The Laws that Actually Govern the Universe

After my operation in 2006, I got hooked onto Roger Penrose’s The Road To Reality, a book about generally neglected subject of Mathematics. This book is not for invalids or people with weak hearts, at 1049 pages (the bibliography is of 30 odd pages), it takes lot of patience to get through the book. Of course, in my case I had nothing important to do in those days, so it was easy way to forget other body pains.

Once in my school career I actually failed in Mathematics, and for rest of my life, it seems, the subject would puzzle me – and some times amuse. Simple mathematical notions like equivalence class (deals with fractions for the uninitiated) which govern the elementary maths are indeed never explained in school. I recently started explaining some basic concepts to my son around maths - and miserably failed.

I was surprised by the fact that the notion of Mathematical truth (Platonic or otherwise) is not even explained in the schools and colleges. It takes Rs. 810/- and really bulky book to read and understand it. I also realized that several things about maths were not known to me in this age and times. Usually complex sounding concepts like, Canonical quantum gravity, well.. are indeed complex, but make good reading. Especially when it comes to some Indian names (e.g. Abhay Ashtekar in 1986, simplified the equations of general relativity - yes from famous Einstein). While Penrose tries hard to explain the beauty of the mathematics, I think the book is more important for a casual reader to understand the subject of maths. Of course there is quite a bit of Physics in the book (Penrose is a Physicist), and that makes 1049 pages more interesting.

Another book I recently acquired is Stephen Hawking's God Created the Integers - a book describing the history of the mathematics (1160 pages - another example of my courage). The book does not necessarily has lucid description of mathematical concepts, but indeed brings out the fun in the lives of Greek mathematicians. e.g. Archimedes's servants got him against his will to the baths OR that when Diophantus died his friend left a puzzle describing his lifetime. Certain historical facts like Laplace was the teacher of certain Corsican called Napoleon Bonaparte, make the book interesting read (it also proves the fact that studying of maths with great mathematicians is not necessarily a good thing - something that may set you on a wrong path of geography and you spend your retirement in rather protected environment)

These books do not particularly make me maths genius but it certainly helps in knowing that several mathematicians and physicists with their lifetime of research and bulky books and noble prizes haven't been able to find the road to reality OR laws that actually govern the universe - just like me. And I do that without lot of effort or tussled hair.

Without Clothes in Brussels

If one has to loose the clothes, Brussels is probably the last place on earth where that should happen. The EU capital is so expensive, it alone should be good reason for dismantling the united Europe.

As usual my travails (!) took me to the EU capital, twice in less than a month. A record for myself. My wife jokes that I have a lady per port like sailors (I wish…), I am seriously thinking of an European affair in any case. The Jet airways put my luggage on priority and the bags never left Delhi. Mind you this is our ‘Best Domestic Airline' with direct connection to Europe and America – I personally like the direct NY and Brussels connectivity and really bad air hostesses.

I generally plan follow-on meetings, as in you land, get refreshed and walk in the office, saves time and you can excuse your inactivity to long distance air travel. More rest follows. This time I landed, I am in a great mood of walking through and I am thinking of work. The luggage belt does not yield anything for 30 long minutes. I got suspicious, and the suspicions were true. Luggage is not there. Belgium at this time of the year hovers around 7-8 degrees C. Unless you have real warm clothes you shouldn’t be thinking about it. Somebody like me who loves Sun (and gets super powers from it), is not a right person in this place without the right clothes. The paltry first compensation helps me in buying a good toothbrush and that is about it.

I reached hotel and for the first time in my life went to the shopping mall at 9AM sharp. Fortunately the hotel is in the Brussels city center so it is easier to walk into the shopping mall. What followed was an emergency shopping by a non-French/non-Dutch speaker in a crowd of sales people who can not speak a single word of English. The prices really did me in. A pair of undergarments was 29 Euros (that is Rs. 1700.38 for the uninitiated) - almost equivalent to annual income of some families in India. A tie was 49 Euros and to top it the sale-lady can not speak English and translate the sizes. This is unique in a country which is officially bilingual (Dutch and French; when you see one street having two names - life is not easy). I was at my wit's end - literally. One would think buying clothes in stereotypical box department store anywhere in the world should be easy.. well one has to try this theory.

My colleagues at work (almost) commented on clothes choices but they had no option to lump it - the cheap shirt I bought had a black rose on the side !!! Besides the amount of time I spent on this was not well spent either (after 313 Euros that is!).

Otherwise a city of no particular significance (started in 10th Century as a Fortress Town), Brussels grew to prominence only after EU was established. The most notable attraction is 'Manneken Pis' (or Pissing Boy) - rest I guess you can figure out. The only other attractions are tourist shops in shacks that have sprung up around the main city square (and at the cost of repeating - expensive departmental stores). The chocolates were overrated anyways, i.e. my son did not like them - he is our family's official expert on chocolates.

For me French girls were nowhere to be found - almost a rare species. Every time I looked for proper Belgian affair it did not materialize. Perhaps I should try Paris next time - now that would be an idea - to get into Paris without the clothes, presumably French won't mind that much. Only problem being Jet Airways does not fly to Paris (yet!)