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Class 8 English · Unit 5 · Science and Curiosity

Bibha Chowdhuri: The Beam of Light that Lit the Path for Women in Indian Science

Complete textbook exercise solutions — NCERT Poorvi, Class 8 English (CBSE).

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Let us do these activities before we read

IComplete the word web on the qualities of a scientist.

curious observant patient logical hard-working creative persistent honest

Let us discuss

IArrange the events from Bibha Chowdhuri’s life in the correct order.
1. Bibha Chowdhuri was born in pre-independent India. (1913)
2. She joined the University of Manchester under the guidance of Patrick M.S. Blackett. (1945)
3. She became the first woman faculty member at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). (1949)
4. She was nominated for a Nobel Prize by Erwin Schrödinger. (1950)
5. The IAU honoured her legacy by renaming a star in the constellation Leo as ‘Bibha’. (2019)
6. The Government of India declared a chair professorship in her name. (2020)

Statement numbers in order: 3, 5, 2, 6, 1, 4.

Let us think and reflect

I.1Read the extract and answer the questions.
In 1945, Bibha’s academic journey took her to the University of Manchester. Under the guidance of the celebrated Nobel Laureate, Patrick M.S. Blackett, she delved deeper into the field of cosmic rays. …

(i) Why is the mention of Patrick M.S. Blackett, a Nobel Laureate, significant?
It shows that Bibha worked under a world-famous scientist. This highlights her talent and the high level of her research.

(ii) What can be inferred about the public perception of women scientists in the 1940s?
B. The world was still doubtful about the capabilities of women scientists.

(iii) The word ‘celebrated’ refers to all of the following EXCEPT someone who is ______.
B. frequently seen in public

(iv) The phrase ‘She has an eye for Cosmic Rays’ suggests that ______.
she had a special talent and a keen understanding of cosmic rays.

I.2Read the extract and answer the questions.
The journey from Bibha Chowdhuri’s era to today’s women scientists has been long and arduous, but it is also inspiring. …

(i) What can be inferred about the challenges faced by women scientists today?
B. The challenges remain, but progress has been made.

(ii) The phrase ‘Bibha Chowdhuri’s legacy lives on’ suggests that ______.
her work and example continue to inspire people even after her death.

(iii) Why is Bibha Chowdhuri referred to as a ‘beacon’ and a ‘beam of light’?
She showed the way to women in science, like a light that guides others in the dark. Also, her name ‘Bibha’ means ‘beam of light’.

(iv) Bibha Chowdhuri was the beacon, the ‘beam of light’ whose story continues to inspire young women. (Fact/Opinion)
Opinion

IIAnswer the following questions.

1. Why is Bibha Chowdhuri considered a pioneer in the field of science?
She was India’s first woman physicist. She was the first Indian woman to excel in high-energy particle physics. She was also the first woman faculty member at TIFR. She opened the path for women in a male-dominated field.

2. What does Bibha Chowdhuri’s nomination by Erwin Schrödinger tell us about her abilities?
Schrödinger was a great scientist. His nomination shows that her work was of world-class quality and greatly respected.

3. Bibha Chowdhuri never worked for awards or recognition. Support this statement with evidence from the text.
The text says that she never received any awards during her lifetime but continued her work tirelessly. Her work went on quietly while she remained away from fame.

4. How does the renaming of a star as ‘Bibha’ serve as both a literal and symbolic recognition?
Literally, a real star in the constellation Leo is named after her. Symbolically, she is a ‘star’ of Indian science. Like a star, her ‘beam of light’ guides others.

5. How do the roles of women in ISRO today reflect broader changes in societal attitudes towards women in STEM?
Women in ISRO are now leaders, not just participants. Dr. Ritu Karidhal led important missions, and over 50 women worked on Chandrayaan-3. This shows that society now accepts and trusts women in science and technology.

6. What is the writer’s purpose of highlighting the contributions of Bibha Chowdhuri and other modern women scientists?
The writer wants to honour a forgotten pioneer. He also wants to show how far women have come and to inspire young girls to take up science.

7. How might this text help shape people’s perception of the role of women in other male-dominated fields?
It shows that women can excel in any field if given a chance. It breaks old ideas about what women can do. It encourages equal opportunities for all.

Let us learn

IComplete the crossword with antonyms.

