Destined Encounters

By Sury Pullat

Capt Suryanarayanan Pullat is a merchant mariner hailing from Kerala India having circumnavigated the globe during his very first voyage in71. He swallowed anchor and settled in Chennai in 90 and is a Consultant, Broker and Arbitrator.

In his debut novel DESTINED ENCOUNTERS, he traces spiritual voyage of five characters Baig, Crised, Dastur, Ingrid and Risto who pass through the University of Realisation and their lives thereafter. Their trysts with destiny and each other at turning points in their lives and at particular cities in the world, offer ideas and answers for new generation to manoeuvre in troubled world held hostage by society, religion and politics.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Sep 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9781482836387

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Sury Pullat.

ISBN:          Hardcover          978-1-4828-3640-0

                   Softcover          978-1-4828-3639-4

                   eBook               978-1-4828-3638-7

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Contents

1   Confessions

Part I: The Varsity Days

2   Dean’s Welcome Address

3   Pursuit Of Realisation

4   Feminism And After

5   Meditating Solutions

6   Animal Forum

7   Humanity

8   Conflict Resolution

9   Success From Failures

10: Part II: College Mag Essays

Why God?

Same Gender Dilemma

Unifying Spirituality

Final Frontier

Perceptions Galore

On Secularism

Nobel For Godology

Understanding Politicians

11: The Varsity Verses

Why, Poetry?

Prose In Verse

Adjectives

Mind Matters

Oh My God

Prisoners Of Perceptions

Thinker, Cure Thyself

Eudaimonia

A Great Leveller

Cogito

Ennui

12 The Growth Path: Totem Pole

Part III: The PLAY and Panel Discussions

13 Clash Of Realisations -Part I Of Play: Inquisitive Interest

14 Clash Of Realisations Part II Of Playon Christianity

15 Clash Of Realisation Part III On Islam

16 Clash Of Realisations –On Hinduism

17 Clash Of Realisations Grand Finale

Part IV: Realisations

18 Singapore Fling

19 Who Is Who

20 Aegean Aurum

21 Jihad

22 Gulf De Tours

23 Deliverance

24 Roman Free Radicals

25 Inquisition

26 Lnfinite Revolutions

Epitaph

Epilogue

References And Further Reading:

A FOREWORD FOR DESTINED ENCOUNTERS

It was a benevolent part of my destiny that I encountered this epic proportioned write up by Pullat. Though the author likes to call it a novel I feel it to be much more than a novel. Sailors have been writing. Herman Melville (1819 – 1891) wrote Moby Dick a classic, Joseph Conrad (1857 –1924) wrote Heart of Darkness etc., Nicholas Monsaraat (1910 – 1979) of The Cruel Sea wrote several other novels. Ernest Hemingway – though not strictly a sailor by profession, sailed to write The Old man and the Sea in 1951. Even writers who were not sailors did benefit from sailing to write.

Probably it is the life they lead on board that makes the sailors serious thinkers. But many of them taken over by sheer ennui, do not record their feelings. Nor do they feel it proper as they often feel less equipped to write. Naturally much information is lost because of this indifference. Sailors’ accounts have been most valuable in history. I have always relished the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. But that was merely an account of what the author saw.

Pullat has been sailing; therefore has amassed a lot of information on various topics and subjects thematically different from one another like chalk and cheese. But as an author when he chose to record them with the additional knowledge he had gained through extensive reading, another trait of a good sailor, chose well to put in writing in a manner that is baffling. For, it is not easy to connect many mundane things to a spiritual thinking process that he has managed in this effort.

The work is basically spiritual, connected with things that happened, that may happen, and eventually that is desirable to happen. His ideas are articulated through young but intelligent Utopian characters, who think out of the box. Their conversation is basically as expounded in the Upanishads; a process in which ideas develop, take shape and are tested - tested by lengthy arguments and pros and cons of the eventualities. Neatly done, though at times repetitive, the discussions show each participant better thinker than the other.

Philosophy is central to the theme; religion is peripheral but appears to be central the way it is positioned in the narration. Almost all religions of the world find place here with their philosophies. Religion in the discussion is fashioned as a vehicle and ridden by each participant in a way that the reader tends to travel with the participant though remaining cautious as the next stop is not known. Again travel for the reader is luggage free; the luggage of thought is provided by the participants. This makes the expectation of the reader high which is the strength of the author’s writing.

When Nehru was in confinement in 1932 he received the news that Mahatma was to fast unto death. This was something to do with the communal award suggested by Ramsay Macdonald. Nehru was angry. Angry because he thought this was merely a side issue for which such a strong step was not necessary. He was wondering whether so much sacrifice was necessary which may tail off into something insignificant.

After much emotional conflict, Nehru thought that whatever Gandhiji did was always for good. He realized suddenly that a tremendous wave of enthusiasm running through the Hindu community. Sitting in Yeravada prison that Gandhiji could pull such a strong string for an upheaval was wonderful news to Nehru. The issue here was connecting religion with politics for a positive result.

Nehru then remarked that the brand of religion that British adopted had apparently helped them by blunting their moral susceptibilities where their own interests were concerned. Other peoples and nations have often behaved far worse than British but they did not succeed by making a virtue of what profited them. It is easy to spot a mote in other’s eye and overlook the beam in our own.

He quoted, A recent instance of how Church of England indirectly influences politics in India has come to my notice. At a provincial conference of the U. P. Indian Christians held at Cawnpore on the 7th November 1934, the Chairman of the reception committee Mr. E. V. David said, ‘As Christians we are bound by our religion to loyalty to the King, who is the defender of the Faith.’ Inevitably that meant support of the British Imperialism in India.’

Nehru saw that even the Church had taken a view of the Indian politics then; the archbishop of Canterbury speaking in the House of Lords on December 12, 1934, referred to the preamble of the Motague-Chemlsford reforms of 1919 said that recommendations were hastily made. Thus the politics of the day at any time of the centuries has never been free of religion.

