SOCIETY FOR CHEMICAL EDUCATION

Golden Jubilee of Chemistry Dept. 2005

Dr.R.K.Barua Memorial Lecture

Dr.Rohini Kanta Barua was head of the department of chemistry from 1960 to 1968 in Gauhati University. His untimely death on Indian Airlines flight from Bangalore via Kolkata on 8 July 1968 was a great loss to the University. 

But for his initiative stressing research and teaching simultaneously in postgraduate level, the chemistry department of Gauhati University would have remained unperturbed by new expectations of younger generations undergoing post graduate studies. In order to remember Dr.R.K.Barua and to inspire the students as learners of a life long learning  society the department has initiated Dr.R.K.Barua Memorial Lecture from 1998 to memorise his leadership which had paved the way for up gradation and innovations in chemistry in 90s.

Rohini Kanta Barua was born at Sadia in 1910. His father late Keshabkanta Barua was a eminent school teacher. His father was son of Anushyam Barua 

of Sibsagar. Anushyam Barua was a mouzadar. As Keshabkanta was a Govt. school teacher he was tranferred to Golaghat, Tezpur, Sibsagar etc from time to time. So Rohinikanta had school education in several schools of Assam. When he continued his study at Tezpur Keshabkanta Barua passed away in 1923. Rohinikanta was only thirteen then.

Rohinikanta Barua was a brilliant student. He passed matriculation from Sibsagar High School in 1926 with star marks. He secured letter marks in Assamese, Additional Mathematics, Arithmatic, Sanskrit and additional Sanskrit. After matriculation he joined Cotton College and passed i.Sc in 1928 in science with letter marks in three subjects.  Then Rohinikanta Barua joined Presidency College of Kolkata offering honours in chemistry- his favourite subject.  He passed B.Sc.In 1930 with honours in chemistry.  He passed M.Sc. in chemistry from Calcutta University in 1932. He stood first class second in M.Sc. His  specialisation was  organic chemistry. Along with studying in degree he got admitted in law also and he graduated in B.L. in 1933.

Rohinikanta Barua returned to Assam in 1933 and appeared in Assam Civil Service examination . He succeeded in ACS examination and was selected for  EAC. But police report was not in his favour and he could not join as EAC. He started practicing law in Dibrugarh Bar. Within a short span he could establish as a successful lawyer. But he did not continue law as profession for long. On advice by Dr.Bhubaneswar Barua-his maternal uncle, Barua came to Guwahati and joined as a lecturer in chemistry in Cotton College at a salary of Rs.150.00 per month. He became a competent and successful teacher in chemistry. After teaching for 8 years he left for higher studies to U.K in 1946. He did his research in Liverpool University under the guidance of Professor and Head of Chemistry of Liverpool University Prof.R.A.Morton. His field of research was Vitamin A. He submitted his thesis on 'Vitamin A and its chemical and physicochemical reactions on metabolism of human body'. He obtained Ph.D. on Vitamin A in 1948. During his stay in England he participated in International Conference on Biochemistry as a representative from India. Dr.Barua returned to Assam in 1948 and joined Dibrugarh University Medical College as professor of biochemistry in the same year. he continued further research on specific areas relevant to Assam under all adverse conditions then prevailing in educational institutions of Assam. Without help of any sophisticated equipment Dr.Barua did investigations on 'National Value of Country Liquor'. Dr. Bhubaneswar Barua realised his potential as a research scientist and he arranged for purchase of a manual spectrophotometer for Rohinikanta Barua.

Dr.Rohini Kanta Barua joined the department of chemistry, Gauhati University as head in 1960. He was  professor of Biochemistry at Dibrugarh Medical College prior to his joining the university. After his joining he tried to initiate research activities in the department. DR.A.B.Barua, then lecturer in chemistry at J.B.College ,Jorhat joined him as a research scholar. Dr. A.B.Barua began his research on oxidation of beta carotenoids and conversion to vitamin A. During his research he did experiments to establish terminal oxidation of vitamin A giving one Vitamin A unit per mole of oxygen. Ph.D being awarded in this field he joined the university as a lecturer in 1965,became reader in  and continued research and undertook guidance in this field . After Dr.Barua's untimely death in 1968 he had to take his position on vit A research in Gauhati University. He produced five Ph.Ds in Gauhati University and then left to United States of America in 1979 and started work with Prof.James A. Olson.. Dr.R.K.Barua produced 7 Ph.D,s during his short span of 8 years in the uiversity. He led the department in expansion of research activities inorganic, inorganic and biochemistry  and encouraged the other members of the teaching staff to get involved in teaching and research So a tradition of research has been built up by him in the chemistry department of Gauhati University.

