Nobel Prize Winners in India (Till 2023):
Rabindranath Tagore – Literature (1913)
C.V. Raman – Physics (1930)
Mother Teresa – Peace (1979)
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar – Physics (1983)
Amartya Sen – Economic Sciences (1998)
Venkatraman Ramakrishnan – Chemistry (2009)
Kailash Satyarthi – Peace (2014)
Overseas citizens of Indian origin
Har Gobind Khorana – Medicine US (1968)
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar – Physics US (1983)
Venkatraman Ramakrishnan – Chemistry UK (2009)
Abhijit Banerjee – Economics US
The Nobel Legacy in India
India’s first Nobel laureate was the legendary poet, philosopher, and writer Rabindranath Tagore, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. His collection of poems, Gitanjali, earned him the prize, celebrating his literary genius.
In the field of science, C.V. Raman became the first Indian to win the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. His discovery of the Raman Effect, which describes how light scatters when passing through a transparent material, remains fundamental to the field of physics.
Mother Teresa, although of Albanian descent, became synonymous with India due to her humanitarian work in Kolkata. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her tireless efforts in serving the poor, sick, and marginalized. Her Missionaries of Charity organization continues to help the underprivileged to this day.
Amartya Sen, the renowned Indian economist, received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998 for his contributions to welfare economics, particularly his work on poverty, famine, and human development. His work reshaped how governments and international organizations approach human welfare.
Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, another notable Indian origin scientist, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009 for his work on the structure and function of the ribosome, a key component in the biological synthesis of proteins. His research has provided deep insights into how genetic information is translated in living cells.
In 2014, Kailash Satyarthi, a children’s rights activist from India, was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in combating child labor and promoting the rights of children. His organization, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, has rescued thousands of children from child labor, and his efforts have led to global awareness and policy changes regarding child protection.
The Nobel Prize in 2024
The Nobel Prize season for 2024 commenced with the announcement of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. This year, the prize was awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA and its crucial role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. This discovery has paved the way for advancements in understanding gene expression, with wide-reaching implications in medicine, including cancer research and therapeutic interventions.
The Nobel Prize continues to be a beacon of excellence and innovation, inspiring individuals worldwide. As India looks forward to future contributions in science, literature, and humanitarian work, the legacy of its past Nobel laureates remains a proud testament to the country’s intellectual and moral achievements.
