Doctor - A Dedicated Profession

  Who is doctor? What does a doctor do? What is the role of a doctor in the society? How noble is doctor's profession?

The Doctor at Work   

   A doctor is a person who diagnoses the illness in a patient and prescribes medicines to heal and cure them. The doctors help humankind; and their services are very much required to the society. The doctor profession is the noblest of all because they save the lives of people and thus are treated like gods in the society.

  The role of doctor is to save the patient from dying or illness. The doctor should treat his patients like a mother treats her children. Patients should be handled with love and care. Every doctor has to take an oath to work for 24 hours and seven days a week. And that they shall treat their patients with love and care. 

  If a person wants to become a medical doctor, he had to be very caring and should possess great patience. The doctors should advice and instruct patients about how to get well soon.

 

  My two uncles are also doctors; one is an Anesthetist and other a Surgeon. Both are committed to their profession. Every day they start their work early in the morning and finish it very late in the nights. They get many emergency calls late in the nights. They take utmost care for their patients. My uncles are my inspiration.

Dreaming Big

  My ambition is also to become a doctor. I want to save the lives of people suffering from various diseases, especially babies. Babies are cute, sweet and god-like and I wanted to see all babies hale and healthy. So I like to become a pediatrician, who specializes in treating children.

  Yes, I for myself feel there is more happiness and joy in serving babies, especially sick babies and curing them of their illnesses.

  But please, you all have to wait ten more years to avail medical care for your babies from me.

S Srija Mili

VII, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, {Bhavans}

Sainikpuri,

Hyderabad – 500 062

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Cosmic Effect on Living Spaces – The Vaastu Way

  What exactly is Vaastu? Is Vaastushastra a science or just a mythical text? Has Vaastu stood the test of scientific efficacy? How deep is its impact on human lives? What if dwelling places are not built according to Vaastu?

  Vaastushastra is an ancient science that has laid down in architectural forms the principles of building a structure, be it a dwelling place or a palace or a temple or a fort or even a one-room tenement. It is widely believed that any structure deemed to be a living space should obtain the ambience of peace, joy and harmony. To construct or obtain such an edifice one ought to go by the principles of Vaastushastra, so argue the believers and experts in Vaastushastra.

What exactly is Vaastushastra?

  It is strongly believed that energy fields govern the earth, water, fire, air and space – the five elements or Panchabhutas. These energy fields permeating the five elements is said to flow through structures or edifices or dwelling places in a positive or negative manner obtaining either harmonious or turbulent conditions leaving an impact on the lives of those who use it. And Vaastushastra is nothing but integrating these energy fields in a congruous and symmetrical manner to generate a positive and a harmonious ambience in a living space.

Lord Vishwakarma

  Vaastushastra isn’t just channelizing energy fields in a structure or a dwelling place but itself a science in existence since Vedic times or since the five elements has come into being. Vishwakarma, the celestial architect and the foremost builder for all the Hindu Gods is said to have perfected this art into a science.

  Vaastu is derived from a Sanskrit verb called “Vasati” which means, “to dwell”. In order to channelize the energy fields in structures or dwelling places in a positive and a harmonious manner Vaastushastra has laid down the principles of architecture for constructing living spaces. In fact, Vaastu has become the basic principles of geometry in constructing living spaces. And these principles of geometry are represented symbolically by Vaastu Purush.

Vaastu Purush

  But then, do magnetic fields really govern our lives for good or worse? Does a building constructed not conforming to the Vaastushastra really play havoc with our lives? Has this Vaastushastra stood the test of efficacy scientifically? It is still a moot point. The debate is raging on.

  Yet the skeptics and non-believers who questioned its very basis are happily following the very basic tenets of Vaastu in constructing their living spaces. Even in this technologically advanced world the popularity of Vaastushastra is soaring to great heights. Do People really feel the impact and its cosmic effect on living spaces?

  The energy fields activated by the five elements may not be consciously felt by us. But they do seem to pass in us impacting our lives having a direct effect on our health and happiness; because our body too possesses the microcosm of energy – the seven energy centers or chakras Kundalini at the base to Sahasrara to the top of the head. Further, the energy within us blends with the energy emanating from the Panchabhutas – the macrocosm of the universe. This is how the macrocosm of the universe is blended into the microcosm of man creating a direct impact on our lives either positively or negatively.

  Similarly, each building space and built structure has a potential time, space and elemental configuration that has its own dynamism and must be planned to create a harmonious and positive energy field. Yes, Vaastushastra deal with energy and elemental forces that underlie all things. But has this science of Vaastu stood the test of scientific efficacy? What do the researchers say?

