What does it do?

The human body is a machine, we've been told. The most complex machine on the face of the earth. In fact, most machines are modelled on our body.

I was told repeatedly by my Fluid Mechanics professor that all machines in the world have a purpose. All machines are built with one purpose in mind. He also told me all machines do only one thing, that is conversion of energy. That may be irrelevant to the topic though...

But the human body is a machine too. And if all machines have a purpose, then what is the purpose of our body?

That's a pretty deep question. Some would say, to make enable us to experience the world, or to do things easily. Enable whom? Who's 'us'?

But that is another story. We still haven't solved the case of the casing first(forgive the pun). What is the purpose of the most amazing machine known to us? Hmm, I suppose just to help you until you learn telekinesis and telepathy.. Or is there a deeper purpose? I leave you on this question.

                                                                           

I'm back :D

Hello! I haven't blogged in quite a long while. Man, its been ages and ages. Thank me, I'm back. There were a lot of difficulties in getting here. The foremost was condensing my thoughts into a single post. Another was not deviating to other branches from what I wish to put the spotlight on. And man that's tough. One after the other like water springing out of the earth, rushing through a narrow opening which suddenly opens when I touch this keyboard. And that is wonderful. I love it.

I start a post, and when other ideas try to get out, this one is minimized and other one opens and as that is being written, another one pops out and then another opens and another and another...

This is a wonderful thing, but in the end, it prevents me from posting anything. So, from here on, I shall post a lot of stuff at once(more or less ;) ).

Merry Christmas! 

Let us celebrate Independence day

I wish you all a happy independence day! 65 years ago today, after more than 200 years of struggle, and through the means of peace, not violence, we defeated the greatest empire in the world of that time. We won the priceless, most precious commodity, and a basic human right: freedom.

The freedom fighters fought so that they could secure the future of the country, so the future generations could live in a country free of oppression, segregation and bloodshed. But has it gone as they dreamed?

Some say it was like out of the fire and into the frying pan. In the void that was after the British left, things fell into the hands of cruel landlords, merchants, corrupt politicians. The poor faced discrimination on the basis of caste and creed. The common man, i.e, the middle class bore the burden of new taxes and increasing prices. Women were oppressed and were dealt with great cruelty. The rich got richer and the poor got poorer. In the riots between Hindus and Muslims, millions died horrible deaths.

Now, more than six decades later, ask yourself, are things really that bad?

True, the caste system has managed to drag itself to this century, but is there a lot of discrimination based on it today? Caste is dying, slowly, but surely. The youth, we youth, are aware of what's happening in the country, and we have the courage to judge and the will and strength to act. Hindus and Muslims co-exist more or less peacefully. Hindus celebrate Ramzan and Muslims celebrate Diwali.

We hear of unspeakable crimes committed against, crimes of violence and discrimination. But we fight against it, we protest. We demand action. We demand change.

There still are problems, like corruption, illiteracy, unemployment, high population. But we have retained that great commodity, the most powerful tool: freedom. We retain the power to change the course of our future. True, these problems are too great for any one man to solve, but together, as free people, we can do amazing things. We can do anything, we can be anything, because our freedom fighters passed on freedom as our inheritance.

So today, on the 66th anniversary, don't forget to celebrate freedom. Don't forget to wish everyone a happy independence day!

Naked Determination, by Gisela Gausmann: My review

http://www.nakeddetermination.com/

‘Naked Determination.’ What do you think when you see this. You can’t quite figure out what it means, eh? But it has quite a simple meaning.In the author's own words:-

" N a k e d ?

When I first heard the name I had actually checked the dictionary, right there at the office, to see if they could use the word naked the way they did. Indeed, the dictionary had proven them right: Another definition than the typical one was, without the customary covering or bare of something.

Wasn't this what so many people desired in the 21st century? Yes, it was! Was that part of Naked Pizza’s incredible success? That with one single word they could relate what they were about… We had enough of flowering political phrases, swayed media, unhealthy additives… we, the people of the 21 st century, like things straight forward. We like things naked because naked means bare off additives."

Gisela Hausmann tells you about that kind of determination in her book. I say tells, not preaches, because, as she says it herself, this isn't a self-help book. It does not give you directions to happiness or peace or success. She just presents anecdotes from her life, the challenges of it, and how she faced them and triumphed. It is almost like you're conversing with her! And that is why it inspires so much.

 As someone told the great Bill W. once, “Don’t talk at them, talk to them.”

 She writes about her travels around the world, and her experiences working at various places, from Hollywood to a high school.

There are chapters on all things that plague and cheer us  - dating, love, friendship, trust, attitude towards work, sex, fashion,  and a lot more.

There are chapters where she tells you how only sheer determination she travels across the world to places such as China, Moscow, Ladakh, as far as Mongolia, sometimes in not so good conditions.

