The book was published by the Indian Academy of Sciences in 1985. Pontecorvo was an Honorary Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences and was Raman Professors of the Indian Academy of Sciences during his trip to India in December 1982-February 1983. The Foreword was written by Professor Sivaraj Ramaseshan, President of the Indian Academy of Sciences in Bangalore, and Biographical Sketch written by Professor Obaid Siddiqi, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and close friend of Pontecorvo. 22 papers and essays were reproduced in this book, including his Gandhi Memorial Lecture which he delivered at the Raman Research Institute in Bangalore.
Correspondence concerns corrections on draft versions of the Foreword and the Biographical Sketch about Pontecorvo's life and scientific achievements. Various versions of the Foreword and Biographical Sketch are also included.