Chapter 1: The
Journey Begins
With Death
In a corner of a podium in an audio visual room, I was
waiting for my turn to demonstrate my project before a
small gathering of gentlemen from scientific backgrounds
and high school students aspiring to make a mark in the
scientific world in the near future. What an anti science
person like me who was forced into learning the sciences,
was doing in a place considered auspicious among the
worshippers of science was a bit of confusing, added the
fact that I was there out of my free will deepened the
mystery. The modern society surely is short on safe havens
for the romanticists where they can freely express their
anti science outlooks and my failure in finding one caused
me to be forced into one living hell of scientific studies.
Being surrounded by people who are ignoramus of the
philosophical aspects of life was something that I had easily
got accustomed to, resulting in me almost becoming a
hikkimori who never stepped out of home except for going
to school. A person like me who was always openly insulting
science and praising morals and getting lost in studies of
ideology was the most unexpected creature at any science
exhibition. Placed in the ‘social and behavioural sciences’
category at the science fair, my project was something that
I had utmost confidence in as the most unique project in
the entire department, just like me.
After my name was called out, I quietly arranged my slides
on the slide holder assigned for the demonstration. The
reaction of anybody who caught a glimpse of the contents
of my slide was perfectly the same as what I had expected;
the whole audience was stunned, a sudden rise in murmuring
and whispering among the high schoolers took place and the
nearly lifeless judging panel was induced with activities. A
boy whispered to his neighbour, “Is this person trying to
become some Aristotle or Ptolemy?!” Another audible
whisper seemed to say, “I bet he is some right wing
pseudoscience person. I had heard in the news that several
right wing pseudo scientists had shown up at the senior
levels of the science exhibitions but to think that one has
shown up at high school level is surprising.” After random
remarks, snares and glares began arriving too. I had
expected all these to happen and was completely prepared
to face them. My face retained its stone cold expression in
spite of all the commotion. I was absolutely unfazed by the
criticism; partly because I was used to criticism and partly
because I wanted to shut everybody’s mouth with my cold
expressionless face.
After a brief chaotic spell, silence was restored by the
judging panel using the magical command ‘SILENCE!’ in the
blink of an eye. For drawing attention, I took a deep breath
and made an orthodox coughing noise to begin my
addressing, “To all those present here and murmuring about
my political affiliations, I want to make a fact clear before
speaking about my project; I HAVE NO POLITICAL OR
SUCH AFFILIATIONS.
My pause was met with a slight uneasiness among the
audience. After having my affiliations made clear I resumed
speaking while pointing my hand towards the slide with the
project name, “As all of you can see here, my project is
titled ‘SCIENCE IS NOT EVERYTHING’. My project is a
detailed report on the limitations of science in the sphere
of society and human behaviour backed by a strong survey
of first person reports of failure of science in making a
positive impact on the lives of people.” I paused and changed
the slide to the next one. During the changing, I was
targeted with a question by the most senior judging panel
member, “What do you exactly mean by failure of science in
making a positive effect on people's lives?” I replied with a
certain sharpness in my voice, “It’s exactly what it sounds
as; these are the cases where people were in the low phase
of life; full of gloom, down on luck, out of hope, on the verge
of lunacy, basically given up on life but saved by things
ridiculed by the scientific intelligentsia as ABSURD or
pointless.” After my answer to his question, the man grew
silent and uneasiness continued to build up among the
audience. Pointing at my next slide, I resumed speaking.
“Humans are the living organisms who possess a strong
sense of emotions and a mastery over the art of conveying
their emotions which till now no other known organism has
been able to show on the same maturity level. The emotions
of humans are known to produce some invisible bondings
amongst themselves which science hasn’t been able to
decipher till date but at the same time science hasn’t been
able to deny the existence of the bondings. These bonds
have been collectively classified under the title of
‘Humanity’ by the society
anonymously
