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Monday, January 25, 2010

The Adventure by Jayant Narlikar


The Adventure-Simplified for you
By
Santhosh Kumar Kana, KV, Donimalai.

Unconventional narrative style- mixture of history and science.

Professor Gaitonde, a historian, is going to give a lecture on the implications of Catastrophe Theory in the Third Battle of Panipat. On the way his car collides with a truck and he goes into coma. But he experiences another world where history is different from how we know in the real world- in the Third Battle of Panipat, in reality, Afghans defeated Marathas killing their leader Viswas Rao. But in the parallel world, Marathas win the war as Viswas Rao escapes narrowly from the bullet. The victory of Marathas brings about diverse changes and reforms in the country. He gains consciousness and his friend Rajendra Deshpande rationalizes his strange experience on the basis of two scientific therories, viz. Catastrophe Theory and the lack of determinism in Quantum Theory.

The Parallel world

Professor Gaitonde is on his way to Bombay from Pune. It is the pre-independent Bombay where he finds Anglo-indians and Union Jack. He goes to a library and reads four volumes of history starting from the period of Asoka upto the Third Battle of Panipat. The fifth volume of the Book (Bhausahebanchi Bakhar) tells a different story where Marathas win the war against Afghans in the Third Battle of Panipat. After their victory India moved towards democracy. Absent mindedly, he tucks into his pocket a copy of the book. He reaches Azad Maidan where a lecture is going on. The absence of the chairman for the meeting makes it strange but the crowd doesn’t want one though the Professor protests. He gets on to the stage, snatches the mike and starts speaking. The crowd showers eggs and tomatoes on him and finally throws him out. He is lost in the crowd.

This is where the Professor’s strange experience ends. Next we find him talking to his friend Rajendra in the real world.

Rajendra’s explanation

Rajendra explains the bizarre experience of the Professor on the basis of two scientific theories, viz. Catastrophe Theory and the lack of determinism in Quantum theory.

Catastrophe theory states that a small change in circumstance can bring sudden shift in behaviour. If we apply this theory to the battle of Panipat, we can find that there was a crucial moment when the Marathas lost both their leaders-Viswas Rao and Bhausaheb. So, the Marathas lost their morale and lost the battle. But in the parallel world Prof. Gaitonde saw the bullet missing Viswas Rao and Marathas winning the battle. A crucial event gone other way can change the course of history(the bullet missing/hitting the leader). The Professor produces a torn page of Bhausahebanchi bakhar from his pocket. This is nothing but the notes he had prepared for his lecture where he had imagined the fate of the battle to be otherwise. The bullet hitting Viswas rao was the catastrophic incident in the battle. The present state of affairs has been reached because of such catastrophic incidents in history. We can apply this theory to any other battle or historical incident and see how history takes a different course.

Lack of determinism in Quantum theory

The behaviour of electrons orbiting the nucleus in an atom cannot be predicted. There are different states of energy-higher and lower. It can make a jump from high to low energy level and send out a pulse of radiation or a pulse of radiation can knock it out of state no.2 to state no.1. These states can apply to the world too. The transitions are common in microscopic systems. If it happened on a macroscopic level, it could be an interesting food for thought.

Professor Gaitonde made a transition from the world we live in to a parallel world. One world has the history we know, the other a different history. He neither traveled to the past nor to the future. He was in the present but experiencing a different world. At the time of the collision with the truck, he was thinking about the catastrophe theory and its implications in war. He was probably wondering about the battle of Panipat. Perhaps the neurons in his brain acted as a trigger.

Like the electron jumping from one state to another, he made a jump from this world to the parallel world. Any catastrophic situation will provide various alternatives for us to proceed. But only one can be accepted by us at one time as we live in a unique world with a unique history. But why did he make such a transition? An interaction is must for any such transition. The collision and the thoughts at that moment brought it about.

The incident at Azad maidan is just to show how meetings can be arranged without chairman unlike in the real world.

Keep reading…………….all the best.

