Abstract
This article is a tribute to Carl R. Woese, a biophysicist turned evolutionary microbiologist who passed away on December 30, 2012. We focus on his life, achievements, the discovery of Archaea and contributions to the development of molecular phylogeny. Further, the authors share their views and the lessons learnt from Woese's life with the microbiologists in India. We also emphasize the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and interaction for the progress and betterment of science.