Kedareswar Banerjee

Kedareswar Banerjee (15 September 1900 – 30 April 1975) was an X-ray crystallographer and director of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata.

Early in his career he determined the structures of naphthalene and anthracene.

He was born in Bengali Brahmin family on 15 September 1900 in Sthal (Pabna), Vikrampur Dacca (now in Bangladesh).

He was educated at Jubilee School, Dacca, and then at the well-known Rajabazar Science College campus of University of Calcutta, for his postgraduate, and doctoral degrees in science.

His thesis was " Some Problems in Structures of Solid and Liquids" (Cl. V. Raman).

In 1924, when only a few crystal structures had been determined throughout the world, Banerjee's work on the determination of atomic arrangements in crystalline naphthalene and anthracene received international attention.

Banerjee was awarded the DSc degree of the University of Calcutta in 1930.

He had close associations with almost all the leading crystallographers of his time including William Henry Bragg, William Lawrence Bragg, Paul Peter Ewald, John Desmond Bernal, Nikolay Vasilyevich Belov, J. M. Robertson, K. Lonsdale and Melvin Avrami (who known for his Avrami equation of phase transition).

In 1931, he worked with Sir William Henry Bragg and developed one of the first direct methods of crystal structure determination.

In 1933, Banerjee proposed a new approach to the crystallographic phase problem, which not only broke new ground beyond the 'trial and error' structure solution method of that time, but also heralded the extremely powerful direct methods of crystallography of the modern era.

His seminal paper (Proc. Roy. Soc., 1933, 141, 188) on direct methods was cited in the Nobel Lecture of Dr. Jerome Karle in 1985.

Apart from structural X-ray crystallography, Banerjee's research pursuits covered a wide field of crystal physics.

His research contributions in various fields including low angle scattering, thermal diffuse scattering of X-rays from crystals, diffraction of X-rays by liquids., jute fibre and organic polymers, structures of coal and glass, determination of the elastic constants of crystals by X-rays, theoretical modelling of the vibrational spectra of crystal lattices and some topics in crystal optics have received international recognition.

Perhaps his most significant contribution to the advancement of science in India was the creation of active schools of research wherever he went leaving behind a band of young, energetic research workers who became the torch bearers of his scientific tradition.

Apart from being a stellar scientist, Prof. Banerjee possessed a rare and pleasing personality.

He was extremely kind and affectionate yet strong in his convictions.

He lived a life of noble deeds and thoughts that brought him self-composure, freedom from fear and made him a truly international scientist.

He was a reader in physics at the University of Dhaka (1934–43), and a professor of physics at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, in Calcutta (1943–62), a professor of physics at Allahabad University (1952–69), and a director of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science.

He was Professor of Physics at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science from 1943 to 1952 and Director of the Association from 1959 until his retirement in 1965.

He was the sectional President for Physical Science Group at the Indian Science Congress in 1947, vice-president of NASc during 1958–1960 and General President NASc in 1967.

He was a member of the first National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO during 1947–1951, a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Planning Commission (India) during 1953–1956 and a member of the review committees and advisory boards of several national laboratories.

In 1948, he was invited as a 'Guest of Honour' to the Inaugural Conference and General Assembly of the International Union of Crystallography.

Banerjee laid the foundation of X-ray Crystallographic research in India.

Between 1952 and 1959 he was Head of the Department of Physics at Allahabad University.

His interests in crystallography were widespread and, with his death, India has lost a renowned teacher.

K. Banerjee joined the research group of Sir C. V. Raman at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Calcutta, a premier Indian research institute of India.

Prof. Banerjee explained some points of crystal research to Homi J. Bhabha (21 Dec 1956) also.

He worked in various institutions including IACS, the India Meteorological Department, University of Dhaka and Allahabad University and finally retired as the Director of IACS, Calcutta in 1965.

He died on 30 April 1975 at Barasat, a suburb of Calcutta.

Kedareswar stands for "Lord Shiva" in Bengali.

Allahabad University honoured Banerjee by establishing an atmospheric and ocean science centre in his name, K. Banerjee Centre of Atmospheric and Ocean Studies in 2000.

He was elected Fellow of The National Academy of Sciences, India and Indian Academy of Sciences.