CV Raman – Life, Discoveries & Achievements of the Nobel Laureate

By Aditi rawat | Article | Jun 09, 2025

Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was one of India's greatest physicists and the first Asian to receive the Nobel Prize in any branch of science. His discovery of the Raman Effect in 1928 opened new frontiers in the field of light scattering and molecular physics. His pioneering work brought global recognition to Indian scientific research.

1. Infobox

Field	Details
Name	C.V. Raman
Image
Caption	C.V. Raman in 1956
Birth Name	Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman
Birth Date	7 November 1888
Birth Place	Tiruchirapalli, Madras Presidency, British India
Death Date	21 November 1970
Death Place	Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Resting Place	Raman Research Institute, Bangalore
Nationality	Indian
Citizenship	British Indian, later Indian
Other Names	C.V. Raman
Education	B.A. and M.A. in Physics
Alma Mater	Presidency College, University of Madras
Occupation	Physicist, Professor
Years Active	1907–1970
Known For	Raman Effect
Notable Works	Scattering of light, Molecular diffraction of light
Spouse(s)	Lokasundari Ammal
Children	Radhakrishnan Raman (astronomer)
Parents	Chandrasekar Iyer (father), Parvathi Ammal (mother)
Relatives	Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (nephew, Nobel Laureate)
Website	Raman Research Institute

2. Early Life and Education

C.V. Raman was born on 7 November 1888 in Tiruchirapalli, then part of the Madras Presidency. His father, Chandrasekar Iyer, was a lecturer in mathematics and physics, which influenced Raman from a young age.

Raman showed extraordinary academic brilliance. He passed his matriculation at age 11 and completed his Bachelor’s degree in Physics by age 16 from Presidency College, Madras. He later completed his Master’s with top honors in 1907. Despite poor infrastructure for science in India at the time, Raman's interest in physics remained unshaken.

3. Career

Raman joined the Indian Finance Services as an Assistant Accountant General but continued his scientific research part-time. In 1917, he accepted the Palit Chair of Physics at the University of Calcutta, which allowed him to work full-time in research.

His most significant contribution came in 1928, when he discovered that light changes its wavelength when it passes through a transparent material—a phenomenon now known as the Raman Effect. This led him to win the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, making him the first Asian to receive a Nobel Prize in science.

Later, Raman became the Director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, and founded the Raman Research Institute in 1948.

4. Personal Life

C.V. Raman married Lokasundari Ammal, and the couple had two sons, one of whom, Radhakrishnan Raman, became a noted astronomer.

Flashback: Nobel laureate CV Raman resented Nehru (and even took a public swipe at him)

Raman had a deep love for music, nature, and optics. He believed in simplicity and discipline. He was also a strong advocate for independent Indian scientific institutions and often worked to uplift Indian students in research.

Dr. C.V. Raman « ENTER 4 SOURCE

5. Death and Legacy

C.V. Raman passed away on 21 November 1970 in Bangalore after a brief illness. He was buried in the premises of the Raman Research Institute, as per his wishes.

His legacy includes not only the Raman Effect but also the growth of scientific infrastructure in post-independence India. His birthday, 7 November, is celebrated as National Science Day in India.