Bibha Chowdhuri: Early Indian Woman Physicist and Pioneer in Cosmic-Ray Research

Bibha Chowdhuri, born in 1913 in Kolkata, was among the first Indian women to earn a postgraduate degree in physics, completing her MSc at Calcutta University in 1936. Coming from a progressive family, she pursued research in cosmic rays and subatomic particles under physicist Debendra Mohan Bose despite initial reluctance from mentors. Chowdhuri contributed to early cosmic-ray studies and advocated for increased female participation in physics to promote equal representation in science and technology.