Nobel Prize Winners Of India: The Nobel Prize is a global honor that celebrates contributions to humanity in different areas like literature, peace, science, and economics. It was introduced in 1901 by the Nobel Foundation. It is awarded to those who have contributed the most to humanity. The award is named after Alfred Nobel, a Swedish scientist. Alfred Nobel was one of the person who contribute the most to humanity. He invented 355 things, including the development of dynamite. Before his death in December 1896, he placed a large portion of his wealth in a trust. He desired that the money’s interest be distributed annually to those who have made the greatest contributions to humanity. Every year, the Nobel Foundation awards prizes for the best contributions to peace, literature, physics, chemistry, medicine, and economics, with the proceeds going to a Swedish bank. Every year, the Nobel Foundation awards prizes for the best contributions to peace, literature, physics, chemistry, medicine, and economics, with the proceeds going to a Swedish bank.
Among the many achievers of this award, India stands out as a place where brilliant minds have made a big impact on the world. The story of India’s Nobel Prize winners is about diversity, strength, and amazing new ideas. These winners, from various times and fields, show India’s rich history and its strong drive to excel globally. What they’ve done goes beyond borders, proving India’s lively thinking and its people’s strong commitment to improving what we all know and how we live.
The recognition given to Indian Nobel winners highlights the country’s varied talents, from meaningful writings that represent India’s spirit to scientific discoveries that push us forward. Each winner shows a different side of India’s culture, science, and society, contributing a lot to their fields and leaving behind a legacy that will inspire the next generations.
Nobel Prize Winner List of India
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1913
|
Literature |
India |
|
1930
|
Physics |
India |
|
1968
|
Physiology or Medicine |
India |
|
1979
|
Peace |
India |
|
1983
|
Physics |
India |
|
1998
|
Economics |
India |
|
2009
|
Chemistry |
India |
|
2014
|
Peace |
India |
|
2019
|
Economic Sciences |
India |
Here is a brief overview of all the Nobel Prize winners of India:
1. Rabindranath Tagore (1913)
In 1913, Rabindranath Tagore, a versatile poet from Bengal, became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. This honor highlighted his incredible talent for poetry. Tagore’s writings, filled with beautiful language, profound thoughts, and messages about humanity that everyone could relate to, went beyond cultural borders, touching people worldwide. His famous work “Gitanjali,” a collection of poems translated from Bengali to English, played a crucial part in him winning the Nobel Prize. Tagore’s poems, rich with spirituality, love for people, and a strong bond with nature, still enchant readers and inspire many even today.
| Rabindranath Tagore |
| 1861-1941 |
| Indian |
| Poet, musician, novelist, playwright, educator, social reformer |
| Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature |
| “Because of his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, by which, with consummate skill, he has made his poetic thought, expressed in his own English words, a part of the literature of the West” |
| Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Rabindra Sangeet (songs), Gora (novel), Chitra (play) |
| Tagore’s work had a profound impact on Indian literature and culture, and he is considered one of the most important figures in Bengali literature. He was also a prominent voice for social reform and an advocate for Indian independence. The awarding of the Nobel Prize in 1913 brought him international recognition and helped to introduce Indian literature to a wider audience. |
2. C.V. Raman (1930)
In 1928, Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, an Indian physicist, made a groundbreaking discovery called the Raman effect. This discovery changed physics by revealing how light scatters off molecules and crystals. It created new paths for research, offering a valuable method to understand molecular structures and how light interacts with matter. Raman’s achievement earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics. This award honored his remarkable scientific contributions and the significant impact he had on our understanding of the physical world.
| Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman |
| 1888 – 1970 |
| Indian |
| Physicist |
| Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics |
| “For his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the effect named after him” (the Raman effect) |
| Raman effect, Raman scattering |
| Raman’s discovery of the Raman effect revolutionized the field of spectroscopy and led to the development of new analytical techniques. It has had a wide range of applications in different fields, including physics, chemistry, biology, materials science, and medicine. |
| Bharat Ratna (India’s highest civilian award), Hughes Medal, Matteucci Medal, Franklin Medal, Lenin Peace Prize |
3. Har Gobind Khorana (1968)
In 1968, Indian-American biochemist Har Gobind Khorana shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. His pioneering work involved understanding the genetic code, the crucial language in DNA and RNA that holds biological information. Khorana’s detailed research revealed the triplet code, a sequence of three nucleotides specifying amino acids in making proteins. His discoveries laid the groundwork for modern molecular biology, unlocking possibilities in genetic engineering and personalized medicine.
