of self-respect and national pride. Therefore, as a sign of protest, he continued his teaching assignment for three years without accepting his salary. Finally, the Director of Public Instruction and the Principal offered him a permanent teaching post.

Word Nest 📌

• demonstration: an activity that shows and explains how something works;
• overawed: impressed;
• paved: created a situation in which something can happen;
• diverse: of various kinds;
• spellbound: attention completely held by what the person is listening to and watching;
• discrimination: practice of treating somebody less fairly than others

Let's do:

Activity 1

Choose the correct answer from the given options:

(a) Jagadish Chandra Bose studied in—(i) Hindu School (ii) Hare School (iii) Ballygunge Government School. (b) Bose met Father Lafont at—(i) Cambridge (ii) London (iii) St. Xavier's College (c) Bose graduated in B.Sc. from —(i) University of Cambridge (ii) University of Oxford (iii) University of London

Activity 2

Fill in the chart with information from the text:

Year	Event
	J.C. Bose was born
1869
	Joined St.Xavier's College
1884
	Joined Presidency College
	Demonstration at Town Hall

Activity 3

Complete the following statements with information from the text:

(a) Bose's father used to work as ___________________________________________ (b) __________________________________ was the leader of the Brahmo Samaj (c) In his school days Bose's playmates were_______________________________ (d) Bose went to England to______________________________________________

Activity 4

Answer the following questions:

(a) Why did Jagadish Chandra Bose receive his early education in a Vernacular school? (b) What did Bose's mother do when he brought his friends home from school? (c) Who was Lafont? How did he influence Bose? (d) Why did Bose refuse to accept his salary?

Let's learn :

• ✨ Jagadish Chandra Bose was a man of diverse qualities: a physicist, biologist, botanist

In Lesson 7 you have read about 'Single word for group of words'. Each of these words—'physicist', 'biologist', 'botanist'—is a single word for a group of words. Now let us find out their expanded forms:

• Physicist: one who studies elements of physics
• Biologist: one who studies physical life or living matter
• Botanist: one who studies plant life

Activity 5

Match the single words with their expanded forms :

Single word form	Expanded forms
astronomy	a place where books are kept
library	a garden of many fruit trees
garage	a person who handles cash
psychology	study of stars and planets
orchard	study of human mind
cashier	a place to keep cars

Unit II

Let's continue :

Bose had invented several sensitive instruments. One of them is the Crescograph which is used to measure the growth rate of plants. Through his experiments Bose showed that plants behave in the same manner as human beings, although plants take longer to respond than animals. He proved that plants are sensitive to heat, cold, light, noise and other external stimuli, just like human beings. By injecting poison into a living plant Bose showed that they react in the same manner as we do.

Scientific research on electro-magnetic waves was initiated by J.C. Bose in the late 19th century. It was the Italian scientist Marconi who got the patent for the invention of wireless telegraphy. But we must remember that Bose's public demonstration in Calcutta along the same lines happened much earlier. Instead of looking for commercial benefit for his inventions, Bose made his inventions public in order to allow others to advance further along the lines of his research. However, Bose's place in history has now been re-evaluated.

This great Indian scientist was eventually crowned with glory when he was awarded Knighthood by the British government in 1917. He was also conferred many other awards like 'Fellow of the Royal Society', 'Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire' etc. Needless to say, he is one of the greatest scientists ever born in our country.

Sir J.C. Bose wrote several books and published many research papers in leading science journals. Some of his famous books are Response in the Living and the Non-living (1902), The Nervous Mechanism of Plants (1926), Major Mechanism of Plants (1928) etc. In 1896, Bose wrote Niruddesher Khoje, a science fiction. In fact, he was the first writer of science fictions in Bangla.

In November 1917, Bose founded the 'Bose Institute' at his own house in Calcutta. He donated 'Bose Institute' to the nation for research on science. This great Indian scientist breathed his last on 23rd November, 1937.

Word Nest 📌

• sensitive: able to measure very small changes;
• initiated: set something in motion;
• patency: official right to be the only person to make use of an invention

Let's do :

Activity 6

Identify which of the following statements are True and which are False. Give a supporting statement for your answer:

(a) Crescograph was invented by Marconi. (b) Marconi got the patency right for wireless telegraphy. (c) Bose was awarded Knighthood in 1919. (d) No other Bengali writer had written science fiction before J.C. Bose.

Activity 7

Complete the following statements:

(a) Crescograph is used to _____________________________________________ (b) Bose proved that plants are _________________________________________ (c) In 1917 Bose founded _____________________________________________ (d) Bose Institute was founded in _______________________________________

Activity 8

Answer the following questions:

(a) 'Bose had invented several sensitive instruments'. Name a 'sensitive instrument' invented by J.C. Bose. What is its use? (b) What did Bose prove by his experiments on plants? (c) Do you think Bose was uninterested about securing patency right? Why? (d) What were the various awards and honours conferred on Bose? (e) Name some of his books and publications.

