The Legacy of the Nobel Prize: How Alfred Nobel Turned a Controversy into a Gift for Humanity

The Legacy of the Nobel Prize: From Alfred Nobel’s Vision to Global Honor

By Dr. Syeda Sadaf Akbar

The Nobel Prize stands as one of the world’s most prestigious and respected honors—an emblem of human achievement that transcends nations, cultures, and centuries. It symbolizes excellence, innovation, and service to humanity. But behind this global recognition lies the remarkable story of one man: Alfred Nobel—an inventor, engineer, chemist, and visionary whose life was as fascinating as it was paradoxical.

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Alfred Nobel spent most of his life in Russia, where his father ran an engineering workshop. From an early age, Nobel displayed an extraordinary curiosity about science, particularly in the fields of chemistry and mechanics. Over his lifetime, he registered more than 335 patents, each contributing to technological advancement in various ways. Yet, one invention in particular—dynamite—would forever define his legacy, both positively and controversially.

Through his inventions, Nobel amassed enormous wealth. By the time of his death, his fortune was estimated at over 186 million U.S. dollars in today’s value—a staggering sum for the 19th century. However, despite his success, Nobel lived a life marked by solitude and introspection. The turning point came when a French newspaper mistakenly published his obituary, calling him “The Merchant of Death” and criticizing his role in creating explosives. The harsh words deeply affected Nobel, prompting him to reflect on how he would be remembered after his real death.

Determined to redefine his legacy, Alfred Nobel made a decision that changed history. In his will, he dedicated the vast majority of his fortune to establishing a series of prizes to honor those who contributed most to humanity in five key fields: Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, and Peace. It was his way of transforming a life associated with destruction into one symbolizing creation and progress.

After his death in 1896, Nobel’s will faced legal challenges and bureaucratic hurdles. Yet in 1897, the Nobel Foundation was formally established to manage his bequest. The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901, marking the beginning of a tradition that continues to this day.

To ensure fairness and expertise, Nobel’s trustees created separate institutions responsible for selecting laureates in each category:

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences was entrusted with Physics and Chemistry.

The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm took charge of the Medicine or Physiology award.

The Swedish Academy became responsible for the Literature prize.

And for the Peace Prize, Nobel’s will specified that it should be awarded by a five-member committee appointed by the Norwegian Parliament—a decision that reflected his trust in Norway’s neutrality.


Every year, the process begins in October, when committees announce the new Nobel laureates. Then, on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, the world celebrates the official Nobel Prize Award Ceremony. Each laureate receives a gold medal, a diploma, and a monetary grant from the Nobel Foundation, in recognition of their contribution to the advancement of knowledge or peace.

The very first Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded in 1901, went to Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen of Germany for his discovery of X-rays—a discovery that revolutionized medicine and diagnostics. Over time, the Nobel Prize has celebrated thousands of brilliant minds and groundbreaking works that have reshaped human civilization.

Among the laureates, a few names shine with exceptional brilliance. John Bardeen, for example, remains the only person to have won the Nobel Prize in Physics twice, for his work on semiconductors and superconductivity. Marie Curie, another legendary figure, was the first woman ever to win a Nobel Prize—and the only person in history to receive it in two different scientific disciplines: Physics (1903) and Chemistry (1911).

So far, only three women have received the Nobel Prize in Physics:

Marie Curie (1903),

Maria Goeppert Mayer (1963), and

Donna Strickland (2018).


Their achievements highlight both the challenges and triumphs of women in science, breaking barriers that once seemed insurmountable.

However, the Nobel Prize’s history has not been without interruption. During the Second World War, from 1939 to 1943, no prizes were awarded in any category due to global conflict and instability. Yet even in silence, the Nobel spirit endured—resurfacing after the war with renewed vigor and relevance.

In 1968, another major milestone occurred. The Central Bank of Sweden (Sveriges Riksbank) established a new prize in Economic Sciences, officially known as The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. This addition expanded Nobel’s original five categories to six, further enriching the prize’s global influence.

Over more than a century, the Nobel Prize has evolved into a symbol of intellectual and moral excellence. Its recipients—scientists, writers, doctors, activists, and leaders—represent the very best of humanity’s capacity for progress. From discovering life-saving medicines to fostering world peace, from unraveling atomic mysteries to crafting timeless literature, each laureate adds a new chapter to Nobel’s enduring vision.

Today, as we look back, Alfred Nobel’s life offers a profound lesson: true greatness lies not only in invention, but in intention. He turned personal guilt into a gift for generations to come. The Nobel Prize, therefore, is not merely an award—it is a reminder that one individual’s decision to do good can illuminate the entire world.

And every December, when the golden medals are handed to the new laureates under the glittering chandeliers of Stockholm and Oslo, Alfred Nobel’s dream lives on—a dream of a better, wiser, and more peaceful humanity.