Dr. Moiz Rasiwala, born in Bombay in 1937, embarked on an
academic journey that has taken him across continents and through a myriad of
scientific pursuits. After completing his B.Sc. in Physics at the University of
Bombay, his thirst for knowledge led him to Heidelberg, Germany, where he
pursued his Master's degree in Physics, specializing in spectroscopy.
It was this specialization that caught the attention of the
National Institute of Scientific Research (CNRS) in France, inviting him to
continue his academic journey with a Ph.D. He joined the Institute of
Astrophysics in Paris and successfully defended his thesis in 1969, marking the
beginning of his fruitful association with CNRS as a research fellow.
Seeking new challenges and opportunities, Dr. Rasiwala
ventured to Algeria, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the Physics
Department at the University of Constantine, the first university established
in independent Algeria. Despite his successful tenure at CNRS, his passion for
his homeland beckoned, leading him to the Tata Institute of Fundamental
Research in Astrophysics upon his return to India.
Together with a few other scientific colleagues, Dr.
Rasiwala got interested in teaching science at an elementary level in rural
public schools, with children about twelve years old. The approach was based on
observation and drawing conclusions or general laws. The government of the
state of Madhya Pradesh gave a free hand in several schools. Books were
developed and the teachers were trained in the new method.
Driven by a sense of adventure and a desire to embrace new
experiences, Dr. Rasiwala, along with his French wife, made the bold decision
to settle in France. In the picturesque region of Midi-Pyrénées, he served as
the Director of the Commission for Research in the local government, based in
the vibrant city of Toulouse.
In 2002, after a distinguished career spanning continents
and disciplines, Dr. Rasiwala retired, leaving behind a legacy of scholarly
contributions. He has authored approximately seven published books, each a
testament to his passion for science and learning.
Join us as we delve into the life and experiences of this
remarkable individual, whose journey is as captivating as the discoveries he
has made along the way.
1.
Could
you please introduce yourself and share with us a bit about your background,
including your family, the place where you were born, and any memorable
experiences from your childhood?
I was born in the city of Bombay (now called Mumbai), India, the first
living child of my parents (my elder brother died before I was born). My father
had a large shop selling cords and string, just opposite of where we lived. My
youth experiences had much to do with the shop, hiding in rope barrels stacked
up, with a hole in the middle.
Ours was a small, well-knit family with only three members. My sister was
born ten years after me, and my brother five years later. I was thus an only
child for ten years. The family was very much attached to our native place,
Kapadvanj, in Gujarat, to the north of Bombay. For a long time, we maintained
close links to Kapadvanj, our uncles and aunties having large mansions there.
We went to there during all our school vacations. The change was great from a
busy city like Bombay and a small place like Kapadvanj. We belonged to the
small Shia Islam community, the “seveners”. The larger part of the Shias
belong, including in Iran, to the “twelver” community, the “Ithna Ashariya”.
Ours being small, was very close-knit, mainly merchants, fairly rich, and
well-educated, including the women. I am named after the Fatimid Imam Al-Mui’zz
li-din Allah, in the tenth century. Imam Mui’zz founded the University Al-Azhar
in Cairo, and established the Fatimid power against the Omayyad dynasty.
2.
Can
you walk us through your educational journey?
I was registered in a private school at the age of four, “maternity” class.
English was the spoken language in the school. Nothing of course concerned
astrophysics at this age.
3.
How
did your professional path unfold, from your early work to your current
position, and what have been some of the most significant milestones along the
way?
My professional path unfolded very gradually. When science was taught as a
distinct subject, physics was my favorite. I always had good grades, in
“science”, specially in physics. Astrophysics was of course not known to me at
that age. The journey started in Bombay itself, with a bachelor’s degree in
science, continued in Heidelberg, Germany with a master’s and ended in Paris,
France with a doctorate. Along the way, I learned to speak German and French,
in addition to English. With two Indian languages, I suppose that I am
multilingual!
4.
What sparked your interest
in writing books and publishing your work?
I was interested in books since my young age.
In school, we got prize for each subject where we got the best marks, and since
I was good in many subjects, I got a lot of prizes, which were always books.
English literature mainly: Shakespeare, Sir Walter Scott, Jane Austen, Charles
Dickens, and so on and so forth. Thus, I ended school with a good collection of
books. Later, as professional scientist, I published in scientific journals, my
thesis specially and several pre-publications.
5.
While
your expertise lies in astrophysics, your published books seem to explore
diverse topics. Could you share the inspiration behind writing books that go
beyond the realm of astrophysics, and how these experiences have enriched your
perspective as an astrophysicist?
Right from childhood, as I wrote above, my interest was shared between
science and literature. When I retired from professional life, at the age of 65
years, I turned back on my first “love”, that of literature. I decided that I
would translate into French, literature from my mother tongue, Gujarati. This
is something that I can give to France, a country which I love. I choose
authors towards the end of the 20th century, the struggle for
independence from the English.
6.
You're
involved in a project called Makkah Calendar. Could you tell us more about this
project and what inspired you to join it?
