Stephen William Hawking wasborn on 8 January in 1942. He is an Englishtheoretical physicist,cosmologist, author and Director of Research at theCentre for Theoretical Cosmologywithin theUniversity of Cambridge.Among his significant scientific works have been a collaboration withRoger Penroseongravitational singularity theoremsin the framework ofgeneral relativity, and the theoretical prediction thatblack holesemit radiation, often calledHawking radiation. Hawking was the first to set forth a cosmology explained by a union of thegeneral theory of relativityandquantum mechanics. He is a vocal supporter of themany-worlds interpretationof quantum mechanics.
Firdaus Kangawasborn on 1960 inBombay. Heis a writer and actor who lives inLondon. He has written a novel,Trying to Growa semi-autobiographical novel set in India and a travel bookHeaven on Wheelsabout his experiences in theUnited Kingdom.Trying to Growwas later turned into an award-winning BBC-BFI film,Sixth Happiness, for which Kanga wrote the screenplay, and in which he starred. Alexander Walker of the Evening Standard said ofSixth Happiness: "Firdaus Kanga's performance has battery pack power...a remarkable true story."
Ruskin Bondwasborn on 19 May in 1934 is an Indian author of British descent.In 1992, he received theSahitya Akademi Awardfor his short story collection,Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra, given by theSahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Literature. He was awarded thePadma Shriin 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family inLandour, nearMussoorie.
