How C.V. Raman’s Discovery is Saving Millions of Lives Today
Every year on 28 February, India celebrates National Science Day. It is the day we remember Sir C. V. Raman, an Indian physicist who made a discovery in 1928 that changed the world. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for this work, becoming the first Asian to win that honour in science. The Government of India declared 28 February as National Science Day in 1986 to honour this achievement and to keep the spirit of scientific thinking alive in our country. This year, 2026, the theme is "Women in Science: Catalysing Viksit Bharat," reminding us that India's growth depends on every single mind, regardless of gender. But today, let us talk about something that most people do not know. The discovery Raman made while staring at the blue sea is quietly saving your life right now, inside hospitals and medical laboratories across the world.
Let us first understand what the Raman Effect actually is, in the simplest way possible. Raman noticed that when light passes through a clear material, a tiny portion of that light changes its colour slightly. Not much, just a little. In fact, only about 1 in every 10 million particles of light called photons changes. But that tiny change is enough to tell scientists exactly what a substance is made of. Think of it like a fingerprint. Just like no two people have the same fingerprint, no two molecules change light in exactly the same way. So when scientists shine a laser, which is a focused beam of light, on any material, they can read those tiny light changes like reading a name tag. This reading is called Raman Spectroscopy, and it is the most powerful identification tool science has ever created.
Now, why does this matter to a common person sitting at home? Because this technology has quietly walked into your nearest hospital and started doing things that were once considered impossible. Let us take cancer as an example. Detecting cancer early is the difference between life and death. Earlier, doctors had to remove a tissue sample, send it to a lab, and wait for days to get results. Today, Raman spectroscopy can examine living cells and tissues without cutting, without harming, without removing anything from the body. It reads the molecular fingerprint of the tissue and tells doctors immediately whether a cell is healthy or cancerous. This means faster diagnosis, less pain for the patient, and more time to begin treatment. For millions of families who have watched a loved one battle cancer, this is not just science. It is hope delivered at the speed of light.
The medical revolution does not stop at cancer. In pharmacies and drug manufacturing companies, Raman spectroscopy is used to check whether a medicine is pure and genuine. Fake medicines are a serious problem in India and across the world. People buy tablets trusting that what is written on the label is inside the tablet. Raman spectroscopy can verify this in minutes without even opening the packet. The laser passes through the packaging, reads the molecular fingerprint of the medicine inside, and confirms whether it is real or fake. This one application alone is protecting millions of people from consuming counterfeit drugs every single day.
In blood testing, in identifying kidney stones without surgery, in checking whether a wound is healing properly at a cellular level, in detecting early signs of diabetes through the skin without even taking a blood sample, Raman spectroscopy is showing up everywhere. Scientists and doctors are working on handheld Raman devices that a local doctor in a small town can use to diagnose patients on the spot, without needing expensive lab equipment or long waiting periods. In a country like India where medical infrastructure in rural areas is still developing, this could genuinely change how millions of people receive healthcare.
All of this began with one man refusing to accept a simple answer. Raman looked at the blue sea and asked why. That one question, followed by seven years of hard work, gave the world a tool that now fights cancer, catches fake medicines, and is slowly making quality healthcare reachable for every Indian, rich or poor, city or village. This National Science Day 2026, with its focus on women in science, is also a reminder that the next Raman could be a young girl sitting anywhere in this country, asking her own "why." The only thing she needs is for the world around her to stop saying "don't ask" and start saying "go find out."
(Girish Linganna is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He is the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany.)
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or position of the publication, its editors, or its management. The publication is not responsible for the accuracy of any information, statements, or opinions presented in this piece.
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AI should enhance human creativity: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said Artificial Intelligence must remain a tool to enhance human creativity and not replace artists, stressing ethical use, protection of intellectual property and fair compensation in the AVGC-XR sector.
He also called upon industry leaders to invest in original content, educational institutions to modernise curricula, young creators to dream fearlessly and global partners to collaborate with Karnataka.
Speaking after inaugurating the seventh edition of Bengaluru GAFX- Games, Animation and Visual Effects Conference, themed "Evolution Reloaded", here, he said Karnataka's commitment to the AVGC-XR sector was not recent or reactive, asserting, "We have been pioneers."
Siddaramaiah recalled that in 2017, Karnataka became the first state in India to implement a dedicated (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics) AVGC policy.
"That decision was driven by foresight, recognising that content creation would become as powerful as code creation," he said.
"Today, GAFX represents the next great frontier. The Games, Animation and Visual Effects sector is no longer a small creative industry. In the era of digital revolution, immersive media, streaming platforms, e-sports, and extended reality, GAFX is shaping how humanity experiences stories, culture, education and even governance," he said.
The CM said the government is implementing its third AVGC-XR Policy for 2024-2029, reflecting sustained commitment to the sector.
"Our AVGC-XR Policy has provided incentives, infrastructure support, skill-building initiatives, incubation systems, and institutional collaboration to nurture this ecosystem," he said.
On Artificial Intelligence, Siddaramaiah said it is transforming content pipelines and enhancing productivity, but cautioned that it must remain a tool and not a substitute for human imagination.
"Technology should amplify human potential, not erase it. The soul of storytelling is human emotion, something no algorithm can replicate in its fullness," he said.
Calling for ethical usage of AI, he said, "Respect for intellectual property, data privacy, fair compensation, and skill upgradation must be central."
Emphasising expansion beyond Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said digital creative clusters are being promoted in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kalaburagi and other emerging cities.
"We want the next great game designer or VFX innovator to emerge not only from the capital, but from every district of Karnataka," he said.
The CM said Karnataka should be known not only as the Silicon Valley of India but also as the "Creative Capital" of the Digital World.
Siddaramaiah said the state is reimagining tourism through Augmented Reality and integrating immersive AVGC-XR technologies into education, medical training through simulation, and digital preservation of cultural heritage.
He said the sector is both an economic and civilisational opportunity, empowering youth and enabling rural talent to create global content.
With the potential to create 20 lakh jobs over the next five years, the sector would generate employment across design, coding, storytelling, music, motion capture, AI modelling and production management, he said.
Calling for structured skill development, the CM said educational institutions must integrate AVGC-XR skills into mainstream education.
Outlining five strategic priorities, Siddaramaiah said the state would focus on building a future-ready talent pipeline, strengthening infrastructure, supporting startups and original intellectual property, expanding opportunities beyond Bengaluru, and building global partnerships.
While encouraging innovation in animation and gaming, he said, "We must also uphold responsibility, promoting ethical game design that avoids glorifying violence, safeguards the mental well-being of children, and encourages creativity, critical thinking and positive social values."
The chief minister assured that the government is committed to policies that protect human creators and users while empowering them with new tools.
"We will ensure that progress is inclusive. The digital revolution must not widen inequality; it must democratise opportunity," he said.
