I consider it my biggest fortune that I joined this Institute, worked with three of the best groups in TIFR, Mathematics, Radio Astronomy and Molecular Biology and that the longest was with NCBS. We have heard lot of similarities or things they did alike - Prof Swarup and Prof Siddiqi. Both had a formidable reputation both in TIFR and outside, and depending on whom you talked to in TIFR, you were told it will be great to work with them, or no don’t work with them. And not to work with them was only because, I was told, they are very demanding taskmasters . I had fortunately worked closely with both Professors Swarup and Siddiqi at a crucial time in their respective large projects, and what I gained and learned from them is formidable. While Prof Swarup will get into lot of details, Prof Siddiqi always kept to the large picture, and some broad principles. Prof Swarup will tell me anything from SC/ST roster to what percentage to add for escalation when we make project estimates. And this was very helpful for me in that stage of my career. Professor Siddiqi will leave out all details and expect you to do a good job of whatever one does. Both NCBS (then called Centre for Fundamental Research in Biological Sciences) and GMRT (now part of NCRA) were approved with a projection of Rs.18 crores, in 7th and 8th Plans respectively, and both the projects were completed at a similar revised higher cost. Another similarity I must mention is that both identified a Vijay each – Vijay Kapahi and VijayRaghavan - to take forward their respective projects and set up their national centres! The massive 45 m dia antennae, networks and remote control of this constellation of 40 antennae across an area of 25 x 25 km was massive by any standard. The sight of it coming up, linking them up with optical fibre cables – all with unique ideas and solutions were unmatched. The growth of NCBS and along with that, what we now call Bangalore Bio Cluster (inStem and C-CAMP) and the massive growth, outstanding people all around, varied activities in any part of the Centre are all exhilarating. Something I had never imagined when Professor Siddiqi was in Bangalore and I helped him procure a Suvey of India map of Bangalore ( in 1988 – I was transferred to Bangalore in 1990 to work for NCBS), before deciding on the present location for NCBS. On 2 January 2012 at the function to celebrate 80 years of Professor Siddiqi and 20 years of NCBS, the presence of Professor B.V. Sreekantan who was Director of the Institute when these proposals were submitted to the Govt of India initially, and who must have made considerable efforts to get these approved and initiate these activities, and Professor Swarup were most appropriate. NCBS and NCRA were the largest projects that TIFR took up – and both outside Mumbai. I remember the comments made by many people when I left NCRA for NCBS as to why I was leaving the large world of telescopes and galaxies for the small world of microscopes and molecular biology. I have been fortunate that I made the move from Mathematics group, to Radio Astronomy, and then to Biology as this was the best – as I found each group that I moved to be better than the previous one. As a group I have found this group with full of energy and enthusiasm and always looking for ways to improve . And to know that the group even now remains very open, with lot of camaraderie, that differences are discussed, and decisions accepted by everyone with grace is I believe largely due to the legacy that Prof. Siddiqi left behind in this place. Professor Siddiqi, I had often felt, is like an artist with a phenomenal mind and a brush in his hand. The greatest lesson I have learned working with scientists is passion and commitment to their work and goals. And the ability to quit from something if they realize that it will not work, and go on to the next task immediately. Prof Siddiqi always insisted that not only the goals are important but also the means, and he always stuck to it. There were occasions I felt I will take a short cut to get something done, but he will never allow it. Professor Siddiqi always did things quite systematically, and we had never seen him doing anything in a hurry. And to do such multiple things in such a passionate and systematic manner and do them so well, as we have seen him and as we have been hearing for the last 2 days, has left a deep impression on all of us. He is one of those few people who practiced what he professed in all activities that he was involved. My interactions with Mrs Siddiqi – Asiya – were limited. However, I always looked forward to it. There was some bit of history I gathered whenever I met her leisurely – she would have conveyed something about Vasco da Gama, or about how grains were transported from one part of India to another on head before the railways came. I wish both of them many more years of long and active life.