__________

88 comments:

Unknown said...

this summery is more understable than the text. i thanks you sir to give this summery on net .it will hlep us in our exams .so once again thank u sir.........
by:-syed sadik,sunil kumar &jaffer

bj ram * said...

if rajendra deshpandey really exists ...what about the authenticity of bakhar's page which he was showing to rajendra deshpandey which he collected from library

bj ram * said...

if rajendra deshpandey really exists ...what about the authenticity of bakhar's page which he was showing to rajendra deshpandey which he collected from library

lucky said...

hello sir,
shubhangi here..

after reading this blog i don't think there's even a need to give a glance to the confusing chapter now...

thanks sir

Unknown said...

Oh thanks a lot sir,the text was really helpful....thanks a ton..
regards
-tarang

jinxed said...

This is amazing ! And everything seems to be so clear .

meera nazer said...

r u a teacher by proffession? o my god, sir, ur students must really be lucky.

Unknown said...

thanks a lot sir
ur summary helped me to prepare for my exam in the best possible way

thank you once again for sharing this online

blogspot said...

thanks a lot.
i was really perplexed at the sight of this complext chapter.
now i am almost released.
i hope you will be of more help if you tell me who is Gangadharpant and Vinay Gaitonde
thanks

Creator said...

The question put forward by one of the persons who commented is unanswered. I have a similar question. The text as well as your summary says that Professor Gaitonde had kept the copy of that page from the book in his pocket which states that the bullet had missed Vishwas Rao and the Marathas won the war. However, in the real word, this page is nothing but the notes he had prepared. So what does this exactly mean ?

Another point to be noted is that he had made a transition from the real world to the parallel world on a/c of a collition. Simialrly, he made a transition from the parallel world to the real world when tomatoes and objects were being thrown at him.

I would however not disagree that the chapter has been well explained. The two theories have been explained well.

Unknown said...

thanx a TON,sir.ur sumarry really helped me to understand the most cofusing chapter in the text.

Unknown said...

Hello Sir!
Thanx a million 4 posting a comprehendible summary of probably d toughest passage i've ever red.
Ur help is highly appreciated.
Thank U!:)

Unknown said...

Thank you sir.Everything is so clear and crisp. In fact I had read this even before you mentioned about it in the class because I could not make head or tail out of the story.Somatmika has become "one stop shop" for all our queries.As you have already written, it really is a unique repository.

SANTHOSH KANA said...

thanks Haritha. glad that my blog is really helpful to many. keep reading all the posts and give your suggestions and comments.

Mrinal said...

Well explained friend...The theories are well explained...Students will certainly have a better understanding of the Text after reading your summary...Keep writing like this...

SANTHOSH KANA said...

Hi Mrinalda, thanks a lot for your motivation.Read other posts and leave your comments.

Unknown said...

the summary u gave is really a great help for us to understand this chapter.
Thanks a lot sir...

Unknown said...

dis was vry helpful...thanx alot..bt m confused abt both d names i.e gangadharpant & professor gaitode...Is gaitonde his sirname..?? are d two names used becoz of sum certain reasons or wat??

by gargi

Unknown said...

great it was very helpful. thanks a lot sir/madam!!!you helped me out very well.

Unknown said...

sir can u giv me explanation about quantum theory& the nature of probability in it and also pls tell me wat would hav hapend if marathas won the war in real wrld ?.its a project sir pls help me

saf said...

It's helpful!
Thanks.

BTW, I'm guessing Gangadharpant and Prof Gaitonde is the same person. =/

Unknown said...

Thanks sir for explaining catastrophic theory n quantum theory in such a good manner.

Unknown said...

thanks a lot sir..... the summary really helped us in understanding the chapter better.....our English teacher was herself confused about the sense time in the chapter

arun said...

mishtu
your explanation has really put me out of the confusion regarding the letter kept by prof.gaitonde in his pocket. The chapter is summarised beautifully. thanx .

Unknown said...

your explanation gives us a good way of understanding on the topic . though the topic is confusing us by reading your explanation on the net gives a better idea and satisfaction on the topic.
so, THANK YOU.

Unknown said...

THANKS a lot sir
ur summary helped me to prepare for my better understanding in the best possible way

This is amazing ! And everything seems to be so clear .

