Albert Einstein was an extraordinary teacher who would take pains to see that his students had grasped the most difficult concepts, says a former Indian student of the world famous physicist.

Jethabhai Dahyabhai Parikh, recalling his days as one of Einstein's students at Princeton University in the US in 1946, says the great physicist was also a caring human being.  

Parikh, now 84, says there were other facets of Einstein, widely regarded as the greatest scientist of the 20th century.

"Einstein used to play the violin very well. During Christmas vacations he could be seen playing carols in the streets. Following the tradition, people would give him token donations, which he would later give to the needy," he said.

Parikh, who had gone to study at Princeton as a 23-year-old, received straight A-plus grades. Einstein had taught Parikh's batch quantum mechanics for a semester.

Recalling his first meeting with Einstein at a park near the university, Parikh, who lives a retired life in Vadodara, 100 km from here, says he had not recognised the scientist then.

"I used to go to a recreation park where many would come for an evening walk. I used to notice a bearded man with long hair who would stare at me - though it was an amiable gaze. That went on for three to four days.

"As I was sitting on a park bench, he came across and asked me who I was and where I came from. After answering his many questions, I asked him who he was. And he said, 'I am Albert Einstein'," Parikh recalls.
 
"Was I surprised! I had not imagined the world-famous scientist to be so simple and easy going," said the octogenarian.

"We continued to interact after the first meet. He took me to show his residence. He asked me if I had any problems in the new place. He asked me to approach him even if I had a problem in the middle of the night, if necessary."

The year 2005 marks the centennial of "annus mirabilis" of "miracle year" 1905 when Einstein as a 26-year old had published five ground-breaking papers on his theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, which greatly advanced physics research around the world.

Parikh had his schooling in Patan in north Gujarat, followed by BSc in technology from Bombay University. He was offered a scholarship by the government for further studies and he chose to go to Princeton.

He completed his master's degree in chemical technology, followed by a doctorate on "Polysulphide Linkages in Sulphur Dyes".

On his return to India, Parikh served as deputy director of industries in the then state of Bombay.