The Hindu : New Delhi News : Attempt to demystify mysteries of the cosmos

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Attempt to demystify mysteries of the cosmos

Staff Reporter

Ashvin Desai’s book traces the history of the universe

NEW DELHI: Attempting to demystify many of the unexplained mysteries and truths of the cosmos and life itself, author Ashvin Desai’s book titled “Between Eternities -- Ideas on Life and the Cosmos” was released here. According to publishers Penguin Books India, “Between Eternities” is a composite work of findings from different schools of thought, blending the scientific and the social, the philosophical and the physical and the mystical and the material.

Meaning for life

The book traces the history of the universe and delves into cosmic questions of existence such as how did the universe arise, what does science have to say about this cosmic phenomenon and how definite are its findings, what does religion have to say and is religion reliable in its authority. The book also raises questions on how does one use knowledge passed on from the mystics; all leading to the crucial point of -- is there a meaning that can be found for life at all.

Main problem

Speaking on the occasion, Ashvin Desai said: “This book has tried to work on the central question of how real and true is a human being? This is where the main problem arises as the answer has eluded everyone. We know the answer involves a material component but is there an immaterial component as well. This book tries to dispel the curse of ignorance and explore the truth and reality of the human existence.”

“This book tries to remove the complacency that exists in our understanding of life. It tries to explain in a simple way what is going on. Though it just covers the surface of the subject it still covers quite a bit,” he added.

Music recital

The book release function also marked a music recital by artiste Vidya Rao that represented the book’s chapter on religion particularly the various streams of Hinduism.

Her recital structured around the theme of the book, drew on texts from the Upanishads, Buddhist, medieval Bhakti and Sufi poetry as well as secular classical and folk music to illustrate the living traditions of various streams of Indian philosophical thought.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi