Rajeshwari Chatterjee

Born in 1922, she became one of the country's first female engineers and later specialized in microwave engineering, a field essential for radar, satellite communication, wireless technology, and telecommunications. After studying in the United States, she returned to India and joined the Indian Institute of Science, where she established one of the nation's earliest microwave research laboratories. Throughout her career, she published more than 100 research papers and authored several engineering textbooks, helping train future generations of scientists and engineers. At a time when very few women pursued engineering careers, Chatterjee broke barriers through both research and education. Her legacy extends beyond her technical achievements—she demonstrated that women could lead cutting-edge scientific research and inspire lasting technological progress in one of the world's fastest-growing scientific communities.