Taking things easy, refusing to bother about adverse criticism, as is typical of him, Niradbabu will cross the century mark on Sunday. To live a hundred years is no mean feat. But Nirad Chaudhuri has not merely stayed alive. He has defied age, proving his to be as alert a mind as ever, in spite of his obvious physical fragility. His determination and courage of conviction has helped him to take both suffering and success in his stride.

Short, frail but power-packed, Nirad C. Chaudhuri drew sustenance from varied sources. Down the years, his sensitive mind has had much to do with nature. An open view to the horizon, copses of trees, marshland and especially rivers enchanted him. He also enjoyed the patter of rain, as he records in the earlier part of The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian. He retained his contact with nature even when he was in Delhi. His strolls in the Qudesia and Nicholson Gardens near his Mori Gate residence, which were something of an institution, let him enjoy the lush green open spaces of old-world Delhi. His love for growing things prompted him to take upon himself the task of tending some pots of cacti. Later, at Oxford, his attention turned to more mainstream gardening, particularly the cultivation of roses.

Music also contributed substantially to shaping his sensibility. His affinity for the Western classical tradition is well known. But perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that he was moved by the music of nature. This became evident in a minor but significant incident which this writer was witness to at his home in Oxford. He had turned on his newly-acquired music system and it was playing a Tagore number. At a particular point he asked: ``Don't you think the sound here brings to mind the splashing of water against boats? I somehow get a feeling here as though I were crossing the Meghna, as I used to do in my younger days, on my way to my maternal uncle's house.'' Clearly, Niradbabu responded to music in an intensely personal manner.

A keen power of observation, combined with an intense urge for knowledge, led to the development of an encyclopedic mind -- most certainly a great asset in his line of work. In the course of a wide-ranging discussion that evening at Oxford, which spanned the gamut from music to food, it ultimately took a turn to matters relating to physical fitness. Referring to his regular morning walks, he mentioned an unusual curiosity on his part which resulted in a queer encounter.

He narrated how, while out for a stroll one morning, he stopped at a point where his attention was attracted by an interesting structure across the road. Stylistically, it appeared to differ substantially from neighbouring houses. He was watching, intrigued, when a car drove out from the gates of the house and stopped near him. The gentleman in the driver's seat enquired if he could be of help. Niradbabu explained, and was invited to go in and wait awhile. The gentleman needed to go out on some work but he would be right back, and they could discuss the matter over tea. Niradbabu kept his appointment and his surmise of a Tudor influence on the house proved to be correct. I recalled seeing, a short while earlier in his study, an entry by Niradbabu in a volume on architecture. Obviously, his curiosity was not entirely disinterested -- it was immediately translated into available, usable knowledge.

May this world citizen, this leading intellect of the century, continue to enthrall and inspire us all for many more years of meaningful life.