The Relation Between Literature And Science

Literature and science are two subjects which contradict on one hand and compliment on the other. The foundational idea behind is that there is an important reciprocal influence between the sciences, the arts, and the humanities, though the ways in which current ideas are expressed and manifested, especially in our age of specialization, may be so different that the connections between them—as well as the ability to trace precedence—may not always be clear. Historically, for example, it is almost impossible for anyone who has even a basic understanding of Einstein to read much of Virginia Woolf's work without considering the impact of his ideas on her thinking.

Literature is a mirror of society. Literature is a body of written works related by subject matter (e.g. the literature of computing), by language or place of origin (e.g. Russian literature), or by prevailing cultural standards of merit. Literature includes poetry, prose, essays and fiction. Rebecca West said, "Literature must be an analysis of experience and a synthesis of the findings into a unity". Literature is an amalgam of observation, experience and creativity. It depends on how a person perceives a thing. An ant or an elephant, anything and everything can inspire literati to give it a form of literature.

Science is a systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation. Science is a description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena. It is a practical subject in which every single theorem has a proper justification with assumptions.

Literature is a large word; it may mean everything written with letters or printed in a book. Euclid's Elements and Newton's Principia are thus literature. All knowledge that reaches us through books is literature. Both science and literature is based on observation and experience. They are like some colors on a wall. The more you look at it the more meaning and ideas germinate. A single normal happening can give you an inspiration; inspiration to prepare a thesis on it. A normal happening like an apple falling clicked on Sir Isaac Newton’s mind which eventually led to the law of gravitation. In the field of literature, a small flower like daffodil inspired William Wordsworth to a write a great poem ‘Daffodils’. A plain fact can become a masterpiece provided one is alert all the time and presents a thing in a creative manner with proper explanation.

The famous novel by Dan Brown, ‘The Da Vinci Code’ beautifully presents us the series of codes both from science and literature which helps the protagonist Robert Langdon to reach to the final destination. Similarly Umberto Eco, Benjamin Franklin, Susruta etc provided us various links between science and literature which is real and true. Prof. Huxley in his book ‘Literature and Science’ maintained that the remedy lies in the recognition of "the great truth that art and literature and science are one, and that the foundation of every sound education and preparation for active life in which a special education is necessary should be some efficient training in all three."

'OUR RENDEZVOUS'

‘Ho shuru har pal aise, ho shuru har din aise…NESCAFE!...This line literally defines the ‘NESCAFE’…our ‘adda’. We all are habitual to this place…the lovely smell of its coffee…the lively surrounding.. the green artistic trees..( and the hovering black crows!)

Whenever our energy level is down and the mind goes all empty, our feet blindly start walking towards the Nescafe, where we all friends meet and collectively do ‘bakaiti’ ( our group’s name for rubbish talks), and we move on with our Daily Dose- the red and black cups of coffee and the crisp brown vegetable patties ( as the ‘cheese’ ones are costlier).

This is the place where we all are at ease and speak our minds out. The girls begin with their indispensable gossips and 'eXclusive' news. The boys (some with cigarette in hand) begin with ‘serious’ talks on cricket and bikes. But, till this date, we all wonder when these ‘peaceful’ talks transform into tiffs combined with ‘censored’ slang and uncontrollable laughs….and then enters the ‘neta’ and solves the deliberately initiated fight…(We salute him! )…The scene again becomes normal, with the loud music in background (NOTE- loud music can never be in background), and slowly and smoothly we all start our ‘pipe-pana’..the same PJs (poor jokes)..Each one us trying to prove that we are the ultimate fools and pipes in this world….and the smug smile (ugh!).

Later on when its time for the bill payment…we get to see those ’vacant wallets’…some of us even ‘escape’ the place...but with a bit of team work in the end, the money is always managed. And finally leaving behind the echoes of our giggles and laughter, we all leave the place…our rendezvous!

I DREAM....

I Dream,
of a gleam...
along with which some vague images appear,
visage of all dear ones
who are now in heavens,
a tear falls down my eyes...
I could do nothing except
to wave and dimly smile...


I Dream,
of a beam...
which surpasses all odds,
without any sobs,
reaches the top,
I hop..,
to see my markings
that whether it is there or has been eroded...


I Dream,
of a stream...
with which me and you
flow and flow,
till we touch that glow
and flame ourselves
with divine love and friendship
that lasts forever...



But as I open my eyes,
I meet the true scenario...
I realize...
life is not only about dreams of 'past' but,
dreams of 'future'..............!!!

THE ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY

The green monogram with the a palm tree in the centre, an open book on the right and a crescent moon on the left, also expresses the motto of the AMU i.e. ‘Allamal insaana maa lam ya’Ålam (Arabic) which when translated to English says ‘Taught man what he did not know.’ (Quran 96:5).

The Aligarh Muslim University is much more than a mere institution of higher learning; it is a movement. This revolutionary movement was started by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in the wake of the cataclysm of 1857 which brought about total catastrophe for the Indian Muslims. The University owes its existence to the selfless and untiring efforts of this great visionary-Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
The eventful history of the AMU, which originated as a small school in 1875, is a glowing and inspiring account of dedication, sacrifice, selfless service and love for the community and the country, left behind by Sir Syed and his illustrious comrades and followers. Almost two years after the establishment of the school, the foundation stone of the Mohammadan Anglo Oriental College was laid by Lord Lytton, the viceroy, on 8th January, 1877. In the address presented to the viceroy, the ideals of the college were eloquently enunciated as “free enquiry, large hearted tolerance and pure morality”.
The Aligarh Muslim University occupies a unique position amongst 146 other universities of India. Established in 1920 as the tenth university of the continent, it is one of the old and large universities of the country. A centrally administered university along with eight others, it attracts students not only from all the States of India but also from as many as 30 countries of the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia. It presently covers a very wide spectrum of academic disciplines, having 88 departments, 5 institutions, 13 centers. The University currently has about 28,000 students on its rolls, most of who stay in 16 halls of residences with 70 hostels. It employs about 1400 academic staff and 6000 non-teaching staff on an average and around 500 foreign students come to study at AMU every year.
The Aligarh Muslim University is one of the oldest premier Central Universities of India with a unique and rich culture of its own. It is a proud Indian institution; a living symbol of the composite colours of India and a bulwark of its secular principles.

TWILIGHT

The world I dwell in,
where everybody slowly deceases,
and I slowly come into being..
when the smog clears, I come forward..

The world I dwell in,
where everybody is barmy or am I ?!
when everybody sleeps, I open my eyes,
to see my cosmos, my dreams, my yearnings..

This faint sheen gives me the ability, the energy..
the hope that recedes, clears its dust..
my wings yawn, my eyes twinkle..
every one goes dead and I am 'born'..
only a true self can vision me,
serene and tranquil breeze~~ I fly with..
I touch the zenith..
I touch the dust..
I touch 'you'..

My tears dry, assuaging all pains,
smile sparkles as the queer light falls..
I become despotic.. I own the zone !!
And I am here till the fluorescent and vibrant
light forces me to close my eyes.........!!