KOLKATA: Eminent scientist Asima Chatterjee died at a nursing home here on Thursday following old age complications, her daughter Julie Banerjee said.

A recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 1975, Chatterjee, 90, was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1982 to 1990 and was the first woman to be appointed general president of the Indian Science Congress in 1975.

A scholar in pure chemistry, Chatterjee received the S S Bhatnagar award (1961), C V Raman Award of the UGC (1962), and P C Ray award (1974) for her research and contribution to the subject.

A first class second from Calcutta University, Chatterjee began her teaching career as the founder head of the department of chemistry in Lady Brabourne College in 1940.

In 1945, Chatterjee joined Calcutta University and taught till retirement in 1982.

Chatterjee received all-round praise for her DSC thesis - Indol-Alkaloids and Coumarin of Indian Medicinal Plants – and later received honorary DSC degrees from Benaras Hindu University as also the universities of Burdwan, Kalyani and Vidyasagar.

She also received fellowships from Watumull University, US in 1948-49 and International Science Academy in 1960.

Her mortal remains were consigned to flames at the Keoratala burning ghat this afternoon.