  But what about the rituals and rites performed to appease the elemental forces when a living space is not in conformation to the Vaastu principles? Does not the unvaastuly built living spaces portend evil to the residents? Can the rituals and rites performed thus diminish the impact of such ominous negative forces?

  In a fast developing city where haphazard urbanization is taking place and where multi-storeyed apartments are built by dozen a day how far is it possible to build living structures adhering to Vaastushastra principles?

  If rituals and rites can control the negative forces generated by unvaastuly built living spaces where is the need at all to go in for Vaastushastra? Isn’t an irony?

  Well whatever the pros and cons, we only need living spaces where we could be able to live in peace and happiness in complete harmony with natural forces. If Vaastushastra help achieve this goal… well it’s fine.

Why Tolstoy Was Denied The Nobel Prize In Literature

  Learn why eminent writer Leo Tolstoy did not receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. What happened behind the scenes? Was Tolstoy not worth the Nobel Prize in Literature? Here are the interesting facts dug out from the history of Nobel Prizes. Read on… they make good reading.

Are Nobel Prize Judges the wisest of the wisest or mere mortals?

  Every year, the Nobel Prizes are awarded. But one cannot understand the hype it generates. Is it because the laureates created a work of distinction that supposedly confer ‘the greatest benefit to mankind’?

  If so the members of the Nobel Prize Committee must be endowed with godly wisdom so as to decide what constitutes the ‘greatest work’.

  Are they? May be! But here are some of the famous cases dug up from history of Nobel Prizes that suggest otherwise.

  If a curious mind penetrates behind the scene, he will learn that the Judges or Members of the Selection Committee of the Nobel Prizes are mere mortals filled with high-flying vanities, prejudices, petty rivalries, frailties all perfectly blended with intelligence, honesty, wisdom and courage.

  Alfred Bernhard Nobel {1833-1896} virtually opened the floodgates of controversies and congratulations by unintentionally [or deliberately?] omitting in his will the yardsticks to measure what constitutes ‘the greatest work’.

  On 10th December 1901, the first crowning ceremony started off with a bang with five distinguished persons winning the Prize, but the bang did emanate some jarring notes that was to be heard for many long years to come.

Leo Tolstoy

Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy 1828-1910

  Tolstoy authored War and Peace and Anna Karenina which were acknowledged as the greatest works of realist fiction.

Why Tolstoy was denied the Nobel Prize

  When Sully Prudhomme {1839-1907}, a French poet was selected and awarded the Nobel Prize by Swedish Academy for his literary works that interpreted the conflict between emotions and reason, the world opinion protested. Not because Prudhomme got the Prize, but Tolstoy was ignored; and to this effect 42 scientists and artists signed a tribute to the slighted celebrity {Tolstoy} in protest against the Academy’s indifference to Tolstoy.

  Yet the Swedish Academy did not consider him even for 1902 Literary Prize. Thanks to Swede’s only literary expert of the time, Carl David af Wirsen {1842-1912 the Academy’s Permanent Secretary and Chairman, Nobel Committee for literature whose verdict put out all hopes of Tolstoy ever winning the Prize.

Carl David af Wirsen

  Carl David af Wirsen opined, “‘War and Peace’ and ‘Annakerenina’ deserved the Prize… while his religious sociological and political writings were regarded as both immature and misleading… he has condemned all forms of civilization and urged instead a primitive mode of life divorced from all forms of higher culture… though completely inexperienced in Biblical criticism he has ambitiously rewritten the New Testament in a half-rationalistic, half-mystical spirit confronted by such expressions of narrow minded hostility to all forms of civilization, one feels dubious. One does not like to bestow recognition… it would be wrong to force on the great writer such a reward…”

  Having read the Chairman Wirsen’s report what one would say but sigh in vain!?

Maxim Gorky

  Even Maxim Gorky’s {1868 – 1936} famous autobiography could have been ‘placed in the front rank’ for the Prize. But the Academy found it difficult to arrive at a wholly objective judgment as the intellectual part he had played during the revolution and his other works were ‘politically colored’.

  Judging literary merits on political colors! Truly, this is not one of the main stipulations in Nobel’s will. That explains why the Russians did not get even one Prize for the first 50 years until World War II in all the faculties except for minor writer Ivan Bunin {1870-1953; 1933} and Ivan Petrovic Pavlov {1849-1936; 1904} for literature and physiology respectively.

  Likewise, since the initiation of the Nobel Prizes in 1901, there were several instances where so many deserving celebrated personalities suffered victimization and were denied the Nobel Prize.