Religion at different times played different roles and therefore it is refreshingly soothing to read the words spoken by the participant characters of the author, who try to project religion in altogether a different angle as a mere faith being practiced. Religion here is a positive instrument to prove one’s thought process and each of the participants uses it most convincingly.

Reading through this rather lengthy novel by Pullat, I am astonished by the sheer volume of the work. The author has read a lot and has naturally felt the need to record what he understood by his own way of living a disciplined life.

He has created characters that are out of the ordinary – simply too well read or shade more intelligent than good students who discuss, argue and do not necessarily come to any conclusion but create fields of knowledge and space for discerning reader to form opinions.

Secularism here is not the one that is projected by the politicians who do it for profitable engagement rather than sheer belief. One is reminded of what Romain Rolland said in his book Life of Ramakrishna "It is the quality of thought and not its object which determines its source and allows us to decide whether or not it emanates from religion.

If it turns fearlessly towards the search for truth at all costs with single-minded sincerity prepared for any sacrifice, I should call it religious; for it presupposes faith in an end to human effort higher than life of existing society, and even higher than the life of humanity as a whole.

Scepticism itself, when it proceeds from vigorous natures true to the core, when it is an expression of strength and not weakness, joins in the march of the Grand Army of the religious soul" Here the author makes his characters members of this Grand Army!

This is a different novel; a novel that goes through the continents and countries with the peregrinating characters experiencing different localities and bringing together opposing nations and peoples. A kind of integration that is remarkable.

It is with riveting attention reader goes through some of the well-spoken messages of the characters. The book must be read for its sheer honest proposition, that of religious and national integration.

K R A Narasiah

Writer – Historian

Proem

This is an effort as a change agent to draw attention of the youth and awaken their interest by subtly bringing forth possibilities that exist to drive changes for their own betterment along with others, in all fields of life for the Greater Common Good of society and the world at large.

Knowledge that exists in society and ideas that are generated do not seem to serve the purpose of true realisation. They have to be realistically and constructively linked to reap results and benefits.

Intelligence, intellect, wisdom, intuition, associations, networks, money, power et al seem to work at cross purposes, often creating confusion and animosities that are avoidable. Though utopian and ideal set ups may not be practicable, one can get close to them by concerted efforts through trial and error.

A leadership vacuum is also obvious with no committed and charismatic figures dedicated to driving change among the millions that have potential. Lead, follow or move is the mode suggested to inspire oneself and others. In many fields, such creative approaches have helped attain goals.

Information technology has made it possible that changes are ushered in with alacrity; otherwise it is bound to occur with nasty surprises. To that extent, history, philosophy, economics, sociology, spirituality leading to religion etc have been referred through different methods and modes throughout the length and depth of this exercise.

A novel of `novel’ approach has been chosen to raise interest of readers in facts and figures, and immersed in hypothesis and story line, generating provocative thoughts and reactions for the better. The time line, though strictly undefined, is chosen to stretch over the current life spans of youth to in order impart a realistic sense.

The characters are specifically created to serve the purpose, intent, goals, vision and mission of transforming society on a gross scale in all fields like spirituality, religiosity, social interaction, economics, humanity and politics; nationally, regionally and globally too.

This book is about the lives of the characters living to realise various aspects of their interaction with society. Their quest for truth and facts to apply in life and for the good of human kind is the story portrayed; it helps them transform their own life and eventually cause major changes in the internet flattened globalised societies –changes that had long been overdue.

As such the purpose of the book is achieved and served by the characters ushering in changes that were envisaged right from their college days thereby altering underlying systems for harmonious living.

Numerous are the sources that have been gleaned over the decades and many are the contacts who have helped with inputs, comments, criticism and guidance. A few close ones who were deeply involved from the beginning are: Ramesh Krishna Kumar, Pullat Devadas Menon, Neduntheru Kannan and a few others opting for anonymity. I am deeply indebted to Shri Kavoori Narasiah who took the time and effort to do a preview.

Those who believe and get interested in ushering in changes as depicted in this work and on similar lines may get in touch with the author to take the ideals forward for implementation.

Due to voluminous coverage and content, lay out and font size had to be adjusted to control size and cost.

Chapter 1

CONFESSIONS

End was in sight for all of them. Satan was at it. Yama had come to claim what was his; God too, to help out; it was time to go for G5 -the varsity mates- simultaneously; together. To another abode; if any. They had to make confessions to themselves and amongst themselves. There was so much to share since their last meeting long back, though they were constantly in touch on the net and through telepathy of morphic resonance type. It was the last chance to get rid of all experiences. The last and final destined encounter remained and had to be played out to the end.

They wanted to communicate after death so that its experience could also be shared and notes compared for passing on to those waiting in line. They were not sure that it could be done. For, they had never died before; hadn’t experienced it. Even if they had had, they had no recollection of previous deaths, lives and births claimed to have been experienced by some others.

Therefore they had to network just before and at the time of death. Deathbed statements are said to be true and reliable; they are accepted even by courts. That is what prompted them to network on the eve of death rather than wait for the unknown uncertainties after death.

They were happy that they had played out their roles of characters from different parts of the world coming to study, learn and experience about life at the University of Realisation, as ideally as the maker-author had wanted to portray them. They had heard that the writer, reviewer, readers and press were enthused that such an idea to convey visions for unifying spiritualties after thorough discussion on varying practices, had worked out well.

They had come to know that an Inquisition was held by God and Devil holding the author responsible for the doubts sown in the minds of earthlings on their existence and that the book reviewer had been acquitted, having turned approver. They were upset that the author had to go back for another birth and life of a century to study the impact of his work, but were certain that that there would be some positive results for take-away for unifying the beliefs and faiths at the expense of religions.

So what was it like? enquired Risto.

