Prafulla Kumar Bose obtained his DSc degree (1927) from the University of Calcutta. His specialization was in organic chemistry. He was Deputy Director, Drugs and Dressings, Directorate General, Indian Medical Service; Director, Indian Lac Research Institute, Ranchi; Head, Department of Chemistry; Joint Director, Bose Institute; and Emeritus Scientist, CSIR.

Academic and Research Achievements: Bose's research interests lay in the chemistry of natural products, particularly in diterpenes, triterpenes, coumarins and alkaloids. He also took up the problem of chemonastic substances in Mimosa pudica Linn, a project in which he and his coworkers worked till 1960. Their investigations showed that the problem required a more rigorous biochemical approach. So, besides the structural work on plant constituents, the biochemical and physical properties of natural products engaged his attention. He also investigated the antibiotic properties of some natural products. He wrote a monograph, namely Indian Lac.

Other Contributions: Bose edited the journal Annals of Biochemistry and Experimental Medicine (now Indian Journal of Biochemistry & Biophysics).

Awards and Honours: Bose received HK Sen Memorial Medal (1957); Nagarjuna Medal; and Mouat Medal of University of Calcutta. He was conferred on the PC Ray Memorial Lectureship (1960).