Surprisingly, this was the only instance I heard the voice of Grisha Perelman. I thought his lectures in Stony Brook in April 2003 were videotaped and asked Dr.Christina Sormani whether that was so---she attended the lectures and had also posted her transparencies here. She told me that she believed he refused his lectures being videotaped. I still do not know what happened to his lectures in MIT…(Have you come across any?) So, coming to the transcription, here is the translation of Perelman’s replies copied verbatim from Science 2.0 There you can find the whole story.

Grisha has picked up the phone. Here is approximately the dialog which followed:

Teacher: "Hello, can you hear me, do you recognize me ?"

Grisha: "Sure, of course, nice to hear from you."

Teacher: "Grisha, I am sorry but I am really overwhelmed by all these journalists who would like to know why you have refused to accept your prizes. May be you can tell me ?"

Grisha: "But I have already told all of them that I would not like to give any kind of interview."

Teacher: "But you know, I am not journalist !"

Grisha: "I will not tell you as well."

Teacher: "It is OK, sure I will conform to the common rule. But, please, you'd definitely benefit a lot, if you'd try not to be so adversarial to the people surrounding you ... Well, OK, tell me please, what are you doing right now ?"

Grisha: "Couldn't you please call me any other time ? I have a feeling that our present conversation is being recorded somehow ...".

Teacher: "No problem, I will definitely call you again soon and possibly even come to see you. Is it OK ?"

Grisha: "That's fine, thank you. Bye."

Teacher: "Yes, never mind, Grisha ! Bye !"

I admit that the above answer remains the best.

Surprisingly, this was the only instance I heard the voice of Grisha Perelman. I thought his lectures in Stony Brook in April 2003 were videotaped and asked Dr.Christina Sormani whether that was so---she attended the lectures and had also posted her transparencies here. She told me that she believed he refused his lectures being videotaped. I still do not know what happened to his lectures in MIT…

Have you come across any other?

So, coming to the transcription, here is the translation of Perelman’s replies copied verbatim from Science 2.0 There you can find the whole story.

Grisha has picked up the phone. Here is approximately the dialog which followed:

Teacher: "Hello, can you hear me, do you recognize me ?"

Grisha: "Sure, of course, nice to hear from you."

Teacher: "Grisha, I am sorry but I am really overwhelmed by all these journalists who would like to know why you have refused to accept your prizes. May be you can tell me ?"

Grisha: "But I have already told all of them that I would not like to give any kind of interview."

Teacher: "But you know, I am not journalist !"

Grisha: "I will not tell you as well."

Teacher: "It is OK, sure I will conform to the common rule. But, please, you'd definitely benefit a lot, if you'd try not to be so adversarial to the people surrounding you ... Well, OK, tell me please, what are you doing right now ?"

Grisha: "Couldn't you please call me any other time ? I have a feeling that our present conversation is being recorded somehow ...".

Teacher: "No problem, I will definitely call you again soon and possibly even come to see you. Is it OK ?"

Grisha: "That's fine, thank you. Bye."

Teacher: "Yes, never mind, Grisha ! Bye !"

I admit that the above answer remains the best.