CONTRAST

Perhaps, thinking about what one has to do in future is one of the foremost occupations of a working mind. Although living at the present moment may be a convenient albeit realist philosophy, especially in this fast moving world, it is difficult to avoid a thought about future. You many wonder why I write this…..well, I just read about Hayden’s retirement from International cricket, and for one moment I thought how times change for a man who himself had changed his times in cricket. The epitome of dominance is a weaker metaphor to describe Hayden. Looking back at the recent 2007 cricket world cup, nobody could have ever thought that Hayden will end his innings in jeopardy. When a man is exposed to the pressure of society via mass media, no matter how strong he is, he tends to give up the resistance. I was wondering what would have happened if he had scored a century in the last innings against SA. Perhaps, things would have been different. Now, however, the 37 year old ‘literal giant’ of batting has called it a day. Another Aussie cricketing career ends.

Sport is attractive and at its best when played in its prime quality, and the prime time of sportsmen depends on their age, which is a limiting factor.  In stark contrast to a career in sports, the scenario is just opposite in science. Outstanding scientists, in general, hit their primes in late 30s or early 40s, when they would have digested enough knowledge to blend it with enthusiasm and drive to come up with something offbeat, and perhaps end-up with an idea of their life time. The best thing is that they can take this “offbeatness” to next level, every decade from then on, and very few things can stop them to do so. S. Chandrashekar, the legendary astrophysicist was a wonderful example of this. He just improved on and on, year after year, and perhaps reached a stage where he was recognized as a JNANI in astrophysics. His working style was truly noteworthy. All along the path towards ultimate knowledge, competitiveness may also play a very important role. The inherent competition also brings out great discoveries, as in the case of Bose-Einstein condensate experiment. However, Harold Kroto, who was one of the discoverers of Fulleren – a bucky balled shaped molecule - has a very interesting philosophy regarding inherently competitive human efforts, like sports, and makes intriguing comment in his Nobel autobiography. He thinks one should avoid competition ! This was one of the strange things I have ever read, and needs a deeper thought, where a strange truth may be waiting to be unveiled…..