Prof. Sen takes the rather claustrophobic good-will milling around him with a smile. "I am here to deliver two Tata lectures, one in Mumbai, the other in Delhi," he says. "I always enjoy coming back to India."

The Nobel Prize triggered off a huge round of doctorates from several universities around the world. There is talk now of the University of Mumbai honouring Prof. Sen with a doctorate, but not during this visit, says the Prof. He adds, "One has heard a lot about the Mumbai University. I have always held it in high esteem."

Meeting a Nobel laureate can be an intimidating affair, but Prof. Sen says he cannot understand why it should be so. "Is it because this is the one prize that people all over the world talk about-more than other awards?" he asks. What does his work mean to the common man? "Economic policies are all about the common man. It is about how people respond to them and how the world responds to the common man."

Prof. Sen set up two trusts with the Nobel Prize money he received. One of the trusts is in India, the other in Bangladesh. "The Indian trust deals with school education, particularly for girls. It is about management of schools. We are in the process of setting up a centre in Santiniketan for management of schools," he says. In Bangladesh, the trust works to promote gender equality.

Prof. Sen's first wife, Nabaneeta Dev Sen, is a well-known novelist. Does he keep in touch with her work? "Of course," he says immediately. "I do follow her work closely. She is not only a well-known novelist and essayist, but also a great poet. I particularly like her poetry. There was an essay in the Little Magazine by her on the feminist interpretation of the Ramayana."

What does the Prof. read when he's not reading economics? He doesn't pause to blink: "I read all kinds of books to unwind. I read more of non-fiction, but I also read novels. And quite a bit of poetry too. I like reading essays on social and scientific subjects."

Okay, so if he's recommending a book on economics to a lay reader, which one would he choose? "There is a need for a good book to be written for the lay man on the subject," he says.

So we switch tracks to food. Prof. Sen says he's particular about food, but not passionate. "This time, I ate at the Taj's Shamiana and Golden Dragon.

The food at both was delicious." What did he eat there? Chicken Rice Pearl, Stir Fried Vegetables, Steamed Rice, Broccoli with Fine Herbs at the Shamiana, and Cappuccino to wash it down. At the Golden Dragon, the Prof says he had Two Styled Steamed Chicken Wontons, Mushroom Coriander Dimsums, Crispy Corn Kernel Pepper Salt, Crispy Corn Curd with Prawn in Mustard Sauce and Steamed Fish with Ginger and Spring Onions. And Mooncakes and Darsan with Ice Cream. "I have a penchant for good food. I am quite broadminded about the origin and nature of food, but am very choosy about its quality."

Does he cook? He laughs. "At times I do. I make tea and coffee." Then after a pause, he says, "I do make sandwiches too. I can cook my own lunch. I can cook microwavable frozen foods. I love eating it with whole wheat bread, chapatis or paranthas. That is if someone else makes the chapatis and paranthas for me. I love broccoli, spinach and cauliflower. I love adding extra virgin olive oil and a dash of mustard oil to my dishes along with sea salt. I carry mustard oil from Bengal back with me every time I come to India. I like sea salt. I am particular about these little things like salt and oil. And my lunch turns out to be delicious," he says, with a happy grin. Is that the secret behind those award-winning brains?