Asima Chatterjee

Asima Chatterjee was a pioneer in the field of organic chemistry and phytomedicine in India. She was the first woman to receive a Doctorate of Science from an Indian university and the first woman to be elected as the general president of the Indian Science Congress. She made significant contributions to the study of medicinal plants and their chemical compounds, especially alkaloids. She developed drugs for the treatment of epilepsy, malaria, and cancer. She also authored several books and papers on natural products and their chemistry. She was a recipient of many prestigious awards and honors, such as the Padma Bhushan, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, the C.V. Raman Award, and the P.C. Ray Award. She was also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1982 to 1990. She was a role model for many young women who wanted to pursue a career in science. She died on 22 November 2006 at the age of 89 in Kolkata.