Worth the efforts in service of humanity, especially the needy, was from a satisfied Ingrid.

All that money, assets and wealth didn’t seem to matter, complained Baig.

Neither did Science with all its confusion worse confounded, added Dastur.

End game, asserted Crised.

We tried. Human being is a tough beast to tame, averred Risto.

It’s easy when they are small; once grown up they are difficult to change, agreed Dastur.

You reward them well, they will do anything to look after your interests, assured Baig.

Catch them young; ‘guide and correct’ has worked well for my needs, summed up Ingrid.

They come bare-brained, get programmed and conditioned from the womb itself; they can be transformed for better or worse: a problem, was Crised’s erudite word with finality.

We did well and had excelled in our chosen fields, claimed Dastur.

I tried my best, added Baig in support.

It is for others to decide and value, interjected Ingrid.

Let it be, was from Risto calling for an end.

Take it easy, full-stopped Crised as usual.

The best part was our college days, recalled Baig.

I enjoyed the atmosphere, the international crowd and open approach, agreed Dastur.

It was a stepping stone to wisdom, life and work, was Ingrid’s view.

Every step is a lesson in life to be learned from and carried forward, was Crised’s opinion.

I could make out that we were in strange discoveries and realisations, rounded off Risto.

The next best was midlife crisis, suggested Dastur.

Challenges I had plenty throughout and that’s how I chose to work and live, was from Baig.

For me it was guiding people to their visions of change and achieving goals, said Ingrid.

In one life span one has go through at least four phases, Crised cautioned authoritatively.

They recalled their entire life in bits and pieces, sequentially at times, unscrambling from memories, stitching pieces together solving puzzles, in the order that it should impact others.

Surprises are better than a programmed life; the latter falters most of the time, said Risto.

Glad we had long innings and in the evening of life were in good health, surmised Dastur.

Not me, I had by-passes and replacements, but I managed; could afford also, responded Baig.

The last leg was the perfect climax to the well-planned path of adulthood, observed Crised.

Yes I did learn a lot and lived to practice and pass it on, commented a satisfied Risto.

Old age was the time to look back and assess one’s work and shortfalls, Ingrid concluded.

Let those who trace our paths learn from them, I hope, was Risto’s.

Adios, till we meet again, was the farewell from Baig.

Sayonara; take it easy, was Crised’s advice.

Quo Vadis, let it be, suggested Dastur, as the G5 did an imaginary hi5 for the last time.

Amen, closed Ingrid as they lost communications leaving earthly life at the same time.

A commemorative tombstone with inscriptions of G5’s great efforts nestled amid greenery was erected at the centre of nullith in the campus. In due course it became a hallowed spot of reverence for visiting alumni to pay deference to departed trendsetters who had succeeded to a large extent in unifying socio-spiritual-religious-economic-politico systems. Eulogising with no trace of opprobrium, the animal guild placed a memorial tablet under the banyan.

It became the most visited memorial of the 21st century in a few years. Admission was free, but donations from visitors and funds remitted by well-wishers exceeded the net income of some of the corporations. The revolution G5 initiated in a lifetime impacting social fabric of a handful of countries had spread like wildfires and changed the face of earth. It spread to other planets too. Humans struggling and surviving through millenniums, centuries, decades and generations through wars, catastrophes, uprisings misled by religions and political ideologies, had finally taken charge of their destinies for the better. For, millions had been killed and maimed, as pawns during wars between a few opponents for reasons too trivial and implausible.

Chapter 2

Dean’s Welcome Address

Students, parents, faculty and guests had filled up the spacious hall. Since the gathering was huge, it was overflowing. Video projection monitors were provided outside and around the hall and even in the colosseum for all to watch. There was in the air a feeling of initiation into the world of unknowns, and all were eagerly waiting for and looking forward to what the Dean would say about the University, its recently launched course, what it really meant, its purpose, focus, motto, ideals and vision with clarity.

The Dean started the address with a good introduction appearing to come from the heart, expressing satisfaction about the hard work and effort that had gone into setting up of the institution. While explaining the facilities, the purpose, the course, its duration, the novel approach, the fees and the concessions, he dwelt on its deeper focus and objectives.

He delivered the address very well, spacing out topics and stressing the alternatives on offer in a changing world and highlighted the thoughts that had gone into its founding and launch.

"Through the last few decades and generations, the purpose and natural value of education and work rendered therewith for life and services on our planet and beyond, seem to have been lost, if we consider, analyse and project the benefits to society and humanity at large. What good is education if it fails to deliver and instead increases divisiveness everywhere?

Quite simply, MBA that has gained popularity over the last half century has proven to be biggest failure and disappointment. They are focused to sync with market forces to combat supply-demand imbalances of economic realities. They lack compassion in their single minded approach of generating surpluses on quarterly basis, surrendering themselves to short term gains at the expense of medium term strength, jeopardising long term societal benefits. They are headed for affluenza and are bent on bending rules to suit their agenda to tame all else in pursuit of profits.

Science and Engineering have been poor performers. Pure research seems to have been stalled with scientists behaving like economists parading incremental knowledge with little if any quantitative and qualitative findings. Students that come out from other streams with paper qualifications are mostly unemployable and so the industries have been re-educating them – starting with languages – to make them employable.

Fortunately, vocational training has reduced unemployment at the lower levels and thus there is a match of skills with jobs, but not talents. Thanks to the computer driven markets creating its own new language of bits, bytes and bauds with 0s and 1s enabling work and life to be simplified, it has created jobs for millions in many places. It has much more potential and applications to make trade and life easier.

Less said about Science the better; it has unleashed weapons of mass destruction on us very frequently. Its spirit of enquiry has been lost to bookworms. Global warming, an offshoot of industrialisation is being explained away as weather and climatic variations due to Earth’s and Solar system’s passages on as yet unknown intergalactic voyages. The pile of destructive weapons that can pulverise us all instantaneously is scary; nothing has been done about them, except glib talk. Thank our stars that they haven’t been laid hands on and misused. But fear the day they could be and would! Let common sense and peace prevail; let us all hope and pray.

