SURABHI - iist.ac.in

SURABHIJournal of Arts and LiteratureThe Bi-annual Journal of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology

Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology

Department of Space

Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram

Vol.14 No.2(December 2020)

From the Editor's Desk

Friends,

SURABHIwishesyouallaveryhappy2021.Thuswewitnessedayearofpandemic,and

weprovetobethebravesurvivorsofitshardblows.Thenewnormalinculcatednew

practicesandwelearnedtheartofwearingmasks,maintainingsocialdistancingand

handsanitization.Inspiteofallthedif�icultiesoftheperiodwearemarchingforward

withgreatervigourandcourage.Thisyear,Chandrayaan-2completedayeararoundthe

Moon, and PSLV successfully launched EOS-01 and nine customer satellites from

Sriharikota.

ThepandemicinstigatedthereadersandcontributorsofSURABHItoexploremoreon

the�ictionalandtheimaginaryandwehavegotanexcellentarrayofarticlescomprises

ofpoems,science�iction,travelogue,criticalreview,memoirs,etc.SURABHIappreciates

andacknowledgestheunstintingsupportofallinitsonwardjourney.

Wish you all a safe and happy 2021

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SilenceisnotPeace

ThroughGravity

TheTEAtotaller

Borninahauntedhouse

TheVenusianWedding

TheViciousCabaret

EnchantingBaliIsland

Life

Prathishodh

Painting

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2

11

14

16

25

32

36

38

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1SURABHI (Vol-14 No.2 December-2020)

Peacefulmeadowsandgrasslands,

cemeteriessilentandgrim.

Noiselessnessmightbesharedbyboth

Butaclearcontrastisseen.

Peaceisafortune,fullofjoyanddelight

Itislikeatreasure,hiddeninplainsight.

Silenceisvoiceofthedevil

thatstripsone'sconscienceofrighteouslight.

Silencesilencesthemortalmind.

Itmakesone'sworriesresonate.

Silencekillsthejoyfulheart,

Itnurturessorrow,itnurtureshate.

Silenceconcealsthenature'scalls

Warningoneoftheimpendingstorm.

Silenceveilsthecriesofthesouls

ofthesoldiersinaworldatwar.

Askthesoldiersatthefrontier

abouttheirsilentsleeplessnights

whichtheyspentprotectingus

sowecouldcontinuewithourpeacefullives.

Onelifelessanddark

Theotheralivelybreeze

Forlightanddarkaredifferent

Silenceisnotpeace.

AmritShankarMishraSC20B141

[email protected]

2

UshasiBhowmick

SC17B160B.Tech-DualDegree2017-Engg.Physics

[email protected]

PART1:FUTUREEARTH

The�irstraysofabrilliantdawnsweptthroughthewindowsofthelargebutlonelyenclosure.Thesilenthumofthemachineryrangloudthroughtheairasthetelescopecloseditseyesthelasttimethatnight.Itwasonlytemporaryrespitethough,whileitscompanionsinearthorbits,deepspacebuzzedawaysilently,tirelessly,sendingtorrentsofdataintothepoormachineryofcomputer systems, by the minute. The burden, though, was not borne by these fantasticcreationsalone,theyweresharedbyagroggyastronomer,tuckedawayfarintothedepthsofearthinatinyof�icethathousedspectrometers,imagingdevicesandwhatnot.Thosewereheronlycompanions,asshespentnightafternightsiftingthroughthenumbers.

Astronomyusedtobeathingbefore.Muchbefore.Whenhumanswerestillinterestedintheiroriginandtheirend.Afterabillionyearsofpower,war,con�lictsandall,peoplerealised,�inally,thatitwasimportanttopreservethepresentthanrageaboutthefuture.Thus,sciencebecameaslavetotechnology,andallthefancifulstufflikeastronomyandtheoreticalphysicsgotburiedundergenerationsofhistory.

But thosedamnedmachines theysentuptherestillworked.Afterall, theydidn'thaveanyreasontostop.Today,onlyahandfulofpeoplewouldvisitthesemagni�icentobservatories,onceinawhile,andlookatthebeautifulpicturesweoncetook,ofthestars,ofthegalaxies,planetsbeyondourown.

Theastronomershutdownhermachines,andwalkedouttoadazzlingmorning.Sti�lingayawn,sheproceededtoshuf�leslowlydownthehillroad,alongwaytillthecity.Obviously,therewerebetter ways to travel, but who wants to miss an early morning stroll through the woodyundergrowth?