The 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature

  The 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Tomas Tranströmer of Sweden. The Prize motivation read as "because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality".

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Why Maugham, Joyce and Greene Didn't Get The Prize in Literature ?

  Learn why eminent classic writers like William Somerset Maugham, James Joyce, and Graham Greene did not receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. What happened behind the scenes? Why were they denied the Nobel Prize in Literature? Are they not worth it? Here are the interesting facts dug out from the history of Nobel Prizes. Read on… they make good reading. 

  Why was it the famous classic writers were denied the Nobel Prize in Literature when they truly deserved? Why is it William Somerset Maugham, Graham Greene and James Joyce were denied the Prize? Is it because their works are inferior and did not possess literary merits? Is it because they did not produce the most distinguished works of idealistic tendency, which Alfred Nobel clearly stipulated as a criterion in his will?

  If one peeps behind the scenes and read between the lines, he will learn that the judges or members of the Selection Committee of the Nobel Prizes are mere mortals filled with high-flying vanities, prejudices, petty rivalries, frailties all mixed up with intelligence, honesty, wisdom and courage.

  Hedin, on of the powerful judges on the Nobel Committee with his shortsightedness delivered his judgment on William Somerset Maugham as ‘Too popular and undistinguished’. When questioned about James Joyce (1882-1941}, Hedin reportedly remarked, ‘Who is he’?

James Joyce {1882-1941}

W S Maugham {1874-1965}

Graham Greene {1904-1991}

 And William Somerset Maugham(1874-1965} cannot be too popular and undistinguished at the same time. If he is popular he is distinguished, if he is unpopular he is undistinguished. William Somerset Maugham truly deserved the Nobel Prize in Literature for his ‘Of Human Bondage’. 

  Such a soul-stirring semi-autobiographical classic ‘Of Human Bondage’ © 1915; the story revolves around a club-footed youth who genuinely falls in love with a beautiful girl. He then goes beyond his means to give anything in this world to win her. In return, he often finds himself being snubbed by her derisively and ruthlessly exploited suffering humiliation in the process. Yet he takes everything in his stride. And the way this club-footed youth reasons with his soul and justifies his actions and indulgences makes the novel a more moving classic. This is also in a way a semi-autobiography. Truly a masterpiece that is full of literary merit ‘Of Human Bondage’ that deserved the Prize.

  In 1974 too, Graham Greene {1904-1991} of England, Vladimir Nabokov of Russia and Saul Bellow of United States were hot contenders for the Nobel Prize in Literature. But Eyvind Johnson and Harry Martinson both Sweden nationals and who are unknown outside their home country were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. But does anyone know that these two authors were Nobel Judges themselves. What an Irony!

The 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature

  The 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Tomas Tranströmer of Sweden. The Prize motivation read as "because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality".

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The Victim of Nobel Prize: H G Wells

  Learn why eminent classic writer and dreamer H G Wells did not receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. What happened behind the scenes? Why was he denied the Prize in Literature? Is he not worth it? 

  Why was it, the all-time famous classic writer was denied the Nobel Prize in Literature when he truly deserved? Why is it H G Wells, was denied the Prize? Is it because his works are inferior and did not possess literary merits? Is it because he did not produce the most distinguished works of idealistic tendency, which Nobel clearly stipulated as a criterion in his will?

  If one peeps behind the scene and read between the lines, he will learn that the Judges or Members of the Selection Committee of the Nobel Prizes are mere mortals filled with high-flying vanities, prejudices, petty rivalries, frailties all mixed up with intelligence, honesty, wisdom and courage.

Herbert George Wells {1866-1946}

  Herbert George Wells who was born in 1866 in Bromley, in the country of Kent was a prolific English writer writing in many genres like history, politics, social commentaries, text books, novels and science fiction. In fact, H G Wells is best known for his works in the genre of science fiction. He is popularly referred to as "The Father of Science Fiction" along with Hugo Gernsback and Jules Verne.

  Indeed H G Wells was a dreamer who foresaw things well in advance that would shape the world. It has aptly been reflected in his many a books, such as 'The Time Machine' {©1895}, 'The First Men in the Moon' {©1901}, 'The War in the Air' {©1908}, and 'Anticipations of the Reaction of Mechanical and Scientific Progress Upon Human Life and Thought' {©1901} and many more.


