Meeting a remarkable family: Dr Tsuneto and Akiko Tokunaga

A photo album for this trip is in this album.

In our Indian tradition, we have a saying called वसुधैव कुटुंबकम, in roman script (vasudhaiva kutumbakam), meaning that the entire world is a family of ours. Last week, I went for a trip to Shimanai Kaido, where I had an opportunity to see this ideal being practiced in real life.  I had the very good fortune to stay as a guest of Dr Tsuneto Tokunaga, and Mrs Akiko Tokunaga, and this blogpost is a humble attempt to share the story of these remarkable people in brief.

As mentioned before, my friend, an avid Airbnb user found that in Imabari, there is a certain host family(using Airbnb) who seemed to have been getting extremely nice reviews. I didn't pay much attention to it that time, thinking that being polite or giving compliment is a usual human nature, more so in Japan. But meeting this family proved the inadequacy of words in describing the bright side of human nature.

Japanese people are know to be reserved, and mostly meet others outside their home. Hence I had not got much opportunity to see their homes first hand(except of a friend's house in Hokkaido). This visit also provided me an opportunity to have a look into the amazingly maintained Japanese houses.

A short stay of 12 hours
After cycling for about 30 kms in five hours, and hitchhiking the remaining way to Imabari, I found myself at 9:00 pm at Imabari station. Airbnb information talked about 'bed and breakfast', hence i reasoned with myself and my friend that first have the dinner outside, and then reach the house of the guest, so as not to bother them with our hunger. But we had informed about our arrival time to be at 9:00, so we decided to proceed to the house with some cup noodles for worst case scenario.

Outside his home, we were welcomed by Dr Tsuneto, who asked: "Are you from India?" On our node of yes, he cheerfully led us inside into his home, promptly into the dining space. His wife, Mrs Akiko was there to welcome us, and had an equally cheerful demeanor.  We were made to feel completely at home by their bright smiles, kind words and welcoming gesture. First of all, Dr Tsuneto showed us around the house, the resting area, and other parts of the house. The house was impeccably clean, beautifully decorated with paintings, and extremely well organized. Honestly, I could only compare it with nothing less than a five star accommodation!

Soon after that, Mrs Akiko asked us to have dinner, which she had already and specially prepared for us, consisting of vegetable tempura(fried vegetables)!! I was not prepared for so much of hospitality from an unknown, and an elderly family. Despite our soft protests, we were lovingly made to sit down for dinner. Our host family also sat down with us. By this time, I got extremely curious about them, and how someone could be so nice and warming to visitors. Isn't it tiring, and a nuisance to have unknown people arriving at one's home? I tried to look into the mind of them in this interaction.

Getting to know the family

Dr Tsuneto Tokunaga: 77 years old. Born in Fukuyama, Hiroshima prefecture.
                                       Worked as Doctor at Red cross hospital in Takamatsu.
                                       Retired 3 years ago.
                                       Family name: Joyato

Mrs Akiko Tokunaga is 73.

They have two sons and two daughters, and one son is a Physician in Hiroshima university. Both are in excellent health of the body and spirit. I found that their nature was very much complimentary to each other, there was remarkable harmony between them in thinking, and they helped each other in everything they did. There was no ego involved at all.

Next surprising thing was to know that after retiring, that is only 3 years ago, they had undertaken a walking journey of 1400 kms!  As they said, they were helped in this journey by many people, and thus they also want to help others. They started hosting people from December 2014, and in this short duration of about an year and a half, they have hosted about 150 people from about 45 different countries! A complete list of travelers, country wise is given below:

They try to host the family every three days. I asked Joyato san what does he do in free time. His reply was that he doesn't have free time, as replying to hosting requests takes all of his time.
They told us that they have visited many countries, and have no favorites. It was interesting to know that while they have hosted 100s of people till now, they themselves have never got an opportunity to be a guest of others, and have always stayed in hotels!

About his religious beliefs, Joyato san mentioned it as NOBA, that is 'Not Only But Also'. He elaborated it he doesn't have strong belief as such, and accepts goodness from all sides or religions. That is, not only his own, but other religions also :) What a sweet message for plurality!

