History and Art and Culture
In news: The book, E. K. Janaki Ammal: Life and Scientific Contributions was released in English by Nirmala James, on the scientist’s 125th birth anniversary.
- It is the third book by Ms. James. The first two were in Malayalam.
About:
- India’s first woman botanist
- Born on November 4, 1897, in Kerela
Achievements:
- Notable work in the areas of cytogenetics and plant breeding.
- Carried out important work on sugarcane, brinjal and magnolias.
- Collaborated with C. D. Darlington to bring out the chromosome atlas of cultivated crops and their wild relatives
- She received the Padma Shri in 1977
- In the 1930s, she had taught botany in the Maharaja’s College of Science, Thiruvananthapuram
- Appointed a member of the Travancore Public Recruitment Committee.
- She strongly raised her voice for women, arguing that married women should not be disqualified from entering or continuing in service.
- Fulfilled her professional dreams, in spite of the gender and caste barriers (Thiya family) of her time.
- Accomplished all this in an era when women’s education was not considered important.
Source: The Hindu
