Acknowledgments

Following my project work during the graduate school, I had decided to work on Sérsic-Pastoriza galaxies. During the next two years I made trips to several telescopes but failed to get good data. I had almost started worrying then. Thankfully, Patrick McCarthy lent a helping hand at that critical juncture. It was through our collaboration with Pat that the excellent data on which this thesis is based could be obtained. I am greatly indebted to him. The only other person who equals and indeed surpasses a say in this thesis is Ajit Kembhavi who has stood by me during dataless periods as well. I am greatly thankful to him.

If you tell someone on an average Saturday that IUCAA is a lively place, your sanity is sure to be doubted. But IUCAA is a very lively place in an entirely different way. Every now and then it goes abuzz with activity hosting tens of people during various workshops. It is through several such workshops and schools that I chanced to meet innumerable number of people who have influenced me one way or another. Too many names to mention. But I have to mention George Djorgovski and Kenneth Freeman. Some of their insights and ideas have made a great impact on me.

I have been helped in many ways by discussions with Paddy, Somak, Srianand, Sridhar, S. K. Pandey, Anupama and Devendra Sahu. But a singular impact in my early observing days is due to Tushar Prabhu. He was with me during my first observing run at the VBT. I still remember how he answered in the greatest possible detail every small query that I had. The observing knowledge that I gained then has helped me all through.

My sincere thanx also go to the NAs, TAs and MAs at the various observatories who kept me awake during the observing runs (Oscar, thank you for the Spanish lessons!). And to the lively people at LCO and OCIW.

Going back a few years, MSc final was a bad year as I was down and stuck to the bed. No entrance exams, no interviews. A telegram from IUCAA conveyed the news that based on my VSP work I had been chosen for the graduate school. It was a ray of hope. My stay at IUCAA has been memorable. I thank Jayant Narlikar and all the members of IUCAA for providing excellent and efficient working atmosphere. Names worth mentioning include Lata, who helped during the anxious flying moments, and Chella for patiently regiving lost forms. The most notable facilities at IUCAA are the library and the computer network. I am thankful to the computers for providing company during large parts of the days, and indeed nights. And to friends when the computers were down. But seriously, it was great to have a friend like Ramaprakash around.

I will risk sounding like a Radio Ceylon DJ and say that I am thankful to Ramaprakash, Srikumar, Yogesh, Srini, Sunu, Sonia, Sukanya, Ranjeev, Rama, Sharadini, Archana, Ajit, Asha, Ramana, Ishwar and many others for wonderful discussions/treks/dinners. I have enjoyed sharing puzzles and discussing sports with Bala, Hariki, Srianand, Arun, Santosh and Pravin. I have also enjoyed debating cricketing issues with Sriram and playing cricket with Santosh, Anoop and Rajesh. You all have helped keep me sane during the last 5+ years.

I am most thankful to Somak, Indrajit, Yogesh, Niranjan and Anu for useful suggestions and help regarding the thesis. I also thank Naresh for help with the technical supervision of the thesis.

I must also mention those who have influenced my life and have been responsible, at least partly, for my being here in the first place. I am thankful to my father for introducing me to the night sky, to Vivek Wagh for intensifying the interest, and to Anjutai and Yashodhan Paranjapye for being there when most needed.

Finally, and most importantly, Anu and Jay have patiently labored during the last several months (years? ages?) hoping that I will spend more time at home after the thesis. They keep reminding me that there exists a universe beyond astronomy. I owe a very great deal to them.

Dedicating this thesis to aai and mai ...