An Interesting Conversation

Hello Folks,

Through my numerous browses of the internet, reading various things, I stumbled upon to this piece which has been reproduced by me in this post.

It’s a very interesting conversation between a Professor and a Student about a question which all of us do not have a definite answer.

Read on to enjoy...

Professor: You are a Christian, aren’t you, son?

Student: Yes, sir.

Professor: So, you believe in GOD?

Student: Absolutely, sir.

Professor: Is GOD good?

Student: Sure.

Professor: Is GOD all powerful?

Student: Yes.

Professor: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn’t. How is this GOD good then? Hmm ?

(Student was silent.)

Professor: You can’t answer, can you ? Let’s start again, young fella. Is GOD good?

Student: Yes.

Professor: Is Satan good?

Student: No.

Professor: Where does Satan come from?

Student: From … GOD …

Professor: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student: Yes.

Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it? And GOD did make everything. Correct?

Student: Yes.

Professor: So who created evil?

(Student did not answer.)

Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality ? Hatred ? Ugliness ? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?

Student: Yes, sir.

Professor: So, who created them?

(Student had no answer.)

Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son, have you ever seen GOD?

Student: No, sir.

Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?

Student: No, sir.

Professor: Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?

Student: No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.

Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?

Student: Yes.

Professor: According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student: Nothing. I only have my faith.

Professor: Yes, faith. And that is the problem Science has.

Student: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Professor: Yes.

Student: And is there such a thing as cold?

Professor: Yes.

Student: No, sir. There isn’t.

(The lecture theater became very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theater.)

Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?

Student: You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, well you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?

Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man?

Student: Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Professor: Flawed? Can you explain how?

Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.

Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Professor: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)

Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor. Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class was in uproar.)

Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?

(The class broke out into laughter.)

Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)

Professor: I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son.

Student: That is it sir … Exactly! The link between man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.

P.S.

I believe you have enjoyed the conversation.

Increase your knowledge … or FAITH.

By the way, that student was EINSTEIN.

A Tribute to Rahul Dravid - The Wall of Indian Cricket

Rahul Dravid retired from all forms of International and Domestic Cricket on 9th March 2012, through a Press Conference at his home ground, in Bangalore.

His debut Test Match was a perfect example of his long career of the next 16 years in International Cricket. He debuted in the Second Test of India's Tour of England in 1996 at Lord's replacing Sanjay Manjrekar's spot, who was out due to an injury. He scored 95 but the match is always remembered for another stalwart making a century on Debut alongside Rahul - Sourav Ganguly. In the context of the game both innings held equal importance but Rahul is seldom given credit for making a top notch 95 on debut in testing conditions.

His career has also been like the game, in the context of Indian Cricket. In the 16 years of his service, he has held a very important contribution but with natural and aggressive stroke players of the like of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag, the Technique, Resilience and Defense of Dravid takes a backseat. But it was for Dravid's assuring presence and importance of his defense that the other end could showcase the talent.

His technique has been brilliant and the timing equally perfect. He has never bothered to play for the galleries or for the flashlights but always for the team. He could play for the galleries which he showed at the fag end of his career in the Indian Premier League but that was not what we like watching a Rahul Dravid Innings. His dedication towards the game and country is exemplary.

A man of very few words, he always did let his bat to do the most of the talking. He has never been involved in any kind of controversies. Even at the highpoint of the Chappell Ganguly fight, he maintained a dignified silence being the captain of the team. It didn't make him a passive man on the cricket field. In the words of Matthew Hayden, if you want to see Rahul Dravid's aggression, look into his eyes. Those unflinching eyes never wanted to dictate the bowler but never wanted to be dictated as well. It always viewed the importance of his wicket in the context of the game.

Many of his critics, were not happy with him playing the limited over format as he used to eat up many balls compared to the runs he scored. His role in the team has always been of soaking all the pressure and protect his end with steadiness and steward towards playing the full quota of the allotted overs of the match. In 2003 World Cup at South Africa, India could never have fielded an extra batting option had Dravid not agreed to keep wickets which was incidentally not in his KRA.

Rahul Dravid has batted at nearly all positions possible for a batsman to bat, he has also kept wicket, the best man at short leg in the initial part of the career and the best person at slip holding the record for highest test catches and if all this is not enough he also has some wickets to his name.

We will miss Rahul because we can never watch him again construct a test innings like he used to. No highlights package can cover the straight bat defense, the meticulous ducks and enduring and taming the most torrid bowling spells.

His career coincided the golden era of Indian Batting and hence Rahul Dravid always remained in the shadows. His presence in the Indian team was like Hygiene in a person's personality, we never acknowledge its presence but in case of its absence it looks really tardy.

My personal experience of watching Rahul Dravid in a stadium was from the Final Test of West Indies touring India in 2011 in Wankhede in Bombay. The match best remembered for Sachin missing his 100th 100 by a mere 6 runs but it was also a moment of Dravid who completed 1000 runs in a calendar year at an age of 39 years, a testimony to his approach and fitness.

