Dr CK Pyne. An Indian scientist in the French national scientific laboratory CNRS. An incredible human being, he sheltered me for 2½ months when I arrived in Paris with nothing but $8 in 1973. I landed in France without knowing a single word of French, I only spoke English with a Bengali accent. I knew nobody in Paris. When I reached his office, he just saw my artwork portfolio and without questioning or verification, he supported me to stay in Paris where I had gone with only a 3-months visa. If he was not there on that day, my life would have been on the streets of Paris. His mental support was unparalleled to establish me as a painter.