Anna Mani: Google celebrates 104th birth anniversary of Indian physicist and meteorologist

Throughout the ’50s, Mani published several papers on sustainable energy measurement, making her one of the earliest advocates for sustainable energy in India. (Photo: World Meteorological Organisation)

Born in 1918 in Peermade, Kerala, Mani initially wanted to pursue dancing, but opted for a career in physics instead because of her interest in the subject. She was an avid reader from childhood; she had read almost every book at her local library by an early age.

In 1940, Mani won a scholarship for research at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Here, she studied spectroscopy under Nobel Laureate Sir C V Raman, specialising in diamonds and rubies. After this, she headed to London’s Imperial College in 1945, where she would specialise in meteorological instrumentation.

Mani returned to India and began working at the IMD in 1948. She took special interest in developing indigenous infrastructure for weather forecasting in India, and by 1953, she was the head of the division. More than 100 weather instruments were simplified and standardised for production under her.

Throughout the ’50s, Mani published several papers on sustainable energy measurement, making her one of the earliest advocates for sustainable energy in India. Later, she established a company that manufactured solar and wind energy devices.

Mani also held important positions in the United Nations World Meteorological Organisation. She won the INSA K R Ramanathan Medal for her remarkable contributions to science in 1987.

Mani passed away on August 16, 2001 in Thiruvananthapuram. On her 100th birth anniversary in 2018, the World Meteorological Organisation published her profile and interview, in recognition of her legacy.