  In 1932, H G Wells was a serious candidate and yet he lost to John Galsworthy {1867-1933} who received the Prize for his ‘Forsyte Saga’. “H G Wells”, said Osterling, a judge on the Nobel Committee, “surpassed Galsworthy both in strength of intellect and fertility of imagination.” Yet he was denied the Prize because, “He was too minor and journalistic.” said Sven Anders Hedin, another judge on the Nobel Committee.

  But these people do not know that H G Wells was a dreamer who dreamt of flying machines {Time Machine © 1895} long before Wright Brothers came on the scene with their Airplanes, which are in fact, inferior when compared to that of Wells’ imaginary 4th dimensional plane. And Wells dreamt of men in the moon long before the first man set his foot on the moon in 1969. Sadly, the Nobel Prize in Literature eluded this dreamer. May be the Nobel Prize Committee on literature might have thought that this dreamer, H G Wells corpus lacked literary merit worth the Prize.  

The 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature

  The 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Tomas Tranströmer of Sweden. The Prize motivation read as "because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality".

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The Only Politician Who Rejected Peace Prize But Got One in Literature !

 

  Did Churchill's works really mattered? Churchill is a great writer, no doubt. But do his works confer the greatest benefit on mankind as stipulated in Nobel's Will? Was he really worth the Prize in Literature? Did he really deserve the Nobel Prize in Literature? What went on behind the doors? Here are the interesting facts dug out from the history of Nobel Prizes. Read on… they make good reading. This article does not intend to belittle the stature of one of the finest writers and the greatest Statesman, Sir Winston Churchill. 

  

Sir Winston Churchill

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill {1874-1965}

  Here is one more instance of favoritism. In 1953, the Nobel trustees were anxious to award one of their Prizes to Winston Churchill. But which Prize? They racked their brains, as there is no Prize for Statesmanship. But a peace Prize does exist. And they decided to thrust it on him. 

  But Churchill after going through the list said, “Thank you very much I would rather not”. Churchill pretty well knew it would become a sham if he accepted it, for he was the man who ran all over the world looking for wars, Cuba, Indian frontiers, Sudan and South Africa and thrusting himself into them. And he strode onto the world stage as one of the greatest leader of a nation and an empire at wars that history recorded.

  In such circumstances, it is quite natural for the Nobel trustee to have been awed by this giant with an intending desire to honor him with one of their Prizes.

  Undaunted by his rejection of Peace Prize, the Nobel Committee on Literature delightfully decided to thrust the Literature Prize on him. Thus Winston Churchill won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953. His citation reads, ‘For his mastery in the presentation of history and biography and for the brilliant oratory with which he has stepped forward to the defense of our civilizations’. He won the Nobel Prize for his “My Early Life’ an account of his youthful adventures and "also one of the world's most entertaining adventure stories" according to S. Siwertz, Member of the Swedish Academy. 

The 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature

  The 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Tomas Tranströmer of Sweden. The Prize motivation read as "because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality".

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Was Pearl Buck Worth The Nobel Prize in Literature ?

  Did her works really mattered? Was she really worth the Prize in Literature? What went on behind the doors? Here are the interesting facts dug out from the history of Nobel Prizes. Read on… they make good reading.

Pearl S Buck

Pearl Sydenstricker Buck {1892-1973}

  Pearl Sydenstricker Buck (June 26, 1892 – March 6, 1973) was born in Hillsboro, West Virginia. She grew up in China and lived there till 1934. Pearl S Buck began her writings in 1920s. Her first collection of short stories titled, "East Wind, West Wind, was published in 1930. It was followed by "The Good Earth" (1931), "Sons" (1932), "The First Wife and Other Stories" (1933), "The Mother" (1934), "A House Divided" (1935), and "This Proud Heart" (1938) and several other books. She also published a biographical novel of her parents titled "The Exile" and "Fighting Angel" were published in 1936 and later brought out together as "The Spirit and the Flesh" (1944). Her novel "The Good Earth" (1931) became the best-selling book ultimately winning her the Pulitzer Prize in 1932 and Nobel Prize in 1938.
 

  When Pearl Sydenstricker Buck’s name was proposed in 1938 for the laureate in literature, ten of the eighteen judges opposed her. Dr Osterling, the then Secretary of Swedish Academy with a voting right on literary awards led the opposition from the front while Dr Hedin along with Selma Lagerlof, a laureate in 1909 successfully rallied round Buck.

  What is emphasized here is the division in Committee vote was not due to the questionable merits of her works; but because Dr Osterling was eminently prejudiced against Americans. He is reported to have quipped that the Americans do not need Nobel Cheque for they receive more money from Hollywood than the Prize is worth.

