What if Extra Terrestrial Life Existed?

A lot of thought-waves have been whirl-pooling in the mind this sleepless morning. I could not think of a better question to start inquiring - using a rational and highly opinionated ruler. What sort of conditions would determine the events that follow such a discovery? There are so many perspectives that we can try and think of. Could we draw some inspiration from our own history, perhaps from other Earthly species of plants and animals. Recently broadcasted David Attenborough's and Andrew Marr's BBC documentary series' and my understanding of psychology would be the over-arching assumptions to this. However, lets venture into a few of them in a bit more detail.

I always used to wonder why developed world Governments spend so much effort on Space programmes. But as my understanding of History becomes clearer, I feel its to do with setting a claim on things they think might be out there. Resources were historically why clans travelled from a place to another, its true even now and will be true in the future. The scene of first Europeans landing on the shores of Australia or America comes to mind. The people involved were no doubt Adventurers, travelling enormous distances in those days with minimal modern equipments, but the people who financed them did not have philanthropic motives. What follows is inevitable friction between the Discoverer and the Discovered. The strong tries to control the weak. Our way is better than yours. Social and Cultural exchange can only happen once communication can be established overcoming the language barriers. Economics and barter will take precedence along with mixing of gene-pools.

All the movies that touch this subject from Hollywood to Home have many ideas pictured with varied prudence. If we find a species seemingly advanced, we will surely try and get what is good from them. Better medicines, equipments, resources, education, governance models and society in general. It will no doubt bring its own challenges like extra diseases to worry about and other opinions to adjust with. It could either be a gradual evolutionary integration or instant annihilation.

But the question of who is better is based on perspective. TV trivia tells me that 90% of aboriginal Australians died out in a decade of Europeans setting foot on the continent. Some in battle and most with newly brought diseases. Hard to believe. So the Biological factors will be the first to worry about.

The Gujju businessmen will surely be keen on setting up shop to barter and migrate to the new space, evolving and figuring out a migration & integration strategy. Apple with iHuman and Google with their eye on their communication mechanisms to crawl through.

I would not be surprised if there already would be irrelevant policy documents which describe the process of what should be done if we find someone else. So much for improvisation and creativity. But exciting nevertheless..

Rant

परिवर्तनवाद

Its not often you wonder where the last year went. The date of last post makes me think the same. Lot of changes to life, thoughts, habits, likings, reading, hobbies et. all. The summary of which remains - change - evolution? I guess the ability to think about it is what makes us different from the rest of living organisms, or that is what we think, at least. Aim to complete a book gifted by a friend this month, have a lot of musings - but don't think have the patience right now of penning them down. Lethargy

Cricket-o-Cricket!

Did not verify the source of the previous article, which I humbly remove now, with apology. It was just a circulation just like a re-tweet (slightly longer hence re-blogged), producing the complete content for the reader to make their own informed opinion, which everyone is entitled to.

But this just shows that anything related to cricket sells like hot-cakes and motivates people to passionately comment. Hence, it seems inevitable to me that people will find vested commercial interests to earn from and play with psychology of the masses. As we've been seeing it since years, be it trps, blog hits, youtube views facebook page views, tweets and what not will come out in the future.

Hence the fame and the pressure that comes with it. But not everyone can digest it well, some buckle under the unnecessary stress and some survive. Every successful person has carved a name for themselves with great effort. Comments which are constructive and non-offensive are welcome but down right mud-slinging is uncalled for..

Question and Wonder!

This is an excerpt which will, I am sure, make you Question and Wonder about what it has to say..

These two words often occupy most of our attention and time. From cradle to grave we beset with the emotions and excitements connected to these two words.

Yet these words have nothing in common; and in them they have nothing in similar; In fact they often drag us in opposite directions.

What is a question? It is something related to situations or sentiments; it is related to some problem or some other question; What is it? Why is it and how is it, in relation to life and living?

But what does it achieve, except a temporary truce to curiosity? A question begins with doubts, and ends with more doubts.

And what is wonder? It is not a question needing an answer. It is a positive expression of joy. It begins with innocence and ends in amazement.

A wonder is something that we are unable to understand and yet we are unable to question. The vast universe & the varied seasons, the complexity of life and the completeness of the creation, evoke in us a feeling of puzzlement and of joy.

