Women in Modern Indian Astronomy

Kamala Sohonie was the first Indian woman to earn a doctorate in astronomy in 1949 from the University of Michigan.

Manju Bansal discovered comet C/2000 U5 (Bansal) in 2000, becoming the first Indian woman to discover a comet.

Meera Gupta was the first Indian woman to become the Director of an astronomical observatory, the Ujjain Observatory, in 1971.

Jayanti Patel was the first Indian woman to be elected as the President of the Astronomical Society of India in 1995.

Aruna Bhatnagar was the first Indian woman to be awarded the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology in Astronomy in 1973.

Kamala Sohonie was the first Indian woman to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1956.

Kamala Sohonie was the first Indian woman to be awarded the prestigious Padma Shri award for her contributions to astronomy in 1961.

Jayanti Patel was the first Indian woman to be awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan award for her contributions to astronomy in 2001.

Aruna Bhatnagar was the first Indian woman to be awarded the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award for her contributions to astronomy in 2005.

Kamala Sohonie was the first Indian woman to be elected as a member of the International Astronomical Union in 1958.

Kamala Sohonie was the first Indian woman to be elected as a member of the American Astronomical Society in 1959.

Kamala Sohonie was the first Indian woman to be elected as a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 1960.

Kamala Sohonie was the first Indian woman to be elected as a member of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific in 1961.

Kamala Sohonie was the first Indian woman to be elected as a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1962.

Kamala Sohonie was the first Indian woman to be elected as a member of the Indian National Science Academy in 1963.