Department of CHEMISTRY Science College, Patna
The Chemistry Department shifted to its new H-shaped double-storeyed building in the present Science College campus from Patna College in 1927-28. The building had almost no impact of the 1934's major earthquake. The Burmese teak wooden works add beauty and lustre to the magnificence of the laboratories, library, lecture rooms and sitting rooms of the department. It was build under the supervision of Dr. K. S. Caldwell who happened to be the Principal of the college and Head of the Department when the campus was inaugurated after shifting from Patna College . It has an underground store, a lift (presently, out of order) and some exhausts fitted in the laboratories. The strnegth of students in M. Sc. class has since then risen from eight to forty in each of the fifth and sixth year.
Dr. R. B. N. Sahay, a teacher of the department, (now deceased after retirement) was the first person who was awarded Ph. D. degree in 1943 under the guidance of the then Head of the Department Dr. R. C. Ray, D. Sc.. Since then the department had a tradition of important reserach works. Dr. B Prasad, D.Sc. (London), FNA, had the distinction of being the first Bihari to produce Ph. D. in experimental science. He was D.P.I. of Orissa and Vice-Chjancellor of Patna University and then of Allahabad University. Dr. Prasad was also the President of the Indian National Science Academy.
Prof. M. Q. Doja, a class-fellow of Dr. B. Prasad, was the Head of the Deptt. and then a distinguished Principal of Science College during 1953-59. The Bihar School Examination Board was established and organized under the guidance of Prof. M. Q. Doja as its founder chairman. Dr. J. N. Chatterjea, D.Sc. FNA, Dr. S. P. Ghosh, and other several distinguished persons happened to be teachers and Heads of the Department. Dr. J. N. Chatterjea was the Director of Lac Reserach Institute, Ranchi during 1973-76. Dr. B. Lal Thakur one of its teachers, was Registrar of Patna University and then Director of the Bihar Text Book Corporation. Dr. S. N. Das, another teacher of the department was Principal of the college and thenVice-Chancellor of Patna University. A good number of the products of the department are holding important assignments and contributing significantly within and outside the country.
Recently, it has been very difficult to maintain the upkeep of the laboratories and the library due to paucity of funds and non-receipt of the funds from the government for their upkeep. A good number of posts of teachers and of non-teaching employers are lying vacant since long. In spite of the constraints, efforts are being made to keep things going on in the best possible way under the given circumstances.
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