Its the end of the most sober era of the Indian Cricket. Rahul Dravid hangs his Massive Boots which will be a test for the Incumbent youngsters to fill in so India is not hurt.           

Book Review - The Secret of the Nagas

Dear Folks,

The Secret of the Nagas, second book of The Shiva Trilogy series by Amish Tripathi continues the journey of the Tibetean Tribal Leader Shiva through the mystic lands of India.

Shiva, now believed to be the legendary Neelkanth (the man possessing the blue throat) by the Suryavanshis (descendants of the Solar Dynasty) as well as their arch rivals Chandravanshis (descendants of the Lunar Dynasty) is confused because his idea of the Chandravanshis being the Evil has been challenged. But, still he is hunting the sinister Naga responsible for the death of his brother Brahaspati and also trying to attack on Sati throughout the first part of the series.

In his search of vengeance and venom, he trusts nobody as he has come to understand that everybody in India have secrets which have been not completely shared with him and Sati. His search for Nagas, take him to length and breadth of the Indian continent including far lands of Branga (present day Bangladesh), which are very beautiful with many rivers and forests and also, to the south of Narmada where the dreaded Nagas reside and no Man was allowed by Manu in his treatise Manusmriti to go South of Narmada. This kingdom of Branga is dying and is held on ransom by Nagas who supply them a miracle drug to save the people. A bandit named Parshuram also has the secret of the miracle drug but he allows no kshatriya to go alive from his land.

This book entails the adventures of Shiva who is now accepted as the legend Neelkanth by practically whole of India, but still there are Powerful puppeteers trying to master the game. Shiva discovers the mysteries of the Maika system of the Meluhans and the devious deeds of the Emperor of India.

The book has fierce battles fought and as the name of the second part suggests Shiva stumbles upon the Secret of the Nagas.

Ideally to be read as the second part of the Trilogy but the book also is a good independent read. It keeps the reader on the edge of the page with its gripping storyline and strong headed characters. Shiva is no longer a happy go lucky man he used to be but has metamorphosed into being The Neelkanth and taking everything head on.

The various characters include Shiva, Sati, Emperor of India Daksha, King of Swadeep Dilipa, Crown Prince Bhagirath, Nandi, Veerbhadra, Krittika, Meluhan General Parvateshwar, Princess Anandmayi, Parshuram (Bandit), Queen of the Nagas, Lord of the People of the Nagas and one of the famous seven sages Maharishi Bhrigu. The book also marks the birth of the son of Shiva and Sati, Kartik.

If you have already read The Immortals of the Meluha, curiosity will lead to this book. Though it can also be treated an Independent Read.

Rating : 4/5. The novelty factor which lead the way in the first book takes that extra rating for the first part. Its still enchanting and compelling in the way it has been narrated.

Cheers
KS :)

Book Review : The Immortals of Meluha

Immortals of Meluha!! The title of the book does not give away the slightest of the hint of the adventure the book offers. It’s a new definition and understanding of the MYTH of GOD!!

 It is the story of a man who is unaware about what is he meant to be till the time he stumbles upon a fact that someplace very far from his existence, there is a whole land of people much more developed and sophisticated than him relying upon him and he is their Legend, their Savior, their Neelkanth.

Yes Neelkanth, the central character of the book is Lord Shiva before becoming the Lord. The premise of the book being Every Individual is a Man, Deeds make him Legend and God.

Based 4000 years back, it’s the journey of a Tibetian Tribal Leader who is a relaxed Cool Dude of a tribe near Mansarovar lake to lands of Meluha present day Punjab, Pakistan, Rajasthan and Gujrat upto the banks of Narmada, wherein he is hailed as the Mahadev or the Supreme God and also the savior of the Suryavanshi clan (rulers of Meluha) from their arch nemesis Chandravanshis (rulers of Swadeep) present day UP, Bihar, Nepal, Jharkhand. The fight is for the divine drink of Gods, the Somras and the waters of the dying River Saraswati without which Somras cannot be prepared.  

Amish, the author has created a great mix of the Legendary Shiva Purana in Sanskrit, fantasy and fiction to dish out a perfect book with doles of suspense mixed with a very intense and passionate love story of Shiva and his divine consort Sati. He has actually also given the book a very international feel with his language and interpretations of various aspects of the Aryan Indus Valley Civilization. The cities described in the cities are also a perfect example of Perfect Cities and the writing actually creates the scene for the reader itself.

The various characters of the book include the Emperor of Meluha Daksha, Meluhan Head of Army Parvateshwar, Meluhan Chief Scientist Bhraspati, Doctor Ayurvati, Meluhan Army Leader Nandi, Shiva’s friend Bhadra, Sati’s maid Krittika and various others.

Take a trip of your life in this enchanting tale of A Man who in the process of trying to find his Karma and Identity becomes revered and a Savior through the developed lands of Meluha and also the passionate and unadulterated love of Shiva and Sati!!

The rights of the book have been acquired for movie making by a leading production house, so enjoy the virgin version of a masterpiece before it is lost the race of being a Box Office success.

Rating : 5/5 if you read it as fiction and not indulge religious sensibilities in pure story telling.