EVERY autumn. when (he Nobel Prizes are awarded, the world is reininded of this remarkable man. His . invention of dynamite gave 'him fame and wealth during his lifetime

Alfred Nobel was born in 1833 in Stockholm. When he was nine years old. his parents moved to St Petersburg, the former capital of Russia Later he lived m so many places that he regarded himself as a citizen of the world". He Inherited his interest tn explosives technology from his father, an industrialist. Alfred Nobels epoch-making discovery of dynamite occurred in Hamburg during the 1860s. He got 355 patents on his inventions and established factories around the world.

The Nobel Foundation was established in 1896. one year before his death. Its annual income is used for funding five international prizes. They are awarded for outstanding contributions to physics, chem-istry. physiology or medicine, literature and peace. In 1968. on its 300th anniversary. The Bank of Sweden established a prize in economic sciences in memory of Alfred Nobel.

In 1998 the six prize were each worth SEK 7.6 million. Two Bengalis. Tagore (Literature) and Amartya Sen (Economics) have so far been awarded for the Nobel Prize

The prize winners in physics, chemistry and economic sciences are selected by the Roval Swedish Academy ol Sciences. The medicine prize winner is chosen by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. The

Swedish Academy selects the literature laureate. The Peace Prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel committee

According to the statues ol the Nobel Foundation, the prizes are to l>e awarded to those who. in ea< li respective field, "during the proceeding year, shall have conferred the great-

est benefit on mankind." Scholars and scientists al numerous Institutions of learning around the world are entitled to nominate candidates for the prizes. The Prizes are presented at ceremonies in Stockholm and Oslo on December 10 each year. the death anniversary ol Alfred Nobel.