Across: 4. PERIPHERY 5. AUTONOMOUS 7. IGNITE 8. COSMIC

Down: 1. ARDUOUS 2. TENACITY 3. RECOGNITION 6. PIVOTAL

IISubstitute the underlined phrases with suitable words.
  1. They are considered to be the pioneers of online markets.
  2. A physicist studies matter, energy, light, etc.
  3. Most of my friends are my peers.
  4. We first welcomed all the luminaries in folk song for the award ceremony.
  5. My brother finally succeeded in his business because of his persistence.
  6. We should remove all the barriers in achieving success.
IIIMake words by adding -ship, -ment or -hood.
  1. member + ship = membership
  2. govern + ment = government
  3. partner + ship = partnership
  4. child + hood = childhood
  5. citizen + ship = citizenship
  6. entertain + ment = entertainment
  7. brother + hood = brotherhood
  8. agree + ment = agreement
IVCircle the acronyms in the grid.
  1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration — NASA
  2. All India Institute of Medical Sciences — AIIMS
  3. Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy — AYUSH
  4. National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research — NIPER
  5. World Health Organization — WHO
VComplete the news report with the passive form of verbs.

Last year, significant advancements in medical science 1. were recorded in leading medical journals when a new vaccine for malaria 2. was discovered. The vaccine 3. was tested through several clinical trials and results 4. were published in those journals. During the trials, blood samples 5. were taken regularly from participants to monitor their immune response. The amount of antibodies produced 6. was measured carefully to assess the effectiveness of the vaccine.

VIRewrite the report using passive verbs.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of light on plant growth. Various plants were placed under different light conditions and their growth was measured over several weeks. Data was recorded daily to track the height of each plant. At the end of the experiment, the results were analysed and it was found that plants exposed to natural light grew significantly taller than those under artificial light. It was concluded that sunlight plays a crucial role in plant development. The findings were presented to the class, and the importance of light in enhancing photosynthesis and overall plant health was highlighted.

VIIComplete the passage on Chandrayaan’s landing.
  • 1. First, the spacecraft ______ towards the Moon from the Earth. — C. was launched
  • 2. Then, it ______ to enter the Moon’s orbit. — B. was positioned
  • 3. … the spacecraft’s path ______ for landing. — B. was adjusted
  • 4. Next, the spacecraft ______ as it nears the Moon’s surface. — B. was slowed down
  • 5. Finally, the rover ______ to explore the surface… — D. was released

Let us listen

ISelect the correct options.
  • 1. What is one of the key benefits of AI in the healthcare sector? — (ii) Provides personalised treatments and faster diagnoses.
  • 2. How did AI play a crucial role during the global pandemic? — (ii) AI assisted in speeding up the discovery of new medicines.
  • 3. What example was given regarding AI’s role in renewable energy? — (iii) AI is improving the performance of wind turbines and solar panels.
  • 4. What does AI offer to teachers in the field of education? — (iii) Helps teachers analyse student performance.
  • 5. What user-friendly feature is AI enhancing for people with disabilities? — (ii) Improves speech recognition and voice command technologies.

Let us speak

IPanel discussion: ‘Evaluating the Impact of Mobile Phones—Beneficial or Harmful’.

Sample (Student): As a student, I feel mobile phones are essential because they help us learn online, watch educational videos and stay connected with our parents. But we must use them for a limited time.

Let us write

Write a report on the Zonal Science Exhibition for your school magazine.

ZONAL SCIENCE EXHIBITION HELD AT OUR SCHOOL
by Priya Nair, Student Editor

A Zonal Science Exhibition was organised by the Directorate of Education and hosted by our school on 18 November 20XX, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It was held to encourage scientific thinking among students. Teams from 25 schools participated enthusiastically.

The exhibition was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Dr. Anjali Rao, a scientist from ISRO. A Science Quiz, a Science Model competition and a poster-making contest were held. Models on topics like rainwater harvesting, solar-powered vehicles, smart irrigation and waste management were exhibited. The trophy for the best exhibit was won by the team from Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 for its model of a smart irrigation system.

The models were appreciated by the Chief Guest and other visitors. She said that young minds can find solutions to many problems of our country. The exhibition was a great success.

Let us explore

I–IIIAR and VR, Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar and women pioneers.
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