Back to MBA! True, it tops on campus placement, helps start careers of many young with handsome salaries and many have gone on to do well in life for themselves and their pay masters, shareholders of the firms that they had piloted, included. But there stops the game dead in its tracks for failure to recognise and do better for the society and humanity in many respects. The universities are finding it increasingly difficult to improve the character formation of the money minded students once they are lured into MBA due to avarice with avariciousness taking over their mind-set and existence itself.

I must mention the seven sins as pointed out by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi said to be the apostle of non-violence – the game changer against the wars of the last century: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Science without humanity, Knowledge without character, Politics without principle, Commerce without morality and Worship without sacrifice. As we can sense, the character building process of education needs to be addressed seriously.

Though capitalism has worked well –some wonders since last depression- it modus operandi creates domino effect. First lend to those who can afford, then to those who need, then to those who want, then to those who desire and then even to the undeserving, even if all the latter have no capacity to repay interest or capital. This has snowballed, attracted more lenders, generated Ponzi schemes, trades in debt market, asset reconstruction companies and eventually write offs of share holders’, stake holders’ and public money by promoters, lenders and governments.

Malpractices abound! Well-spread new ones are innovated with alacrity, murdering the C word in cold blood often. Bonuses and benefits obtained therefrom are huge, beyond imagination such that it reeks of nepotism and professional thuggery. Collusion is the entrenched modus vivendi. Gross debt carried in their books alone can cause tsunami of stock exchange collapses, currency devaluations, monetary and fiscal failures, crashing governments due to failure in governance.

This is not what they had been taught -armed with- when letting them loose into entrepreneurial possibilities, money market and capitalism that drive their engines, but it has ended up looting and distributing money, resources, benefits and all that goes with it, disproportionately to the close knit few, ignoring the realities of the laws, market, people and sense of fair play.

New power-clubs have been formed by cronies through nexus among those in power, those in the know and those with the money. A closed loop indeed! A thin veil separates the treasuries, reserves, stock markets, government bodies, investment bankers and the lot. It is as if monetary policies and inflation control are dictated by the nexus amongst them. Inside information is shared with the chosen outsider few in the blink of an eye lid. The common man is taken for a ride very often, whether the market is in bear or bull grip, as brokers make their cuts on every deal. And when everything fails – systemic so to say – they still hold hands, bail out one other and share the loot, leaving many at the mercy of doomed markets.

Corporations have become bigger than governments and their agents do decide who is to be the President, Minister for what portfolio, shifting and dumping them for non or under performance, in other words, not delivering on promises made to them. Dividends have been made tax free – after corporations are taxed at low brackets, ostensibly to attract the common man with a little surplus if any, to risk savings with exposures on the bourses.

Governments seem to have abdicated their responsibilities in building infrastructure, creating jobs, providing for education, social security, health care, pensions, etc. In the name of growth and solely due to their failures and inability to administer efficiently and effectively. Public-Private-Partnerships have become the preferred norm, with the fourth P of people totally forgotten and consigned by the wayside.

What they have achieved is only to expand reach of money to a large extent in non-existent and unquantifiable, stock exchanges and capitalism in the name of development. They have in the process enslaved millions, in fact billions to debt and made it a way of life. Sordid example is EMI – bane of most youngsters who set out to job markets. Many are the new grads who are per force obliged to keep aside enough for EMIs that they have little left for reasonable living with or without family, befitting earning power vis-a-vis qualifications, competency, capabilities.

They are forced to become subservient to debit system such that building up creditworthiness has become a bigger challenge than getting educated, finding a spouse-friend, landing a suitable job suiting their likes, needs, future prospects and ambitions. They are short-selling themselves for meagre existence below par with opportunities denied for bettering life; some with luck turning entrepreneurs, innovating and achieving levels not beyond them.

It has corroded life, values and all else that goes with it and are worth living for, and looking forward to. Certainly it is giving more advantage to the moneyed, well-connected and with good lineage so that the true fighting spirit from bottom up is losing its powerful force and drive, which is really deplorably sad.

Don’t forget that most findings, discoveries, inventions and innovations have come from the less privileged under trying circumstances, and they more often than not, were not driven by intentions to patent and make windfalls out of their bestowed abilities. The developed and advanced corporate structure is enticing, cornering and trapping them with funds to convert research, products and ideas to enable them to convert to capitalisable and accountable gains in balance sheets. This may seem to support such activities. But true researchers, academicians, innovators and explorers do not toil for money. They seek the truth alone. Therefore they have to be assisted, facilitated, encouraged and differently enabled.

Money has diluted if not replaced morality and ethics in business for profit with no social concern. In the wake of accounting practices including good will, brand value, future potential projections, etc, the money creators, lenders and managers have devalued all natural resources along with the currencies they are traded in, bereft of their natural, social and environmental values. Futures trading idea has served only enrichment of speculators, with a new gambling market innovated thereunder. It has driven up costs all around. Market driven or not, I believe that a quantum shift to quality and price sensitivity driven by customer centric approach seems called for. Quite simply, products sans bells and whistles, if not required.

It is not that Communism and Socialism were any better. All such socio-politico-economic ideologies have failed since the last War, due to poor execution and loss of focus on serving people. I am not decrying Capitalism for the sake of it, but pointing out the damages caused and the brains washed of a few generations including those of the so called, said to be independent, intelligent and wise.

Corporate Social Responsibility –CSR, had to be enacted under Company Laws in some countries as only a few corporates have demonstrated commitment to that objective. This singularly shows the unfathomable depths that the system has sunk to. Parasites on humans, societies, their needs, wants and desires! Calls for sustained corrective efforts from one and all! Mind you, inequalities and disparities have to be bridged urgently to avoid backlashes.