Sven Anders Hedin – 1865-1952

  And Sven Anders Hedin’s support to Buck… well read on what Hedin said later ruefully, ‘Pearl Buck and her husband published my last book, a biography of Chiank Kai-Shek. They gave me too little money for it, and to think of how I got her the Prize.’ This is how the judges deliberated. 

  Anyway Pearl S Buck got her Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938 much to the delight of her fans; and her citation read as follows: "for her rich and truly epic descriptions of peasant life in China and for her biographical masterpieces". 

The 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature

  The 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Tomas Tranströmer of Sweden. The Prize motivation read as "because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality".

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What Is Good Cinema ?

  What is Art Cinema? What is Commercial Cinema? How do movies influence people? Are movies worth watching today? 

  Today, the tinsel world of cinema is in deplorable condition. It can be likened to that of Samson, the Biblical legendary who, while bringing down his own death killed thousands of spectators pulling down the pillars on to them to which he was tied with his enormous God-given strength.

  Unmindful of its own moral collapse the cine media is swaying the millions of youth towards perversion in the name of entertainment.

  If one sees and reads between the lines one can understand what is what – the difference between formula and art movies. In order to promote the concept… the concept of art cinema, I lectured my friends and acquaintances on art movies and suggested them to see a movie which was then released, that depicts the life of a woman in the gutter.

  They listened to me, some with interest and some disdainfully.

  Finally when the saw the movie, I asked how they felt. They simply shrugged and wrote me off as a critic. However, one person who saw the movie said, it was good and captivating and promised to see it again as he seem to have missed something. I wondered at his missing ‘something’

  He saw it a second time and I questioned him with a smile. He said that he missed the same ‘something’. In his relentless pursuit of discovering the missing phenomena he kept repeating his goings to that movie.

  After performing the feat for the nth time, he gave up and sought me out. He decided to confide in me the feelings that kept lurking in his mind. He said, “You see, there is one scene…” He plunged into narration keeping me on tenterhooks, “...a railway track, at the backdrop a beautiful landscape, a mountain and at the foot of it there are trees and huts scattered like stars across the lake…’

  I was at a loss as to understand what he was driving at. And I did not interrupt him lest I miss a point here or a point there.

  He continued, “And in the lake to a lilting song in the background the heroine with no clothes on bathes enjoying the nature’s beauty.”

  I wondered what seventh heaven lay in there!

  He continued, “While the heroine swims in the lake to the lilting tunes in the background, suddenly a train from nowhere appears and moves synchronizing the bathing scene literally hiding the heroine,”

  “So what’s unusual in it?” I cut in.

  He said, “Look, don’t you know that our trains are notorious for inordinate delays?”

  “So what”, I exclaimed.

  “Nothing, I am hoping against hope that this train too will come late some day or the other as is customary with Indian Railways”

 

  “Then?”  I said.

  “Then, what then?” He said and stared at me quizzically.

  For a fraction of a second I did not understand. But when the sense dawned on me… his concept of art cinema, I was taken aback and torn asunder whether I had selected the right one for my promotional campaign of art cinema.

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Why No Nobel Prize For Iconic Sci-Fi Writer Sir Isaac Asimov !

  What makes Isaac Asimov the greatest science fiction writer? Why this iconic sci-fi writer was denied the Nobel Prize in Literature? Is he not worth the Prize?

  No doubt, the Nobel Committee has truly honoured the most eminent people whose contribution has ennobled the world and bettered the lives of the entire mankind. Great scientists like Roentgen, Einstein, Raman, Fleming Curie-couple, Teresa, Tutu and Tagore have all been honoured and awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize. 

  But it is also a fact, that history of Nobel Prizes is also a history of inexplicable sins of omission with many people left out who rightly deserved the Prize - Edison, Wright Brothers, James Joyce, Tolstoy, H G Wells, Maugham, Greene and so on and especially Sir Isaac Asimov too.

  Yes, Sir Isaac Asimov truly deserved the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Sir Isaac Asimov {1920-1992}

  The author of more than 400 books, Isaac Asimov born in Russia in 1920, soon migrated to United States at the age of three. An exceptional student, Asimov soon proved that he was a born writer. In 1934, Asimov published his first story in his school's newspaper. Asimov received a doctorate in biochemistry from Columbia University in 1948 and since 1949 has been a professor of biochemistry at Boston University until he retired in 1958. Soon after his retirement, Asimov became a full time writer.

