A. Surjalal Sharma, my beloved husband and loving father of our two sons, passed away peacefully on January 5, 2024, with his family by his side.  It was unexpected and it is hard to believe he is not with us anymore.  As an astrophysicist at the University of Maryland, College Park for many years, he pursued his scientific research for a deeper understanding of the world and for solutions to the problems of our current society. He was looking forward to the Workshop on Geomagnetically Induced Currents. Our family would like to express our sincere gratitude to the organizing committee of the workshop, his colleagues, friends, and others who are making this workshop possible.

Surja, as he is known among his colleagues and friends, was born and raised in Imphal, Manipur. As the youngest of six children of a Brahmin family, he spent a lot of his childhood exploring nature. He and his friends would dive into a local river from a bridge, only to find out what was at the bottom. His curiosity of nature shifted when he got his first physics textbook - he became fascinated with the subject and was determined to pursue this newfound passion. The lack of physics books or teachers during his High School years did not deter him. The National Science Talent Search Scholarship provided him the opportunity to do his B.Sc (Hons) and M.Sc from Delhi University, and his doctorate in space plasma physics from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) Ahmedabad, India. Working at Cornell University as a postdoctoral associate, he experienced American culture for the first time and made lasting bonds with his colleagues.

After spending a few years as a guest researcher at various European institutes, he returned to the US where we made a home in Maryland, which we found to be an ideal place to raise our family and for him to do his scientific research. Here, he worked on many research projects, collaborating with scientists from all over the world, and passionately mentoring students of all backgrounds. Always calm, well-organized, and with a reflective approach to life, he was always ready to help and work with others. He received many honors including the University of Maryland Distinguished Research Scientist Prize, the AGU Lorenz Lecturer, and Fellowships of the Indian Geophysical Union and the American Physical Society.

Remembering where he came from, he co-founded the North American Manipur Association to create a community for people from his home-state and to preserve its cultural heritage. To provide opportunities for young people in Manipur he also founded and directed the Research Institute of Science and Technology (RIST), Imphal. With his generous heart, he was always ready to help in any way he could.

Surja loved being with nature. During his trips and conferences, he always looked to explore the local outdoors. While in Japan, he climbed Mt. Fuji alongside his co-workers. He also had the fortune of visiting many national parks, especially with his two sons on their Boy Scout trips.  While I was doing my field research in the Andaman Islands he visited me, where he readily joined a wild boar hunting party with the native people to help gather first-hand data. He had an adventurous spirit and a deep appreciation for the natural world.

My sons and I are extremely thankful for the many wonderful years we had together as a family. We will remain forever grateful for his exemplary life. He will always be our guide as we move along this life’s journey.

As long as there is space, heavenly bodies, and natural forces, he will be with us. We will always remember how he patiently explained to us the workings of natural phenomena and how it would impact people's lives. He believed that research could help the functioning of our complex world and ultimately uplift the hardships of humanity. We will miss him so much. As a gentle, dynamic, and spirited person, we know he will also be missed dearly by all those who came in contact with him - our relatives, friends, colleagues, students, and many others.

Once again, our family would like to thank everyone for making this workshop a reality.