Prof. CNR Rao is a living legend. Einstein paid a compliment to Mahatma Gandhi on his 70th birthday. He said "Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth". At Prof. Rao's 85th birthday, I would like to repeat these words.

Prof. Rao is not an individual, he is an institution, he is a phenomenon. I feel lucky that our generations could see him, touch him, feel him, experience him, learn from him and get inspired by him.

I have watched Prof. Rao as a scientist, as a science leader, as a science institution builder and indeed as a leader of leaders of science. I have also watched him as a wonderful warm hearted human being with abundance of empathy. I have seen his child like enthusiasm. I have watched him as 'courage personified'.

Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, FRS

National Research Professor