In the course of conversation, I inquired them how often do they meet their children. Honestly, I thought that it might not not be so often, and hence they invite new people to homes to keep boredom away in some way. To my sweet surprise, they told me that they have a family dinner with their children and grandchildren every weekend, that's Saturday and Sunday! I don't know many families who have such a nice family tradition, and close bonding between parents and children, at least in Japan.

After talking with them over dinner about 45 minutes, being tired, I went to sleep. Next day, when I woke up at 6 am and went downstairs, I found them already awake, and preparing breakfast for us!! That was really overwhelming to see, two elderly people preparing breakfast at such an early hour for guests they don't know properly. And they have been doing it for numerous people, because it makes their beautiful heart happy. All of this without any pretension, any show off, and without any slightest expectations of any thing in return. It was as if some one is living the ideals in scriptures, but which only a handful have the depth to follow.

Breakfast and Return Journey, and a gift for us
After getting ready in the morning, I decided to take a walk outside and in the neighborhood. After returning from that, an extremely delicious and nicely prepared breakfast set, all vegetables was waiting! It was everything I often dream of: nutritious, and elegantly prepared.

I couldn't thank Joyato san enough for all the hospitality and love he had been showering. But apparently, it was not all, and more surprised lay in store. Over the breakfast, I came to know that they actually donate all the token money they get from their guests to an organization called 'Doctors without Borders'. Their care and concern thus extends in many directions. Truly, love sees no distinctions, no boundaries.

The name Joyato itself means "one who provides light". On the gates of Joyato san, it was written 'Light house for travelers'. Beautiful example of one's name and actions being in complete harmony.

In this small stay itself, I felt blessed many times. To see a family transcending a generation barrier, language barrier and self-barrier to extend genuine affection to passers by is a humbling experience. We all need to open our doors more.

I had to leave in the morning itself back to Okunoshima. These blessed people themselves suggested that on a short stretch of that route, it's difficult to find public transport, and hence offered to drive us up to that point, about 40 mins drive away! Again despite our protests that it's not needed, they prevailed on us, and had their way. Further, before leaving their home, they also gave parting away gifts to us, in the form of beautiful clothes! On the other hand, we had nothing to offer them. Also, even if we had something to offer, it would be really, really nothing compared to what we got from them.

Thus, in a short span of 12 hours, I had the good fortune to witness how a beautiful mind works, and how some people rise above their own comfort to bring comfort to other people. I hope more and more people will come to know of the beautiful and blessed life of Dr Tsuneto and Mrs Akiko. My heartfelt thanks to them once again!

Trip to Shimanami Kaido

A photo album for this trip is in this album.

The long awaited journey
Before arriving in Japan, I already had my blog, and had expected that I would write about life over here frequently. That didn't happen somehow. But finally, I am getting to write about a trip I undertook. This trip itself came about after lot of procrastination.

Anyway, this weekend(14-15 May 2016) I had a chance to visit a cycling stretch in Japan, known as 'Shimanami Kaido'. This stretch extends from Onomichi in Hiroshima prefecture in Eastern Japan, to Imabari in the Ehime prefecture towards south. The total stretch is 71 km long, which passes through 6 different islands namely Mukaishima, Inoshima, Ikuchi, Omishima, Hakata and Oshima, after which there is Imabari. This route lies in the Seto inland sea, and is famous for its scenic beauty. I had came to know about it from a visitor to Japan, and had thought about going there for long time. Somehow, mostly due to laziness, it was always put on a back-burner.

As fate would have it, I lazily mentioned about visiting Shimanai Kaido to a friend, and the plan was set up, but it was scheduled after an intensely busy week for me when I had no time to plan or check any details of the trip by myself. Generally I try to plan and cross check the important parts of a trip, but left everything 'Ram bharose' this time :p Also, I generally travel in night in a bus to minimize staying anywhere in night. But I was told that Airbnb in Imabari is showing about a host who has attracted very good reviews. I reluctantly agreed about that, and didn't think much over it. The plan was to start cycling on Saturday from afternoon about 1 pm, go as far as our stamina allowed, then take a bus or ferry to Imabari and staying with the host family. Next day was scheduled to visit Okunoshima, an Island famous for large number of inhabiting rabbits and then return back. 

