வடகரை

I will have to start with a quote. ‘I was then eighteen. While working on an experiment, I failed, and was about to throw a certain black residue away when I thought it might be interesting. The solution of it resulted in a strangely beautiful colour. You know the rest.’ An 18-year-old boy, with none of the modern-day gauging equipment, discovered a colour that changed the world of chemistry from theoretical, experimental studies to a world industry. The prospect of wealth through chemistry gave birth not only to the artificial colours but changed the world of modern medicines, perfumes, explosives, Canned food preservatives, photography and many more. Outside the home where he born, the following is written in a plaque “Sir William Henry Perkin, FRS, discovered the first aniline dyestuff, March 1856, while working in his home laboratory on this site, and went on to found science-based industry.” I emphasize the important words – “went on to found science-based industry”. Wh...