Monday 27 July 2009

And zillionbig ponders over his life and the cosmos !


Caution: Long post ahead, and is high in Philosophy and Physics. All readers who think they are dumb and stoopid can skip this post.

Bloggers who fully read word-by-word of this extremely lengthy and tedious post would be given honorary doctorates, considering their contribution to the field of blogology.



A few days back I left a comment on RAMYA’s blog, which goes something like, ** when i was in high school(11th) we used to talk about astrophysics, and Einstein’s space-time theory and why mass turns to infinity when traveled at the speed of light. Seriously, we were very -very STOOPID**.Ever since I commented on her blog , I have been pondering over my years when I was that age.

In fact, it’s not a lie. When I was all of 15-16, I was part of a gang comprising of Jayesh, Arun and me, the gang of 3 also known as the gang of BUNKERS, since we were champs of class bunking. Our school ground was encircled by a semi-high compound wall and gradually after first few failed attempts to jump-over, became a subject of our effortless cross-overs. Cross-over’s they were since the moment we landed on the outside world, the air seemed to abruptly carry a strange fragrance of liberation. And the liberated moments were spent sneaking furtively into the Cinema theatre, which to our luck always showed an English movie for the noon-show.

And when we were not watching English Adult movies, we could be found chatting; about ASTO-PHYSICS in the most literal form.We had carved our very own existence through the realms of physics and many equations which provided rationale to our notions of existentialism. I remember we used to have heated discussions about how the Universe was created. We discussed about big-bang and what would have happened and how it would have felt if we were to become spectators to the greatest spectacle of natural magnificence.

To tell you the truth, we were totally awestruck by the sheer dimensions of the dimensionless universe. It was also the first instance when we voyaged on a journey far removed from the materialistic terrains of the world that surrounded us, until the very minutes of self-realization and into a world of Mysticism and spirituality. Humbling experience it was, least to say so.
We discussed about how the world wrestled over small territories and possessions over wealth and status, when the real world was before us, that we figured, when we lounged on the terrace of my house, facing the infinite but clear blue sky.

Coming back to Astro-physics, I remember an information which cropped up during our conversation that there were a billion-billion galaxies in the universe, which had over a billion-billion stars, which might have at least a dozen planets like earth, which would have life in it. I remember us discussing about how the distant life would be, and what Mother Nature would have created, in her canvas of artistic endeavor.We were of the opinion that if the distant planet was as old as our planet, the process of evolution might have created a species which might be as intelligent as we were, or even more.

We discussed about Einstein’s Theory of General relativity, and laws of quantum physics. I remember discussing about the strange phenomenon of THE BLACK HOLE, and how a black hole could suck everything that came near to it, not even sparing Light or space. We couldn’t even perceive how a black hole could suck space into it, and our until then notions of space-time was shattered by this Einstein fellow.

Can anyone imagine the Universe to have materialized out of a single point of concentration, which was as small as the word SMALL could get. What was of universe back then, when atoms were not created and how big an explosion it would have been, that it continues to explode at an ever increasing rate, starting from billions of years-The BIG BANG THEORY. How nano seconds after the big-bang the first protons and neutrons were created into a nucleus, and out of some strange mysterious process, electrons started revolving around it to form the first ATOMs. How from a simple Hydrogen atom, complex atoms of metals were created and how we came into being after several billions of years to evolve into a thinking mind and body.

We concluded that the first point-of-concentration of the universe was BRAHMAN( the god form in advaita philosophy), the supreme god almighty and we are all part of it and were atman, connected to the whole(Brahman).There was no other way, but to believe in God since rationale didn’t explain much competently to our inquisitiveness.

We tried hard to envision a world beyond the boundaries of the Universe, which is not yet a part of the universe, Owing to our universe being expanding since the BIG BANG. There was nothing, not even space. Can anyone image a space which was not yet a space. Certainly not our juvenile 15 year old mind.

My 11th standard was also a time when suddenly on a blue moon day, I developed an obsessive desire to know about Ancient Egypt. We three would spend time, searching the thick encyclopedias of our well stocked library and writing notes about mummies and pyramids, and their belief in after life. It was a time when Pharaoh’s captured our imagination and we did a research on King Tutankhamen. We would live and dream about his palace and his court, and the luxuries surrounding the places.