Setting things in motion

Come Saturday, and I was bound towards Onomichi. We had a good buffet lunch in the Salvatore, where they prepared special vegetarian pasta on special request. That uplifted the mood, and energized the mind before a seemingly tiring cycling session. Soon, we proceeded towards the bike rental area, hoping to select from a large range of options, as this route is well known and popular. But to our surprise, we found that almost all bikes were already borrowed, leaving a very small pool for us. Those bikes were with small tyre, but we had no other options. Further we came to know that the rental shops closes at 5:00 pm, and rented bikes must be returned before that, else it can only be returned next day. If we had that information earlier, the trip schedule would have been different. But many times, not micromanaging things too teach you lot of new things :)

Finally, engines roaring, winds streaming, sun glazing, our cycles roared ahead at 2:30 pm in the afternoon, from Mukaishima towards Imabari. The weather was almost perfect with deep blue sky. I was eager to get near the open sea, and the cycles didn't disappoint. The scenery laying in front of me was a revelation. Small mountains littered across, bluish water connecting them, majestic bridges to jump across islands, and the unblemished road full of smiling cycling enthusiasts.  

Climbing the mountain to cross the bridge seemed taxing, but was immediately well rewarded with a smooth trajectory downwards. The cycling was smooth, and with numerous breaks in between, we traversed three islands, which was about 30 kms. Along the way, the islands were full of lemon and orange trees. The lemon trees were full of its flowers and its strong smell permeated the island, but we didn't see any lemon fruit actually. We were getting the a strong lemon smell mixed with the smell of fresh and open sea. The whole scenery was as beautiful as I could have expected from a long awaited trip. 

But as we had started late, the sun started to get dim, and sunset was in sight. It was given that we cannot return the bike by designated time. Also, though there was a ferry from Hakata(4th Island) to Imabari at 7:20, it became clear we are not gonna make it. It was about 7:30 pm when we reached the third island Omishima, and the sun was almost set by that time. Though tiredness had not crept in, careful to avoid any risk, we decided to call it a day for cycling, and take a bus to Imabari. At the Omoshima bike rental, we had no option(with due apologizes to the rental system) but to carefully return our bikes after locking them and hiding the keys inside the bike rental papers. The bus stand was nearby only. But when we reached there, we found that the last bus had already departed for Imabari, and we had no way to use public transport! These islands are small places, with few residents, so we didn't have many people around. Luckily, an old lady at the bus station offered us some help and gave her contact number in case we need it. Thanking her, the question remained now how to reach Imabari, which was about 40 kms away.

Hitchhiking

I had never hitchhiked in Japan before, neither in India. While one option was definitely to stay back in Omishima instead of going to Imabari, the curiosity to meet our hosts, replete with nice reviews convinced us to move onward. We decided to take hitchhike, keeping in mind the helpfulness of the Japanese people. And lo and behold, no sooner than we asked for help, it arrived! We waited at a signal for a car to help us reach Iamabari, and a young man stopped his car, and cheerfully agreed to ferry us over there. He was friendly guy, in his late twenties I guess, and the discussion with him veered around life in Japan. The roads in Japan are excelled, and the car journey seemed like a breeze, bringing us to Imabari very quickly. Profoundly thanking him, who dropped us at the station, we proceeded to the house of our host: Mr Tsuneto.

Staying as the guest of Mr Tsuneto, at his extremely well kept house was a revelation in many senses. So much so that it deserves an entire post in itself, which I will actually honored to write. A through and through gentleman, at the age of 77, he is an embodiment of cheerfulness and everything best that the Japanese civilization, or maybe humanity has to offer. We stayed there about 12 hours, but every moment of it was precious. 

Dr Tsuneto, or Joyato san was so gracious that next day, despite our loving protests, drove us back in the morning to Omishima island from where the plan was to go to Okunoshima, the rabbit island which has a perimeter of not more than 5 km. The ferry to it is a 15 mins ride, which brings people to this small island.

