BIOGRAPHY OF ALFRED NOBEL

ALFRED NOBEL

There are very few such uniquely talented persons in the

world, whose whole wealth and power are dedicated to humanity.

This is also one of the illusions that a scientist belongs to

one nation only. The matter of fact is that a scientist dedicates

his life in search of truth and paves the way for the good of the

whole humanity. Alfred Nobel was one such scientist who

consigned his life and property to the search of truth and

dedicated through his will his unlimited wealth to the scientists

and to those who carried the messages of peace of the world.

The huge wealth of Alfred Nobel is safe and secure with the

Nobel Trust Foundation, with the interest of which the most

prestigious award of the world. The Nobel Prize, is awarded on

the 10th December every year to the most respectable and established

scientists for their meritorious contributions. This prize

is awarded for special contributions to Physics, Chemistry,

Medical science, literature and the cause of peace. Economics

has also been included in the list of subjects of prize since 1969.

In memory of Nobel Alfred this prize was given for the first

time in 1901, the lucky recipients of which were W.K. Saint, in

Physics for the research of X-Ray, Jeen H Dunent in the field of

peace and Fredrick Paasee, for Suli, Proodhom in the field of

literature, J.H. Van’t Hoff in Chemistry, E.A. Wan Beharing for

Medical Science. The first lady scientist to receive this prize

was Mary Suevy of France who also won this prize separately

in the fields of Physics and Chemistry. Mary Suevy comes of a

family which has won five Nobel Prizes in two consecutive

generations. So far, three Indians have been honoured with this

award,

viz. Ravindra Nath Tagore (1913, in literature), C.V.

Raman (1930 in Physics) and Mother Teressa (1979 in peace).

Besides them, two Indian scientists having foreign citizenship

have been awarded this prize—Har Govind Khurana and

Subrahmanyam Chandra Shekhar.

Alfred Nobel, the father of Dynamite explosive was born on

21st October, 1833 in Stockholm (Sweden). His childhood was

spent in St. Peters Burgh (Leningrad, Russia). His father,

Imenyul Nobel had his industry of Nitro Glycerin in St. Peters

burgh, Nitroglycerine was used as unexplosive. This chemical

was known as Blasting oil those days. Nobel’s father had to

face an unfortunate incident in this industry. In 1859, his firm

became insolvent. He had to return to Sweden, and had to start

production of Nitro-glycerine. But one day, in 1864, there was a

terrible explosion in his factory, in which several working

labourers in his industry died on duty, and Nobel’s youngest

brother Emil also died. The whole building was destroyed. The

Government of Sweden did not give permission for reconstructing

the building. In spite of this, Nobel built a dam on

Malaven lake and continued production. His research work was

concentrated on safe transportation of Nitroglycerine. One day,

all of a sudden, he got success in his object. One day, Alfred, all

of a sudden, found that Nitroglycerine, on being absorbed in a

carbonic packing had changed into a dry substance. By this, the

handling of this explosive was made safe. With this new

research Nobel was successful in manufacturing dynamite. With

this research, Alfred was very much enthused. With this research,

the transportation of dynamite became simple and safe,

because of accidents due to explosion, no transport organisation

was prepared for carrying dynamite. In 1867, he got patent

rights for Britain and in 1868 for America. In 1889 he prepared

smokeless explosive, called Belistite Nobel prepared in all 335

patents, which included artificial rubber, leather and patents of

artificial silk as well. He built a huge factory of explosives in

Boforse. Thus he accumulated, unaccountable money. After the

latest research, the prestige of Nobel’s factory increased,

because with the help of safe explosion by dynamite, the

blasting of rocks was done and roads, bridges etc. began to be

built safely and with great speed lucky as Alfred Nobel was,

one more unexpected thing happened and he was successful in

making another research in 1875.

In 1875, his one finger having been cut a little, Alfred

Nobel, by way of an experiment, he applied Coladian gum on it.

He found that action on Nitroglycerine with Coladian, a sticky

film like substance was produced. Having known that he mixed

Coladian with Nitroglycerine, and heated. With this wonderful

experiment, he came to know that the so produced film like

substance had more explosive power than the dynamite Nobel

named it ‘Dynamite Gun’. Having been successful in the trade

of explosives, Alfred Nobel had the hearty desire that he may

make such a substance or machine the results of which may be

so disastrous that the world may be so much frightened that the

war may be impossible. This desire of Alfred was supported by

his one lady authoress friend in her book. Lay down your

Arm’s. Alfred remained married for his whole life Alfred met

his painful death while examining an explosion on 10th

December 1896. In his will he left his wealth of 9200,000

dollars for rewarding persons who rendered unique and

noteworthy services in the fields of science, literature and

peace. In the beginning of 1901, this prize money was

equivalent to 8 lacs of rupees, and with that a letter of praise

was also given. In 1969, with the concurrence of the National

Bank of Sweden, Economics was added to the subjects on

which prizes were to be awarded. The prize for peace is

distributed in Oslo (Norway) and other prizes are distributed in

Stockholm. (Sweden) on 10th December every year. With the

devaluation of currency, the value of prize money decreased. In

view of the importance of the award, the prize money was

increased, so that the value of the prize may be at par with that

in the beginning in 1901. Stick Romell, President of Nobel

Foundation Trust made this decision to maintain the prestige

and importance of the award. International Redcross Committee

has been awarded this prize for peace three times Jolm Barain,

Mary Curie, Fredrick Senger and Linus Pauling have received

this prize twice each. For helping refugees, the office of High

Commissioner, United Nations has also received twice the

Nobel Prize for peace. The maximum number of Nobel Prizes

have gone to Americans and then come the citizens of Britain.

Alfred Nobel is immortal even 110 years after his death.

because his inventions were for the welfare of humanity. The

indirect contribution of Nobel to the progress in the modern

time is very great, because dynamite is used even today in

making roads, constructing tunnels and dams. Such scientists

remain alive even in their death, and the whole world pays them

homage as their lives are beyond the limits of country, religion

and community. They are dedicated to the whole human race.