This anthology deals with the lives and works of eleven scientists in various fields: J. C. Bose in the Physical and Life Sciences, P. C. Ray, S. S. Bhatnagar in Chemistry, C. V. Raman, S. N. Bose and M. N. Saha in Theoretical and Experimental Physics, S. Ramanujam in Mathematics, H. J. Bhabha in Nuclear Physics, Vikram Sarabhai in Space Research, Birbal Sahni in Paleobotany, Salim Ali in Ornithology. The author also chronicles the growth and development of modern scientific culture in India. No similar collection of biographies is available.