Back in 1953, I had to choose between a career in medicine, like my twin sister, or basic science. I chose the latter because I love science. After doing BSc with chemistry and Botany from Ruia College, Bombay with good reputation for science teaching, I joined the G.S. Medical College, Bombay for MSc Biochemistry with papers- a course that had been started just a couple of years earlier. While chemistry was not my passion or forte; the very first class in Biochemistry by Professor Datta at the Grant Medical College, Bombay opened a fascinating world. He was among the best teachers I have known. Though the placement was in GS Medical College (where practical classes and some lectures were conducted), the students had to move from one college to another for lectures.
The examiner for MSc Biochemistry in 1957 (the year I qualified), was Prof. V Giri, Head of the department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore. After the viva voce examination, he called me and asked me if I would like to pursue research towards PhD at IISc. I was delighted and immediately accepted. But my mother and an old aunt were apprehensive. Finally, it was decided that my father would accompany me to Bangalore. To me, that seemed reassuring since in those days there was no direct train between Bombay and Bangalore. One had to change at Guntekal. Girls in those days were not as independent and confident as they are now.
There used to be a saying - "It is difficult to get into the IISc, more difficult to get on, and most difficult to get out". I was just lucky that my experience was different. Professor Giri, assigned me to Professor Homi Cama, a well-known scientist who created a happy working environment. He in turn suggested that I associate myself with PR Sundaresan (Sundar) who was working on a tough problem- vitamin A2 chemistry and metabolism. Science of biochemistry started as science of nutritional biochemistry. Purifying and crystallising vitamin A2 from the liver of fresh water fish was a challenging task since vitamin A2 is a very unstable compound, and there were moments of great frustration and anxiety. Long hours of work had to be put in. But finally, things worked out and classical papers emerged. In those days there was no shortage of power and water, but scarcity of equipment. There was only one Beckman Du spectrophotometer- life line for biochemistry research, between the departments of biochemistry, pharmacology and Fermentation technology and it had to be booked in advance. Sometimes bookings were available late in the evening. There were no fixed hours of work and Sundar and I often worked till late in the night. Sundar and my friendship lasted till his death last year. He had become an US citizen.
After Giri passed away, Professor PS Sharma from Madras (now Chennai) became the head of the department of Biochemistry. The system of journal clubs was started. All students had to come prepared with a paper and any one would be called to present using a black board and chalk. I discovered my ability to speak at the first journal club meeting, when stern Prof. Sharma, with a flicker of smile complemented me.
In early 60s, Professor CV Raman developed fascination for studying role of carotenoid pigments in vision. This provided me an opportunity to interact with this great man. Raman questioned the well-established role of Rhodopsin in dark adaptation. Rhodopsin is a light-sensitive protein pigment found in the rod cells of the retina, essential for dim-light vision. It consists of a protein, opsin linked to the light-absorbing retinal (vitamin A aldehyde) molecule. Raman proposed a role for the carotenoid pigment Lutein in dark adaptation. Though the theory could not be proved, discussing science with a man like him was a learning experience.