I have always thought it a great privilege to have as my

When C. V. Raman, Nobel Laureate and one of India’s greatest scientists, declared, “I have always thought it a great privilege to have as my colleague in the Palit Chair of Chemistry such a distinguished pioneer in scientific research and education in Bengal as Sir Prafulla Ray. It has been invariably my experience that I could count on his cooperation and sympathy in every matter concerning my scientific work,” he was not merely offering polite tribute. He was revealing the profound bond that exists between great minds when they labor not in rivalry, but in cooperation and sympathy. His words stand as a testament to the power of fellowship in the pursuit of truth.

The essence of Raman’s declaration is that science is not the achievement of solitary genius alone, but of men and women who support, encourage, and uplift one another. He recognized in Sir Prafulla Chandra Ray, the pioneer chemist often called the “Father of Indian Chemistry,” not merely a scholar, but a companion who shared his burdens and magnified his strengths. To call it a “privilege” to labor alongside Ray is to affirm that greatness grows greater when it is nourished by humility and mutual respect.

The word sympathy here is not shallow sentiment but the deep understanding of one scientist for another. It is the recognition of shared struggles, the patience with failed experiments, the joy in small discoveries, the common dedication to the cause of knowledge. Raman teaches us that sympathy in intellectual life is as essential as courage in battle; for without it, the mind grows cold, isolated, and brittle. With it, however, the spirit of discovery flourishes like a tree watered by hidden springs.

History bears witness to this principle. Recall the partnership of Madame Curie and her husband Pierre, who, through their shared devotion, uncovered the secrets of radioactivity. It was not one alone but two in harmony, encouraging each other through hardship, that advanced science for humanity. So too in Bengal, Ray and Raman exemplified the truth that knowledge expands not in isolation but in the warm light of fellowship.

The deeper meaning of Raman’s words is also national and cultural. At a time when India was striving to assert its intellectual independence under colonial rule, the collaboration of such men embodied a heroic ideal: that science in India was not a pale echo of Europe, but a living, creative force, capable of producing pioneers and Nobel laureates alike. To recognize the distinction of Ray was to affirm the dignity of Indian scholarship and the unity of its scientific community.

The lesson, O seekers of wisdom, is this: cherish those who labor beside you. Count it a privilege to walk with men and women of vision, for their cooperation and sympathy will shape not only your work but also your soul. Do not see colleagues as rivals, but as companions in the great journey of creation. For one lamp may shine brightly, but many lamps together illuminate the world.

Practical action lies here: in your own work—whether in science, in art, or in daily life—seek to cultivate cooperation rather than competition. Offer sympathy when others falter, share joy when others succeed, and recognize the greatness of those around you. In this way, your own achievements will not be diminished but magnified, for the power of fellowship transforms individual effort into a legacy that endures.

Therefore, let Raman’s words echo in your heart: it is a privilege to labor beside the noble, and it is a sacred duty to return cooperation and sympathy in kind. For when hearts unite in purpose, even the hardest of labors becomes light, and the discoveries of the mind become gifts to all of humanity. This is the eternal law of fellowship: that greatness shared is greatness multiplied.