The Adventure_ Jayant Narlikar; Note-Making & Summary

 

1.         Jayant Narlikar

a. Born in Kolhapur Maharashtra, the then state of British India on 10^th July 1938

b. Studied at BHU & Cambridge University

c.  Known for;

                                        i.     Quasi-steady state

                                      ii.    Cosmology

                                    iii.    Hoyle-Narlikar theory of gravity

d. Awards

                                        i.    Smith’s Prize

                                      ii.    Padma Bhushan

                                    iii.    Adams Prize

                                    iv.    Kalinga Prize

                                      v.    Padma Vibhushan

                                    vi.    Prix Jles Janseen

                                  vii.    Maharashtra Bhushan

e. Scientific career

                                        i.    Physics

                                      ii.    Astronomy

                                    iii.    Writer

2.       Professor Gaitonde collides with a truck and getting exported to a parallel world

 

a. Prof. Gaitonde, is a renowned historian.

b. Presided around 999

c.  Takes up Pune-Bombay bound Jijamata Express.

d. Train reaches to Sarhad where an Anglo Indian frisks in to check permits with handful of British officers

e. It was a British raj frontier, British Territory.

f.   His co-passenger happens to be a Khan sahib who was destined to Peshawar

g. Train reaches Victoria Terminus  

h. Sees GBMR ‘Greater Bombay Metropolitan Railway

 

3.       Prof. Gaitonde in Bombay

a.  Alights at VT

b. Confronts a building inscribed;

EAST INDIA HOUSE HEADQUARTERSS OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY

c.  Shocked according to him The East India company wounded its business just after 1857 revolt.

d. Enters Forbes building and enquires for sh Vijay Gaitonde

e. Goes to town hall library

f.   Gets his own written history compilation

                                        i.    Vol. I upto the period of Ashoka

                                      ii.    Vol. II upto the period of Samudragupta

                                    iii.    Vol. III upto the period of Md Ghori

                                    iv.    Vol. IV upto the death of Aurangzeb

 

4.       HISTORY TAKES TURN AT THE EPISODE OF BATTLE OF PANIPAT

a. The problem occurred in vol 5, went to a page with a mention of Panipat war

b. Battle of Panipat: mentioned that Marathas won the war and Abdali routed out of India

c.  This was the strong message for the East India company which was watching this war from close quarters

d. And the company shelved its expansionist programme

e. The Peshwas kept the Mughal as puppets.

f.   But the EUROPEANS set their science and technological  centres here and the EIC saw another opportunity to extend its influence.

g. The shehanshah of Delhi remained a mere a rubber stamp

h. There was a lease treaty which was to expire in 2001 according to the treaty of 1908

 

5.       DOCTORED ACCOUNTS OF PANIPAT BATTLE

a. Prof got hold of history chronicle named BHAUSAHEBANCHI BAKHAR

b. Finds a doctored account there; mentioning how Vishwasrao was narrowly saved from being killed.

c.  Prof keeps the page in his pocket

 

6.       AZAD MAIDAN EPISODE

a. PROF reaches to Azad Maidan, finds a pandal programme,

b. Notices the presidential chair empty, unoccupied

c.  Rushes towards it and occupies

d. Ppl protest, stops him from going there, a stampede happens

e. The speaker shouted ‘vacate the chair’

f.   Prof showered with tomatoes, eggs and other objects.

 

7.       RAJENDRA’S EXPLANATION

a. Relates it to catastrophe theory

                                        i.    Physicists discovered that atoms and their constituent particles’ behaviour is highly unpredictable

                                      ii.    As assertion for electron; it could be here there or anywhere.

                                    iii.    Lack of determination in quantum theory.

b. Facts can be stranger than fantasies

c.  Explains how the morale of  marathas lost with vishawasrao’s death, how a near victory slipped off from marathas tent.

d. It’s a case of travelling to parallel world, crossing the time and space.

                                                   _Arun Thakare

WE'RE NOT AFRAID TO DIE.......IF WE CAN ALL BE TOGETHER Gordon Cook and Alan East

 

FOCUS POINTS

   1.Anyone who wishes to appreciate the story needs a working knowledge of sailing, ships

   and the seas of the world.

   2. We may find it surprising to read how a family could risk the leisure, life, future etc for

   the sake of a pastime. How could one dream so intently for something that is not one’s

   profession or livelihood, may remain a fact beyond comprehension for at least a few. So

   the lesson offers us an opportunity to realize the differences in our oneness. It teaches us

   about passion for what one does.

   3. The lack of knowledge about the procedures followed and the equipment used could

   steal the joy of appreciating the story. So collecting information, online and offline,

   about the grey areas is a must to appreciate the story.

   4. Once you are well equipped with the required information, vocabulary items and

   exposure to similar situations, the chapter promises you a great experience.

   5. How optimism and team work had contributed to their survival is a point not to be

   missed.

   6. Another beauty of the story lies in the nationality of the people involved in the adventure.

   What does it suggest? Yes, we are one, despite our geographical and many other

   differences. Together we can make the impossible happen.

