“Bhabha’s brilliance”

The article "Bhabha’s brilliance” (Parsi­ana, January 7, 2011) mentioned that it was a "huge shock to people when Bhabha paid Rs 3,000 to acquire a mural of Albert Einstein created by renowned artist Jacob Epstein.” This is historically incorrect in more sense than one.

Epstein was not a muralist. He was an eminent sculptor. He made three copies of Einstein’s head in bronze, one of which he retained for himself. Dr Homi Bhabha visited him and asked for the same. Initially reluctantly, but eventually willingly Epstein parted with the head since he knew that both the physicists were very good friends. He charged 3,000 guineas for it.

This exceptional work has always been in the library of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. I last saw it there some time in the 1980s.

RUSTOM HORMAZDIYAR

Parsiana regrets the errors. — Editors