| Har Gobind Khorana |
| 1922 – 2011 |
| Indian-American |
| Biochemist |
| Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (shared with Marshall W. Nirenberg and Robert W. Holley) |
| “For their interpretation of the genetic code and its function in protein synthesis” |
| First chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides, deciphering the genetic code |
| Khorana’s work on deciphering the genetic code laid the foundation for modern molecular biology and biotechnology. It has led to numerous advancements in medicine, including the development of new drugs and therapies. |
| Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research, Gairdner Foundation International Award, Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize, Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize |
4. Mother Teresa (1979)
In 1979, Indian-born Catholic nun Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize. Her strong devotion to helping the poorest of the poor led her to establish the Missionaries of Charity. This organization was devoted to caring for those who were destitute, ill, or abandoned. Mother Teresa’s selfless kindness and deep dedication to uplifting the most vulnerable made her an emblem of hope and a worldwide symbol of humanitarianism.
| Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (Mother Teresa) |
| 1910 – 1997 |
| Albanian |
| Catholic nun, missionary, social worker |
| Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize |
| “For work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitutes a threat to peace” |
| Founding the Missionaries of Charity, establishing homes for the poor, sick, and dying |
| Mother Teresa devoted her life to serving the poorest of the poor in India and around the world. Her work inspired millions of people and helped to raise awareness of global poverty and suffering. |
| Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize, Balzan Prize, Templeton Prize |
5. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (1983)
In 1983, Indian-American astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar won the Nobel Prize in Physics. His theoretical studies focused on how stars change over time. Chandrasekhar’s research delved into stars’ life cycles, from their beginnings to their eventual endings. This work offered new understandings about objects like white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. His pioneering contributions challenged established theories and transformed our knowledge of the universe. This award honored his remarkable scientific contributions and the significant impact he had on our understanding of the physical world.
| Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar |
| 1910 – 1995 |
| Indian-American |
| Astrophysicist |
| Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics (shared with William A. Fowler) |
| ‘For their theoretical studies of the physical processes of importance to the structure and evolution of stars’ |
| Chandrasekhar limit, black hole theory, stellar evolution |
| Chandrasekhar’s work on the Chandrasekhar limit and black holes laid the foundation for our understanding of stellar evolution and the formation of black holes. His contributions have had a profound impact on astrophysics and cosmology. |
| Adams Prize, Henry Draper Medal, Bruce Medal, Royal Medal, Padma Vibhushan (India’s second highest civilian award) |
6. Amartya Sen (1998)
In 1998, Indian economist Amartya Sen won the Nobel Prize in Economics. He was honored for his significant contributions to welfare economics and human development. Sen’s work stood out by stressing the significance of individual abilities, fairness in society, and ethical aspects in strategies for progress. His innovative ideas greatly influenced global economic policies and programs aimed at development.
| Amartya Kumar Sen |
| 1933 – present |
| Indian |
| Economist, philosopher |
| Awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences |
| “For his contributions to welfare economics and social choice theory” |
| Development economics, welfare economics, social choice theory, human capabilities approach, poverty measurement |
| Sen’s work has had a profound impact on economics, philosophy, and development studies. His human capabilities approach has provided a new way to think about development and has influenced policies and programs around the world. His work on social choice theory has helped us to understand how to make collective decisions in a fair and democratic way. |
| Bharat Ratna (India’s highest civilian award), Ramon Magsaysay Award, Adam Smith Prize, Leontief Prize, Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh |
7. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (2009)
In 2009, Indian-American structural biologist Venkatraman Ramakrishnan won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He earned this honor for his pioneering research on understanding the structure and role of the ribosome, the cellular machine that creates proteins. Ramakrishnan’s thorough investigations revealed how proteins are made, a vital process in every living cell. His discoveries have opened doors to new medical treatments and enhanced our understanding of how life functions at a molecular level.