I really don’t know if we were absurd or normal (or paranormal), but this is what we grew up on. Though i haven’t heard from them, my school buddies are all at good places. Arun did his MTech from IIT- Bombay and went on for higher studies and did his research at MIT ( yea, the Massachusetts one). Jayesh is a banker and is with Morgan Stanley, Hongkong. And me, The Zillionbig is blogging before your very eyes.

To quote myself(AHEM, AHEM), ***Life becomes sensible, when figured out through the views of the great men who donned it and To quote Tagore; All men have poetry in their hearts, and it is necessary for them, as much as possible, to express their feelings. For this they must have a medium, moving and pliant, which can refreshingly become their own, age after age. All great languages undergo change. Those languages which resist the spirit of change are doomed and will never produce great harvests of thought and literature. When forms become fixed, the spirit either weakly accepts its imprisonment or rebels. All revolutions consist of the "within" fighting against invasion from "without"... All great human movements are related to some great idea.***

As I sit to write this, I can almost feel the purring sensation of the passage of thoughts in my head. I wonder how good it would be, if I were to make a note of each and every thought that passed my mind. In other words, not a single thought crosses me unregistered and I scrutinize the worth of every single one of them. An impracticable notion, isn’t it? As they say, it’s the thoughts that maketh the Man, I wonder if it’s that small number of thoughts that I discerned, that made ME.

39 comments:

R. Ramesh said...

who else but tagore could say this: Those languages which resist the spirit of change are doomed and will never produce great harvests of thought and literature. hey,, i fall in that dumbo category but risked a glance at the post..great going buddy

ZB said...

@Ramesh: Aaah, Only tagore could have said it and only you could finish this post. thanks Buddy...:)

Ire said...

I wont say much here. But I enjoyed this post somehow. I may not get everything discussed here as it is but nevertheless I could relate to some of it.

Anonymous said...

I admit I skipped the first three paragraphs...But after that I read every line...Very well written/thought...
& this is the second blog post I am reading that has a spiritual (?) bend...Hmm..I wonder if I am on a hatrick...
Cheers

Kavita Saharia said...

Its an honour to even comment on this post of yours....i too fall on D category(sounds better na) but managed to fully enjoy the post....

Neha said...

I don't think it will be justified if I say that I enjoyed reading this post, cos this is one subject i thoroughly hated in school...but i would like to mention something here..my current research is on mind-body-spirit...something related to the past life etc all thru hypnotherapy...will share it n the form of a post soon...

but, for the first time, I didnt get bored reading bout science related topic...:) so kudos Zillionbig, or Mr. MAN.. :)

AnjuGandhi said...

i read the whole thing as i didn't want to be known as dumb and stoopid
and as usual i am repeating myself. you write so well.
yur post reminded me of my school days in my 11th standard we also had a full book on evolution of universe. and at that i had the dream to pursue indepth studies into that and discover some thing which no one has found out till now.
but those were the days.

Rahul Anand said...

The way you guys discovered complex theories all by yourselves is really great, and I feel that's the kind of education that sticks rather than classroom teaching.

The post reminds me of a popular saying, 'I was born brilliant, education ruined me':-)

Jaadi said...

Great post. I liked it. Even today, when i sit to think about universe and what lies beyond that..i feel like falling into some "chakravyuh". The thought process can go on and on. If you guys thought so much at that age..then i am not shocked to know that all of you all are doing good in life. You all are definitely brainy people. Sometimes...i wonder what lies beyond all these and what is the reason for all of us to be in earth, where do we go after death...
we end up fighting for materialistic things and false egos..when we are actually "negligible and micro" part of this universe.
Hope someday our race..finds out the whole truth.

Dhanya said...

Wow. Discussing astro-physics and ancient Egypt in depth when you were like 16 years old ? I would consider you as 'paranormal' :D Jokes apart, I think it's great when people talk about such intellectual things than stuff that gets you practically nowhere.

You know what ? Once upon a time, I was kinda interested in 'the string theory'. I dunno why.. but ever since I saw that episode on discovery channel I had to know more! Though the existence of an extra dimension has been proved yet, the reasoning was so believable! Ants see things in an altogether different dimension which hasn't been defined properly yet.. did you know that? :D Some of these stuff is so amazing... I totally agree with you there...