Buttherewassomethingwrongintheair.

Aquietchill,astrangesenseofforebodingintheatmosphere,thatwasenoughtomakeherglancefurtivelyaroundherafewtimes.

Untilalmostsuddenlyshecamefacetofacewithtwomen.

Strange!Theycameinsosuddenlythatshehadn'tevenseenthemarrive.

SURABHI (Vol-14 No.2 December-2020)

3

Theastronomertookatensestepback,butthemenkepttheirdistance.Theystartedoffwithharmlessconversation,abouttheareaandtheobservatory,buttheirquestionsgotstrangerandstranger,untiltheastronomerfoundherselfwhiskedawayinavehicle,theyhadbroughtwiththem,muchagainstherconsent.

Shetriedtoprotest,tellingthemaboutherfamily,whowerewaitingforhertocomehome,butherincessantpleasstoppedafterapoint.Theymayhaveknockedheroutcold.

PART2:MIDJUPITERORBIT

Iwokeupinaroom,completelywhiteandcompletelyempty.Istillhadonthesameclothesaslastnight.Mybrainswitchedtopanicmodealmostimmediately,andIstoodstraightup.

Butsomethingfeltwrong.IhadbeenonearthlongenoughtoknowthatIwasn'tonit.Itwasn'tzero-gravity,Iwasn't�loatingaround,butmyownweightfeltjustwrong.Thisrealisationmademeswitchalmostimmediately,fromlets-scream-the-place-downtoadeadlycalm.

ButIdidn'thavetowaittoolongbeforetheimpossiblywhiteroomwasn'tsowhiteanymore.Someoneenteredthroughadoor,whichIcouldn'tpossiblyhaveseen.Itwasaman…well…almost.

Fromheight,weightandbodystructureheseemedalmosthuman,buthis(?)eyes,electricbluewithbig,goldenpupils.Tendrilsofblueranthroughthesurfaceofhisskin,whatwasvisiblebeneathseeminglyordinaryclothing.InretrospectIshouldhavebeenmorescaredtoseeanextra-terrestriallifeform,butmybrainwastoonumbtoprocessanythingatthatmoment.

Thankfullyhebrokethesilence.

“Iknowyou'reworriedaboutyourfamily.Don'tworry,you'llbebackbythetimetheyrealiseyou'remissing.”

Hewastalkinginmylanguage.Musthavebeenlearningitallthiswhile…ormaybetherewassomehiddeninstrumenttodothejob?

ItwasonlyafteralongsilencethatIreplied.

“Howmuchofyouisanillusion?”

He(?)chuckled,“Enoughtopreventyoufrompassingoutinfear.”

“WhereamI?”

“We'reclosetoalandingsiteonaJovianmoon,Io.”

“Forsomeonewhoclearlydoesnotbelongtothisstar,youknowourtermswell.”

“It'sonlypolite.”

“HowamIstandingrightnow?”

“Becauseofthat.”,hesaidpointingbelowme.

Ilookeddownto�indthatthewhite�loorhadturnedtransparent,andbelowthatwasastrangesquare,almostmetallic,blackstructure.Through thesilence, I couldhear the fainthumofelectricpower.


4

“Arti�icialgravity?”,Iasked.Istilldon'tknowwhyIwasn'tsurprised.

“Youcansaythat”,hereplied,shrugging.

“Whatwillyoudotomyfamily?”

“Nothingatall.”

“Thenhow- oh.”,Imutteredsoftly.“Yousetupsomethinglikethisatmyhouse.”

Henodded.“Gravitycanslowtime”,herepliedsoftly.

“Andthisistherealdeal,isn'tit?Notamerry-go-roundthatgoesaroundmakingusbelievewe'restucktoitsoutside,butarealspace-timebender…”

Henodded.

“Wow.”

ThatwasallIcouldsayatthatmoment.Itwasonlyafteraconsiderableamountoftimethatitoccurredtometoaskthemostimportantquestionofall.

“WhyamIhere?”

Hesmiled.

“Becauseweneedyou.”

Iglaredathimsceptically,butIlethim�inishhisstory.

“Westayinasystemthatyouhavealreadyseen.Yearsago,scientistsatourplanetdidanumberofexperiments,thosewhichhelpedusmakerevolutionarystrides.Arti�icialgravitywasone,butthatwasonlythebeginning.Withthesecretstowarpingtheveryfabricoftheuniverseunlocked, we progressed tomakingmore andmore exotic environments, till one day, wecreatedsomethingakintomagic.Itwasaportal,ashortcut,somethingthatcouldconnectanytwopointsinspacetime.Youcallitawormhole.

