The internationally acclaimed astrophysicist, Prof Jayant Narlikar, whom I had known as a journalist for the past 35 years, was one of the favourite topics of discussion with my barber, Moinuddin Shaikh.

I live in the vicinity of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), which was established inside the Pune University campus on the Aundh-Khadki Road by Prof Narlikar in 1988. The IUCAA campus had accompanying residential quarters, and many IUCAA scientists, including Prof. Narlikar, would regularly visit Shalimar Hair Dresser—the only average salon on that road in those days.

Shalimar was convenient for me too, and during conversations with Moin in recent years, I picked up, much to my disbelief, that Prof Narlikar was one of his clients. Moin, who could speak only Hindi, had picked up the craft from his father, Abdul Hamid Wajid Ali Shaikh, who was now retired. When Prof Narlikar stopped visiting IUCAA from his Panchavati, Pashan residence, Moin said, his father made a few visits there to attend to him.

Prof. Narlikar’s........

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