What was going on when I was born?

They make an unlikely pair. Joseph R. Perella, age 39, tall, slender and dark, a son of immigrants, grew up in Newark, trained as an accountant, then entered investment banking at 30. Bruce Wasserstein, age 33, short, heavy-set and blond, graduated from the University of Michigan at 19, then earned degrees from the Harvard Law School, the Harvard Business School and Cambridge University. These two, as co-directors of the First Boston Corporation's merger and acquisition department, have helped put their company on the map as one of an elite group of tough, aggressive merger advisers.

The nation's economy grew in the first quarter of 1981 at an annual rate of 6.5 percent, a figure that was higher than most economists had expected. The economists divided over the impact of the figure, with some saying that the strong growth would damage chances for Congressional passage of the Administration's proposal to cut income taxes by 10 percent annually for three years. The tax cut is designed to stimulate economic growth. The advance in the ''real'' gross national product, the nation's total output of goods and services adjusted for inflation, was the biggest quarterly gain since the second quarter of 1978 and compared with an annual growth rate of just 3.8 percent in 1980's fourth quarter.

''I believe in the free market,'' Felix Rohatyn said one morning, sitting in his apartment 12 floors above Park Avenue. ''But I do not believe in laissez-faire.'' It was a lovely, assuring day. Mr. Rohatyn was breakfasting on dry toast, fresh juice and coffee. Outside, the handsome buildings along Park Avenue were awash with light in the splendid spring sun. It was a setting, perhaps, for a defense of American capitalism and an optimistic perspective on the American condition would be put forth. But no. Critical of Reagan Approach ''I do not believe that, at the end of the 20th century, in complicated, advanced industrial societies, that an absolute freemarket system exists or is desirable,'' Mr. Rohatyn said. ''If it does not exist, I do not think we should pretend we can cure the problems that we have with simply free-market solutions.''

The brief remarks of a mother whose daughter had been murdered eclipsed speeches by politicians and officials at a City Hall ceremony yesterday marking the opening of National Victim Rights Week. ''It is not just the pain of losing a loved one,'' Diana Montenegro said. ''I buried my daughter, but I cannot bury my anger and my pain. Time and again we see short-term sentences given to the criminals while we, the victims, serve lifetime sentences of fear, grief and violation.''

A chart on oil industry stocks in Busi- ness Day on Saturday gave incorrect percentage figures for performance changes. A corrected version appears on page D8.

Amid signs that inflation might be easing, the Dow Jones industrial average climbed 10.36 points in a late rally yesterday, to finish at 1,015.94, the highest this year. With advances barely outnumbering declines, much of the market's strength showed in brokerage-house, high-technology and blue-chip issues. The Dow industrial average was a fraction above its 1,015.22 close on March 25. Both closes were higher than any other in eight years. ''One trigger for today's rally was the expectation of reduced inflation rates that is being fueled by the decline in energy costs,'' said Howard J. Abner, chairman of Abner Herrman & Brock Inc.

By MALCOLM W. BROWNE WASHINGTON THOMAS JEFFERSON regarded science as an essential part of the American political system he helped to found. Now, for the first time since the death of America's third President in 1826, Jefferson's scientific apparatus and specimens have been brought together in a display at the National Museum of American History here. Jefferson, remembered mainly as a founder of the American democratic system, is here revealed as a man fascinated with cryptography, measurement, stargazing, clocks, animal fossils, medicine, and every kind of technical gadget and laboratory curiosity. The exhibit, assembled by Silvio A. Bedini of the Smithsonian Institution, opened on April 13, the 238th anniversary of Jefferson's birth, and will continue through July 5. The modest collection of devices, sketches, souvenirs and instruments casts light not only on 18th-century technology but also on the personality and quirks of Jefferson.

