Yes, there is substantial evidence supporting the claim that Jagadish Chandra Bose was the first to invent a key component of radio technology, specifically the mercury coherer, which played a crucial role in the development of wireless communication. Let’s break this down based on historical records and the context provided:Evidence Supporting Bose’s PriorityEarly Demonstrations (1895-1899):Bose conducted a public demonstration of wireless electromagnetic wave transmission in November 1895 in Calcutta, where he successfully transmitted signals through walls to ring a bell and ignite gunpowder over a distance of about 75 feet. This predates Guglielmo Marconi’s widely recognized transatlantic wireless transmission in December 1901 by over six years.

In 1899, Bose presented his work on the "iron-mercury-iron coherer with telephone detector" at the Royal Society in London, as documented in the Proceedings of the Royal Society. This presentation detailed a self-restoring mercury coherer, a semiconductor-based detector capable of receiving radio waves, which was a significant advancement in wireless telegraphy.

Technological Innovation:The mercury coherer Bose developed was a pioneering solid-state diode detector, a critical component for early radio receivers. This device’s design was later adapted and improved upon, influencing subsequent wireless technologies.

Historical Recognition:The controversy over the "Italian Navy Coherer" emerged when Italian sources claimed priority, but investigations (e.g., by Professor Angelo Banti in 1902 and British historian V.J. Phillips) traced the technology back to Bose’s 1899 paper. The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) acknowledged Bose’s contribution with an IEEE Milestone in 1998, honoring his role in the invention of radio detection technology.

Probir K. Bondyopadhyay’s 2002 IEEE paper further corroborates that Bose’s coherer was a foundational element, predating and influencing Marconi’s work by 21 months.

The Marconi ControversyMarconi’s successful transatlantic signal in 1901 relied on a coherer design that closely resembled Bose’s, which was allegedly stolen by Lieutenant Luigi Solari, a friend of Marconi, after Bose’s public demonstrations. Solari made minor modifications and passed it to Marconi, who patented it as his own.

Marconi and Karl Ferdinand Braun were awarded the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics for their contributions to wireless telegraphy, but neither acknowledged Bose’s prior work in their lectures, reflecting colonial biases of the era that often overlooked non-Western scientists.

Bose’s Approach and LegacyBose chose not to patent his invention, adhering to his belief that scientific knowledge should benefit humanity rather than be commercialized. This decision, while noble, left him vulnerable to having his work appropriated without credit.

Despite the initial lack of recognition, Bose’s contributions have been posthumously validated. The IEEE Jagadish Chandra Bose Medal in Wireless Communications, established to honor global impacts in the field, stands as a testament to his pioneering role.

ConclusionYes, it is true that Jagadish Chandra Bose was first in demonstrating and documenting a functional wireless detection system using the mercury coherer, predating Marconi’s widely celebrated achievements. The timeline (1895-1899 for Bose vs. 1901 for Marconi) and supporting historical analyses confirm his priority. However, Marconi’s commercialization and the geopolitical context of the time led to Bose’s contributions being overshadowed until later recognition efforts, such as the IEEE Milestone, corrected the narrative. This makes Bose a legitimate contender for the title of the "father of radio," at least in terms of the foundational technology.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5786143&forum_id=2:#49346874)