They have become like usurious money lenders in villages of developing countries –but clothed in suites and all, pretending to be helping the deserving lot, whereas they only want the monthly interest compounded in perpetuity without calling for or seeking the return of principal amount. Yes, capital is a scarce item, but commoditising everything is unwarranted.

When the prime interest rate of banks and bonds is below a percent, how can one justify lending at rates of high single digits jumping to double digits? Not to forget oligopoly of banks fixing interbank rates and trading sub-prime mortgage rates – eventually siphoning it off governments, driving all in the chain to bankruptcy; and the insanely huge bonuses paid for such malfeasance! Ripping customers off by fixing Card Swipe fees, Gold Price, etc, too! Heavy fines imposed, seem peanuts! The laws will get stricter and some will be sent to correction centres soon.

Yes, it has made short work of egalitarianism, socialism and the like by literally dousing them with funds and setting fire, as if to suffocate them all. Our new approach, method and modus envisions the creation of better programmed individuals and groups through their education to address matters that haven’t been rightly tackled so far, since the last War. From feedbacks we have, we feel assured that we are on right track, following the few that have been released – like birds – to follow their instincts, we have inculcated and they have imbibed, cementing in their minds, the larger purpose of education.

Science has been a success of late to some extent, but belatedly. What has it to do with god, if non-god hypothesis is what it has been after, from its launch centuries ago against the myopic views of the clergy? To that extent it is a big failure of let down against its own founding fathers. There is potential and need to work for building bridges. Medicine people of different religions do draw from theology and therapeutics pluralistically stressing cultural idioms of secularism. Science is not and should not be viewed as a vaccine to impel immunity of superstition.

Sir J C Bose had claimed that in his dreams a goddess had rolled out her tongue with a theorem on it. Sir Sokhey is said to have flung Schrodinger’s ‘What Is Life’ on reading a proposition that some notions of biology echo Hindu ideas of life. Philosopher Polyani warned that science can’t be understood as formal principles of methods alone; it must be grasped as tacit knowledge with its implicit skills ingrained in body language, reverberations and responses to stimuli.

Please don’t be despondent. There is good news at the end of the tunnel and in the spectrum of light that physicists had dispersed lately. God particle, to start with! It is not a bad idea. The question is where it leads and where it would take us and future generations. By prefixing god, have they added to confusion and unintentionally strengthened the hands of the believers? I am not sure if science can define, identify, isolate and demonstrate god or godliness.

They seem to be behaving like politicians playing to the galleries at the time of campaigning: they would rather make promises on each and everything, even if they cannot be delivered, confuse the electorate, try to get the votes somehow and do what they like with such authority on winning. Isn’t or hasn’t science been doing that?

More pointedly metaphysics when physicists have no reason to suffix such a word to make it look like a handle-able subject, when it has been known for eons that it is beyond the grasp of all living beings. Or are human beings more intelligent creations than animals? From what damage has been inflicted on nature, it doesn’t seem so! We have to co-exist with nature and other animals.

Change is the only certainty that is constant and one who works without expecting rewards is a karma yogi, we are told. It is not easy to move away from the comfort zone of one’s past and cultural influences. Cognitive pathology and circular reasoning deter us from changing due to psychological identity. It is obvious in belief, faith and religion because of psychological mind-lock unless we learn to think outside the box. Change we must, by moulting -shedding skin like snakes, when we have to; more rapidly. There is no choice.

It is a truism that we can do more with less these days as technology aids ephemeralisation. As per General System Theory there exist models, principles and laws for everything linking microcosm to macrocosm. The challenge is to understand them, appreciate, synthesise, synchronise those and more for greatest common benefit of all those that exist in the ecosphere, accepting that we humans are only a small part of it as tiny specks in the galaxies and universe. There are no right or wrong answers to many questions. It is what one makes out of them; believes, abides, works with and propagates with confidence and commitment.

Do not ignore, especially fine arts. They are wonderful soothing curative for tension, stress and grind of daily lives. Australia to aborigines is a country of musical score with their tracts enabling communication between far flung tribes, connecting them to their ancestors and creation myths.

Life is a canvass for collage of myriad possibilities of activities. Let not the blessings and chances slip by. How I wish I were young as you all to work in the challenging decades to come. We all have our windows of opportunities. Let us utilise them, work, persevere and produce results and benefits to be left behind –sustainably- for the greater good of human kind and its contemporary beings. That is what we hope to prepare for the youngsters who have chosen to enter our gates of Realisation. It is going to be an arduous lifelong task though.

Banality of evil is to be avoided in all fields. Obedience to authority should not forsake morality. It is not about becoming a drop-out, but having courage to stand up against the unacceptables. Had it been so, many historical man-made disasters of wars and persecutions may not have occurred. Goal setting is essential; don’t plateau with accomplishment syndrome like sportsmen peaking –cricket batsmen getting out after scoring centuries, be motivated to continue for moving targets.

As you climb up the ladder of success, learn to grown up listening more than talking. Governance is different from management. It requires empathy and moral integrity. Learn to change the bad systems for the better instead of becoming a part of it or letting it absorb you. Don’t let events overtake or overshadow your skills and decisions. Be driven and lead; best of luck in all these.

Towards the end there was bit of disappointment discernible in the audience as the Dean had failed, rather inadequately explained the connotations and meaning behind ‘Realisation’ that stood out well differentiating the young institution from many that had stood the test of time.

In closing the Dean mentioned that he had covered all aspects of the course, but that left quite a few of the audience, parents and students fretting and fuming, because they were not sure or certain about what was meant by and hidden in `Realisation’. They were dumbfounded as to how such an important word with promise of tremendous impact could be left unexplained at the outset to many, especially those who are willing to subject themselves to it and shell out quite a bit for the subjects too. There was some sense of dissatisfaction in the air.