The chapters where she travels to places across the world are truly inspiring, such as her account of her visit to Harbin, China.

In the month of January, the place gets extremely cold, so cold, in fact, that you need some sort of protection for your mouth, because the moisture on your lips would freeze due to severely cold temperature.But the atmosphere is festive, instead of gloomy! The people of the town cut ice from the frozen Songhua river and carve them into graceful and exquisite figures to celebrate the season! The chapter is amazing to read!

There's also an interesting chapter about the great recession. When people around the world were mourning the loss of their jobs and livelihoods, she used her skills to switch to a completely different field from her former one, and using her skills and determination, she not only survived, but excelled at her job. Here the lesson is 'Going the extra mile.'

I could list many such chapters. In fact, I would list all. Each one is fantastic. Like the chapter where she gets a once in a life time opportunity and takes it, even at the risk of getting arrested. The message delivered by it is,'If you get a chance, take it, “Once in a lifetime means ‘1x’ or most likely ‘never’.''

The foremost message given by the book is courage and hard work conquer all.

The biggest praise I can give it is to say,"Place it beside 'The Alchemist' in your book shelf." Or rather your e-book shelf.

Coming soon

Ah, man! Haven't blogged in a thousand years! You could say that I was kinda busy(physically doing nothing), and other stuff, but then I'd remember the old saying-"If you want to get something done, choose a busy man. The other kind has no time."

Now though, I've got a few great posts lined up, so if anybody out there is listening, stay tuned! 

The God within..

This is an incident that I witnessed and, to some extent participated in, today. Normally, I take a lot of time to analyse something when I write about it, but in this case, I couldn't wait to post it. Here's what happened:

I was walking home, lost in worry about an exam, when I noticed a very frail, very old man. He was bent almost by 90 degrees, and was walking with the aid of a cane. I say walking, though it was more crawling. His stride was of about two centimetres, which he was talking at 2 strides per second(sorry about that description, just got used to describing stuff that way in physics). And he was stopping to rest every few seconds. It was quite pathetic.

Man, I was thinking what on Earth I could do to help him. I could have given him some money, but that wasn't enough. He was so frail looking that I didn't know what to do. Then I thought I could call him an auto to take him to wherever it was that he wanted to go to. But, something told me he wouldn't have accepted that. Just as I was debating internally, an transport auto, the kind that transports goods and not people, stopped by him. The driver got down, gave him Rs. 10 and then got back in and was on his way again.

My train of thought lost, I just kind of followed him to see what would happen next. As he walked at his pitifully slow pace, a road side flower selling woman also gave him some money, though he didn't beg for it. A woman from a shabby looking tailors store got out and also gave him some change.

As he sat down by the side of the road again, a nearby banana seller took two bananas from his stall and gave it to him respectfully. he also helped the old man get back up as he struggled to do it. Further ahead, another dirty looking man, who looked like he might be a construction labourer, helped him get across the road. All this happened while better dressed, educated, and office-going people walked by without a glance at him.

Now I'm not saying that everyone is required to help those in need, give charities etcetera, but a small gesture of kindness is all that it takes, isn't it? People on the lower rungs of the financial and social ladder did whatever they could to help that man, why couldn't those who could do better, do it?

Was that because those who helped that man are better aware of his condition? Because they could relate with his condition, with his poverty and pain, and empathise with him? Or because they knew they were the only ones who could and would help him? Does only the experience of something give us insight into it?

There is an old story which I read, about the Mahavir Buddha(Yeah, I do know a lot of stories) which is very much related with this um, account and which would enable one to better empathise and connect with my obseravtions. But this post has already become long enough, and I don't want to further increase its length. Maybe in my next post..

But hey, I haven't told yet what I did to help him in the end! I went home, got my two-wheeler, got back, found him with little difficulty, and offered him a lift. But he declined. I was not very surprised, and again asked if I could call him an auto. But he declined again, saying he was only going nearby. Again, I was not surprised. It was slightly frustrating, but I had done all that I could. So I went home, at peace with myself..

If you had made the world.

Imagine, how would it be if you were god...

How would you feel, if you knew that you have created the whole Universe (and every other Universe there is, if the Multiverse theory is true), and also everything in it.. If you knew the working and manipulation of everything there is to know.... Wow, I feel giddy just imagining it!

Now there are those of you who'll say that's not a great feeling, that it's more of a burden, and also it is impossible to know all that there is to know, and have the powers of God, if he exists.

But imagine, if that theory is right, and you have created every sentient being on Earth, how would you feel at  the present situation on Earth created by perhaps the most advanced beings in the galaxy?

Disappointed, because you made humans after your own image?

Angry, that your gifts are being used for destruction and war?

