Monday, November 13, 2017

A former colleague overwhelms with her review of my first book!

Yes, that is what she has done: Dr Sumana Chatterjee, Associate Professor of Chemistry, has overwhelmed me with gratitude, with her review of my first book! And just imagine, after years of no communication, I simply informed her about my book, on WhatsApp, requesting her to purchase and read the book. Spontaneous was her response, thinking not even for a moment why I hadn't contacted her during those elapsed years. She purchased the book, and as she started reading it, she kept me in the loop, informing me how she was feeling and receiving the book. Her words are words of affirmation and encouragement--from a person belonging to the field of chemistry embracing the presented in, as and through the book, instead of rejecting them as a purist. Her words are redemptive! And my requests to her didn't end... As she shared with me how much she has liked the book, along with the thanks to her, I conveyed another request in reply: to review the book. She agreed to that too and today has presented a lovely, innocent, gracious...beautifully scripted review! In my wildest of imagination could I conjure such a review: a fabulous gift? No. And as she calls out, "I would like to thank her and would request her to go on supplying us with more such in-depth analysis of Life on the platform of Organic Chemistry,” I can only humbly pray: So be it. Such graciousness...she has thanked me! Now, without further ado, I beckon you all to read the following words of grace, from my former colleague and my forever friend and well-wisher.

“I routinely read books on Chemistry. I have to do so because I teach Chemistry to a lot of interested and disinterested students who have enrolled in Basanti Devi College wishing to graduate in that subject. However, I stick to my boundaries which is physical Chemistry. I rarely venture into books of organic chemistry. When a former colleague of mine informed me that she had just published a book on that subject my initial response was lukewarm, but then she assured me that there was not a single equation throughout the book and that hooked my interest. I was really interested to know how anyone can tackle such a subject without chemical reactions to represent them. Then I read the title of the book: Why Happens, What happens… It is Chemistry, in the Laboratory of Life!

Thank God it is about Life, it might be something different. I enthusiastically purchased and began reading the book.

I was not disappointed. THIS BOOK IS DIFFERENT. Physics and Philosophy has gone hand in hand for a long time. Even Physical Chemistry perhaps could be interpreted in those terms, but Organic Chemistry! The reactants, the substrates, the medium, the energy requirements, the reaction mechanism, catalysis, even the individual reaction types like elimination, substitution and so on. Sushmita explored this virgin realm of finding analogies between living her life and lessons from Organic Chemistry. She did it with such an intuitive élan that like the prince of one thousand Arabian Nights we become addicted to her stories. Stories on Life being reflected in Organic Chemistry. I would like to thank her and would request her to go on supplying us with more such in-depth analysis of Life on the platform of Organic Chemistry.”

Thanks to you all as well. You all have been and are always immeasurable affirmative forces on this path and journey of life.

Love and warm regards,
Sushmita,
November 13, 2017