In the din many diverse observations, comments and conjectures could be heard and they could not be specifically pinpointed on anyone in particular:

That’s nothing new, education is all about realising one’s potential, ably guided by the system, if one is lucky to get into the sought and worthy institution, can afford, works hard, creates and uses opportunities and reap the benefits; sort of karma with bit of luck, being in right time and place. There are no short cuts.

No, it ain’t like that. All one has to do is to build contacts and networks. Even if one is not clever. If one is smart, education is only a stepping stone. Careers, reputation and wealth are built afterwards not with education per se but exploiting opportunities that are brought about or come about. Get silver spoon, if not born with it.

Well, well, that’s only for very few; we could even say the blue blooded, blue eyed type. Of good lineage and well connected: politically, financially, through the markets etc. It could be business families or those who marry or get into such alliances.

Listen, don’t, please, for heaven’s sake, devalue what is on offer here. If you read into fine print and subsume the hidden meanings behind the vocabulary used, you will find that realisation is a serious matter. It is not about job, money, life etc. It goes beyond all those. Looks like it is an effort to open the doors of minds to capabilities, intrinsic nature, its utilisation and the like and much more. Let us wait and watch.

Some of the faculty and the Dean too were eavesdropping the ongoing chat that could not be recognised as of any individual, group, parents or students. They were not surprised and were happy to overhear the explanations that were getting aired and felt glad that the purpose was being served. They were a bit concerned too.

From the crowd a firm baritone voice arose: Let us not let anyone befool anyone else here. Realisation is a hard task, hard nut to crack and swallow. Without taking sides or leaning to any groups, if I may add, if we add self to realisation, it is a different ball game altogether. We are not talking about potential and achievements. It takes us into the spiritual realm. Most get stranded there: On the voyage of self-discovery. Education-knowledge combined is a precursor to kick off the process.

That seems to make sense. added another who joined in the analysis a little late.

Considering what this university seems to have been launched for, focused and trying to let its students choose and achieve, I think, the realisation called for is that of the individual’s and group’s too perhaps. It is a novel, noble and interesting approach to education of adults who usually get misled and waylaid in many fields after graduating and entering the streams of life, family, jobs, society etc. It is not about using left or right sides of brains. It is about separating the right from the wrong before they are done.

Well, well, well crooned a husky voice in low tenor.

We are opinionated for certain and have murdered it in such short conversation. I hope we are not missing the woods from the trees or vice versa. Let us leave it to the students to figure it out; or the faculty to enable them. After all they have come here of their own volition, getting through a tough qualifying-selection process. They are the better lot of students seeking higher education anywhere, isn’t it?

The odd lots of parents, visitors and the like started dispersing and moving away for their next tasks on hand, some bidding bye to their children leaving them under the care and guidance of the well sought university. There were bear hugs, parting advice, cash transactions – like loans, gifts, pay me later, as also tear-shedding between girl-boy-friends, young spouses, and some very young kids too. One elderly couple could be heard reminding a few youngsters that they were the local guardians and next of kin for emergency contact for their parents/guardians, as a pro-bono service on offer.

Nevertheless what stood out clearly was the conversation amongst five students who had made instant friendship discussing the ‘word’ of the topic with enthusiasm, commitment and clear understanding. In a corner, they had gathered, introduced themselves with nicknames as Baig, Crised, Dastur, Ingrid and Risto, and were seen to be in serious discussion without breaking much ground and revealing anything about themselves. They were not strangers anymore, having broken into the citadels of education, willing to submit and surrender at the altar of seeking, to be lit up by the rays and light of knowledge, so that they can become wiser for worldly pursuits to make a living and contribute to all else in the right spirit of living, caring and sharing.

It was the seemingly outgoing Baig who broke the silence. Now that we all are in, we might as well get started. I haven’t really got a clue what this `realisation’ is all about. But I am gonna find out and use it as best as it can be used, for furthering my life.

There was silence till Dastur broke the ice I get a hang of it. It is not going to be easy, I suspect. Learning is fine, using knowledge to realise one’s potential without impeding one’s ambitions capabilities, to harness its energy, application and benefits, for the good of all, is paramount.

Just as he paused to take a deeper breath, Ingrid, uncharacteristically – it looked like – butted in: So we have a utilitarian and scientist among us. Well, me from Oslo is here to learn and see how ‘realisation’ of mine, yours and others can be used for specific purpose of removing disparities for greater common good. I am committed to work for others’ benefit outside government sectors.

Taking control of the situation, Risto stepped in with his thoughts The three of you put together seem to have made some sense of the catch word. Realistically, we have to be pragmatic. There is no point talking about perceived goals, intent and the like. We all must realise who we are, our innate strength and what we can utilise them for; for ourselves, others and the world at large.

Count me in, Crised chipped in continuing as if his would be the last words on the word.

No point trying to philosophise. You get what you work for and deserve. The struggle is to use your potential for good purpose without upsetting balances of good-bad, so that one doesn’t earn bad points as such. There is destiny and fate. These can be altered with one’s deeds.

Risto seemed worked up with such wry comments continuing from where he had left. But Crised calmed all nerves soothingly saying, Not to worry. Pursue take it easy policy. Learn as you go. Adapt and adopt; but evolve and improve. It is all cyclicals, some not in our hands.

But not letting Crised close the conversation, Ingrid asked Would you be teaching us?

So Crised in fact had the concluding words That depends. I can guide and mentor. It is yours to opt and choose. But one can’t avoid choosing: one’s is to do and reap.

Just as they were moving away, the Dean walked by and said:

I have been hearing the vibrations in the air of some of the comments about my address. Interesting I must say. I agree that I didn’t go to the depths of implied meaning of Realisation. At first I had thought people would guess; then I had said to myself, let them figure it out. Our task is not to spoon feed. We have brilliant students of the intelligent creations here. You all seem to make the best lot of it.

