Prof. Rohini Godbole passed on October 25, 2024. The world remembered her impactful contributions to particle physics and string theory. While some may call this the legacy of the shining star, there is more. In 2008, she with Ram Ramaswamy stirred up a quiet revolution, which was her life mission. Together, they edited Lilavati’s Daughters which is a compendium of life stories of 100 women scientists of India, an army of unsung hero(in)es. Prof. Godbole, in her inimitable style of humility, would often say that the book was meant to inspire girls to pursue a career in science. The army was meant to give them relatable role models and the book project inadvertently left an indelible mark on young impressionable minds. There was no dearth of credibility in this pursuit as the leading lady, Prof. Godbole, herself had beautifully walked the walk too.
I first read Lilavati’s Daughters as an early career researcher and at that time, I simply kept a list of names who I would emulate. As time passed, my nature of referencing the book changed organically. Now, I scour through the wealth of collective wisdom to answer a common, often vexing, question, “What would any of Lilavati’s daughters have done in <abc> situation?”
Prof. Godbale has indeed given a few generations of women the audacity of hope for successful STEM careers.
Lilavati’s Daughters is available at:
https://www.ias.ac.in/Initiatives/Women_in_Science/Lilavatis_Daughters
https://archive.org/details/A0560IASLeelavathisDaughterFullBook
Artilce by Prof. Jaya Sreevalsan Nair
Department of DSAI
