conferred the title: Padma Bhusan by the Government of India. Professor (Mrs.) Chatterjee has been the recipient of scores of awards and laurels from prestigious National and International Organizations. As a Scientist-Academia, she was nominated twice by the President of India as a member of the Parliament (Rajya Sabha) (1982,1984).
Professor (Mrs.) Chatterjee, along with her scores of research students and associates has made significant contributions in the fields of alkaloids, terpenoids, polyphenolics, and in structural and mechanistic Organic Chemistry. Her pioneering work on the alkaloids of Rauwolfia, Alstonia, Kopsia, Rhazya and Vinca, has made immense impact on researches that followed in the field of indole alkaloids (novel 5a-pregnane derivatives) from Apocynaceae and Buxaceae. In terpenoids, she provided cutting-edge methods of transformation and correlation of their different skeletal patterns, e.g. through catalytic rearrangements and synthesis. Coumarins of the Rutaceae, Umbelliferae, Compositae and Euphorbiaceae, are yet another group of natural products which bear the imprint of her contributions. Mechanistic studies, e.g. acid-catalysed hydramine fission reaction, constitute yet another of her contribution which has been cited in text book of Organic Chemistry (I. L. Finar).
A large number of students have obtained their Ph.D. and D.Sc. degrees under her guidance, many of whom are now occupying topmost and senior positions in academia and industry in India and abroad. I am one of those privileged pupils who have been receiving her ceaseless and bountiful grace.
Professor (Mrs.) Chatterjee has published more than 350 original papers in internationally reputed scientific journals and 20 review articles in peer-reviewed serial volumes. As the principal author she has compiled (in six volumes) the Treatise on Indian Medicinal Plants, under the aegis of the Publication and Information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi.
In recent years, she has been devoting a considerable period of her time for drug development (alternative medicine) from natural sources. The antiepileptic drug Ayush-56, from Marsilia minuta and Nardostachys jatamansi; and the antimalarial, Ayush-64, a combination of four herbs, have been patented by the Central Council of Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), Union Ministry of Health, Government of India. Since the beginning of her academic pursuit, she dreamed of establishing an Institute for research and development of Ayurvedic medicines based on Indian medicinal plants. Her mission has now been fulfilled by the generous grants from the State and the Union Government. The Institute is located at Salt Lake City, Kolkata.
Professor (Mrs.) Chatterjee has travelled far and wide in connection with dissemination of the fruit of her research to world – community. She has participated in international Scientific Symposia and Conferences many times as the Leader of Indian delegation and as a distinguished invited speaker.
Professor (Mrs.) Chatterjee loves to spend her leisure time with her present and erstwhile students discussing their interest, problems, and in inculcating new ideas in them. By her grace, she has made herself adorable to all her students. Her life is a unique example of commitment and harmony between the professional and the private life. Her only child, Julie; and son-in-law,