Thisinventiontookuswaybeyondanythingwe'veevergonebefore.Wecouldgotodifferentstars,galaxieseven,�indnewplanets,maybeevendiscoverotherslikeus.”

“Howmuchdiditcost?Tocreatethewormhole?”,Iasked.

Helookedup.

“Buildingawormholeitselfisabigdeal,buttostabiliseit…keepthetunnelopenlongenoughforsomethingtogothrough…”,Iwenton,“Ican'tevenbegintoimaginetheamountofresource,fuelandpoweryou'dneedtoachievesomethinglikethat.”

“Tokeepitopenyouneedexoticmatter…withtheirnegativeenergyandnegativemass…Well.Tocreateallthat,andmoreimportantly,createenoughofit.Planets.You'llneedawholeplanet'sworthofhydrogentogeneratethatmuchpower.”

“Youmean,youdemolishedanentireplanetjusttomakeaportal?!”,Ireplied,astounded.


SURABHI (Vol-12 No.2 December-2019) 55

“It wasn't too great a sacri�ice”, he replied, almost nonchalantly, “Our system is full ofhumungousgasgiantslikethisone,thatonlyblockourviewsandbendourtrajectories.Andtheresultswerebrilliant.Wecouldgofurtherthananyonehasevergonebefore,differentstars,adifferentgalaxyevenifwewant.Untilonedaywecrossedalineweshouldn'thave.”

Icouldalreadyfeelmyheartsinktothe�loor.“Whatdidyoudo?”,Iasked,almostscared.

“Wetriedtocreateaportalthatwouldtravelthroughtime.”

Igasped.

“Wethoughtwe'donlyneedtomakeanupgrade.”

“Yeahsure…”,Irepliedsarcastically,“Allyouneedtodoismakeoneendspin,messwiththerelativityattheentranceandexit…nobigdealhuh?”

Hesmiled.“Yeah…maybespinitaroundtheblackhole?”

Myhandswentuptomymouth,instinctively.“AREYOUINSANE?”

“We'vegonewaytoofarbeyondinsanity…anyhow,weneededpowerandweneededgravity.So,wewenttoanearbyblackholesystemwithanaccretiondisk.Wethoughtwewerefarenoughtoavoidanyrealdisastertooursystemifwefailed.Butwewerewrong.Whenthewormholecollapsed,itmadeablackhole,spinningaroundtheonethatalreadyexists.Spirallingintoit.Someday,theywillcollapseintoeachother.Oncethemergerstarts,itwillgobbleupeverythingaroundit.Ourplanet.Andyours.”

“Howlongdowehave?”

“Onlyacouplethousandyears.”

PART3:SECRET

Iwasinthedarkwhenhenextcameback.ThistimeIfacedhimwithalotmorecomposurethanbefore.Buthewasn'taloneinthissubstation,therewereothers,fromhisworldandfrommine.Thiswholecrazyadventurehadassumedbizarreproportions,anditwasfarfromtheend.IrepeatedthequestionIhadbegunwith,themostimportantoneofall.

“WhyamIhere?”

“Tosaveourplanet,andyours,weneedtoevacuate,weneedtocreateanotherwormhole.Todothatweneedanenergysource.Somethingthatcanportalawayeveryone,notjustoneortwospace-crafts.”

Thestatementtookmeafewmomentstocomprehend.Andthenitstruckme.

“No.”

Theyhadfoundmeoutright.SomethingthatIknew,aphenomenonthatIhaddiscoveredlongago.Somethingthatcouldtrulysolvethisproblem,andallothersinfuture.


6

“Don'tyouwanttogobackhome?Yourfamilyandeveryonewillbewaiting…allyouneedtodoistellusthecoordinates,andallthiswouldbeover.”Saidone,impatiently.Iglaredbackintothedeeppurpleeyeswithanunusualferocity.

“Youcan'tthreatenme,it'smorethanmylife'sworthtotellyouwhatyouwanttoknow.”Ireplied.

Thealienstartedarudereply,buttheonewiththeelectric-blueeyesstoppedhimgently.

“Don'tyouwanttosaveyourownplanet?”,heasked.