This was entirely due to Dr Abdelhamid BENTCHIKOU, Algerian, Dean of the
Faculty of Science, in the University of Constantine, whilst I was responsible
for the Department of Physics. Dr Abdelhamid was keenly interested in the
Islamic calendar, and could not understand why, in our age of quick and
accurate calculation, the Muslims were not in agreement on a common calendar,
including the dates of Eid al Fitr, the pilgrimage to Mecca, and so on. He
asked me to collaborate in a calendar, to be published in its own site on
Internet. It so happened that a M Khalid SHAUKAT, a Pakistan citizen, settled
in the USA, had developed an existing work on the so-called “Visibility
Curves”, that give the predictability of the New Moon each month for all places
on earth. After consultation with M. Shaukat, Dr Abdelhamid decided to use
these visibility curves to establish a calculated Islamic Calendar.
These calendars were regularly published on a site called “Islamtime.org”.
7.
What
is your connection to the Persian language, and how familiar are you with
Persian poets?
As I said before, literature and science went hand in hand with me right
from the beginning. My English, spoken from the youngest age onwards, was very
good and gave me insight into literature. In school, we also had to choose from
a “classic” language, Sanskrit, Latin or Persian. For those who, might not
know, Persian was spoken for a long time in India with the Moghul emperors. In
fact, for several centuries, Persian was the working language in India,
language to its literature and, specially, poetry. So Persian was amongst the
choice of languages offered in school, and I chose this for several years. It
was taught by a Professor from Maharashtra, India, who was very familiar with
the great Persian poets: Hafiz, Rumi, Omar Khayyam, Ferdowsi and so on. The mix
between Persian and Hindustani, spoken in North India, gave rise to a new
language called Urdu, official language of Pakistan, and still spoken in India.
Influenced by Persian, Urdu gave rise to beautiful poems: nazms, ghazals,
rubaiyat... Right at present, I am translating an anthology of ghazals into
French. It is hard work, but something to leave in France.
8.
Of all
your experiences in education and work, which one stands out as your favorite
or most memorable, and why?
I think that the educational work we did in rural India, teaching science
just when the children start it. This is remarkable, since no method existed,
except learning a few facts by heart. We trained the teachers, not the
students. The method was by experience alone, observing and drawing
conclusions, like in any research work. Government gave us a free hand in a few
dozen schools, and we could prepare a set of three books, covering all
scientific subjects: biology, physics, chemistry and so on.
9.
Could
you share a specific memory or experience from your professional life that has
always stayed with you, and why it is significant to you?
My specific memories remain with my being in rural India, about living
there with a family of our own children plus adopted ones. My French wife found
it hard in the beginning, without comfort like running water, or shops, but she
adjusted well. The experience was not just limited to a short time but extended
over years.
10.
is
there something in life that you've wanted to do but, for whatever reason, has
not yet happened? If so, what is it and why is it meaningful to you?
I have done so many varied things in life, known so many countries and
cultures, that I feel satisfied, and certainly not expecting more knowledge or experience.
An early and lasting influence of philosophy consolidates the whole. I am
convinced that philosophy is key to a full life.
11.
Could
you recommend a book that you think everyone should read?
Unfortunately, no! I have too much to choose from, different languages,
different approaches to life. Ultimately, you meet the religious aspect of
life, whether you are a believer or not.
12.
Do you
have any special advice that you always give to your children or something
important you want them to follow?
Perhaps that they should be humble. They have learned a lot of things, had
chances that others have not had. They should never forget this. Also, more
than wealth, education is important in life and will get you through many a
crisis.
13.
If you
could go back in time, would you choose the same path in education and career?
If I could go back in time … I am afraid that my answer will be
theoretical. I have not had one educational pattern or followed the same path
in education and career. I was all set on a career in research and then got
busy with development in rural India, and, with the help of colleagues,
invented new ways in science education. I have never hesitated before radical
change if it accorded with my conscience and my life. Money and career were not
in the forefront.
14.
What
advice would you give to people who are aspiring to pursue a career in
astrophysics or follow a similar path?
If you want to pursue a career in astrophysics, you first have to be
interested in physics, both theoretical and experimental. Astrophysics comes as
a final touch in learning physics. A general interest in astronomy as a child
will not be enough.
15.
Is there anything else
you'd like to share or talk about that we haven't asked you?
Not really. I am happy to share these few thoughts with Iranian citizens.
You have a wonderful culture nourished by poetry and by great poets. I would
say: be a scientist, a good astrophysicist, but do not forget your dreams and
your aspirations. Life is not just work, it is also a dream.
16.
As we
come to the end of our conversation, is there a final message or thought you'd
like to leave with our audience?
We have already approached a lot of subjects. If one of you wishes to
engage further on any topic, he or she is most welcome.
On behalf of AstroTeach and our audience, thank
you, Dr. Rasiwala, for this enlightening discussion. We look forward to hearing
more from you in the future.
This interview, conducted in April 2024 and published in May
2024, captures the wisdom and brilliance of Dr. Moiz Rasiwala. We are deeply
saddened to share that Dr. Rasiwala passed away on June 25, 2024, following a
long battle with pulmonary disease.
Dr. Rasiwala was not only a distinguished astrophysicist but
also a kind soul who enriched the lives of those around him. His profound
insights and passion for science will continue to inspire generations.
Thank you,
Dr. Rasiwala, for sharing your light with us. May you rest in peace among the
stars you cherished so deeply.