And yeah, since you're into stars and all.. I highly recommend Google Earth! They are showing stars now :D Also planet Mars!! Awesome!! :) :)

Keshi said...

Sorry Zillion, Im so not in the mood to explore the depth of the Universe today...and im kinda short for time.

Being honest here :)

Keshi.

le embrouille blogueur said...

I so should not have read this post ... who is Tagore ?? ..... I need to get back to blogging without further delay ....awesome man !!

Supriya Dutta said...

hahahahhahaha...hihahahhahaa..hihihihihi..hihhahahahaha....no doubt u ppl r as successful and as worthy of who u are today, just for the fact that at such an age u had put ur brains discussing all that...i can never even think...if i say i am a dim wit..i am overstating....i am dimmer which can be used in cars...believe me....Zillion the Big..Jai ho!!. :D :D

ZB said...

@Nikki: Thanks,i am surprised that you enjoyed this. When i wrote this, i never thought anyone would read this, HENCE PUT THE DISCLAIMER TO ATTRACT ATTENTION.YOU ARE HEREBY GIVEN THE DOCTORATE, YOU ARE HENCEFORTH Dr. Nikki... :))

ZB said...

@Choco: DId you maketh the hatrick?Thanks:)

@Kavitha: Thanks Kavi, its an honour for me to receive a comment like that from someone like you. You have a lovely blog which provides me a new insight, every time i visit it. Thanks for it. :)

@Neha: Thanks and a special THANKS. I appreciate your HONEST comment. I would expect similar honesty and tell me how good/BAD my blogs get. I would be waiting for the post on hypnotherapy...It would be interesting to read your experience. :)

ZB said...

@Anju: You too had similar interest in science and technologies, goes to show you Inquisitiveness in knowing more about Life and existence. Thanks:)

@Rahul: I agree, education should set you free and inspire you, rather than to encircle you into complex whirlwind. Yea. Thanks:)

@Jaadi: Thanks, i was missing you all along. Thanks for dropping. :)

ZB said...

@Dhanya: Yea, we were paranormal, if not absurd. Thanks for sharing your story. :)

@Keshi: Yes, i know. Depths of Universe sucks. Thanks for honest comments. :)))

@LEB: Who is Tagore? Sin, a gross sin.Thanks buddy:))

@Priya: He, yea. But that was the only age we discussed all that. WHen were really into physics and ENGINEERING , we never talked about astrophysics. Only Mundane stuff, like Girls, and whats Priyanka chopra doing in her room when she is not shooting etc... Our graph of intelligence abruptly dropped. :)

Sumi Mathai said...

this post was really a shock for me for more than 1 reason.that u guys had these grant thoughts at that age,one thing.i and my dear gang slept ceremoniously in all physics classes.it used to b combined classes of 2 batches.so we took the last benches and slept peacefully.my physics marks for board exam was equally great:P
secondly, such an eminent write up.its lenghty but worth reading.good post ZB.thanks for sharing some from your zillion thoughts :)

Keshi said...

u didnt bore me at all...just that Im so today lazy lol! And ofcourse I know ur a genius!

Keshi.

ZB said...

@Extremity: For us physics and maths ruled. We would sleep in Biology and language classes. Thanks for reading. TC:)

@Keshi: Yes, i might be a genius. as of yet, i dont think so. But whom am i to say anything about the future. May be one day i discover a new planet in solar system which has alien species like Keshi. hehe:)

Keshi said...

Im an alien? lol ok! :( *looks for her antennas*

Keshi.

anamika said...

Every time when we hear about some solar eclipse or any other related thing it puts me in same position.Who so ever comes into my web I make sure i discuss all universal related things with him or her..

Glad u also hold same interest.Liked your different attempt.

Aparna said...

I thought i had posted my comment but it seems to have disappeared. Either blogger is acting up or ZB you ignored it.
You guys were discussing astrophysics and egypt when you were 16? Maan gaye ZB, we were discussing boys. We were stoopid and dumb. Please note the past tense.
To continue on what Tagore and you say, even humans incapable of change die (metaphorically) or become stagnant.

sujata sengupta said...

I will be honest, I didnt get the theories..but i got the crux...boys at 16 do get into heated discussions about physics..very true..esp when a girl is around..But yes at that that age everything is full of ideas and discussions..it was a nostalgic post.

ZB said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ZB said...

