For Bahl, it is the culmination of a career marked not only by intensive research, but impressive success. He won the prestigious awards of the CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) and MRSI (Materials Research Society of India) in 1990 and a Republic Day Award in 1992. He has developed more than 10 technologies that have placed India in the forefront in the field of carbon.

``Our equipment and research facilities are as good as anywhere else in the world,'' says Bahl, who heads a group of 10 scientists at the National Physical Laboratory in Delhi. ``One can have scientists, but one needsto build up the right team,'' says he, pointing proudly to the devoted team that has evolved with him.

Today, after developing technology for fields as diverse as steel manufacture, pollution control, automobiles and space programmes, Bahl is now working on specialised subjects such as thermal management, the high-tech Nanno Tubes and carbon-carbon composites, a technology that only a few countries have. Ask him about his subject and Bahl waxes eloquent, ``Carbon has so many forms. It can be used for everything from diamond manufacture to graphite rackets and aircraft wings. It can conduct and insulate heat.''

According to him, India has a carbon market of at least Rs 500 crore, including products and exports, and this has happened because of the intensive research in the area. ``Attitudes have changed and a lot of money is being pumped into research today. During 1998-99, we got more than Rs 70 lakh for research, both from within and outside the country,'' says Bahl.The scientist hopes to continue hisresearch for a long time. Despite writing seven books, publishing numerous papers and representing India at carbon conferences around the world, his passion for the subject is undimmed. He recounts the time he was offered a job at the Imperial College of London, soon after he had returned to India on completing his post-doctoral fellowship in England. "They even sent me my ticket. But I refused the offer because I didn't want to be a shuttlecock between two countries.''

Today, Bahl states that he has no regrets about that decision. ``It's a huge, challenging field and I've got the best support in India. Not only have we managed to develop technologies, but also to transfer them to industry. There was a time when we had to search for these industries, but today they all come to us,'' says he.

Outside the laboratory, Bahl likes going for long holidays and doing the cultural rounds with wife Sushma, an international awardee herself. Sushma is manager (Arts) at the British Council, who was awarded the MBEtitle by Queen Elizabeth when she visited Delhi last year. ``We're both workaholics,'' says Bahl, adding, ``Our lines are so different that there's no overlapping of interests. I think we've combined well together.'' Carbon and Culture. That's some combination, indeed.