FROM:- RAJKETAN & KAMALAKANTA

Master said...

sir thanx

Unknown said...

i feel that you have gone wrong somewhere in your explanation.....the fifth volume he starts reading is his own book from his world of reality, but the Bhausahebanchi bakhar is another book altogether which ,he mentions,he does not trust too much...
he says that his book did NOT give a blow by blow account of the battle....but the implications of the battle are elaborated....

also.....the force of the truck could have transfered energy into him so as to knock him into state no.1 from state no.2......and it was the impact of the crowd which pushed him back into state no.2....where state no.1 is the alternate world of reality and state no.2 is his world of reality......
i hope you try and analyze the text once more and think again.....and get back to me....thank you....

Unknown said...

this one is just too good sir..
thanx a lot...

Unknown said...

thanx sir....
this is really good.... i am a class 11 student... and i didn't understand this chapter from my textbook.... but this text has erased a ll my confusions... thanx

Unknown said...

Thank you sir,
Your xplanation was too good as anyone reading it can understand it quickly.
But sir,in the text its given that Gaitonde produced Rajendra with a torn page of the book which he read in the parallel world but in your summary its given that it was the note created by him.
I hope u will see through the above details and do the needful.Continue Writing........

Sudarsan N Raghavan said...

thnk u very much sir...:D really this is awesome

ajay said...

sir, sometimes we feel that Prof. Gaitonde and Gangadharpant are nothing but the same fellows. One of my student is also of the same view. what do you think? looking for your guidance.
regards.

Unknown said...

Sir,
ur work is really very good and helpful. I must say dat i understud da whol thin by da readin da chapter itself although it's very confusing especially da beginnin. But ur post helpd me understand da 2 theories invovld betr n i 2 hav da sam question dat how did Prof. Gaitonde had dat torn page which he accidently took from da arallel world's library?

Unknown said...

Sir,
ur work is really very good and helpful. I must say dat i understud da whol thin by da readin da chapter itself although it's very confusing especially da beginnin. But ur post helpd me understand da 2 theories invovld betr n i 2 hav da sam question dat how did Prof. Gaitonde had dat torn page which he accidently took from da arallel world's library?

Unknown said...

thnx a ton sir....
d txt is pretty confusing....the summary above makes it alot easier to understand:)

Unknown said...

thnx a ton sir....
d txt is pretty confusing....the summary above makes it alot easier to understand:)

Unknown said...

thnkx a lot sir.......now i will nt b in tension during final xam 4 dis chap....nd i enjoyed reading dis chap nd thanxx 2 jayant narlikar sir....:-p

Unknown said...

thank you very much for giving us a full story of adventure in short a small part of jayant narlikar name from this we feel that we are really shaking hands with him......

Unknown said...

thank you very much sir for giving us full story of the adventure.....

vinit panwar
xi b

nitin said...

omgg yousaved my so much time!:D

Unknown said...

sir, thank you very much for giving us this simple version of the story,
it has made the pictyre in my mind very clear

Unknown said...

this simple version made the story transparent for us,
thank you sir

Unknown said...

thank you it was helpful...

Unknown said...

thank u sir......;-)

HIRA LUTHRA said...

thnxx a lot sir dis is gonna help me a lot in my exams.

vibhav singh said...

thanx for the explanation

Unknown said...

thank u sir for giving this kind of summary this is more understandable and easy to predict the words

sreenivedan said...

tanx sir th summary was understandable

half angel said...

i didnt get that thing that when he showed the torn page of the bakhar to rajendra desh pande .......tthis turned out to be his own notes
and about that transition :/
plz help

Prashant Rakheja said...

I must thank you for writing this beautiful summary.

faraz ullah khan said...

thanks sir ....
4 ur help..
By Faraz ullah khan

pinki kumari said...

thanx a lot for the easily understandable summary.
by:-pinki kumari,k v vikaspuri

venkateshwer rao said...

Afghans defeated Marathas killing their leader Viswas Rao. But in the parallel world, Marathas win the war as Viswas Rao escapes narrowly from the bullet.

But the summary once again seems contradictory...see the first passage and Rajendra's explanation 3rd paragraph

venkateshwer rao said...

Afghans defeated Marathas killing their leader Viswas Rao. But in the parallel world, Marathas win the war as Viswas Rao escapes narrowly from the bullet.