“Yes.”,Ireplied,“ButwhatmakesyouthinkIwillleakthesecretsofalmostin�initeenergytoabunchofcreatureswhodestroyedtheirentirestarsystem,justtomakeyesterdaytomorrow?Doyouactuallycaresomuchaboutyourkind?Doyourealisewhatyouallmightendupdoingifyouknew?Heck,youmightjustdestroytheentireuniverse.”

“So,youagree?”,repliedanother,thistimewitheyesasgreenassea,“Youbelievethatanin�initeenergysourcecanexist?”

Ilaughed.“Well,youstandhere,havingtravelledlightyearsthroughwormholes,you'vecreatedblackholes,youalmostmanagedtotravelbackintime,andyetyouhavetheaudacitytotellmeawhiteholecan'texist?”

“Themathdoesn'tworkout.”Repliedblue-eyes.

“Youmustnotbedoingitright.”

Irelishedthedeafeningsilencethatfollowed.

“Imagineaball,falling.Eventuallyitwillhitthe�loor,anditwillbouncerightbackup.Butabouncingballissameasafallingone,reversedintime.Sincetimealwaysgoesforward,doesthatmeanthatifafallingballexistinthisrealitythebouncingonecan't?No.Aball,whenitstartsfallingwillgoupbeforeitstartsfallingagain.Ablackholethuswillturnintowhite,beforeitturnsblackagain.Butnotevery�loorcanbounceaballbackup.Thus,noteveryblackholecanconvertintoawhitehole.

Butsomeballscanbounce.Someblackholescanmaketheswap.Justlikeeverythingelseinthisuniverse,ablackholewillalsodie.Someday,itwillshrivelup,becomingsmallerandsmaller.Butthehostofinformationthatitgobbledupduringitslifetimecannotdisappear.Atsomepointithastospititout.Therearemanywaystodothis,butsomewillmanagetogiveitbacktothesamespaceitgobbledfrom.Theinformation,andwiththat,energy.In�initeunendingenergy.Awhitehole.Butto�indasystemthatisgoingthroughthisphaseisincrediblyrare.”

“Andyou'vefoundone.”

“Thatsecretdieswithme.”

“Atthecostofyourownplanet?”

Istoppedshort.

“Hearmeout”,hesaid.

“Goahead”


7

“Ifwestartbuildingshipstodayandshovingpeopleintowormholesoneatatime,we'llnevermakeitoutintime.Acouplethousandyearssoundsalot,butkeepinmind,Gravityslowstime.Andtravellingthroughawormhole,atunnelofsuchimmensegravity…well.Besideswherewouldwego?Foraeonswe,andyouhavesearchedforhabitableplanetsbeyondourown.But,imaginethis,whywouldn'taplanet,perfectlycapableofhostinglife,notbeinhabitedinthe�irstplace?Andifitreallywere,whywouldtheyletusshareit?Doyoureallythinkit'dbefairifwefoughtourwaythroughit?”

“No.”,Iwhispered.

“So,themostlogicalthingtodowouldbetostayintheequilibriumwe'vebeengiven.Wemaynotbecapableofsavingthestar,butwecansavetheplanet.Andaslongasaplanet�indsanewparentstar,itwillcontinuetohostlifeforeternity.”

“So,youwanttoshiftyourentireplanettoanewstarsystem?”

“Andyourstoo.”

Isighed.“Andyoucannevergetenoughpowertodothatwithjustagasgiant.Orevenawholestar.That'swhyyouneedthewhitehole.”

“Yes.”

“So,theplanis…?”

“Ifyouletusknowthecoordinates,wewillusethisplanettoportalusthere.Wewilltapintoitsenergytocreatetwoportals,oneforusandoneforyou.Thiswilltransportustoayoungbinarystarsystem,withahabitablezonebigenoughtohostbothplanets,awayfromthehazardofthemerger.Thesystem inquestionhas therightsetup tomaintainEarth's temperature.Heatdistributionandwindpatternwouldchangeabit,sodifferentseasonsdifferentmoons,that'sit.Wecan�igureoutthedetailsontheway.”

Isunkintoadeepmeditation.ButIalreadyhadtheanswer.Ihadknownitsincethebeginningoftheconversation.

“I'lltellyouthecoordinates.Butonlyoneofyou.Onepersonwhocanbuildthetwoportals.OnepersonthatIcantrustwillkeepmysecret.”

“We'lltakeit”,Theonewiththeblueeyesreplied.