Usagi shima, or the Rabbit Island

I had been to Okunoshima once before, and had enjoyed the place. Being there once again was equally fascinating. The island is surrounded by very clear water, numerous rabbits, many families and children who bring nicely cut carrot, cabbage and other rabbit food to feed these cute bunnies. The rabbits seemed to have adapted to this environment of pampering and gluttoning, and won't move even if you try to scare them. They are sleeping everywhere, yawning, or otherwise running away after snatching a piece of carrot from you. Entire island is full of such views.

But this cute island hides a rather dark history behind itself. Due to its small size and thus hiding, it was used as a secret location for developing poison gas before the world war 2. The remnants of poison gas building can be seen even today. The island is surrounded by check posts which was used to keep an eye on any potential attackers on this place. The rabbits were also used initially to check the effect of poison. But now the place has a museum dedicated to show case the ills of such horrific projects, and is trying to redeem itself.

Epilogue

After staying in Okunoshima for about 3 hours, we took the ferry towards Onomichi, where the return bus was from Fukuyama at 6:30 pm. Luckily, before boarding the bus, we had sufficient time and came to know that a Rose festival was being held nearby in Fukuyama. It was a small garden, full of thousands of roses of many different vibrant color. It was beautiful scene.

But all good things come to an end. So did this trip too. But maybe, all endings lead to new beginnings too. There are many other trips which I have kept delaying due to my laziness. Hope I will get to travel to few other places as well in Japan. 

The Ulysses Contract

Yesterday I came across a term called 'The Ulysses contract'. or 'The Ulysses Pact'. It refers to a method of controlling the mind in the face of immediate temptations.

While we experience diverse things in our everyday life, both the good and the bad experiences fade away slowly. What remains in the present thus carries more weight, and it exerts disproportionate influence on us, making us relinquish our long term goals for immediate short term ones, which might be unprofitable. For example, if one's aim is to loose weight, the temptation of a delicious icecream in front overrules our long term desire of achieving fitness. Overcoming such temptations, by the method of brute force is 'The Ulysses contract'.

Image credit: http://www.futilitycloset.com/2014/02/06/the-ulysses-contract/

According to the greek mythology, Ulysses was the greek super hero of the Trojan war. After the war, he undertook a long sea journey back home. On the way, there was an island, inhabited by damsels with exquisite voice, whose song attracted many of the ships. But the island was surrounded by sharp cliffs, which resulted in ship-wreak, and subsequent death of everybody aboard. Ulysses ship was to cross this area, and he too had a desire to listen to the damsels voice. What did he do in that situation?
Ulysses ordered all his sailors to put wax in their ears, and asked him to tie to a pole. Further, he ordered that after hearing the song, whatever he does like ordering sailors to go towards the island, screaming etc, that be disregarded and he be lashed with a whip. In this way, they crossed that part without inviting self destruction.

A variant of this strategy, called 'The Uncharity' has been used by some people to keep themselves on track. For example, if they break a promise to themselves, they donate money to an organization they don't like.

Where can the concept of Ulysses contract be used? Is it a foolproof method? For example, most people will agree that trying to taste drugs by invoking the Ulysses contract would be a foolish strategy. On the other hand, eating an extra icecream, and then jogging for double the amount maybe easily acceptable.

While many times we are uncertain about future decisions, Ulysses contract is a method to keep us on track in the face of a known certainty. We often know ourselves, our weaknesses, and our temptations. This type of brute force method helps to overcome then in our weakest of moments. Thus, go ahead, and sign some contracts for yourself !!

For you

If I were a brush....

I would have painted the swirling waves

that flood the corners of the mind

tumble the thoughts standing there

breaking many castles made of sand

sometimes playful, sometimes hurting

and leaving in its wake

shells and conches of memories......

If I were a stream....

Forceful would have been my beginning

though falling from the heights unmatched

would have broken many stones

journeying ahead, getting slow

quenching thirsts, spreading relief

meandering around, inching on

to the ocean that you are !

If I were a piece of soil....

would have sheltered a seed in me

to sprout a life, kicking out

fighting the winds, braving the sun

absorbing the rain, dust and dirt

spreading life, spreading health

restoring the balance, of nature and elements

would have engulfed the whole of you !

If I were a piece of chalk...

would have made sure

that every voice of yours

gets engraved on the board

every expression finds an inscription

remains deeply etched, till the yore

and all through this, bit by bit

would have sacrificed, my every pore !

