Monday, February 12, 2018

Review of Book 1 in Muse India

Hello!

There is something new, obviously, since the last time we "met," which brings me here to this "sharing space"!

Well, without any ado, I share hereby the news and its content! Though yes, there is one thing that isn't a news to the readers who grace this space: the magnanimity, erudition, awe-inspiring creativity, humbling graciousness of UGC-approved literary journal, Muse India, and its Chief Editor, U Atreya Sarma!

The review, by him, of my first book—Why Happens, What Happens... It is Chemistry, in Life's Laboratory!—has been published today, in Issue No.77 (Jan-Feb 2018) of Muse India. Here is the link: http://www.museindia.com/Home/ViewContentData

Please access it in the "Book Review (S)" section.

Also, for those who wish to read it here itself, please find the same below.

Thank you and warm regards.

It is Chemistry, In Life’s Laboratory
Atreya Sarma U


Sushmita
Why Happens, What Happens… It is Chemistry, In Life’s Laboratory
Self-Help
Power Publishers, 2017
ISBN: 978-93-86526-14-4
Pp 133 | http://www.museindia.com/images/rup.png 250

A chemist’s organo-philosophical view of human psychology

When Sushmita offered me her book for a review, two things glided into my mind – acetoacetic ester with its formula and amyl alcohol with its fragrance, for they are the only ones I can remember from my tryst with Organic Chemistry of my college days; and the theme interested me. A quick cursory flip through the leaves of the book left me with this first impression, and it has lasted even after reading through it:
‘The multi-dimensional self-help book Why Happens, What Happens… It is Chemistry, In Life’s Laboratory by Sushmita is unique for reasons more than one - firstly, the very concept of applying various principles of chemistry, coupled with Psychology, to the questions and answers pertaining to life in general is highly creative and bold; secondly, it demands a reasonably thorough grasp of life; thirdly, it is a self-help book that is intended to appeal to one and all in the community. The book is also a testimony to Sushmita’s passion for writing, for she quit her job as a lecturer in organic chemistry after having served for over eight years, even as she continues to be in grips with her specialisation of organic chemistry – to transform herself into a full-time writer cum copy-editor. Sushmita had done her Masters in organic chemistry and qualified in the UGC-CSIR conducted National Eligibility Test (NET). One should compliment her for the visualisation of the theme and finally for its materialisation. A keen reading of this book would stimulate every youth and every educated person, apart from every chemistry and every psychology scholar, to sharpen their analytical, synthesising and comprehending capabilities.’ 
“The book is an extension of the understanding of Chemistry to life’s fields of Philosophy and Psychology,” observes Dr Dayanand Mukhopadhyay, ex-Professor of Organic Chemistry & Dean, Faculty of Science, Bihar University (Foreword). Interestingly, in what can be termed a perfect chemical equation, the book has been dedicated to another chemist, Dr Nagendra Prasad, who served as the Head, Department of Chemistry, Bihar University.

In a beautifully forceful language laced with alliteration and pun and with effective narration stemming from a deep understanding and contemplation of the various interactions underlying the complex human life, Sushmita applies her knowledge of Organic Chemistry to identify “the cause of every effect that affects us, to ultimately bless with the bliss of a wonderful chemistry with our own selves, and so with all and everything” (Author’s note).

The existential question ‘Why are things the way they are in life?’ together with ‘Why are we the way we are?’ and the like “haunts and taunts us, whenever our life daunts us.” New situations have brought forth newer tools and inventions; and “Only by breaking the conventions have inventions been made!” (Introduction)

Chemistry is about equations and bonding, so too is human life though we may not know chemistry, as elucidated in the Afterword.

As humans all of us have our own experiences. And what exactly is an experience? Sushmita says it is “…the action and reaction of belief and perception leads to a product, called ‘experience’ (Introduction). Our experience shows that different persons tend to react differently to a same situation. The author drives this point home by way of the following example, where the question is same, but answers are different.
a) “I will hit you,” said John to Tom.

    “You are most welcome,” replied Tom.

b) “I will hit you,” said John to Dick.

    “I shall hit you back,” replied Dick.

c) “I will hit you,” said John to Harry.

    “I shall sue you,” Harry replied.

d) “I will hit you,” said John to Jerry.

    “I shall kill you,” retorted Jerry.
The reactions could be many more than the above, adds the author. “The first one typifies a personality imbued with “Gandhian” philosophy... The second personifies Newton’s 3rd law: Every action has got an equal and opposite reaction. The third represents a person who will allow you to do something, and then, tighten the legal noose on you, manipulative being the intent. The last one comes across as an outright aggressor,” explains Sushmita (p 11).

The book is divided into 10 chapters, each one prefixed with an interesting truism. For us to have an idea of the type of contents in the book, let us take a look at the truisms:
“How you act and react, depends on Who You Are and What You Are Being.”
(Ch. 1: Life and Reaction)

“Bonding leads to stability. Bond with Self.”
(Ch. 2: Bond)

“To be selective or reactive – the choice is yours.”
(Ch. 3: Reactivity versus Selectivity)

“Unless you interact, you cannot relate and respond.”
(Ch. 4: Medium)

“Influence of an influence is manifest in the effect.”
(Ch. 5: Influence)

“The more excited you are, the more reactive you are.”
(Ch. 6: Reaction and Energy)

“Even by coming down you gain.”
(Ch. 7: Reaction Hill)

“If you knew things why things happened the way they did, you wouldn’t be judgmental.” (Ch. 8: Reaction Mechanism).

“Myriad are the ways we react…each having its own significance”
(Ch. 9: Organic Reactions).

“Life is a ledger of chain reactions.”
(Ch. 10: Chemistry and Nature: The Inseparable Duo)
A combination of chemistry, psychology and philosophy helps us to understand and appreciate human life better. Though philosophy is not a science it comes in handy to recognise the truth of Nature and the non-apparent reasons behind the apparent ones. It is a meta-science, a science behind science, in the same way what cannot be explained by physics is called metaphysics, reasons out Sushmita, who in order to underline its importance quotes Albert Einstein: “The more I study physics, the more I am drawn to metaphysics” (114).

Knowledge being one but vast, it has branched out into different subjects, but they are always parts of the same whole, hence are interrelated. Not only the thinkers from the humanities but also the scientists are agreed upon this.

John Henry Newman says:
“…all branches of knowledge are connected together, because the subject-matter of knowledge is intimately united in itself, as being the acts and the work of the Creator. Hence it is that the Sciences, into which our knowledge may be said to be cast, have multiplied bearings one on another, and an internal sympathy, and admit, or rather demand, comparison and adjustment. They complete, correct, balance each other.”
And here is what a Nobel-winning chemist observes, as quoted by Sushmita in her Afterword:
“There is mathematics in music, a kinship of science and poetry in the description of nature, and exquisite form in a molecule. Attempts to place different disciplines in different camps are revealed as artificial in the face of the unity of knowledge.”
It is hoped that these few observations will set off a reaction in you the readers to go in for a copy of this stimulating work.
♣♣♣END♣♣♣


Issue 77 (Jan-Feb 2018)