Indian Nobel Laureates: There are total nine Nobel Prize winners from India from 1913 to 2023. The first Indian to win this prestigious award was Rabindranath Tagore which was given to him in 1913 for his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse.

History of the Nobel Prize

Established in 1901 to commemorate the legacy of Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel, the Nobel Prize stands as a distinguished honor. This prestigious award encompasses six distinct domains: Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Peace, and Physiology or Medicine.

Following Alfred Nobel’s passing in 1896, his testament directed his wealth to be utilized for the institution of prizes subsequently dubbed “Nobel Prizes.” The inaugural Nobel Prize ceremony took place in 1901. In 1968, the Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences was introduced, funded by Sweden’s central bank, Sveriges Riksbank. Since then, the Nobel Prizes have been bestowed across these six varied realms.

Nobel Prize Insignia

The awardee of the Noble Prize is conferred with three things- a medal, a diploma and award money.

List of Nobel Prize Winners in India

Rabindranath Tagore, securing the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913, stands as India’s inaugural Nobel laureate. Conversely, the latest Indian Nobel laureate is Abhijit Banerjee, acclaimed for the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2019. These distinguished individuals have left an indelible mark across an array of fields, encompassing literature, physics, chemistry, medicine, peace, and economics. Their collective endeavors have propelled knowledge and comprehension within these domains, yielding positive global impacts.

Originating in 1901 to pay homage to Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel, the Nobel Prize is presented to those who have significantly contributed to the advancement of humanity. Tagore’s recognition for his exquisitely poignant poetry marked India’s debut in this esteemed accolade, with his adept fusion of poetic concepts into Western literature through his unique English expressions. The subsequent section presents a comprehensive list of Indian Nobel laureates.

1. Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore was conferred with Nobel Prize in the category of literacy in 1913 for his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse. Often called Bard of Bengal and Gurudev, Tagore is one of India’s most dignified figures in India. Rabindranath Tagore was the first Indian to be awarded the Nobel Prize.

2. CV Raman

Sir Chandrashekhar Venkata Raman or CV Raman is recognised for Nobel Prize in 1930 in the field of Physics for his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the effect named after him. His discovery is also referred to as the “Raman Effect”. He is among the greatest Nobel Prize winners in India.

3. Har Govind Khurana

In 1968, Har Govind Khurana, an Indian-American biochemist, was honored with the Nobel Prize in the realm of Physiology or Medicine. He shared this esteemed recognition with Marshall W. Nirenberg and Robert W. Holley for their breakthroughs in deciphering the genetic code and comprehending its role in protein synthesis. Khurana’s pioneering research delved into the creation of operational genes beyond the confines of a living organism.

4. Mother Teresa

In 1979, Mother Teresa became the inaugural Indian woman to be honored with the Nobel Prize for Peace. Born in the Republic of Macedonia, she relocated to India at 19 and devoted her life as a Roman Catholic nun and missionary, catering to the destitute in urban slums. Her compassionate endeavors culminated in the establishment of the Missionaries of Charity.

5. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar

Subrahmanyam Chandrasekhar was awarded the Nobel Prize in the field of Physics in 1983 for his theoretical studies of the physical processes of importance to the structure and evolution of the stars. He is an Indo-American mathematician. His invention relates to the establishment of the physical process involved in the evolution of stars.

6. Amartya Sen

In 1998, Amartya Sen received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his notable contributions to welfare economics. Born in Manikganj during British India, Sen pursued economics, imparting his knowledge at prestigious institutions across the United States and the United Kingdom.

7. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2009 in the field of Chemistry for his work in studies of the structure and function of the ribosome. The Nobel Prize is given by the Royal Swedish Academy of Services.

8. Kailash Satyarthi

Born in Madhya Pradesh, Kailash Satyarthi clinched the Nobel Prize in 2014 for Peace. His recognition was attributed to his relentless campaign against the oppression of youngsters and advocating for universal access to education. As a dedicated activist, he has dedicated his life to championing children’s rights and illuminating the significance of education.

9. Abhijit Banerjee

Abhijit Banerjee, of Indo-American origin, was honored with the 2019 Nobel Prize in the Economic Sciences. The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences was jointly awarded to him, his wife Esther Duflo, and Harvard University’s Michel Kremer.

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