Dr.R.K.Barua became the dean of faculty of science and looked at overall research activities in science disciplines of the university. Dr. Barua took the leading role in having a chemistry building of its own. He could get grants for a Infrared Spectrometer from UGC besides many more instruments with infrastructure. During his tenure several volumes of Beilstein were purchased. library became full fledged in back volumes and abstracts. New books were procured annually.

6th Dr.R.K.Barua Memorial Lecture

6th Dr.R.K.Barua Memorial Lecture was organized on 30th August at the department of chemistry, Gauhati University. >Prof.V.K.Krishnan, Hindustan Lever Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Scientific Research, Bangalore delivered the memorial lecture on 'Role of Metal Ions in Biology' on a popular level emracing all aspects of uses of metal ions in biological systems. Prof. Krishna Gopal Bhattacharyya, president of Society For Chemical Education presided over the session. Prof. N.N.Siddhanta, former head of the department of chemistry was the chief guest of the session. Prof. S.K.Bhattacharyya gave a detailed life sketch of Dr.R.K.Barua and highlighted the several dimensions of his activities.

Fourth R.K.Barua  Memorial Lecture

  The fourth Dr.Rohinta Kanta Barua Memorial Lecture was organized by Society for Chemical Education on 17 October, 2001 in the Department of Chemistry, Gauhati University. Prof. Brindaban C.Ranu, an eminent organic chemist, Fellow of Indian Academy of Sciences delivered the memorial lecture on Green Chemistry.

Prof.Ranu then was working in Indian Association for Cultivation of Science, Jadabpur, West Bengal, established in 1876 from where Dr.C.V.Raman, only Indian in Science working in India was awarded Nobel Prize for Raman Effect in 1928. Prof.Ranu received N.S.Narasinham Award in 1993 and Chemical Society of India award in 1995.

  In his lecture Prof.Ranu has highlighted the synthesis of various compounds including his own research in the field of green chemistry. He has mentioned that although we have inherited the earth from our ancestors we have no right to pollute the earth living no scope for survival of the future generations. Green Chemistry develops techniques for use by manufacturers of chemicals avoiding production of hazardous bye products. His lecture though technical in presentation and not meant for common people has established that chemists are concerned with harmful effects of undesirable chemicals produced by industry in big scale and have devised technology for safety in use of chemicals of everyday use.

  Prof.H.L.Duorah, vice chancellor of Gauhati University inaugurated the lecture. Prof.S.K.Bhattacharjee presented the contributions of late Dr.R.K.Barua for research in the department and his multifarious activities in the academic arena. Prof.Krishna Gopal Bhattacharyya. President of Society for Chemical Education  introduced Prof.Ranu to the audience. Prof.N.N.Sidhanta and Prof.P.K.Sarma the former heads of the department also spoke on achievements and future of  the department of chemistry of Gauhati University. Prof.O.K.Medhi,dean of faculty of science and head of the department chaired the session. Prof.P.J.Das,  Dr. J.Ganguly, general secretary and Dr. Dilip Kumar Kakati looked into the organizational aspects of the memorial lecture.·

8th Dr.R.K.Barua Memorial Lecture

8th Dr.R.K.Barua lecture was delivered by Dr.A.B.Barua, now collateral professor of Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, U.S.A. Dr. Arun Bhusan Barua arrived on 17th Novemer, 2005 under Fullbright Scheme and was delivering talks on popular levels in different educational institutions of Assam.. Dr.Barua talked on Carotenoids andf Vitamin A . He synthesized water soluble derivative of Vitamin A- its glucoronide in Iowa State University and created a history as till then  all attempts to synthesize a water soluble derivative failed. The water soluble derivative is less toxic in treatment of Acne.He also considered the metabolism of Vitamin A and its role in reproduction. Deficiency of Vitamin A causes night blindness. In fact Dr.Barua released a grant for testing Vitamin A deficiency in children at Guwahati and it will help the doctors to use the actual dose for administration to children on UNICEF project. But Barua suggested the people to use leafy vegetables, small fishes and fruits for meeting the daily Vitamin A uptake. Carrot, Papaya, Tomato, Cauliflower are good sources of Vitamin A.

The department organized  the lecture on the Golden Jubilee year of the department. With donation from Cadilla of Rs. 5 lakes by a student of this department who passed in 1975, the organic chemistry laboratory was upgraded using granite slabs for the tables. All the former professors graced the occasion. It was like a home coming to many alumni of the department. Dr.G.N.Talukdar, vice chancellor. Gauhati University inaugurated the memorial lecture and Sri Subhas Chandra Das, IAS- now chairman of Assam State Electricity Board, alumnus of the department who got his M.Sc. in chemistry in 1975 was present as chief guest.