But the summary once again seems contradictory...see the first passage and Rajendra's explanation 3rd paragraph

Balram said...

but ,in his strange experience he refers his own books among which he reads about that sudden change in history. Can u pls give me a logical explanation??

ranghasayee said...

As SYED said the summary here is understandable than the text given in the book.

ranghasayee said...

As SYED said the summary here is understandable than the text given in the book.

ranghasayee said...

As SYED said the summary here is understandable than the text given in the book.

MM Mathew said...

I feel that Gangadharpant had not reached pre independent India, because India of the parallel world had never been under British rule.
Firther , if the Bakhar he produced is his own notes, there was no need to bring in all scientific theories...It is then pure fantasy.

SANTHOSH KANA said...

Thanx to all for the response. Kindly check this link too on my blog:
http://somatmika.blogspot.com/2011/02/adventure-by-jayant-narlikar-full-story.html

rajee said...

I have been teaching this chapter for past 3 years but this time Iam Quite satisfied with my teaching after reading this summary . realy you hve done a great job. Thanks.
rajee.

Michael Jordan said...

Full name- Professor Gangadhpant Goitonde .... Thank you sir......nice explanation

Michael Jordan said...

Whats the meaning of somatmika sir reply me on kailashuniyal04@gmail.com or www.michaeljordan23.tk

νєηкαтα νινєк gツ said...

Thnx a lot, A lot more understandable than text!!! Parallel world and Real world situations are well demarcated...Thnx once again......
-VIVEK, Banaglore

Rahul Rajeevan said...

thanks sir i could understand the lesson much much better......... i thank you whole heartedly.....

sheetal rajoriya from joura said...

sir your most thans to publish your this story to internet i am a student of Jawahar Navodaya Vidhyalaya joura manpur morena(M.P)
i am from local area nearing Gwalior i am belongs to the middle family and i want to sucesses in my life my english teacher was very talented MR.D.Sonkar he have very good talent also in ankering really i am very lucky that i m study from him

Marwin said...

Thank you Sir...It was so helpful ! :)

Alisha said...

thanxx sir ....for a summary
in such an easy language

DEVIL said...

it was very useful to me that helped me in my exams thanks a lot

AMMU said...

Thank u sir .It really very useful,it helped me a lot for my exam

AMMU said...

Thank u sir.It was really very very useful.I helped me a lot

Abhinav Kumar Sinha said...

thanx dear I can score well tomorrow in my annual exams...thnx a lot

Rohan said...

awesome summary
just makes u understand each & everything

Rohan said...

super summary
makes u understand everything.......

Anonymous said...

Tanq soo muc Sir !! it was really vry useful for me!
I was confused wt the text buk ! but now 'm clear !!

Keep writn Sir.

venkateshwer rao said...

prof.Gaitonde had slipped the Bhakar in his pocket as he left the library. He lost the book but only a torn page remained with him. luckily for him, the page contained vital evidence. Rajendra read the page. It described how Viswasrao narrowly missed the bullet and the Marathas won the battle.
Then Gangadhar produced his own copy of Bhausaheb banchi bakhar. It read how Viswasrao was hit by the bullet. There were two different accounts of the same battle. In one account Viswas rao was hit by a bullet and killed. In the other he escaped the bullet and survived and Marathas won...ok but how the torn paper is with Gangadhar if he lived two different worlds.

Unknown said...

Tha u sir i really needed it for my tests and now i believe that i will be getting the highest marks in the oral test

Ratna Pathak said...

I always found this story amazing. I used to imagine in my school days why doesn't the movement of electrons to different energy levels change the properties of the atom. I don't know why they have removed this lesson from the syllabus now...

Unknown said...

Good to grasp the theme

Unknown said...

Too good it is

bibin kurian said...

This is exactly I too want to clarify,can anyone explain it

Unknown said...

Thanks for giving such understandable summary, sir!!!!

Unknown said...

Thanks for giving Such understandable summary, sir!!

Unknown said...

Thanks sir

Gayathri said...

Sir
Very easy to understand! Clearly expressed and best than text Thank you for giving such understandable summaries.... Thank you sir

Unknown said...

Sir did gangadherpant and professor gaitonde similar or they were different

Yamini said...

I agree!