4 types of people

Perhaps the most famous shloka of the ancient hindu text Bhagvad geeta is "karmanye va....", which gives us the message to work, and not being attached to the result of the work. This post is in that context. I think that there are 4 types of people.

1. Those who dont act and dont look for results : Examples are Indian government, many neutral and liberal people.

2. Those who dont act and look for results : Examples include me, lazy people and people who just criticize without actually doing something.

3. Those who act and look for results : Examples include professionally successful people, developed countries, motivated and inspiration people.

4. Those who act and dont look for results : Examples include saints, mad scientists, people who contribute something of the very highest order.

Show me your grin

The light has dimmed

dark clouds hovering

You feel lost, deep is the frost

then thou light up the path,

use the close-up brushed teeth

by showing up your grin. 

Heavy atmosphere, around lies despair

head sent for a health check

and the heart sent for a repair

Beware you have to be, for the times to come

still, hold up your chin

and show us your grin

The slate wiped out

the throat cried loud

open eyes means, a drop of tear

you are barely breathing, too faint to hear

to support, there is none of your kin

still, open the mouth, show us your grin

Yes, no medicine is better than a laugh

Laugh your heart out, because time will bring you crap

beauty of the life, lies in being becoming a fool

when all the time, you thought you were so cool

whatever comes in your path, take it with a pinch of salt

and laugh it off, don't be trapped in a halt

Equanimity is the word, for the life to prosper

happiness of the soul, the remedy for a disaster

it doesn't really depends, on the things lying out 

you can be happy, be it desert or despite

Sing the song of the soul, hold up your chin

let not it vanish, show us your grin.

Love at first sight

You are the one, in every cell of yours
every ache of my heart your sight cures
every pain for you the self can endure
you are my spectrum of life, my vibgyor

the soul was yours, as soon as it saw you first
the sight of you, was it less than a trance?
i understand now, what is nothingness
life bereft of you, without a chance !

oh my rainbow, how can I proclaim my love?
oh my sunshine, how do i get that treasure trove?
oh my monsoon rain, how do i get in drenched,
oh my panacea, how do i get rid of the heart wrench?

the beautiful face, lit with a sanguine smile
the sombre voice, made my heart, fragile
it has broke down in, thousands peices of its own
you are the glue, to make it throb, agile.

haven't talked to you much, despite
i have fallen like a dead, give me respite
wish the molecules of the air, do wobble in rythm
convey to you, this falling of my whims

this only I hope, from the vagaries of the nature
who knows, if am not, good enough for you, poacher
even if be that, I have now, fully got hunted
you are my dream, to any extreme, to keep me haunted

the broken pieces of heart, shall hurt me tons
when they will see you again tomorrow
pray you do feel, a tinge of the love
which has gone deep, to my marrow.

The explosion of the egg

Some of us are  afraid of the unexpected, some of yes yearn for the unexpected, yet some of us are quite oblivious to it. And sometimes, the unexpected can leave you bemused and you can only scratch your head thinking over that. What happened with me today has left me entirely clueless, and please someone help me out here.

I working in a beautiful place called Japan, which has a noticeble level of bad breadth all around. Beware of the pretty girls all around here, let them come close to you only after a breadth analyzer test, lest you run away at the suffocating feeling of getting trapped in a chemical laboratory. I don't know exactly, but may be you need to look into their kitchen for the reason of this. These people are highly non-vegetarian, and they simply marvel that an idea like vegetarianism can exist !! Though, precisely this is what led me to the unexpected today.

Being an eggitarian, I have extremely limited option here in eating out, be it lunch or dinner. So I prepare them everyday. Dinner is pleasant after a long day sitting on a chair, and staring at a scree. You cook dinner and eat it right away. Lunch sucks. Its not easy to carry an indian lunch with you to the workplace. So you end up carrying up fillers with you. For example, boiled eggs, which I did today. Though it was supplementary, primary being the delicious potate patties and bread.