  Asimov has produced classics such as ‘I, Robot’, ‘The Naked Sun’, and ‘The Caves of Steel’, ‘The Foundation’ trilogy have all won him the respect for science fiction. His stories too ‘Nightfall’ and ‘The Bicentennial Man’, and novels such as ‘The Gods Themselves’, and ‘Foundation's Edge’ have been recognized as the best science fiction ever written earning him numerous honors and accolades. It is believed that Sir Isaac Asimov is associated with the invention and coinage of a word Robotics, when he used the word is his Robot series. Asimov has also written popular essays on science and technology in several magazines.

  Presenting the complexities of science in a simple and arresting manner is the hallmark of Asimov's genre. His simple arresting genre earned him the nickname 'The Great Explainer'. Any student or children who are found to be wary of science must be presented Asimov's books’ for they would soon discover how wonderful and interesting the science is.

  Indeed Asimov was the man, who laid bare the intricacies and complexities of science, before the common man imparting him the knowledge, thereby creating and sustaining the interest in science especially in the field of astronomy or space science. His genre, so simple and arresting, tells us how fascinating the science is.

  Until his death in 1992, Asimov’s zestfulness has not died. He was full of energy and on fire. Always ready to explain things to laymen. Asimov commented before his death, "I'm on fire to explain, and happiest when it's something reasonably intricate which I can make clear step by step. It's the easiest way I can clarify things in my own mind."

  Sir Isaac Asimov’s entire corpus confer the greatest benefit on mankind - as stipulated in Nobel’s will– the dissemination of scientific knowledge to laymen. Asimov truly deserved the Nobel Prize in Literature. But sadly he was ignored.

  Yet if Sir Isaac Asimov had been awarded the Prize in literature it still would have been too small a gesture when compared to his works in the field of literature. But unfortunately, to the dismay of his millions of fans, who understood science in his language, Sir Isaac Asimov was denied the Nobel Prize in Literature. No one knows the reason why.

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Smoke Your Way to Deathly Ecstasy !

Prologue:

  Picking up the cue the bantering member shouted amidst din and laughter. "Hey! Don’t worry! Can't you see the cigarette dangling between his fingers?"

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  The members hailing from all walks of life our club can certainly be termed as a true representative of the society. The members express divergent views on many plaguing issues right from Obama to Anna Hazare to scams and corruption and so on. For instance in our last session we had a discussion on current craze in India, Anna Hazare vs Corruption.

  The ratio being equal; a member who developed a sickening aversion to current events around the nation posed as to why the corruption has grown out of proportions in India and beyond redemption. He growled, “What makes them stink in corruption? Why can’t they be honest? What is there contribution in curbing violence, stirs and agitations around us? Are they rather not igniting them for their own ends? Who is behind unemployment? And what they have done? Just look around you!” He stretched his hands in desperation and sighed.

  The smoker took up his cigarette and lighting it up asked as to what his suggestions were then to all these maladies.

  He said that he is going to write to the Chief Election Commissioner and other concerned authorities to introduce a feasible 'call back policy' under which the people of the constituency has a right to force the resignation and call back their elected representatives – erring MPs or MLAs.  The smoker jotted down the notes and dragging on his cigarette he invited other members to add suggestions to that effect.  

  One member in a bantering tone said, "You first stop choking us to death; for we the passive smokers are more prone to death rather than you". And pointing towards his teeth he asked the smoker to stop smoking - as the large chunks of nicotine has been deposited on his gums and save his teeth and skin as well.

  Taking exception to this remark, the smoker took up the gauntlet. Amidst deep puffing and dragging, he started haranguing like a Demosthenes, which naturally arrested the interest of all the members present.

  Now hogging the limelight he went on reeling out facts and figures on tobacco. "Tobacco was the name of a tube generally used for sniffing the ground up Caoba leaves. Hence the name tobacco caught on. Yes, it caught on the imagination of the world too. It has become a status symbol with some! For some, it has a soothing effect on ones bleak moods!" dragging on his cigarette he added, “truly smoking kicks up ones emotions to the core bringing out the creative imagination in him!" Looking outside the window he lit another cigarette and took a deep drag on it – obviously for a kick indeed. 

  

  Outside the weather changed. The sky was overcast. Winds are blowing mildly. It might rain, he thought. Dragging on his cigarette he threw a glance around him, perhaps gauging the member reaction.

  He then continued, "the vicious campaign against smoking has been set into motion from day telling the world that smoking causes cancer, heart attacks and lunging damages to the lungs, tuberculosis, asthma and so on. Yet the demand for tobacco is ever increasing with many brands mushrooming around the world. The irony is India is the third largest producer of tobacco after USA and China."

