Jagadish Chandra Bose: The Reluctant Physicist by Sudipto Das | Book Review

Sir J.C. Bose has been resurrected in many fields recently, more than five decades after his death. In the late 1990s, Bose was acknowledged as one of the inventors of the radio, alongside Marconi. We now know Bose held the first patent for a semiconductor device and he was the first to have used millimetre waves for radio communication, presently used in 5G technology. In plant neurobiology, scientists realized that Bose had claimed plants can feel pain, like animals and humans do, in the early 20th century.

Bose lived during a turbulent phase in India’s history. Closely connected to Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore and two extraordinary European women, Bose’s life is a labyrinth of remarkable relationships unexplainable in conventional terms.Both favoured and disfavoured by the English, loved and hated by his acquaintances, mythified and forgotten by his countrymen, Bose was a contronym. This book is an attempt at demystifying the ‘Boseian’ myth.

Author:

Sudipto Das

Publisher:

Paper Missile 

Release date:

December 1st, 2023

No. of Pages: 

331

I got to know this amazing thinker whose story is a mix of determination, curiosity, and a whole lot of plant love. Imagine this: a time when people thought plants were just green things that sat there. But Bose thought otherwise. He believed they had voices, and he wanted to hear what they had to say. 

It's not just a book; it's an immersive journey through time, where every page is alive with rich details, compelling evidence, and a treasure trove of multimedia elements. The author has skillfully woven together these diverse forms of media to create a truly immersive reading experience. 

As I was turning the pages, I found myself transported back in time, walking alongside Bose as he conducted his groundbreaking experiments and defied the odds stacked against him. The book serves as a tribute to Bose's legacy, highlighting his role as not just a scientist, but as a patriot whose work laid the foundation for modern Indian science. You can feel the pride dripping off the pages as he paves the way for Indian science to shine on the world stage.

What I really enjoyed was how well-developed the characters were. You could see the layers, the depth, in each of them. They weren't just names on a page; they were people with histories, fears, and hopes. 

Even if you're not big into science, this book will still grab your attention. It's packed with adventure, heart, and a whole lot of inspiration. A must-read for anyone with an inquisitive mind and a love for a good story.