Albert Einstein was one of the greatest and most influential scientists who had a significant impact and contribution in the field of scientific discovery. This brilliant scientist revolutionized the view of understanding the mysterious universe.

Einstein was born in a Jewish family on March 14^th, 1879, in Ulm, Germany. His father, Hermann Einstein was a featherbed salesperson and engineer, and his mother Pauline Koch was a home maker. From childhood he was inquisitive in nature and had a great interest in science and mathematics. Albert’s father introduced him to geometry and algebra at his early age. When he was a boy and was sick, his father gave him a magnetic pocket compass to play with. This incident sparked his lifelong passion for physics. He was intrigued by the invisible forces controlling the universe and spent countless hours performing thought experiments. He excelled in mathematics and physics at his early age and began teaching himself Euclidean geometry, calculus, and algebra when he was just twelve. Before reaching thirteen he discovered an original proof of Pythagorean theorem. He mastered integral and differential calculus when he was just fourteen. When he was just a teenager, he found deep interest and excitement in the works of various scientists like Johannas Kepler, Isaac Newton etc.

Einstein’s life is an inspiration to all. He did not get the bed of roses in his journey of becoming one of the greatest scientists of all the time. He had to face many obstacles on his journey to greatness. In his childhood he had difficulty in talking. He started talking at the age of almost three years. After he started talking, he started questioning about how things worked. In school he disliked the strict rules and the process of learning by memorizing facts. He was a bit different from other kids. He liked to explore innovative ideas. Being innovative and curious he often clashed with teachers and became famous as a disruptive and inattentive student. He struggled to learn languages and other subjects but did well in mathematics and physics, which he loved the most. He spent reading books and performing experiments at home. They moved to Munich during Einstein’s early childhood. After few years his family moved to Italy, but Albert stayed at Munich to finish his schooling.

When he was young, he decided to study physics and learn more about the universe. But he failed in the entrance exam for the first time he tried. He studied even harder and next time he got admission to a university in Switzerland. College also wasn’t easy for him. His ideas and thoughts were quite different than the things taught in college. Despite all the challenges he never gave up his passion for physics and knowing the universe.

After completing graduation he had to face painful challenging period of unemployment and uncertainty. He struggled to find a suitable career in academic position and finally took a job as a patent clerk at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern to fulfil his financial needs. Despite of his workload and busy schedule, he continued to pursue his scientific interest and research in his spare time and published several groundbreaking papers that revolutionized our understanding of science. Despite facing many obstacles, his never giving up attitude, passion for learning, curiosity and determination paved the way for his remarkable discoveries and changed the understanding of science and the universe forever.

1905 was the “miracle year” for him as he published four papers including his Special Theory of Relativity and famous equation E=mc² which revels the relationship between mass and energy how even a tiny bit of mass can produce huge amount of energy which is further implemented in nuclear bombs and power plants. This led to significant advancement in nuclear physics and energy production. He changed the understanding about the universe, energy, light, and atoms. Before his Theory of Relativity, people thought that space and time are separate things. He showed us how space and time work together and how they are connected in a unique way.

These discoveries revolutionized and reshaped the foundation of physics. These papers were the foundation for Modern physics and Theoretical physics. After his revolutionary work he became famous in the academic world and got a job as a professor at various universities.

In 1909, he served a position as an Associate Professor at university of Zurich. Eventually his reputation flourished, and he was appointed as a full professor at German University in 1911 in Prague. He

continued his research interest and dived deeper into the nature of gravity and structure of the universe and made important discoveries and developed new ideas and theories. In 1915, he came up with a theory of general relativity, which predicts the bending of light by gravity. This theory reconstructed our concepts of gravity and laid the foundation for modern cosmology.

In 1914,First World War started which caused several problems in Europe and interrupted normal life and many things including education and scientific work. Despite several challenges posed by the war, he continued his research and after the end of the war he was appointed as a Professor at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics in Berlin in 1917.

Einstein’s academic career flourished during 1920s and 1930s. He had a significant contribution in the development of Quantum Theory and foundation of Modern Cosmology. The great scientist received Nobel Prize in 1921 for his discovery of photoelectric effect which showed that light could behave like tiny particles called photons. This new idea challenged the concept of light behaving only like waves. He explained how atoms and particles behave and light can make electricity. This was the foundation of quantum mechanics. His discovery of photons helped us to understand light better and the dual nature of light (wave and particle). It revolutionized the world of light and led to modern technology like laser and solar panels.

Albert Einstein’s curiosity, unconventional approach to learning, perseverance, willing to challenge conventional wisdom, relentless passion for knowledge laid the groundwork for some of the most significant scientific breakthroughs of the 20^th century.

Apart from being a scientist he had diverse interests and passions. He had a great affinity in music and philosophy. He had spent considerable amount of time pondering questions about morality and nature of reality. He loved to ply violin and piano. He enjoyed playing music, especially classical pieces of Bach and Mozart. His intellectual quest of knowledge and curiosity expands beyond the realm of science including wide range of disciplines.

Being Jewish and living in Germany, Einstein had to face many personal and professional challenges. As Adolf Hitler disliked Jewish people, Einstein had to deal with threats to his safety and persecution. So, he emigrated to United States where he joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Prinston, New Jersey. This was a turning point in his academic carrier eventually becoming more involved in social and political issues.

The legacy of Albert Einstein extends far beyond his knowledge, academic excellence, and scientific achievements. He is also remembered as an iconic figure who is admired for his intellect, humanity, and humanitarian efforts. He advocated for peace and civil rights. He supported refugees, spoke against racial discrimination, and spoke for disarmament.

During his early age, he struggled a lot with academic conformity. Inspite of encountering several rejections and scepticism, he persisted in his quest of knowledge guided by enthusiasm of curiosity and imagination. His journey encourages us and teaches us the importance of perseverance and determination in the pursuit of our dreams. Einstein’s life and ideas can illuminate our mind with valuable insights and life lessons. Remembering Einstein offers beacon of wisdom and introspection. His emphasis on intention, imagination and holistic thinking encourages us to the link beyond the confines of nervous specialization and embrace the interconnectedness of knowledge. Einstein reminds us of the intrinsic value of curiosity, creativity, and intellectual exploration. Einstein’s legacy serves as a reminder of the transformative power of ideas. By remembering Einstein, we not only honour the past but also illuminate the path to a brighter future and pursue knowledge. He inspired us to cultivate curiosity, striving for a world guided by compassion and unity.

The great soul of Einstein submerged to the universe on April 18^th, 1955, at the age of 76. His legacy and influence continue to resonate throughout the cosmos.

-Aditi Banerjee Assistant Professor

Dinabandhu Andrews Institute of Technology & Management