Rohini Godbole is the recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri award from the Indian Government in 2019 for her pathbreaking contribution to particle physics. Born in Pune in 1952, Godbole completed her schooling from Huzurpaga School, followed by higher education at IIT Bombay and Stony Brook University in New York, where she received her doctorate in 1979. She was defined by her career at the Centre for High Energy Physics at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, where she had served as a professor for over two decades.
Godbole first attended SP College in Pune, then went on to IIT Bombay, and later to the U.S. for further studies. She worked much on the problem of elementary particle physics and field theory, where her most important contribution came in understanding antimatter and phenomenology. Some famous works include the “Drees-Godbole Effect”, which was a prediction that affected the design of this newest generation of particle colliders.
Apart from her research work, Godbole was also intensely involved in India’s participation with the CERN accelerator in Geneva for designing and developing the same. Her contribution towards the physics community of the world kept her as one of the most sought-after speakers, particularly on issues concerning women in science. She was a Fellow of India’s three national science academies and garnered awards like France’s Ordre national du Mérite in 2021.
A Champion for Women in Science
Besides her scholarly achievements, Rohini Godbole became a dogged voice for parity of women in science, striving to remove obstacles from women’s paths into the sciences. She coauthored the landmark report entitled “INSA Report: Access of Indian Women to Careers in Science”, a first-of-its-kind document that has brought into sharp focus the challenges faced by Indian women who pursue careers in science.
She was a pioneering scientist and an outstanding advocate for women in science. Her contributions go beyond the laboratory,” said Dr. Dilip S. Joag, retired professor of physics at Savitribai Phule Pune University. Joag remembered how she would simplify intricate aspects of science for her students and young scientists, which made her a very popular teacher and mentor. She was the joint editor of “Lilavati’s Daughters,” a book containing biographical essays related to Indian women scientists. This book stands out as a kind of milestone for spreading awareness about the accomplishments and hardships faced by women scientists in the nation. The drive for equal opportunities accorded to women in science remains one of Godbole’s key areas of activism. Godbole fought against biases in academia, articulately speaking on this topic until recent times.
She spoke about hidden biases at every opportunity. She believed that more men needed to get involved in the conversation about equality,” said Dr. Ritesh K. Singh, a former student of Godbole and associate professor at IISER Kolkata.
Tributes Pour In
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mourned her on social media, saluting her for pushing for more women in science: “Pained by the passing away of Rohini Godbole Ji. Her academic efforts will continue to guide the coming generations.”
The Congress president also condoled her death as “a staunch advocate for equal opportunities for women in science, highly respected teacher.” He further added that Godbole’s contributions as a physicist and educator have left an indelible mark on the scientific community.
Legacy of Advocacy
Godbole’s activism also extended beyond gender equity. She spoke powerfully about biases that affect not just women but other disadvantaged groups in academia. During the 2023 convocation at IISER Kolkata, where she was the chief guest, she gave a stirring talk on the need to address biases in science: “I don’t want to blame anyone, but we need to face these issues together.”.
According to Professor Shobhona Sharma, Chairperson of the Inter-Academy Panel of Women in STEM, Godbole was among the earliest voices that took up the issue of the “leaky pipeline” of women leaving science after years of hard work and academic success. She, along with her colleagues, advocated policy interventions to bring in transparency in hiring and the inclusion of women in decision-making committees.
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Honoring a Life Dedicated to Science and Equality
As the world mourns Rohini Godbole, her legacy-as a physicist and a gender equity champion-will continue to inspire generations to come. Her work in particle physics, at the forefront of gender advocacy, and as a teacher leaves a lasting impact on both the scientific community and the ongoing efforts toward equality in the fields of STEM. Rohini Godbole’s lifelong work stands as a constant testament to her love for both science and social justice.
To this effect, she received the following awards with merit: the Padma Shri, Ordre national du Mérite, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Karnataka Science and Technology Department.