I decided to have my lunch after the scheduled lunch time, as its such a joy to be late. My lunch box had  two potato patties and two eggs, each cut into half pieces, with a bit of salt sprinkled over them. Settling them into microwave, and waiting for the usual 30 seconds, I was carefree. Everything was going on smoothly. The earth was rotating on its axis from west to east, with an inclination of 22 and half degress approximately. And Bang !! It was an explosion. And the person near to me took notice, though it did not attract anyone else's attention. He was surprised and confused at it. So was I. Taking out the lunch box, I saw one piece of egg was missing. It had exploded !! How on earth can a boiled egg explode by heating. The upper walls of the oven was spluttered. Suppresing my laughter, I went outside and gobbled the rest of the parts, before they could create further havoc :D

But how and why? Please enlighten me, if anyone else has seen or heard anything like this. How can a boiled egg explode by just heating, even if it had a delicious potato patties beneath it. Was there some demigod trapped in that egg shell, cursed by some angry rishi, who got liberated due to my endeavours? :P Or it points to a potential local security hazard, in which eggs can be made turn into? Any enlightment would be welcome.

Questions and answers after the talk by Professor Hamming

A. G. Chynoweth: Well that was 50 minutes of concentrated wisdom and

observations accumulated over a fantastic career; I lost track of all
the observations that were striking home. Some of them are very very
timely. One was the plea for more computer capacity; I was hearing
nothing but that this morning from several people, over and over again.
So that was right on the mark today even though here we are 20 - 30
years after when you were making similar remarks, Dick. I can think of
all sorts of lessons that all of us can draw from your talk. And for
one, as I walk around the halls in the future I hope I won't see as many
closed doors in Bellcore. That was one observation I thought was very
intriguing.

A Talk by Richard Hamming

Richard Hamming was one of the great scientists in the last century. Here is a small talk given by him, touching various issues related to 
research. I found the talk interesting, so have put it there. 
 

It's a pleasure to be here. I doubt if I can live up to the
Introduction. The title of my talk is, ``You and Your Research.'' It is
not about managing research, it is about how you individually do your
research. I could give a talk on the other subject - but it's not, it's
about you. I'm not talking about ordinary run-of-the-mill research; I'm
talking about great research. And for the sake of describing great
research I'll occasionally say Nobel-Prize type of work. It doesn't have
to gain the Nobel Prize, but I mean those kinds of things which we
perceive are significant things. Relativity, if you want, Shannon's
information theory, any number of outstanding theories - that's the kind
of thing I'm talking about.

Paul Erdos

Today I will like to introduce a very colorful character of mathematics to you all, who goes by the name of Paul Erdos.  Some people might have heard about him due to the prevalence of Erdos number, but I think even very few of them know about his personal life, which is a treat to know about.

Time and tide wait for none

 The ever changing turbulent waves. Mental waves are as turbulent as them

When your friends, find it hard

to have time out for you,

know that thy time is up

don't try to be overdue.

When you see, the one you loved

always explaining they are busy.

Know that to be the sign,

don't make the life messy

Everyone thinks in his own way,

to this i agree fully.

But when someone stops missing you,

accept this fact happily.

Love can't be enforced by will,

Its too sublime for that.

If you don't get one in return,

accept it as your predicament.

Time and distance, always change

our perception and feelings.

why be sad, perplexed by it,

take it in full stride, part of your inning.

Whatever happens, happens for good,

who knows the sorrow has seeds.

of future bloom, rosy days,

at least console yourself in dream.

Never blame, others for things,

life is made by one's own hand.

For this predicament, you alone

yourself are to be blamed.

And why be blamed, it's all a part

of the game of life we play.

Enjoy this sorrow too,

for this shall too pass away.

Bless the soul, who endowed on you

Showers of bliss, golden days.

You can indeed, never repay

the learning of those ways.

Do away with, the attachment which has

clinged to you like an arrow,

Find happiness, in her happy life

why bother over your sorrow.

To the beacon light

To the beacon light

Behold again, here comes the fest
to illuminate our life, to let it shine.
To counter the dark, both in and out
to let the animal, bow to divine.

For it is the day, darkest of all
when the moon refuses to glow.
But we light up, our homes and heart
To let the hope every where flow.

But today indeed, we find the dark
roaring its ravenous tongue.
Corruption in games, ready to devour
The flamboyancy of our young.

