Every year on September 26th, India's scientific community holds its breath. This date—CSIR Foundation Day—marks the announcement of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prize, the nation's most prestigious multidisciplinary science award. Named after CSIR's founding director, the prize recognizes researchers under 45 whose work reshapes our understanding of the world. In 2019, twelve exceptional minds joined this elite cohort, their innovations spanning structural biology, monsoon modeling, algebraic geometry, and quantum materials 3 4 6 . Each laureate received a citation plaque, ₹5 lakh, and a monthly stipend of ₹15,000, embodying India's commitment to scientific excellence 5 .
Decoding the SSB Prize: A Beacon for Scientific India
Established in 1958, the SSB Prize honors Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar—a knighted pioneer who forged India's post-independence research infrastructure. The award covers seven domains:
Prize Facts
- Established: 1958
- Total Recipients: 571
- Women Laureates: 19
- Cash Prize: ₹5 lakh
Eligibility demands groundbreaking work primarily conducted in India, ensuring the prize fuels homegrown innovation. With only 571 recipients since 1958—including just 19 women—the SSB remains a rare honor 1 . The 2019 winners, announced by CSIR Director-General Dr. Shekhar C. Mande, reflect this rigor 6 .
The 2019 Laureates: Pioneers at the Frontier
Here are the twelve visionaries, their fields, and revolutionary contributions:
| Field | Laureate | Institution | Key Research Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological Sciences | Kayarat Saikrishnan | IISER Pune | Enzyme mechanisms & protein dynamics |
| Soumen Basak | National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi | NF-κB signaling in immunity & disease | |
| Chemical Sciences | Raghavan B. Sunoj | IIT Bombay | Computational reaction design & catalysis |
| Tapas Kumar Maji | JNCASR, Bengaluru | Metal-organic frameworks for energy | |
| Earth Sciences | Subimal Ghosh | IIT Bombay | Indian monsoon dynamics & climate extremes |
| Engineering Sciences | Manik Varma | Microsoft Research India, Bengaluru | Machine learning for resource efficiency |
| Mathematical Sciences | Dishant Mayurbhai Pancholi | IMSc, Chennai | Differential geometry & topology |
| Neena Gupta | Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata | Zariski Cancellation Conjecture proof | |
| Medical Sciences | Dhiraj Kumar | ICGEB, New Delhi | Host-pathogen interactions in tuberculosis |
| Mohammad Javed Ali | LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad | Minimally invasive ophthalmic surgery | |
| Physical Sciences | Aninda Sinha | IISc Bengaluru | String theory & quantum field theory |
| Shankar Ghosh | TIFR Mumbai | Soft matter physics & emergent phenomena |
Highlights of Their Transformative Work:
Kayarat Saikrishnan
Unveiled atomic-level mechanisms of enzymes that maintain genome stability, using X-ray crystallography to capture protein structures mid-reaction 3 .
Subimal Ghosh
Developed high-resolution models predicting monsoon variability and urban flooding, like Chennai's 2015 deluge, aiding climate resilience 3 .
Anatomy of Discovery: Raghavan Sunoj's Computational Chemistry Breakthrough
How Quantum Mechanics Solves Real-World Chemical Puzzles
Among the laureates, Prof. Raghavan B. Sunoj (IIT Bombay) exemplifies the SSB spirit. His work harnesses computational chemistry to decode reaction mysteries—accelerating drug and material design . Let's dissect a landmark experiment:
Objective:
Predict how solvents and catalysts control the efficiency of asymmetric reactions—crucial for synthesizing chiral drugs (e.g., antidepressants).
Methodology:
- Quantum Foundation: Used density functional theory (DFT) to model electron behavior in reacting molecules.
- Solvent Simulation: Employed polarizable continuum models to mimic solvent effects on transition states.
- Catalyst Optimization: Screened organocatalysts via free-energy calculations to identify enantioselective "matchmakers."
- Kinetic Analysis: Computed reaction barriers to pinpoint rate-determining steps.
Molecular modeling in computational chemistry
Results & Analysis:
| Catalyst | Solvent | Energy Barrier (kcal/mol) | Enantiomeric Excess (%) | Reaction Time (hr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L-Proline | DMSO | 12.3 | 88 | 6.5 |
| D-Proline | Acetone | 14.1 | 92 | 8.2 |
| Model Catalyst X | Water | 9.8 | 95 | 3.0 |
Sunoj's models revealed that water unexpectedly boosted efficiency in Catalyst X by stabilizing polar intermediates—a counterintuitive insight with green chemistry applications .
Impact:
The Scientist's Toolkit: Essential Reagents & Technologies
Behind every SSB laureate is an arsenal of cutting-edge tools. Here's what powered their breakthroughs:
| Tool/Reagent | Field | Function | Example in SSB Research |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cryo-Electron Microscopy | Biological Sci. | Images biomolecules at near-atomic resolution | Saikrishnan's enzyme dynamics studies |
| Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) | Chemical Sci. | Porous materials for gas storage/separation | Maji's COâ‚‚-capture materials |
| Climate Models (WRF-Chem) | Earth Sci. | Simulates atmosphere-ocean interactions | Ghosh's monsoon forecasting system |
| AdS/CFT Correspondence | Physical Sci. | Links quantum gravity to particle physics | Sinha's string theory explorations |
| CRISPR-Cas9 | Medical Sci. | Gene editing for disease modeling | Kumar's TB host-pathogen interaction assays |
| Parameterized Algorithms | Math Sci. | Solves complex geometry problems efficiently | Gupta's Zariski conjecture proof |
Advanced Research Equipment
Modern laboratories rely on sophisticated instruments to push the boundaries of scientific discovery.
Computational Power
High-performance computing enables complex simulations and data analysis that drive modern research.
Legacy in Motion: Why SSB 2019 Matters for Humanity
The 2019 cohort's work transcends academia:
- Saikrishnan & Basak's biology insights could yield cancer therapeutics targeting DNA repair or inflammation pathways.
- Maji's MOFs may slash industrial carbon emissions, while Sunoj's computations enable sustainable chemistry.
- Ghosh's climate models are already saving lives through flood warnings, and Ali's surgical innovations restore vision globally 3 6 .
Challenges Remain
With only one woman laureate (Neena Gupta) in 2019, the prize underscores STEM's gender gap—a call for systemic change 4 .
Research Impact
Potential applications of 2019 SSB laureates' research
The Future, Framed by Discovery
As IISc's Aninda Sinha probes the universe's quantum fabric and Subimal Ghosh fortifies India against climate chaos, the SSB 2019 winners embody science's highest ideals: curiosity married to compassion. Their work reminds us that today's abstract equations are tomorrow's lifelines. In celebrating them, we honor not just achievement, but the resonant human spirit that turns inquiry into illumination.
"The SSB isn't a destination—it's a launchpad. Our real prize is the problem we solve next."