CM Vishnu Deo Sai Pays Tribute to Prafulla Chandra Ray on Birth Anniversary
Synopsis
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai honoured Prafulla Chandra Ray — chemist, entrepreneur, and educator — on his birth anniversary, calling his contribution to science and innovation 'invaluable and ever-memorable.'
Key Takeaways
CM Vishnu Deo Sai posted a tribute to Prafulla Chandra Ray on his birth anniversary on 2 August 2026 .
Ray ( 1861–1944 ) is recognised as the father of Indian chemistry .
He founded Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works , one of India's first indigenous pharmaceutical companies.
Ray was also a celebrated educator at Presidency College, Calcutta , mentoring generations of scientists.
CM Sai's post is part of a broader pattern of Indian political leaders marking anniversaries of pre-independence scientific figures.
A scientist who built India's first modern chemical enterprise from a rented Calcutta shed — and who never stopped teaching. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday, 2 August 2026, paid homage to Prafulla Chandra Ray, widely regarded as the father of Indian chemistry, on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
Posting in Hindi, CM Sai wrote: 'Bhartiya rasayan vigyan ke janak, mahan vaigyanik evam prakhar shikhaavid Shraddhey Prafulla Chandra Ray ji ki jayanti par unhe sadar naman.' ('On the birth anniversary of the father of Indian chemistry, the great scientist and eminent educationist, revered Prafulla Chandra Ray, I bow to him with respect.')
Who Was Prafulla Chandra Ray?
Prafulla Chandra Ray (1861–1944) was a Bengali chemist, entrepreneur, and educator whose work reshaped the scientific landscape of colonial India. He is best known for founding Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works, one of India's first indigenous pharmaceutical and chemical companies, and for authoring a landmark scholarly work on the history of Hindu chemistry.
Ray trained at the University of Edinburgh and returned to India to teach at Presidency College, Calcutta, where he mentored generations of Indian scientists. His insistence on building domestic scientific capacity — not just importing knowledge from the West — made him a rare figure: an institution-builder as much as a researcher.
Why Political Leaders Mark This Anniversary
Indian political leaders across parties routinely issue tributes on the birth anniversaries of pre-independence scientists, framing their legacies as pillars of national identity. Ray's anniversary draws particular attention because his story — entrepreneurship, education, and indigenous innovation — maps neatly onto contemporary policy conversations around self-reliance in science and manufacturing.
CM Sai's tribute follows this established tradition, acknowledging Ray's 'invaluable contribution to science and innovation' as something that 'will always be remembered.'
Point of View
Making him a particularly apt figure to invoke. Such commemorations also signal to the scientific community that political leadership values foundational research, not just applied technology. Over time, the cumulative pattern of these tributes shapes a public memory of science that is distinctly national in character.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Prafulla Chandra Ray and why is he called the father of Indian chemistry?
Prafulla Chandra Ray (1861–1944) is called the father of Indian chemistry because he pioneered modern chemical research and education in India, founded Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works, and wrote a seminal history of Hindu chemistry.
When is Prafulla Chandra Ray's birth anniversary?
Prafulla Chandra Ray was born on 2 August 1861, so his birth anniversary is observed on 2 August each year.
What did Prafulla Chandra Ray found?
He founded Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works, one of India's earliest indigenous pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing companies.
Why did CM Vishnu Deo Sai pay tribute to Prafulla Chandra Ray?
CM Vishnu Deo Sai paid tribute on the occasion of Ray's birth anniversary, acknowledging his contributions to science, innovation, and education in India.
Where did Prafulla Chandra Ray study and teach?
Ray studied at the University of Edinburgh and returned to India to teach at Presidency College, Calcutta, where he mentored many prominent Indian scientists.