PART4:INFINITEENERGY

Themachinerywasinorbit,butthepeopleweregone.Onlytwosoulsremained,circlingthegiantplanetthatwasoncetheprideofthesolarsystem,thebirthplaceofmodernastronomy.Amonstrosityofliquidhydrogen,aworldwithoutasurfacetostandon,justmistandvapour,thatragedinto�ierystormsthatleftitsscarsforeternity.Now,someadvancedarchitecture,withinterlockedmetalringssurroundedJupiterinahaloofitsown,likeabirdinacage.Attheicypole,thetwosouls,theastronomerandthealien.

Themachinerywhirred into action, glowing amultitude of colours, some seen and someunseen. As the halo brightened, the planet darkened, imploding into itself in a whirl ofincomprehensiblevisuality,speckledthroughwithwavesofluminescencethatrushedintotheoceanofnewgravity.Thentherewasdarkness.


8

When theastronomeropenedhereyes, shewasnowhere.A space so far andwideand socompletelyempty,thatnotevenaspeckoflightcouldpervadethroughthewindowsofthespaceship.

“Arewethere?Idon'tseeanything”,Thealienasked,soundingratherworried.

“Ofcoursenot.”,repliedtheastronomer,“Awhiteholeisn'tastarthatwouldjustglow.Inessenceit'sjustablackhole,buttiny,andyoucan'treallyseeituntilitdoesthat–“

A blinding �lash of light illuminated the darkness, the next moment, and there was lighteverywhere,sobrightthatitwasalmostasimpenetrableasthedarkness.Thenitwasgone,assuddenlyasitcame.

Thewonderintheeyesofthealienwereakintowhattheastronomerfelt,andshewasrelieved,foramoment,thatshewasnotentirelyaloneinthisexperience.

Thus,beganthewholeprocessofbuildingandsettingthingsup.Thatitselfwouldtakeawhile,yearseven.Itwasn'tjustoneportalanymore,butthree.Twothatcameherefromhome,andonethatwentawaytowhatwillbehome.Aportalthisgiganticwouldn'tlasttoolongforsure,butwithenoughexoticmatterinit,itmayjustlastenoughforthetransportationtohappen,safely.Also,itwasashotinthedark,forthewhiteholegavenovisualaidtotheprocedure.

Thistime,however,allwerewaryofconsequences.So,theportalgateswerenotaroundthewhitehole,butfarenoughawayhopefully.Themachineryjoinedupandputitselftogetherinabeautifulmonumentofterrifyingproportions,biggerthanplanetarydimensions.

Daysandnightspassed.Thosewordsnolongermadeanysensetotheastronomerandthealien,butitremainedonasanicewayofkeepingtrackoftime.Aftermanycyclesoftheclock,therestood the �inal structure, three gigantic interlocked hoops, all connected at the top by anintricatehoneycombofmechanicsandcircuitry.

Thistime,itwastheastronomerwhoseemedunfazedabouttheexecutionoftheaffairs.

“What'stheworstthatcanhappen?”,sheremembersbeingasked.

“Well,awhiteholeisadelicateequilibrium,ifwedisturbit…wellatitsworstitwouldgobacktobeingablackhole.And…that'sprobablywhatisgoingtohappenanyway.”

“Woulditleadtoanothermerger?”

“Idon'tthinkitwould.Thisone'seventhorizonistiny.Whatwehavetoworryaboutisthiswormholetriosetup,thatismorelikelytocollapseonitself.”

“Don'tworryaboutthat.Thatissomethingwe'vedonebefore,soIknowhowtomakeitwork.”

“Ihopethey'reready”,saidtheastronomer,“Weonlyhaveoneshotatthis.”

Andtheyhadnowaytocon�irm.Toofartocommunicatewithearth,alleachpartyhadwasacarefullycalculatedmathematicaltimestamp.Theyhadto�inishprepbeforethat.Byanymeansnecessary.

Thealienandtheastronomerlookedintoeachother'seyesastheypressedthebutton.

Andthentheywaited.


9

Soonenough,thewhiteholelitupagain,inallitsradiantfervour,butthistimeitwasdifferent.Themachinerylitupalongwith,glowinguptoallcoloursofthespectrum.Thistime,energywasn'tneitherinstantaneousnoreverywhere,itbeamedthroughthechannelsandchannelsofcircuitryuntilthethreeinterlockedhoopsbeganto�lash,anddisplaythestrangestofsightsofadistortedspacetime.Withthepower,cametheexoticmatter,intorrents,�illingupthetriplewormholes,maintainingthechaostheyhadcreated.

