Dr. Veer Singh
The human mind has never been so surprised by anything as by the universe. All aspects of the universe have always been an enigma to human beings. Even with the leaps of science and technology, complete information about our universe could not be obtained. We are always so imaginative about our universe! No scientific invention can ever satisfy our curiosity! The more we know about our universe, the more ignorant we become about it. The entire universe is ensconced in our minds and tempting us to unravel its mysteries!
Science and technology has led our thinking to analyze the entire universe as one big machine and the Earth as an independent entity cut off from the universe. Charles Darwin’s much-lauded theory about the evolution of species in his explorations of ‘the origin of species through natural selection’ isolates the Earth from the universe. As the processes of life start from the earth and end there and no factor other than the planet earth interferes in it!
There is no room left in our thought system to feel the musical vibrations of the entire universe. Thoughts about the realities of life, the living planet and the universe, the feelings of interconnectedness and co-evolution have vanished. As if the universe has nothing to do with life and the living planet! Our economic system has emerged as the ultimate source of pride for our existence.
These systems have marginalized human life by making humans dependent on the indiscriminate exploitation of everything and alienating them from the rest of the life forms that coexist on earth. The human race is victorious in the “human versus life war”, however, this victory is slowly driving the human species to death.
It is also proven that science and technology are fundamentally responsible for our deep knowledge of the universe. But it is not true. The universe has been one of the most interesting topics of discussion in our societies for thousands of years. We have been at the forefront of cosmology and extraordinarily prosperous for millennia. Our ancient texts are full of cosmic knowledge.
We have developed our calendars based on the positions of celestial bodies. We can accurately calculate the positions of all the planets and moons and based on that we can easily make predictions of astronomical events, such as lunar and solar eclipses, transits of Venus, and so on. Our knowledge about galaxies and constellations has been amazing. Based on our deep understanding of the universe, we have developed astronomy, astrology, futurology etc. Even before the emergence of the United States and NASA, India’s cosmic knowledge had advanced remarkably well.
Man has always been curious about extraterrestrial life. A ‘flash’ of news or talk of aliens fascinates the human mind about the possibilities of life beyond Earth. A deep desire of man has been to know whether there is life anywhere else in the universe. When we hear about the discovery of water, atmosphere, or organic matter on another planet or moon, we get thrilled and our mind jumps with joy. “We are not alone” has become a simile embedded in the undeniable quest to know of another planet that, like our Earth, might be equipped with life. The human mind is nurturing itself with the hope of some “other earth”.
If we find any evidence about the possibility of life on any other planet, then a gleam comes in our eyes. We feel as if we have got a new lease of life on earth itself. New hopes and imaginations fuel our curiosities, keep our explorations alive, give new dimensions to our programs and projects, and above all, give our brains the power of knowledge. And the widest spectrum of hopes and fantasies is to witness the expansion of life beyond the earth.
Ecological philosopher Professor Henrik Skolimoski in his book “The Participatory Mind” has shown the amazing creative abilities of the human brain. The human mind participates in everything, in every event, in every process, whether it is around, on earth, on other planets, or in the whole universe, and goes on creating its own “intellectual circle”. The greater the intellect, the vaster and deeper the universe expands, the more cosmic knowledge we acquire. The most interesting aspect of our lives is that our mind is on a mystical journey through the universe, expanding its aura and unraveling the entangled mysteries of the universe.
(Author GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology I am Emeritus Professor.)