  The smoker dragged on his cigarette, "Why, once upon a time in Russia you might have seen long unending serpentine queues for cigarettes, which you people call it 'the sting of death'. He paused. Now the markets are being flooded with electronic cigarettes. If you…

  Suddenly the lights went off. Outside it started raining. The gale winds are blowing much stronger throwing up the windows open with a noisy thud! Someone shouted, "Hey, the smoker is sitting beside the window, watch him. Lest he may be carried away by the gales! "

  Everybody laughed for the smoker's physique is very bony and skeletal.

  Picking up the cue the bantering member shouted amidst din and laughter. "Hey! Don’t worry. Can't you see the cigarette dangling between his fingers?"

  This threw the meeting into an uproarious laughter bringing it to an abrupt end. But no one saw the apoplectic expression on smoker’s face!

  But then the smoker was none other than Yours Truly...

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How Einstein Was Victimized By The Nobel Prize Committee

   Learn how eminent scientist Albert Einstein was belittled and snubbed by the Nobel Prize Committee. And how he was delayed the Nobel Prize in Physics. What went on behind the scenes? What happened? Why he was belittled? Here are the most interesting facts dug out from the history of Nobel Prizes.

Are Nobel Prize Judges the demigods or mere men with frailties?

  Every year, the Nobel Prizes are awarded. But it generates a lot of hype. Is it because the laureates create a work of distinction that supposedly confer ‘the greatest benefit to mankind’? If so the members of the Nobel Prize Committee must be endowed with godly wisdom so as to decide what constitutes the ‘greatest work’.

  Are they? May be! But here are some of the famous cases dug up from history that suggest otherwise. The Nobel judges or members of the Selection Committee of the Nobel Prizes are mere mortals filled with high-flying vanities, prejudices, petty rivalries, frailties all mixed up with intelligence, honesty wisdom and courage.

  Alfred Bernhard Nobel {1833-1896} might have unintentionally [or deliberately?] omitted in his will the yardsticks to measure what constitutes ‘the greatest work’ and who that ‘most deserving’ is. Nobel’s will says, ‘No consideration whatsoever shall be paid to nationality of the candidate… the most deserving be awarded the Prize’!

Albert Einstein {1879-1955}

  In 1905, Albert Einstein was working in Bern, Switzerland as a patent clerk. While working here he published his most famous four research papers, which include his “Special Theory of Relativity” that contain the now famous equation e=mc2, which threw open the floodgates to the mysteries of this Universe hitherto unknown to the world.

  Today Einstein’s Theories find its applications in lasers, DVD players, television, and devices like remote control, automatic door openers and so on. In 1999, TIME magazine chose him as the “Person of the Century”. His theories left the world with infinite knowledge to explore further and unravel the mysteries of this universe.

How Einstein was belittled by the Nobel Committee

  Albert Einstein, the most eminent iconic scientist was reportedly denied the Prize in 1915. He was kept at abeyance for 7 long years before he was finally awarded the Prize in 1921 which he received it in the following year 1922. This Nobel Prize too was not for his greatest find ‘Theory of Relativity’ but for his work on photoelectric effect. 

  The Royal Swedish Academy that picks up laureates for physics and chemistry had degraded itself by not honoring Einstein in person. To this Dr Einstein says, “I was informed that I had received the Nobel Prize by a telegram... the Prize was not personally handed to me, I was instead, invited to attend a Swedish Scientific Congress at Goeteborg [sic] where I delivered an address…” What a pity !

Philipp Lenard – 1862 - 1947

  Such belittlement of Einstein is mainly due to the anti-Semitism of one prominent German physicist Philipp Eduard Anton von Lenard {1862-1947; 1905: Cathode Rays}, allegedly influenced the Nobel Committee by arguing that the Theory of Relativity was not actually a discovery, and never been proved and hence valueless. The Nobel Committee on Physics then got scared and excused itself on the ground that Einstein’s Theory of Relativity was beyond comprehension and that they cannot run the risk of learning later that it was invalid.

  So much so for their intellect, they cannot comprehend!

  Anyone could have explained what relativity is. If you sit with a nice girl for an hour, you feel only a minute has passed. If you sit on a hot stove for a minute you feel an hour has passed. This is Relativity. As simple as that.

  Besides, there is another story to it. They are simply hiding their anti-Semitism behind feigned ignorance. There is circumstantial evidence to it. During World War I, the German government was very much reeling with anxiety to muster support for its actions in the war. So it prepared a suitable manifesto and asked all the leading distinguished eminent intellectuals and scientists to sign it. Eighty-three of them signed including Nobel laureates like Roentgen, Planck, and Wagner. But Einstein, the ever pacifist refused and rejected the manifesto with disgust it deserved. This, people believe, might have rankled in the minds of Nobel Judges.