Thetimestampsmusthaveworked,fortheastronomercaughtglimpsesofhope,�lashesofblueinthejunctionofthetwoportals.Itwasofsuchmomentaryduration,thatyoucouldnevertellwhatreallypassedthrough, if ithadn'tbeenforthestrongradiopulsesentoutbythetwoplanets,a�leetingthumbsup.

Thebrilliantcivilisationthatcreatedthisphenomenonhadalwaysonlysentthroughships.Thismeantthatthewormholestheyhadmade,weresmallenoughtoholdopenuntiltheinnerexoticmatterdissipatedout,slowly.However,thepassageofsuchhugeobjectsthroughsuchadelicatetunnelmeant that the tunnelwouldcollapse,and itdid, spewingout the torrentsofexoticmatter it had contained within itself. It came out in a brilliant showerof sparks from theinterjectionofthethreegateways.

Thewhitehole,thathadnowturnedblack,gobbledupthisincomingmatterwithgreatgusto,channellingitintoamagni�icentspiralaroundit.Adensespiralthatcontainedalonespaceship,nowlockedinitsgravity,thathadneverbeendesignedtosurvivethismatterformorethanafewminutes.

Forafewmoments,therewasutterpandemonium.Adesperateattemptofsurvival.Butastheshipsouterlayersbegantoevaporateaway,itleftapeacefulcalm.Withthewhiteholegoneandthewormhole collapsed they had no hope ofmaking it to star B in the �irst place.Maybespontaneous combustion was a better end than aeons of futile journey through deepspaceleadingtostarvation.

“Ihopetheygettomournmeright.Myfamily.”

Herhandsgentlystrokedthroughthetendrilsofblueonthesoftskin.Thetinymetallicdevicethatwashiddenbehindthealien'searandhadservedasameansoftranslation,nowlayonatablenearby.Theyhadnotneededitinalongtime.Thelastthingshesawwasthesoftelectricblueeyeswiththegoldenpupils,shiningwithpainandaffection.

“Beautiful.”Shemurmured.

PART5:NEWSUN

Forthenextmanyyears,thepeopleofearthwouldrecitethestrangeeventsthattookplacethatday.Firsttheskywentdark.Acertainportionofasuper-secretsquadknewthistobetheeffectof arti�icial gravity shields they had set up. Thiswasmuch needed, or else thewormholewould'verippedtheplanetintoshreds.Forafewsecondstherewasanextraordinarysensation,thatnooneintheplanetcoulddescribe,exceptthatitmadesomepeoplesick.Whentheskycameback,thereweretwosunsonit!

That evening nobody saw the moon, much to everyone's astonishment. However, theyoccasionallycaughtglimpsesofanotherplanetwayouttothedistance.Itwasbigenoughtoseewiththeeye,ifanyonecaredatallaboutthedifferencebetweenthestarandplanet.

Theastronomer'sfamilyhadlongmovedpasttheirdaughter'sabsence,foragoodmeasuretoo,fornoamountoftimedilationcanpostponetheinevitabilityofdeath.


10

Suchmiraclesdrove some tobelieve inGodandGod'sworks,while it droveothers intoascienti�icfervourthathadbeenlonglost.Alongwiththemoon,gonewerethehaloofsatellitesthathadbeen thesourceofall information importantandunimportant.So, thesenewerascientistswouldhavetostartsomewhatfromscratch.Somedaytheywouldlookupthroughthepagesandpagesofhistory,rediscoveringtheachievementsofthegenerationsbefore.Somedaytheywouldrealisethattheneighbouringplanetalsohadlife,maybeeven�indoutabitaboutthesacri�icesmadebytheastronomerandthealien,butfornow,theirworkwasGod'swork.That,initselfwashighpraise,worthyofthesacri�icetheyhadmade.