The five in chorus like fingers around a palm jointly replied

Thank you sir; looks like we are in intelligent territory.

That made the Dean stop and enter into a formal and proper exchange with the new entrants.

"Welcome. Looks like you five are the best in new batch with clear minds. Each one had come up with good clear views of the subject. So let us start with those in mind. To clear your latent inquisitiveness, let me add that we intend to cover senses beyond the usual five. Sixth, most say they have. Seven some claim -doubtful.

We have to go further. Like vibing, morphic resonance, premonition, perception. Since it is too early to get into these, let me leave you to develop on some of these thoughts and processes. Figure out what’s behind the varsity’s emblem and motto. We do hold debates, essay, poetry and elocution competitions amongst the students. One essay from the first batch, some of us had found outstanding and beyond the grasp of many. Perhaps you can start with that. I will let you all access that with passwords from our E-library’s archives."

Impatient Ingrid asked what’s the title and what’s it about?

Crised murmured Take it easy.

Risto had to air his view, `Let it be,’ with his characteristic compulsion in a soft voice, even though it was not necessary or called for.

Dean said it was on Perceptions, entitled Perceptions Galore. He spelt out the password in codes romeo, oscar, yankee, golf, bravo, india, victor. in very soft voice and low decibels, as if he was letting out some top secrets from the forbidden chambers of knowledge and walked away briskly, trying to evade and escape from the trail of password that was allowed to be leaked out due to justifiable pressing demand and temptations of the movement, as it often happens in life.

The password stirred interest amongst the students, but they first wanted to comprehend what it meant and got into etymology itself and rued it soon enough. They couldn’t make head or tail of it and searched google on smart phones for some hints.

Dastur fretted, Damn google and the nerds that run it.

Baig was less annoyed, This is Greek to me.

Latin, said Ingrid, whereas Risto concealed his findings from the group’s outburst as to what it could be, but couldn’t help sharing the truth that they were phonetics used in communications to avoid mis-spelling. For a second he felt smarter than others, till Crised interjected.

Crised was pensive, and coyly mentioned that if they are put together, it would make sense.

Use them, but don’t let them out, he added. Like light shown on dark matter. There are meanings and clues hidden in it and everywhere. The challenge is to decipher. Encode and pass it on amongst the deserving and capable; and share with all and sundry too.

Risto was annoyed, Are you preaching?

Ingrid chipped in, Calm down, he is trying to guide us.

Then, let him guide us properly, demanded Risto with a glaring philosopher’s look, for, what he thought he had guessed was failing to make sense.

Baig and Dastur looked at each other and exchanged winks to stay out of the developing duel of words. Or was it a skirmish of knowledge and ignorance humanly philosophised? Dastur and Baig were thinking deeply, one scratching back of the head and the other groin to wring out, like thinkers and cricketers do often, to no avail but. Eerie was the scene as though all were becalmed and it took a eureka shout from Ingrid to calm it.

What’s it? asked three in unison except Crised.

Risto was irritated having no clue shouting `tube lights’ staring at Dastur and Baig. Stupid he felt for calling his new friends names; it was relieved when he grasped it through telepathy. The duo was not too concerned in solving the puzzle to prove their mental prowess to class mates; to the teachers, they would have.

You got it? asked Ingrid, feeling sad for the boys and to show off her sharper mental agility she lip-spelt out ensuring that Risto was distracted in a standoff stare with Crised. Did Crised foresee it and called for a ‘stare’ of disruption or was it but natural among unequals posing as equals?

As Baig and Dastur lip-read and got the secret, Risto managed to pull it out of his deep reservoir of reserves aided by lateral thinking. Then when he hit all of them simultaneously that the riddle is solved, they jumped towards one another with right hands up, except Ingrid the leftie. Their palms came together in a synchronised thud of hi five and almost everyone – except the Dean who was disappearing from the scene – got to hear it, turned and looked back. There was sound of elation from them all expressing their happiness at the maiden findings of the student group of five, G5. As they withdrew from hi five, Risto noticed the left and right palms of Crised and Ingrid playfully coming together. There was a glint of jealousy in his eyes that he tried to hide, vainly.

As they walked away, a sense of sanity and peace descended finally, putting them all at ease. They were relieved that the first step of entry from halls of education to labyrinth of knowledge for accessing catacombs of wisdom had begun. They shook their heads as if to relieve built up tensions creating an instant five-phrase-catchy slogan in continuum Live life, with zest, purpose-fully, for everyone’s sake, in harmony Risto, Baig, Dastur and Ingrid preceding Crised in that order, revealing their group’s and individual mottos, coincidentally, realising the word-play they had drawn up with erudition, substance and transposability out of thin air in double quick time.

Intelli-wise humans clacked a mama lizard to its hatchling through vibrations of plant stem on which it was hibernating; a passer-by mouse squeaked in agreement. There was a buzz of chorus of insects in the air with ayes.

**********************

Chapter 3

Pursuit of Realisation

Characters: B-Baig, C-Crised, D-Dastur, I-Ingrid, R-Risto,

B: Hi Dastu, glad we are all here at the commencement of this new course.

D: Good to meet up with you all; this is the right place and time to exchange notes.

I: Hey guys don’t make it so formal; let us be good friends during our stay and studies here.

C: Welcome to the land of melting pots; Let peace and prosperity prevail.

R: So there, here we are reconciling: Are you being philosophical?

B: Nothing wrong with that, as long as one gets things done and moves on in life.

R: Isn’t that philosophy too? Or logic or philology with a touch of realism?

I: Come on, grow up. In this material world we need a touch of everything to make it interesting.

C: You are coming to realism. What do we know and what do we want? What we don’t know we will find out soon as classes go on, and so at the end of semester we can decide what we want.

