History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c4.13

c4.13

Born in a cultured and rich family in the district of Khulna, now in East Pakistan, in 1861 (August 2) Prafulla Chandra imbibed from his very childhood through the influence of his father, who was a landed proprietor with liberal education, the principles of rational thinking and the value of disciplinary methods. After his preliminary education in his father's village school up to the age of nine, when the family migrated to Calcutta, he joined the Hare School and subsequently the Albert School. From the last named institution he passed the Entrance Examination in 1879. A persistent attack of dysentery in his school days left a permanent stamp of weakness upou his constitution. For his further study he joined the Metropolitan Institution, now known as Vidyasagar College, and used to attend the lectures on Physics and Chemistry at the Presidency College, Calcutta. The lectures and experiments of Professor Pedler in Chemistry at the latter institution stirred his imagination and awakened in him a spirit of enquiry and interest in natural science In 1882 he obtained the Gilchrist Scholarship, which enabled him to proceed to the United Kingdom and join the University of Edinburgh in the Faculty of Science. There he came under the influence of Professor Crumbrown in Chemistry which became his favourite subject. Alexander Smith and James Walker were his class-fellows. He obtained his D.Sc Degree in 1888 and became the recipient of several scholarships in the Edinburgh University.