Guilty, that it was you who taught them all that they know and are thus responsible for their abuse of your knowledge?

There is a theory of God, which I agree with, that says that what God did was create the Universe, formulate its laws, create the concept of space and time(if that exists), and then, called it a day. That is, let things play out as they would and sat back with a bag of popcorn to see how things would turn out and played no more hand in its running, thus giving intelligent life in it free will.

 Anyway, what I was saying is, if you were the creator, and you had all that amazing power, and knew that you could create and destroy entire planets, galaxies, Universes according to your wishes, how would the world look through your eyes? How would you feel peering into your creations? (Again, getting a head rush).

Now physics is increasingly moving towards the theory that the creation of the Universe itself was due to its laws. The laws of physics are constant, therefore, the Universe couldn't have been created in any other way other than it is. That then restricts the powers of God.

Therefore, such a Universe finds no need for a God.  I'm more of an agnostic, so I don't know if I believe in God or not. But if you do, take some time to think about the above questions.

Something to think about, my dear Watson..

' "What do you see?"
"Everything.... That is my curse." '

The above lines appeared in a not so recent movie and were delivered by one of the most famous fictional characters ever. I dunno about you, but my first reaction was blank disbelief. They shook even my 'nerves of steel'. In case you haven't 'deduced'(yeah that's another clue) who  I'm talking about, don't read further, you are only disgracing yourself. In case you have, I congratulate you, my dear fellow. I'm talking about Sherlock Holmes.

Of course, the above lines are absolute absurd and out of character for the great detective. The movie itself was lame. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle described him as a person who lived for the art's sake. His life was devoted to the detection of crime, so much that he was willing to sacrifice his life if he could bring to justice the greatest criminal mind who ever lived. But those lines portray him as someone who is tired of his profession and end it. Again, totally out of character.

But this presents a line of thought that is very intriguing. At what point does a gift become a curse? What dictates how you use your gifts? Sherlock Holmes always said that he could have chosen the profession of being a criminal. Also, can you get tired of doing something you love?(The most depressing of all thoughts) What life is this then, and is it worth living?

 Also the age old debate of Nature vs. Nurture, i.e, hereditary aspects vs. physical and psychological environment comes into question. Most experts believe that both have an equal part to play. With Sherlock Holmes, as he believed, it was his genes that gave him his powers. As he himself put it, "Art in the blood is liable to take the strangest of forms."

But the environment also has a big part to play, as his brother Mycroft aptly displays. What I'm asking his, can a gift become a burden?

Hmm, it seems like I've raised a lot of questions that have been plaguing me since long. I really should blog more often. But you, my fellow humans, must ponder over the above questions. Please comment if you find any solutions. Food for thought!

Nothing better than an old story

This is a story I read a long time ago, as a kid, and which I felt worth sharing. Though I read it then, I feel I relate with its depth only now:

"A teenager was very much disturbed by the troubles in her life. So one day, she took her troubles to her father, with whom she was very close. She said to him,"Dad, my life is full of problems all the time, of one sort or the other. I'm never happy with my life, and the way it is going. I'm worried about my future. What do I do??"

Her father, smiling, said, "Let's go to the kitchen." Puzzled, the daughter followed her father to the kitchen. There, her father mounted three pan on the stoves, and filled them with water. Then he said,"For the first case, let's put some eggs in the water,",and saying so, he popped an egg into the first pan. "Then", he said, "Let's boil a potato here," and he lowered a potato in the second pot. "And in the final pot, let's brew some coffee," and he poured some ground coffee powder into the third pot.

The daughter's puzzlement grew to anger,"Father!", she thundered, "I'm telling you about my problems and you're teaching me how to cook?! How can you be so insensitive!!"

Her father just smiled again and said,"Ah, it is time! Let us take out the contents of each pot now," and he emptied the egg and the potato in a plate and poured out the coffee in a cup. "Now," he said, "touch the egg first and tell me how it is."

The daughter obeyed, and said,"It is very soft."

"Yes, now touch the egg and tell me what you feel."

"It is hard boiled,", said the daughter.

"Here, have some coffee," he offered."How is it?"

"Ah, it is really refreshing."

"Now child, this is important. The potato, the egg and the coffee beans all faced the same test of boiling water. But they all reacted differently to it. The egg went in breakable, but came out hard and strong. The egg went in strong, but came out soft. The coffee beans released their flavour and changed the water into something new.

When we face difficulties in life, we all behave in different ways. It is up to you to choose how you'll act- Like the egg, the potato or the coffee beans."

The daughter nodded, having finally understood her father's reactions. "Yes dad, I know what you mean now. Thank you."


This story I read recently again after a long time, and felt that I needed to share it. A simple story with a great depth, isn't it?