"I met Obaid Siddiqi in Bombay, at the TIFR, in 1978 during my first sabbatical visit in India. For more than 30 years I have had the opportunity to observe his devotion to science and his keen mind and his elegant manner. His life’s work in science and his devotion to Indian science are manifest in the scientists he trained, and in the outstanding institution, NCBS, he helped to develop. In the past ten years my wife Anna and I have had the opportunity to be part of the NCBS and to get to know Obaid and Asiya more personally. The scholarly culture they have developed around them have been stimulating to me and Anna, and we have had many inspiring conversations with Obaid and Asiya about science, history, art and culture of the scholarly world they grew up around. We look forward to many more such interactions with them and wish Obaid a very special birthday and many more years to teach, inspire and mentor others and to enjoy his passion for science and culture." --- Jim and Anna Spudich