B: You mean what we want to do with knowledge overcoming ignorance?

Risto was contemplating what to retort and Dastur was wondering where it was leading, when,

C: Take it easy, we will all move along the right path.

Cafeteria was crowded but not noisy, as multinational students mingled at start of new Master’s classes in International University of Realisation. There were boys, girls, men, women, spouses, siblings, neighbours, people from far off places with differing languages, accents, cultures, skin pigmentation – the whole lot who had enrolled for the two-year post-graduate course.

Idyllic place it was, in a valley encircled by the hills and a brook that never dried up, revitalised seasonally by rains and snowmelt, away from civilisation with its degraded environment polluting atmosphere, body and mind. The educational institution had been set up by a committed group of do-gooders who wanted to bring the best persons from all parts of the world in pursuit of higher learning to convert them as ambassadors of refreshed thinking to live in harmony. They abhorred civilisational damages that spirituality, religion, knowledge, science, technology, etc, had inflicted on humans, living beings, environment, nature and mother earth, believing in sustainable development on egalitarian principles with Liberty, Fraternity, Equality, Secularity and Integrity, the last two being new-found additions that had become a must in the new world.

As it had been around only for a few years, there were no alumni to talk about and assess values they were imparting to societies for greater common good. But the few who had completed courses and more in the making were standing out as exemplary ones capable and willing to usher in changes for betterment of not only humanity, but mother earth and all life on her.

Ingrid felt like a doe gazing afar through glass panelled window at a mob of deer running along the brook with none shepherding them. She wondered whether all men in university would be well behaved like them, and whether it would be appropriate to call them a herd or mob. She decided to play a wait and watch game, having come from land of fjords and feeling a bit lonely.

She had already formed instant impressions of Baig, Dastur, Risto and Crised, and was wondering who among them were pseudo or genuine? Deep set eyes, wide forehead and thoughtful looks of Risto made her guess what his name meant and whether it conveyed some hidden message.

Crised on the other hand looked charming, playful and friendly with an air of ease and loveable naughtiness about him. He did have a magnetic personality naturally attracting all and sundry towards him as if he personified life and all its essence.

Baig, she thought of as a materialistic banker with sharp aquiline nose just because the alphabet matched and felt would match more if he would become a wealthy boyfriend too.

Dastur she guessed could make a good doctor – even a psychiatrist with a scientific bent of mind, because he looked that type, gazing and peering as if he was looking for symptoms of malfunctions within the body, mind and soul. Or was he too inquisitive to see one through clothes and all?!

Just as she was wondering -who am I to form opinions so early without knowing them well and whether it is a habit of females – young ones in particular to have impressions about others, the juke box played Let it be. and right enough Crised tapped her on the shoulder and asked whether she was dreaming. That made her feel somewhat better as Crised had broken her train of thoughts and brought her back. She said yes and no; then realised the folly of giving vague answers as a student.

By then it was too late. Crised said you can’t have them both, pick one. he said sort of mesmerising her with two fingers of the open palm pointing at her. Pick one she did to see where guesswork would take her. Crised let go a sigh of relief and it took a giggle of Ingrid to make him say something.

I am not surprised. Crised said. I will tell you when the time comes. he said and walked away, leaving Ingrid wondering whether she was in trilemma of romance, trouble or for lessons of life.

As she stared at Crised going away nonchalantly after raising her heartbeat, she wondered whether girls get carried away more than boys when a good number is come across.

Baig, Dastur and Risto did notice the few seconds of boy v girl play of attraction between the other two; one grinned, the other smirked and the third scratched his head and winked to himself. Ingrid became aware of the raised awareness of the three through her sense of morphic resonance and made a mental note to be more careful in such matters henceforth: with any of them; all men.

Usual anxiety and homesickness on joining a college and having to stay in hostel were missing from them, even with different sights and smells, as their curiosity had got the better of them: body, mind and soul, perceptions included: They were ready for launch into destined encounters of any kind. That was the challenge and not fear, fright, fight and flight usual with all living beings.

The cafeteria got emptied of students as quickly it had got filled up during the lunch break. As they all left, apart from their hoof-step noise, the air was thick with clatter of languages ranging from the Grrrr German to soft Japanese including Mandarin, Spanish, Hindi, Arabic and Pidgin English too.

But the lawn outside and the garden plants at its periphery were large and numerous enough to absorb the noises made by the grown up students. The sounds bounced off the plants and grass till they subsided below audible noise levels, but the silent listening plants had assimilated different tongues spoken and grasped most of what were exchanged in close encounters of the destined kind. They were refreshed.

They chatted in their own botanical lingo. But unlike their express of desperation when flowers were picked and when they got trimmed, they were excited at having so many mature students around from many parts of the world talking in very many languages and dialects. One plant transmitted to another quite some distance away that it is a merry atmosphere with so many in colourful attires. All of them agreed that spring was in the air and in the sprightly steps of multicultural students too, vibrating and reverberating with nature and its mellifluous voices.

There was an air of expectancy and achievement in the corridors of offices and administrative wing of the university as the admissions were getting closed after seats were filled up. From the janitor to the Dean, they looked proud and contented that they could attract crème de la crème of foreign students of merit to a newer University with visions at variance with those of old established ones.

Their plan was to bring all languages, arts, science, philosophy, ideology, etc closer and together to evolve improved and better ideals for living free of contentious issues leading to disputes, strife and wars. The noble idea was based on reversing big bang so to say whence fragmentation has been the characteristic of evolution, findings, knowledge, spirituality and everything else.

The new generations, they had felt, were ready for such coming together and backtracking of divisive knowledge that had been thrust on intelligent beings through generations of creation and evolution. It wasn’t a gamble, a business proposition or an entrepreneurial paradigm shift in sharing and caring through synthesised knowledge, they were certain.

The students had been selected through a rigorous process of identification, commitment and willingness to adopt