@Aparna: I never moderate my comments, so i really dont know what happened with your earlier comment, may be it got lost in transit and fell into Arabian sea.

You are so right about CHANGE. Change is the only CONSTANT thing on this universe.:)

@Sujata: Yea you are so right, boys do talk about Einsteins relativity theory when at 16. NO, when Girls are around we talk about other stuff.

Most Girls are too DUMB for Physics.In my School at least.Thanks:)))

ZB said...

@keshi: all aliens dont have antennas, like all monkeys dont have tail.Hehe,i am in a PJ mood....:)

@Anamika: Every time i read your name, the song of Kishore da *Anamika tu bhi tarase* comes to my mind. You are right, we all share some inquisitiveness abour our universe. After all we would like to know whats out there. I hope we come across some frindly aliens , and bond with them.I DONT MIND HAVING AN ALIEN GIRLFRIEND :)))

Anonymous said...

this is definitely not your longest post..

i badly wanna see how a black hole looks like.. and talking abt big bang theory, i know of certain media creatures who are products of gang bang theory

Chicky said...

Ok... send me my honorary doctorate. I read each & every word. :D

Actually, a post on similar lines is waiting in my "pending blogposts" folder too! It's more than 80% completed... but then I just lost the urge to blog abt it! It's not so much on astro-physics though...

Perhaps I will post it one of these days... that is after I get done with all the tags! [rolls my eyes]

ekta khetan said...

Wow cosmic surreality showered over my humble life and sitting beneath a starry sky, i wonder why-

Why star shine and moon sings, the song of love & the mighty divine!

Yo Hooo...So zillion baby, I hope now onwards you will call me- Dr. Ekta khetan! Psychology mein na sahi, zillion-o-logy mein hi doctorate...hu waa hoon waah hoon...balle balle!!

ZB said...

@cRIZ: True i have written much longer posts. BLACK HOLE looks like a sun during the lunar eclipse. I have seen one. One popped up near my place the other day. TC:)

@Kaddu: You would be hence known as Dr.Kaddu.
Hey write the post and post. TAGS can wait. waiting to read ur post.:)

@Numero:hehe, aap to emotional ho gaye. its OK, everything would be al=right. OK OK, Dr. Ekta. :)

Keshi said...

they do..I mean this alien does haaaaaaaaha!

Keshi.

Swatantra said...

Nice post!! Nice pictures!! You always have something very different to write, different pictures!!

Nice one!! Keep it up!!

Ida said...

Hey you remind me of me, when I was of that age...but I still ponder over those things and mess up my mind all the time. Actually the "Brahman" theory felt ok, but then I would wonder where Brahman came from, and when I thought of Big bang theory, I had to think of a time when there was not time ans space- still find it difficult to imagine...but glad to know you and your friends thought along this line and I am not a complete wierdo:)
PS: Btw, great new look for the blog. Loved it:)!

Gayathri said...

'arun' strikes again..this time i guess,thats a real one?or was that an obsession revisited?

the subject matter is where most of the guy-thoughts differ from gal-thoughts..
some of the intellectual guy-frnds of mine say exactly the same thing(the word 'intellectual' is not infused to mean,by any chance,that u r one..so don't fly :P),that they used to have heated discussions on relativity theory,and physics,and big bang n supernova,when at school,which dwindled to nothing in college,instis being IIT,NIT,etc..some of those guys even have piles of physics magazines at home from '60s,stored for research n reference..
in the case of girls,it's not the origin but the evolution of culture thats intriguing..the intricacies of human psychologies,the war,the Renaissance..

Gayathri said...

So you are a mechie!! my instincts serve right mostly.. :D
to please ur rationale,ur writing style reflects the 'royalness'!!

Sucharita Sarkar said...

Long, but very interesting. You have nicely mixed old memories with abstract concepts like time and space and philosophical concepts like consciousness and thoughts.

rahul s said...

fheew...I finished reading...

It was long..eh.

hey..it reminded my schooldays..we ued to discuss them...n like whats there in the universe beyond earth n beyond that and beyond that..but never got any answers ..not atleast like any conclusions u peple arrivde at..may be we were too small to think of them in 9th n 10th.!eh.

Kavita Saharia said...

Still your best post...you know ZB ,i was just three months old in blogger when this post was published and i was awestruck.

Take care friend...you are a good and honest man.My best regards always.