BANGALORE: Anybody going to meet the chairman of the Board of Nobel Family Society would expect a stern and formal `propah' European gentleman covered in the trappings that are part of the Nobel Prize.

But Dr Michael Nobel, 60, is as real and simple as anyone else. The grand nephew of Alfred Nobel, he represents the Nobel family as head of Society. Dr Nobel was in the city and took time off for a chat with The Times of India.

``I'm here on business,'' he opens. ``I am on the board of World Space.'' So, the Nobel Prize isn't a full-time job? ``No,'' he laughs, ``You see, the Nobels are not rich. We lost a lot of money during the Russian Revolution.''

He has plenty to talk about, but the conversation centres on the family and the Prize. You can't be a Nobel and get away with it. Ask him what it feels to be a Nobel and there is a pause.

``In Sweden, no one looks up to us. But outside, people do so in awe,'' he says. On the Prize, ``We have eminent committees that decide and I have little to do with the process.''

Talk about controversies surrounding the Prize and you see a crease on his face. ``I am convinced the decisions are fair. You see, in areas such as Physics, you need lot of money and infrastructure for research and the US naturally scores here. But we have given prizes in literature to people never heard of from other countries. Some say it is given too late and I agree there.''

Ask him about his social work and his face lights up. ``I don't think you should live all your life just making money. I gave up a good job in finance to work for drug de-addiction camps.''

You suddenly see a Nobel speaking. He is all praise for the Sri Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital that he visited. ``I've seen both hi-tech and charitable hospitals, but I had never seen a hi-tech charitable one like this.''

What concerns him? ``There's far too much violence today. People shooting each other to settle issues.'' He blames the violence on TV and in films.

Is he a satisfied man at the end of the day? ``I like to sit back and say I did my best,'' he says, thoughtfully. ``People say why do you bother. You can't make an impact. But I still want to do my bit. I want to be remembered more for my work than my name.''

Would his `bit' warrant a Nobel Prize? ``I don't think so,'' he chuckles. ``I am working on a project. I'm getting millions of cheap radio receivers sponsored to be given away free to schools all over the world. World Space will beam free educational programmes on issues such as AIDS and TB. The programmes will be entertaining and interspersed with music for a better impact on the learning process. This can make a difference and the team may warrant a Nobel Prize,'' he says.

You can't resist a googly. What does he think of Irving Wallace's The Prize? He bursts into laughter. ``It is just a story with no truth in it.''

Dr Michael Nobel is a `Nobel' every inch. In the visitors book at the charitable Sri Sathya Sai Hospital, he wrote, ``I want to thank you on behalf of humanity.'' You can't be a Nobel and not think of humanity.