This is an untold story of a Punjab scientist whose heroic deeds saved countless lives during a devastating cyclone in Odisha but unjustly denied recognition because he was brown.
Ruchi Ram Sahni, lone Indian scientist at the India Meteorological Department during his time was a teacher, meteorologist, physicist, and one of the earliest promoters of Punjab as a science hub.
Born in 1863 in undivided Punjab, Ruchi Ram Sahni came from a well-off family. However, the family’s financial stability took a hit, leading them into challenging circumstances.
Despite facing financial constraints, Sahni possessed an unwavering determination to pursue his education.
At the age of 16, he would embark on journeys of up to 50 miles to access his preferred educational institution. Sahni completed his schooling at an institute in Lahore and went on to earn his BA Honors from Punjab University.
Remarkably, at the age of just 22, he joined the India Meteorological Department’s Shimla office. Sahni’s appointment marked a significant milestone as he became the first, and at the time, the sole Indian scientist at the IMD.
Despite his capabilities, Sahni was repeatedly told that a European might be better suited for his role, and even faced public criticism.
In a crucial 1885 event, Sahni, reviewing weather reports, detected an unusual atmospheric pressure decline at Diamond Harbour, a coastal station.
With no immediate explanation from other reports, he telegraphed the Diamond Harbour Observer, who confirmed an approaching major storm. Sahni ordered continuous 30-minute updates, researched past coastal storms, and issued a public forecast.
This event was the devastating False Point Cyclone on September 22, 1885, among the Bay of Bengal’s severest. Though the official casualty count is absent, an estimated 5,000 lives were lost. Sahni’s timely warning saved ships on the coast.
Sahni’s first passion was teaching, and he secured a position at Government College Lahore. He also co-founded the Punjab Science Institute alongside his colleague J Campbell Oman, aiming to popularize science through public lectures and demonstrations in the vernacular language.
One of his enduring legacies was mentoring Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, a renowned chemist who would later establish the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).
Nonetheless, his impact on the fields of meteorology, education, and scientific mentorship left an indelible mark on India’s scientific landscape.
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