The coming of a genius
In this column Dr. Ali Asgar's article titled "Scientific thoughts of Rabindranath Tagore" will be published in instalments, each having a separate heading- Editor, Science & Life
To support my intuitive surmise let me explain a possible picture of the phenomenon of the development of a genius. Every second we are subjected to millions of information, only a very small fraction of these information do we usually respond to. This selection is a chancy matter to some extent, but is mostly guided by the urge for physical existence and immediate necessities. This creates a norm and most people react to the environment by their instincts which is more of the characteristics of animals .For humane, possessed with imagination and the concept of time that allow one to connect events of the past, the present and the possible future happenings. The response to the environment is indeterminate .The most important aspect of intelligence is curiosity and associated inspiration to solve puzzles, the mystery of nature. The sense of mystery arises from the sense of symmetry or harmony. Whenever a lack of harmony or symmetry is experienced by a creative mind he tends to solve it by seeking the missing link or by looking for a new order so that at the higher level of symmetry, which we may call a super symmetry, a new relation is discovered. Here a strong sense of beauty works which is a rarity.
A genius is possessed with the special bend of mind whose sense of beauty is deeper and more intricate to make it possible for him to discover or invent new concepts, understanding and knowledge. But this again is a chancy matter and not guided by any strict deterministic law.
My aim in his article is not merely to describe or bring forward the examples where Tagore's scientific ideas, his thinking and philosophy and activity are reflected, but also to indulge in the venture to discover the working of Tagore's mind when he got involved in science writing, promoting science, popularizing science, developing scientific institution, providing financial and moral support to science teachers and researchers and getting himself involved in the philosophical discourse with great scientists like Einstein.
To understand the mystery of how Tagore could get involved in so many different fields in a certain way and make his mark, we need to make guesswork and construct an intuitive picture of his unique personality.
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