| Venkatraman “Venki” Ramakrishnan |
| April 1, 1952 – present |
| British-American |
| Structural biologist |
| Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (shared with Thomas A. Steitz and Ada E. Yonath) |
| “For studies of the structure and function of the ribosome” |
| X-ray crystallography of the ribosome, understanding protein synthesis |
| Ramakrishnan’s work has revolutionized our understanding of protein synthesis, which is essential for all living organisms. His research has paved the way for the development of new antibiotics and other drugs that target the ribosome. |
| Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research, Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize, Royal Medal, Padma Vibhushan (India’s second highest civilian award) |
8. Kailash Satyarthi (2014)
In 2014, Indian activist Kailash Satyarthi was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with Malala Yousafzai for their strong dedication to advocating for children’s rights. Satyarthi, through his group Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement), has saved numerous children from labor and trafficking. His unending work has drawn worldwide notice to child exploitation and motivated global movements for children’s rights. Through his activism, Satyarthi has shown how one person’s actions can make a big difference in addressing tough social problems.
| Kailash Satyarthi |
| January 11, 1954 – present |
| Indian |
| Social reformer, child rights activist, education advocate |
| Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (shared with Malala Yousafzai) |
| “For their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education” |
| Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save Childhood Movement), Global March Against Child Labour, Global Campaign for Education, Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation, Bal Ashram Trust |
| 83,000+ |
| Child labor eradication, child education, child trafficking, child sexual abuse |
| Raised awareness about child rights and child exploitation, inspired international action and policy changes to protect children |
| Nobel Peace Prize (2014), CNN-IBN Indian of the Year (2009), Padma Shri (India’s fourth highest civilian award) (2016), Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award (2020), and many more |
9. Abhijit Banerjee (2019)
In 2019, Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Michael Kremer were awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics together for their pioneering use of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in assessing the success of anti-poverty programs. Their work transformed economics by emphasizing real-life evidence over theoretical models in shaping policies. Their research greatly influenced development economics, offering strong proof for making policies that could reduce poverty and better the lives of millions across the globe.
| Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee |
| February 21, 1961 – present |
| Indian-American |
| Economist |
| Awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences (shared with Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer) |
| “For their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty” |
| Experimental economics, field experiments in developing countries, microfinance, education, health, poverty alleviation |
| Banerjee’s work has revolutionized the way economists conduct research and has led to the development of more effective policies and programs for alleviating poverty. His research has shown that small interventions can have a big impact on people’s lives, and his work has inspired a new generation of economists to focus on global poverty. |
| Infosys Prize in Social Sciences (2021), Bernhard Harms Prize (2014), BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (2010), Padma Shri (India’s fourth highest civilian award) (2011) |
| Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty (with Esther Duflo), The Art of Field Experiments (with Michael Kremer) |
| Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) |
History of Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prize is a highly respected award that honors exceptional contributions to humanity in different fields. It was created in 1895 as per Alfred Nobel’s will, a Swedish inventor, scientist, and philanthropist. The first prizes were given out in 1901, aimed at recognizing people who made big advances in areas like Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, and Peace. Nobel, who invented dynamite and held more than 350 patents, left most of his fortune to start the Nobel Prizes.
Initially, the prizes were for achievements in five areas, later adding the Economic Sciences category to honor Nobel’s memory. They’re given each year on December 10th, the day Nobel died, at ceremonies in Stockholm, Sweden, except for the Nobel Peace Prize, which is in Oslo, Norway. Nobel winners are chosen by committees and experts in each field who select candidates based on their exceptional contributions and impact.
Conclusion
Over time, the Nobel Prize has faced debates over how winners are chosen and some fields not being included. Despite this, it remains a famous symbol of recognition, celebrating human accomplishments in science, literature, peace efforts, and economic research. The Nobel Prizes carry on Alfred Nobel’s vision by honoring people whose remarkable work has left a lasting positive impact on the world.
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FAQs – Nobel Prize Winners of India
Q1. Which country has the highest number of Nobel Prizes?
The United States has the highest number of Nobel Prizes, with 102 awards as of 2023.
Q2. How many people got the Nobel Prize in 2023?
A total of 11 people were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2023.
Q3. What is the rank of India in Nobel Prizes?
India is ranked 6th in the world in terms of the number of Nobel Prizes, with 13 awards as of 2023.
Q4. Who got the first Nobel Prize for science in India?
C.V. Raman was the first person to receive the Nobel Prize in Science from India. He was awarded the prize in 1930 for his discovery of the Raman effect.
Q5. Has anyone won 3 Nobel Prizes?
Only two people have won the Nobel Prize three times:
- John Bardeen (1956, 1972, 1973) in Physics
- Frederick Sanger (1958, 1980) in Chemistry
Q6. Which Indian city has the most Nobel Prize winners?
Kolkata, India has the most Nobel Prize winners, with 5 awards as of 2023.
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