Long Answer Questions — 5 Marks Each

Answer: The text presents substantial evidence of scientific achievement: advanced particle-physics work, study under Blackett, work on cosmic rays, a major contribution involving pi-mesons, a Nobel nomination and appointments at leading Indian institutions. Yet it also states that she received no awards during her lifetime and remained on the periphery of public scientific acclaim. This contrast is central to the biography.

Answer: Bibha first appears as a ‘beam of light’ because she opens a path in a male-dominated field. Her example later becomes a source of inspiration for modern women scientists. In 2019 a star is literally named ‘Bibha’, linking her memory with light in the sky. The final word ‘beacon’ completes the image by presenting her life as guidance for future generations.

Answer: The writer uses Bibha as part of the historical foundation and then shifts to women such as Ritu Karidhal Srivastava and the many women involved in Chandrayaan-3. This comparison shows institutional and social change: women move from being exceptional outsiders to visible technical leaders. The connection also turns Bibha’s legacy into an ongoing story rather than a closed biography.