Mr Pramatha Nath Bose (12 May 1855–27 April 1934)

Indian geologist and palaeontologist. Bose was born in Gaipur, India and spent his early education in the local village school. He later secured the Gilchrist Scholarship for talented Indian students to study in England, travelling to England in 1874 and staying nearly 6 years. In England, Bose studied botany, zoology, geology, physical geography and logic, graduating in 1877 from London University. Excelling in geology, after graduating he briefly joined the Royal School of Mines. Much of Bose's life (23 years) was dedicated to the Geological Survey of India (GSI) which he joined in 1880 having been appointed by the Secretary of State. In this endeavour he surveyed numerous regions of India and was the first to introduce the study of micro-sections to aid petrological work. In 1882 Bose married Kamala Dutt. He is credited with the discovery of petroleum in Assam. Victorian racial prejudice prevented him being appointed Director of the GSI and consequently he resigned on 1 December 1903. Bose subsequently worked as State Geologist for Mayurbhanj State. In 1882 Bose married Kamala Dutt.