A question often leads to criticism but wonder always leads to compassion; A question presupposes confusion, wonder presupposes innocence.

A question generates more questions, wonder generates more of wonder. There is no completeness in question; there is no compartment in a wonder;

A question leads us to knowledge which is always partial, a wonder leads us to joy & love which is always full. It is human to question. It is divine to wonder!

- Acharya Ratnananda in More Light on Less Knowd (Vol-1)

Question??
Or
Wonder!!

International Thank-You Day

Aiming for 11/1/11 11:11 !!

Not sure what the recent obsession I've developed with special dates and timestamps, but a simple search on Wolfram Alpha reveals Jan 11 is International Thank-You Day!

Hence grateful and nostalgia filled, to everyone that has been a part of our life, directly or indirectly

Thank You

reflections on the decade that went..

Today, a date (1-1-11) that will come only once a century. A few similar one's 1-11-11, 20-11-2011, 12-12-12 are coming up in the near/distant future. Also, 20-12-2012 is the closest to the (in)famously publicised doom's day. Its the beginning of a new year and the second decade of 21st century. Any new beginning calls for new plans, reflecting on the previous experiences. My resolution is not to make any resolutions!

If I look back and think about the past decade, a few memory images pass by. There have been a lot of changes that took place, some might call them evolution, some nature. But change nevertheless. 10 years ago, while the world was busy welcoming the new millennia, my good friend Anand and I gathered to “study” at our 4th floor apartment in Jamnagar. We heard the fireworks of our nearby Summair Club and Vishal International Hotel and went to the terrace (7th floor) to see if we could see anything. I can't recollect of whether we saw anything, but the only lights we saw in the distant horizon was the orange spherical Reliance Industries, the worlds largest grass roots refinery had was taking shape since a few years. Last night, we were at embankment to experience the fireworks and celebration in London. It was spectacular (youtube-link) and worth the six hour effort of getting in and out under crowd control. Between the two new years, there past a decade of change.

The experience of earthquake, in the early hours of 26th January 2001 (national holiday for Republic Day), is the one that will stay with me for ever. It was exciting at that time, but its scale and disastrous extent was beyond my mental capacity. Instincts take over and behaviour, understanding what is happening takes a while. For me at that age, spending nights in the open and in the ground, was exciting. People were affected and they equally adapted in cities and villages. Another such recollection of watching news reports of the destruction it caused later on. Results of HSC during June 2001, admissions to the BVM Engineering College in IT (first batch), amongst widespread news of the IT Bubble (ka)boom. Another image from that year springs to mind, is that of a man jumping down the WTC during 9/11 another such world changing event. New found friends, the friendly and not so friendly professors. Many events of the college life, may be too many to describe flash by, fast forwarding the clock to 2005 and graduation, with Auroville, tsunami and riding the bike in the floods after college. Excitement of placements and beginning professional careers, not just for myself but placement of friends was equally satisfying. Work took me to Bangalore, Reading, Hyderabad and London, where I am today from the later part of the decade.

I've changed in appearance, weight, thought process, understanding of the world, nature and its genius ways, likes, dislikes, food, habits, reading habits, movies, tv shows, routine, interests, communication mediums.. the list goes on, as I ponder.. To observe similar changes in the people around us is also entertaining.

Wishing all a very happy new year and a great decade ahead, and many more..

Wishes

A forward on Excellence...

A forward on Excellence...

----

A German once visited a temple under construction where he saw a sculptor making an idol of God. Suddenly he noticed a similar idol lying nearby. Surprised, he asked the sculptor, "Do you need two statues of the same idol?" "No," said the sculptor without looking up, "We need only one, but the first one got damaged at the last stage." The gentleman examined the idol and found no apparent damage. "Where is the damage?" he asked. "There is a scratch on the nose of the idol." said the sculptor, still busy with his work. "Where are you going to install the idol?"

The sculptor replied that it would be installed on a pillar twenty feet high. "If the idol is that far, who is going to know that there is a scratch on the nose?" the gentleman asked. The sculptor stopped his work, looked up at the gentleman, smiled and said, "I will know it."

The desire to excel is exclusive of the fact whether someone else appreciates it or not. "Excellence" is a drive from inside, not outside. Excellence is not for someone else to notice but for your own satisfaction and efficiency...

Thoughts?