Marie Curie
Technical Data
| Stamp Set | Birth Centenary |
|---|---|
| Date of Issue | November 6, 1968 |
| Denomination | 20 nP |
| Quantity | 2,000,000 |
| Perforation | comb 14¾ x 14¼ |
| Printer | Security Printing Press, Nashik |
| Watermark | No Watermark |
| Colors | Lilac |
| Catalog Codes |
Michel IN 460 Stamp Number IN 476 Yvert et Tellier IN 259 Stanley Gibbons IN 574 |
| Themes | Anniversaries and Jubilees | Chemists | Discoverers | Famous people | Nobel Laureates | Physicists | Scientists | Women |
Marie Curie holds a distinguished position among the world’s great scientists, but it was her unwavering dedication to her life’s mission that truly set her apart. She had the rare distinction of being awarded the Nobel Prize twice, first in 1903 jointly with her husband, and again in 1911. As the co-discoverer of radium and radioactivity, she played a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for the atomic age.
Marie Sklodowska was born in Poland on November 7, 1867, to a professor of Physics in Warsaw. Despite facing financial hardships, she was determined to pursue higher studies in France, where she ultimately found herself immersed in her pursuit of knowledge. It was in Paris that she found a kindred spirit and collaborator in the young physicist, Pierre Curie. Their shared scientific interests and lofty ideals blossomed into a deep friendship and culminated in marriage in 1895.
Together, their most significant scientific achievement was the isolation of the radioactive elements polonium and radium from pitchblende ore. This arduous process, carried out with improvised tools in their backyard, required months of painstaking work and perseverance. Even after the tragic loss of her husband in 1906, Madame Curie remained undeterred in her scientific pursuits, eventually assuming the physics chair at Paris, a position previously held by Pierre.
The legacy of scientific inquiry continued through Madame Curie’s daughter, Irene, and her husband, Joliot, who made significant contributions to the field, including the discovery of artificial radioactivity for which they were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1935. Madame Curie lived to witness her family’s third Nobel Prize, a testament to their enduring dedication to science.
As the world celebrates Madame Curie’s birth centenary, the Indian P&T Department is proud to honor her contributions by issuing a commemorative stamp in her name. Madame Curie’s life and work serve as an inspiration to scientists and aspiring minds around the globe, transcending national boundaries and reminding us of the universal pursuit of knowledge and discovery.