   7. Identify the genre of writing

   8. The lesson will make the Navodayans appreciate the charm of their residential system

–    the oneness they enjoy despite the differences and the way they stand up for one

   another in times of crises, big or small. We are all sailors in the same boat (or ship?),

   students or teachers.

 

Storyline:

   July 1976, Gordon Cook, Mary, Jonathan 6, Suzanne 7 set sail from Plymouth England.

   Wanted to duplicate 200 yrs world voyage made by Captain James Cook.

   For 16 yrs they honed seafaring skills in British Waters

   Wavewalker, 23 metre, 30 ton wooden-hulled beauty.

   First leg-105000kms fr down the west coast of Africa to Cape Town passed pleasantly.

   Two crewmen hired before heading east, American Larry Vigil & Swiss Herb Seigler to help tackle world’s toughest seas, the southern Indian Ocean.

   2^nd day strong gales, Gales didn’t worry but their alarming 15 mt. size.

   Dec.25^th 3500km east of cape town, celebrated Christmas.

   2^nd January, gigantic waves, dropped small storm jib to slow down the speed ,  attached lifelines, donned oilskins & life jackets.

   1^st indication of imminent disaster @6pm, ominous silence, wind dropped, sky grew dark, a growing roar, a wave like an enormous cloud came perfectly vertical with frightful breaking crest.

   A tremendous explosion shook the deck, a green & while torrent, head smashed into the wheel, accepted approaching death, losing consciousness, felt quite peaceful.

   Unexpectedly head popped out of water, wavewalker near capsizing, mast horizontal, a wave hurled it upright, grabbed the guard rails, subsequent waves tossed up in the Wavewalker like a doll of rag, with blood filled mouth & broken teeth. Found wheel.

   Mary appeared from front hatch screamed we’re sinking!, decks smashed, full of water inside.

    Mary took over wheel, Larry and Herb pumping water like madmen, whole starboard bulged inwards,

   Cloths, crockery, charts, maps, tins & toys sloshed in deep water.

   Swam in children’s cabin asked “Are you alright?” yes said they, Sue said but her head hurt a bit, pointing at a big bump above her eyes.

   Repair needed else sinking was sure

   Managed to stretch canvass, secure waterproof hatch covers across the gaping holes,

   Hand pumps blocked by afloat debris, electric pumps short-circuited, found to spare handpumps, forestay sail, jib, dinghies & main anchor.

    Remembered of another electric pump under chartroom floor, thankfully it worked.

   Night dragged on endless, bitterly pumping, steering, working with radio. No replies to Mayday calls.

   Sue with two black eyes, a deep cut on her arm didn’t want to worry when they were trying to save them all.

   3^rd Jan. morning, pumps had water level under control, took two hrs rest in rotation, tremendous leakage as main rib were smashed down to the keel.

   15 hrs survival, wavewalker couldn’t hold together for long to reach Australia.

   Maps and charts checked, spotted two small islands a few 100 kms. To the east Ile Amsterdam- a French scientific base, the only hope to reach these pinpricks in the vast ocean.

   4^th Jan, 36hrs continuous pumping, reached last few centimeters of water,  hoisted the storm jib, Mary found some corned beef and cracker biscuits, had first meal in almost two days.

   But @4pm clouds began building up, wind @40knots, seas getting higher, weather deteriorating, by 5^th Jan situation was desperate again.

   Jon asked, “Daddy, are we going to die?” but said, Daddy, we aren’t afraid of dying if we can all be together- you, Mummy, Sue & I”.

   Speechless but determined to fight the sea, two 22 litre plastic barrels of paraffin.

   6^th Jan Morning, were somewhere 150000 kms of ocean for a 65 kms wide island.

   Sue joined, gave card , had caricatures of Mary and Narrator with words , “ HERE ARE SOME FUNNY PEOPLE, DID THEY MAKE YOU LAUGH?” inside was a message, “OH! HOW I LOVE YOU BOTH.SO THIS CARD IS TO SAY THANK YOU AND LET’S HOPE FOR THE BEST”.

   Rechecked calculations, main compass was lost, estimate with influence of westerly currents flew through Indian ocean in that part.

   2 pm, went on deck, asked Larry to steer 185 degrees, if lucky could see the island about 5pm.

   Dozed off with heavy heart, woke up at 6pm felt must have missed the islands. But at the moment a tousled head appeared by the bunk, “Can I have a Hug?” Jonathan asked.

   “Because you are the best daddy in the whole world-and the best captain” Jonathan said.

   It’s out there in front of us, as big as a battle field.

   Rushed on deck, stark outline of Ile Amsterdam, a bleak piece of volcanic rock with little vegetation-the most beautiful island in the world.

   Stayed for a night, all 28 inhabitants of the island cheered them along,

   Larry and Herb cheerful and optimistic under the direst stress, Mary who stayed at the wheel at the crucial hours, most of all- a 7 year old girl, who didn’t want to worry others, and a six-year boy who was not  afraid to die..
                                               

§  Sh. Arun Thakare