Sven Anders Hedin – 1865-1952

The Three Nobel Judges who Ruled Nobel Prizes 
  Sven Hedin, Carl David af Wirsen and Dr Osterling were only an example how Nobel Judges are swayed by petty whims and fancies of their mind rather than the merits and demerits of work concerned. 

The 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics

  The 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics was jointly awarded to Saul Perlmutter, Brian P. Schmidt Adam G. Riess "for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe through observations of distant supernovae". The Prize has been shared with one half going to Saul Perlmutter and the other half jointly to Brian P. Schmidt and Adam G. Riess. All the three scientists hail from United States of America.
 

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How to Make it Big in Indian Politics

  This human interest article will enlighten you on the secret of making it big in Indian politics. It speaks of current trend in Indian politics and does not intend to hurt anyone.

  Come elections and the society is bubbled with hectic activity with all the leaders – well-entrenched Delhi leaders to self-styled gully leaders vying with each other to try their luck at the hustings. For elections has become a thriving business thus!

  One such person a friend of mine, an unemployed engineering graduate became a gully leader overnight to take a headlong plunge into politics. He gathered his cronies and pals and with them he moved into political circles with quick succession trying to throw his weight around.

  But just by being a gully leader won’t take him anywhere! Realizing thus, he sought my help to prepare the ground for him by wielding the influence I am having with, as a freelancer in the power corridors of Delhi! I did somewhat reluctantly and got a ticket for him.

  But then, I also persuaded him to reconsider his decision as politics means lots of money, goondaism and a war of nerves between unseeming rivals. And moreover, politics are the last resort for scoundrels and rogues; and that the winner is always a person with lots of luck. Saying thus, I tried to brainwash him, but he stonewalled me with his stubbornness to enter politics come what may.

  Grinning understandably he said, ‘Its not a bit of luck but a whole lot of it and to ensure that elusive luck let us go to an astrologer and find out what’s in store for us!’ concluded my friend.

  On that note, I lost all my senses and threw tantrums at him haranguing him how dime a dozen astrologers are thriving and making a fast buck by fooling around with people like him! I went on and on for an hour. He took everything in his stride like a veteran. Truly, he is having all the traits. And still grinning he said he was hell-bent on seeing one. I have nothing but to shrug my shoulders.

  So without much ado we located one – an old man with a considerable reputation for accurate predictions, but not so famous like Paul Octopus Baba! As a prelude to our queries, I questioned him the efficacy of astrology in the light of scientific revelations much to my friend’s chagrin!

  Picking up the gauntlet, the old man laughed a rueful smile. And then he unleashed his tongue reeling out the technical jargon trying his best to convince me how first astrology came into being.

  And like a ‘Time Traveler’ of  ‘Time Machine’ he took us back into the realm hitherto unknown touching the frontiers beyond millions of light years in just few hours with all the details pouring over us in bits and fragments about astrology. Is spite of its inconceivability to me, it was a touché for him. I kept quiet nodding my head now and then.

  Then my friend-turned-politico asked him about the chances of his success in the ensuing general elections and also the subsequent prospects of getting a ministerial berth in the cabinet.

  The astrologer laughed and nodded in negative. He said that his stars are at logger-heads with his fate under the tremendous influence of Shani Devatha; and to overcome this he suggested my friend propitiate Shani Goddess and worship Lord Hanuman, considered to be the Lord of all planets and stars supposedly ruling human life and then everything will be fine thenceforth! The old man assured in a confident tone.

  Then I questioned him the whereabouts of Lord Hanuman much to the bewilderment of both!. They stared at each other and then at me quizzically. I shot a parting glance and said ‘………’ sarcastically to which my friend gritted his teeth and swore under his breath!

  I said that in order to hog the limelight on a political firmament and to become a force to reckon with, try to get into the good books of political Lord Hanumans, who are sitting pretty in New Delhi, the nerve-center of power politics.

  These so-called political Hanumans become busy currying favors with their political masters and do all sorts of things to please their demigod-like masters. These so-called self-styled Hanumans are the ones who make or break the political careers of budding aspirants. So mustering up my guts I suggested to my friend to propitiate these self-styled political Hanumans at Delhi in order to make it big in politics. I concluded saying, this is the secret of success for anyone who wish to become a politician!!!

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