Prof Rao said he visited the Nobel prize-winning scientist's (C. V. Raman) laboratory in Bengaluru first as an 11 year-old school boy. He was the first to recognize my interest in science and has given me a lot of encouragement. He made me a member of the Indian Academy of Sciences when I was only 30. I can never be equal to him.
Quoted in "CNR Rao: Bharat finds a jewel in science".