Scientist Mani Bhaumik to release children's book Wednesday

New Delhi, Dec 30 : Leading physicist and international best-selling author Mani Bhaumik will unveil his first children's book “The Cosmic Detective” in Kolkata Wednesday.

Billed as one of the biggest children's titles by Penguin in 2009, which has been designated as the International Year of Astronomy, the book will be launched by West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

According to a communiqué issued by Penguin India here, the author's first book "Code Name God" tried to explain spirituality through science.

Bhaumik in his new book will try to address his readers as cosmic detectives to find solutions to questions that have puzzled space scientists for ages.

The book, said the publishing house, was meant to draw young minds to the mysteries of space by weaving facts with a whodunit twist.

It addresses questions like “How and when did the universe begin? What are stars made of? How far away are the most distant galaxies? What is a quasar?” It also sheds light about nebulae and black holes, navigate galaxies and the enormous expanses beyond; dive into the heart of neutron stars and walk on distant planets.

Bhaumik, in his trademark approach to cosmology, also tries explain the mysteries of space in the broader context of our own existence in the universe.

“When we explore cosmos, we explore ourselves,” Bhaumik said.

The book, a Puffin title, is priced at Rs.199. It will be launched in a multi-city tour of Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai.

Bhaumik, as he writes in his previous book "Code Name God", grew up in poverty and hunger. He was born on a mud floor in Bengal in the midst of the struggle for Indian Independence. He went on to earn a Ph.d in Physics in IIT and a Sloane Foundation Scholarship for post-doctoral research at the University of California. Since then, there has been no looking back.

He is also the creator of the award-winning animated television series Cosmic Quantum Ray that aims to spark children's interest in science.

His first book "Code Name God" earned rave reviews with novelist Sidney Sheldon saying: “It may change your lives”.

The author, the architect behind the technology that made the Lasik eye surgery possible, has received several awards.

He was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, North America Bengali Association, Los Angeles in 2003 and the Mahatma Gandhi Humanitarian Award from the Indian American Heritage Foundation in 2005.