Shamelessness lost, all of its limits
When they cheated in name of death
The martyrs of the Kargil wars were duped
and hence, the darkness made its wealth.

Bright young men, are getting punished
for no crime of their own.
Be it reservations, in the name of caste,
Or be it by an  IIT-goon.

Educated or not, the girls are asked
a hefty sum for a groom.
Thousands of such, leaches among us
are sucking someone's blood and  roam.

To the soaring population, it seems indeed
no one is giving a damn.
If you don't peep, in the long future
you are surely going to be condemned.

Who is there, to fight such dark
To look beyond his own life?
Who is there, to do something,
To light up against, such vice?

One and one, make it to eleven
so let us all count on this.
Let's try to do, what least we can,
let's hope for a collective bliss.

Let's learn to multiply, happiness with all
let's divide the sorrow amongst us.
Let's make each life illumined, for which
let's all be a tiny source.

ps : I would like to thank the person, due to whom I thought of writing a poem, which subsequently metamorphosed into the poem presented before you all.

Narayanan Krishnan- Buddha of the new age

We all are well aware of the story of Gautama, the Buddha. Though born in a king's family, and surrounded with all comforts, as soon as he saw a person ill, another one old, and yet another one dead, it kindled the flame in him to think deeper about suffering. He left his home, and set about doing something on this. While reading the newspaper, I came across another such personality today. Though the comparison may seem far-fetched with Buddha, yet I believe the same elements are working here. His name is Narayanan Krishnan, and he hails from Madurai, Tamilnadu. He has been selected as top 10 CNN heroes of the world, and is the only Indian in this list. Though you can find more about him in the link mentioned above too, yet I thought it is worthwhile to write something about him on my own blog.

Mathematics and intuition

We all make a number of decisions based on our intuition. We feel like it, and so do it. Is there any logic behind those feelings? There must be, because all of us want to maximize our own chances, our development, our pleasures and our evolution. So these choices can't be arbitrary, rather should have a rational basis, even though seeming intuitive. I shall try to make an analogy here for a case, with our intuition for it, and the seeming logic behind it.

Suppose there are are two sets of people. We have to group these people into pairs, so that they achieve a property called "maximum". This maximum can be of any thing, but we would like this maximum it to be driven towards maximum "goodness", "efficiency", etc. How do we group these people to achieve it? Do we group like minded people alike, or do we group unequal people in the pair? I am sure that most of the people would intuitively feel that grouping like minded people will help us achieving maximum harmony, co-operation, efficiency. It can be argued that grouping unlike minded people can create new ideas, creativity, etc etc, but on an average, this will not be the case. People will seek to be with like minded people for most of the time, and they will feel it intuitively.

Is there some logic or mathematical argument to support this? I shall present another example, and try to find the similarities between the above example and this one.

Let us have two identical set of numbers. 0Let us have say three numbers in each set. Now we want to pair the numbers, each from one set. We then find the sum of the product of all the pairs. What pairing will yield the maximum product for these set of numbers? Actually it is a well known result that if we pair equal numbers together, then their product will yield the maximum sum, than the sum of pairs with unequal numbers. It shows that being with "like", yields the property of maximum sum.

(a,b,c) (a,b,c)

Pairs possible:
1. Pairs with same numbers (a,a), (b,b), (c,c) : sum of pairs is a²+b²+c²
2. Pairs with unequal numbers (a,b), (b,c), (c,a) : sum of pairs is ab+bc+ca

And it is well known that a²+b²+c² > ab+bc+ca

It raised some question in my mind. Can this inequality be taken as a basis to say that equal pairing is more efficient, that what we feel intuitively. Or is it just reading between the lines? But this does surprise me that we live in a world, where if we make the pair of equal numbers, it gives the maximum product. This product can be treated as an interaction between two objects. This interaction yields maximum result when they are equal. I do think there are similarities between this multiplication and the human interaction, and thats why we like to go to same-minded fellows.

So guys, feel more confident when you next time go to make a pair, if you are confused over whether to go for same mindset or interacting with people with different tastes. Diversity is not always good, at least on an average. And now you do have a reason for that.