Let's talk : 💬

Sit in groups. Discuss with your friends about-

• ✨ one characteristic feature of J.C. Bose that you liked
• ✨ an experience in which you had taken care of plants

Let's learn : 💡

Study the following sentences carefully:

• ✨ The great Indian scientist was eventually crowned with glory.
• ✨ Bose's place in history has now been re-evaluated

The coloured words above are all adverbs. Now let's learn about the different functions of adverbs.

In the first two sentences, the word eventually and now indicate the time when the action is completed. Such adverbs are called Adverb of Time.

Let's look at some more examples:

1. He never waited for anyone.
2. He is seldom present.
3. Javed often visits his cousin in Kolkata.

In the above sentences, the coloured words indicate how often the action is performed. Such adverbs are called Adverbs of Frequency.

Let's look at the following sentences:

1. He was closely bound up.
2. She sings well.
3. The soldier fought bravely.

In the above sentences, the coloured words indicate how or in what manner the action is performed. Such adverbs are called Adverbs of Manner.

Let's look at the following sentences:

1. He went everywhere.
2. Move backward.

In the above sentences, the coloured words indicate where the action takes place. Such adverbs are called Adverbs of Place.

Now read these sentences:

1. He is therefore unhappy.
2. He is hence unable to come.

In the above sentences, the words 'therefore' and 'hence' indicate why the action is performed. Such adverbs are called Adverbs of Cause and Effect.

Now, let's look at the sentences below:

1. When did you come home?
2. Where is your bag?
3. How did you return home yesterday?

In the above sentences, the words 'when', 'where' and 'how' are used to ask questions. Such adverbs are called Interrogative Adverbs.

Let's do :

Activity 9

Read the following passage and underline the adverbs. An example is given:

Shanti is a young girl. She lives in a remote village with her family. Her school is five miles away from there. But Shanti attends her school daily. She stood third in her class in the previous examination. She believes that she can do better. She is now concentrating on her studies more seriously. Shanti never behaves rudely with her classmates. So they like her. She follows her teachers attentively in the class. Therefore the teachers really like her. They often enquire whether she is facing any problem. Why do many teachers think that Shanti is the best girl in the class? It is because Shanti has faced the challenges of life bravely.

Activity 10

Now put the underlined adverbs from the above passage in the chart according to their functions. One is done for you:

Adverb	Function
There	indicates the place where the action happens
	indicates how often something happens
	indicates why the action is performed
	indicates how or in what manner the action is performed
	used to ask a question

Let's learn : 💡

Study the following sentences:

• ✨ No other Indian poet is as good as Tagore. (Positive degree)
• ✨ Tagore is better than any other Indian poet. (Comparative degree)
• ✨ Tagore is the best Indian poet. (Superlative degree)

In these three sentences, the degree of adjectives is changed but the meaning has remained unchanged. Again,

• ✨ Very few scientists born in our country is as great as Bose. (Positive degree)
• ✨ Bose is greater than most other scientists born in our country. (Comparative degree)
• ✨ Bose is one of the greatest scientists ever born in our country. (Superlative degree)

Here also, the degree of adjective changes from one sentence to another, but the meaning of all the three sentences remain the same.

Let's do :

Activity 11

Transform the degree of adjectives of the following sentences as directed:

(a) Plants are as sensitive as animals.(change into comparative degree) (b) Simla is cooler than Kolkata. (change into positive degree) (c) Umesh Yadav is the fastest bowler in the Indian cricket team.(change into comparative degree) (d) Ishant Sharma is taller than any other Indian cricketer. (change into superlative degree) (e) Mt. Everest is the highest mountain in the world. (change into positive degree)

Activity 12

In this lesson you have read the biography of a great Indian scientist. Now write a biography (in about seventy words) of Prafulla Chandra Roy, who was another great Indian scientist. You can use the following hints:

Hints for Prafulla Chandra Roy Biography:

• Birth: 1861, Khulna (now in Bangladesh)
• Education: village pathsala, Hare School, Albert School, passed Entrance examination (1879), F.A. from Metropolitan College (1882)
• Scholarship: won Gilchrist scholarship (1882)
• Higher Education: went to London, B.Sc. from Edinburgh University (1882-84), D.Sc., Edinburgh University
• Career: Professor of Presidency College (1889), first to prepare Mercurous Nitrite in laboratory (1896)
• Entrepreneurship: established Bengal Chemicals (1901)
• Later Career: joined Science College as Palit Professor
• Death: 1944

Activity 13

You have come to know that the local postman has delivered your letter to your neighbour's house by mistake. Write a letter to the post office with a request to return the letter to you.

Let's work together: 🤝

Poster Making 🖼️

Take a sheet of chart paper. Collect a postcard-size picture of any famous Indian scientist. Paste the picture on the sheet of paper. Write in brief (as shown in hints of Activity 12) about him/her. Paste a thin strip of wood on either edge of the poster. Display the poster in the classroom.