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,
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.
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