Perfect chemistry

I want to prove to everyone that Indian Science is up to the mark. AMITABHA CHATTOPADHYAY, CCMB

Prof Amitabha Chattopadhyay, scientist at CCMB, who was recently elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK, is very much a ‘workaholic’. But he likes to refer his schedule as a “life dedicated to science”. Talking about his recent honour, he says, “With a goal to advance chemical sciences, this fellowship is awarded to people from the UK and other nations. The fellowship was decided in January, but I came to know about it only recently. If I am not wrong, the fellowship is given to around 15-20 people from all over the country once a year,” says Prof. Amitabha. He is currently an Outstanding Scientist (Director Level) at CCMB and has been working there for 20 years. The root of his success can be traced to the scientist’s “inquisitiveness” as a student. “I completed my B.Sc. in Chemistry Honours from Kolkata and then MA from IIT-Kanpur. I was interested in Chemistry for the fact that it could answer so many questions about nature and other sciences,” says Prof Amitabha, whose father wanted to pursue a profession in this field, but could not. “My father was a science graduate, but because he had to provide for his family, he had to take up a 9 to 5 government job,” he says. Prof Amitabha, on the other hand, has anything but a 9 to 5 job. “I work very late into the night and start early, but my family has been very supportive,” he says.

Prof. Amitabha also interacts with students actively. “I want to make India a global community. Many students go abroad, but I want to create facilities here that will enable them see that Indian science is up to the mark,” he says.