Bagdogra girl Sanchita makes India proud

Dr. Sanchita Shil

Prashant Acharya, EOI, Siliguri, 6 August 2014: An innovative idea is the mantra behind every success story and this has been proved by a young scientist from Bagdogra. Dr. Sanchita Shil, from a middle-class family, and her senior, Dr Umapathy, have developed a ground-breaking non-invasive technique to identify explosive and hazardous chemicals hidden inside containers, including non-metallic ones such as envelopes, plastics and coloured bottles.

Sanchita and Umapathy have developed a portable, easy-to-operate table-top setup that helps detect explosive materials, and according to the duo, it can come of good use to the police and armed forces. Titled 'Universal Multiple Angle Raman Spectroscopy' (UMARS), the technology is based on the Raman spectroscopy platform and explores the molecular signatures of the liquid being carried without the bottle being opened. UMRAS will be very handy in airports, railway stations, bus stations and ports.

Sanchita, an alumnus of Bengdubi Army School, was very sharp in her studies and always nursed a dream to become a scientist and make her country proud. Presently working at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Sanchita says, “I never dreamed about success, I worked for it. India does not have dearth of talent. Premier institutes such as IISc, IITs and IISERs are at par with other global institutes. We need to provide better resources to our universities and colleges and offer quality education right from the school level.

Bagdogra resident Vishal Giri, a close friend of Sanchita’s, marveled at how his chum “has made us proud by gaining such fame and name”.

Sanchita was very talented and skilled since her school days and very down-to-earth at the same time. She always used to talk about creative ideas while other friends remained busy making plans for movies,” recalls Giri.

Sanchita’s father, Dr NK Shil, a dentist, is over the moon as his daughter has made India proud. He said her daughter was unusually sharp since her childhood days.