Mani Bhaumik, a philanthropic physicist originally from India and now residing in the United States, has graciously donated one million US dollars to honor the often overlooked contributions of Indian scientist J C Bose, who played a key role in the development of wireless telegraphy. This generous donation will fund an esteemed award known as the IEEE Jagadish Chandra Bose Medal in Wireless Communications. The purpose of this award is to recognize and commend promising young scientists, with the inaugural awards ceremony scheduled to commence in 2025.
J C Bose, a scientist and inventor, notably invented the detector for wireless telegraphy. Unfortunately, despite the crucial role played by Bose’s invention, he did not receive due credit. G Marconi, an Italian inventor, utilized Bose’s invention in his groundbreaking demonstration of the first trans-Atlantic radio telegraphy, leading to Marconi receiving the Nobel Prize in Physics. The failure to acknowledge Bose’s vital contribution has long been a source of discontent among Indian scientists familiar with his work.
The initiative to publicly acknowledge Bose’s significant contributions gained momentum when the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) placed a memorial plaque at Kolkata’s Presidency College, where Bose formulated his groundbreaking invention. With determined efforts and support, particularly from Prof S V Sankaran of the Indian Institute of Science and Technology, Bengaluru, the IEEE decided to establish the prestigious Jagadish Chandra Bose Medal. However, to ensure the perpetual sponsorship of the medal and award, one million US dollars were required, a need fulfilled by Mani Bhaumik’s generous donation.
Mani Bhaumik, born in Bengal and now residing in Los Angeles, holds numerous patents and is notably known as the inventor of laser technology, which paved the way for Lasik eye surgery. Bhaumik sees his philanthropy as a way of giving back for the knowledge and mentorship he gained from Satyendra Nath Bose, a renowned figure in Bose-Einstein statistics and a student of J C Bose.
The president and CEO of IEEE, Saifur Rehman, will officially announce the establishment of the J C Bose Medal at a congressional reception on January 12 at the Rayburn building of the US Capitol. This medal, named the IEEE Jagadish Chandra Bose Medal in Wireless Communications, will be presented annually to individuals or teams making significant contributions to wireless communications technologies with a global impact. The first award ceremony is scheduled for 2025. Bhaumik’s philanthropic journey, from a modest background in Bengal to UCLA via IIT Kharagpur, has instilled in him the belief in the transformative power of education. His donations to UCLA, IIT Kharagpur, and the Bose medal and honorarium are aimed at nurturing talent and fostering a scientific spirit.