South Africa remains tenaciously ambigious on Namibia issue A2 Chinese aim in Asia: to ''contain'' Soviet advance A3 Clashes intensify as I.R.A. pris- oner continues hunger strike A4 Around the World A5 Excerpts from speech by Haig on human rights A6 Black youths battle police at one fair and another closes early A7 Indian Ocean nations look on un- easily at superpower buildups A8 Albanian nationalists blamed for a fire at a Yugoslav church A9 Nicaraguan says U.S. attitude is ''disrespectful'' A10 General Around the Nation A12 Body of black male is found near river outside of Atlanta A12 Miro sculpture is unveiled in Chi- cago A12 Boxing promoter pleads not guilty to passport count A12 Rancher gets 3-year sentence in beating of Mexicans A14 A City Hall ceremony opens National Victim Rights Week B1 The Region B2 Backer of egg hunt in park says it is near bankruptcy B3 A few of New York's homeless find shelter and a new life B6 The City B8 Style Fashion Notes B14 American fall collections open B14 Joining the cosmetics legends B14 PARKING RULES CORRECTED Parking regulations for today, the third day of Passover, were incorrectly reported in The Times yesterday. Al- ternate-side rules are in effect today. Science Times Insomnia: Specialists pursue se- crets of sleep C1 Thomas Jefferson, the scientist, is honored C1 The social research budget, under political siege C1 Education: Teachers try to teach thinking C1 Science Watch C2 Science Q&A C3 The Doctor's World C3 About Education C5 Government/Politics Weinberger prods Navy on experi- mental sub system A16 Rohatyn sees need for big changes in the economy B1 Connecticut budget delayed by revenue stalemate B2 Summations made in Margiotta's mail-fraud and extortion trial B4 Reagan orders moratorium on films and publications B12 Attorney General doubts validity of special prosecutor law B13 Supreme Court says street closing is not civil rights issue B13 Arts/Entertainment Striking film and TV writers pre- pare a new offer C6 Pan Asian troupe stages ''Flowers and Household Gods'' C7 A conference celebrates Ezra Pound and William C. Williams C7 Paul Taylor Dance Company presents three works C9 Sergeant Cribb in ''Waxwork'' on Channel 13's ''Mystery'' series C19 ''Corsair,'' a biography of J. Pier- pont Morgan, is reviewed C20 Willie Nile and band display his brand of folk-rock C20 Sports Rangers' shuffle paying off in playoffs B15 Islanders get a backlash from Gretzky B15 Migliore starting his riding career at the top B15 Cerone is lost to Yanks for at least six weeks B15 Celtics and 76ers renew rivalry in Eastern final B16 Brenner says King reneged on agreement B16 Dave Anderson on Pawtucket's 32- inning game B17 Swan's showing in return to pitch- ing pleases his catcher B18 Red Sox spoil Zimmer's return to Fenway Park B18 Two horses will shun the Ken- tucky Derby B18 Features/Notes Notes on People B10 Man in the News: Stanley Spor- kin, named to C.I.A. legal post B12 Going Out Guide C9 News Analysis Charles Mohr on continuing de- bate on intelligence activities B12 Editorials/Letters/Op-Ed Editorials A18 The Awacs won't fly The loose garbage truck deal Closing student loan loopholes Topics: animal, vegetable Letters A18 Tom Wicker: Legal Services - priority or penalty? A19 Paul J. Nyden: 'you can't mine coal with bayonets' A19 Frances H. Miller: student aid through cy pres A19 Robert E. Hunter: balancing Mid- east policy A19

Shells and rockets hit commercial and residential areas of the city today in the renewed fighting between Syrian and Christian forces. President Elias Sarkis, who has been trying to arrange negotiations between the Syrians and the Christians, urged both sides to cease hostilities. There was no official count of the casualties, but doctors at hospitals on both sides of the Green Line that divides Beirut into Moslem and Christian zones reported that many wounded were being treated. Unofficial reports said that at least four people had been killed in Moslem western Beirut and at least four had been killed in the Christian eastern side.

''It is not just the pain of losing a loved one.

State Senator Warren M. Anderson, whose disagreement with Governor Carey over how and when the state might assume the local costs of Medicaid has held up passage of a state budget for 20 days, hardened his position today. He rejected any Medicaid takeover as a plan ''the state can't afford.'' ''The state is like a family living on a fixed income,'' said Mr. Anderson, the Senate majority leader and a Republican of Binghamton, ''and we are just about getting along and all of a sudden someone wants to adopt a child with an insatiable appetite, and if that adoption is permitted to go through there will be a lot of hungry people at the family table.'' Mr. Anderson, surrounded at a news conference here by nine Republican and independent mayors from small municipalities, also rejected a suggestion by Mr. Carey's aides that the Medicaid takeover plan include a ''sunset'' clause, requiring reconsideration after three years.

The American Express Company, confirming widely circulated reports, acknowledged yesterday that it was discussing the possibility of taking over Shearson Loeb Rhoades, the big Wall Street brokerage firm, in a transaction with an estimated value of $875 million. ''American Express Company and Shearson Loeb Rhoades Inc.,'' the brief announcement said, ''stated that their discussions concerning certain joint marketing activities for various financial service programs were expanded to cover discussions regarding the combination of the two companies. An announcement on the status of these discussions will be made before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, April 21, 1981.'' The merger, if consummated, would create one of the world's strongest financial services organizations, rivaling in services, though not in size, even Merrill Lynch & Company. It would also be the second takeover in a month of a major brokerage house - a move that has pushed up the stock prices of other leading Wall Street houses. Buoyed by the tide, Merrill Lynch yesterday rose 2 1/2, to 40 1/2; Dean Witter Reynolds, was up 3 7/8, to 26 3/4, and Paine Webber 2 7/8, to 27 1/2.