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APPENDIXBlackHoles:Regionsintheuniversewithsuchstronggravitysuchthatevenlightcannotescape.Thegravityinsideablackholeconvergestoasinglepoint“Singularity”.Accretiondisk:ahaloofmattersurroundinganyobjectwithstronggravity,i.e.,blackholes.Thisconsistofmatterorenergythateitherorbittheblackholeorarefallingintoit.Arti�icialGravity:TechnologiesthatsimulatetheeffectofthegravityonEarth.Theeasiestwayisbyacentrifuge.Whenspinning,peopleinsidewouldbestucktotheouterrim,causingthemtofeelthatthey'reunderactionofgravity.InEinstein'stheory,theworldaroundusislikeafabricmadeofspace-time.Heavyobjectscausedentsintothisfabric,andanythingnearbycouldslideintothisdent,i.e.,gravity.Thus,technologiesthatcausesuchbendingofspacetimewillbeabletosimulategravity.

https://www.science.org.au/curious/space-time/gravity#

·GravitationalTimedilation:ConsequenceofEinstein'sGeneraltheoryofrelativity.Presenceofstronggravitycanslowtime.Con�irmedexperimentally.Wormholes:Ajunctionoftwoblackholesconnectedattheirsingularity,formsapassagethroughwhichonecantravel.Stabilisingsuchapassageforinterstellartravelmakesuseofexoticmatteri.e.,particleswith(theoretically)negativeenergydensity.(Schwarzschildwormhole)

https://jila.colorado.edu/~ajsh/bh/schww.html

·https://www.space.com/20881-wormholes.html

·Whiteholes:Mirrorimagesofblackholes.Regionswhichcannotcapturelight,butemitit,in�initely.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_hole

·https://www.space.com/white-holes.html

·Timetravel:Wormholesareshortcutsthroughspace.Ifeitherofthetwoendsofthewormholeissubjecttointerferencefromgravitationalsources(i.e.,Blackholes),thiscancausetimedilationeffectsbetweentheentranceandexit,enableustotraveltopastorfuture.

https://web.mit.edu/asf/www/Wilfred_Wormhole/wormhole.pdf

·https://www.businessinsider.in/science/there-are-2-types-of-time-travel-and-physicists-agree-

that-one-of-them-is-possible/articleshow/61742986.cms

·Whileexistenceofblackholesiscon�irmedviaastronomicalobservation,whiteholesandwormholesaretheoretical.AllthreearesolutionsofEinstein'stheoryofGeneralrelativity.


1111

Ms.SindhuShyleshSr.HeadP&S

HumanSpaceFlightCentre(HSFC)Bengaluru

[email protected]

Mattersoftastegovernourlifestyle.Butthe

taste for tea predominates, de�ining the

character of a person, the character of

peopleandcommunity. Toanondrinkerof

tealikeme,theworldisdividedintopeople

whodrinkteaandpeoplewhodonot.And

thepeoplewhodonotdrink tea,makean

insigni�icant part of the populace and can

bestbeignored,theiropinionsonallthings

general,inconsequential.

ThisisthefeelingwhichIhaveexperienced

manyatimeinmyof�iciallife,whenaftera

meeting with a company, where we are

havingaroundofnegotiationsonacontract,

and both the opposing sides are keenly

bargainingforthebestdeal,smilesonour

faces,but the steelydecision tonotbudge

andgiveintothecoaxingandcajolingofthe

opposite partyparamount, tea seems to

dissolveallthebarriers.Whentheattendant

walksinwithatrayofsteamingcupsoftea,

the belligerence and the competition

vanishes, like thesteamcomingoutof the

tea cups. I watch the magic wand of the

steaming cups in amazement, the cutting

edge of competition seems to have been

bluntedandalleyesareonthetea,exceptof

coursemine,whichlooksonwithirritation

forthisceremony tobeover,andgetalong

with the more important business of our

work. A benign look sett les on the

countenances of the tea drinkers and the

elaborateteaceremonybegins.

Theteaissipped.Andmanyslipawayinto

another world. The world where all tea

drinkerssomehowconverge.Iremain,like

oilinwater,analienamongmyownpeople,

tapping impatiently with my feet, for the

mentocomedownintotheworldofliving.

Butthen,somethinghashappened.Thereis

afeelingofbonhomieandadealisstruck,a

win-winone.Amtakenaback!Theteahas

magicindeed!Whatseemedimpossibleand

there seemed to be no way of bridging

opposite banks of ideology and company

policyseemedtohavebeenbridgedbyTea.

Thewarringfactionswereonenow,theTea

wasthesalve,thegluestickingtheopposite

factionstogether.

Ihaveknownmanypeople,myclosefriends

andrelatives,whocannotwakeupwithout

tea.Someguestsdemandbedteaandsome

warnusthepreviousnightitself,thatthey

require tea �irst thing in themorning. It is

dif�icult to completely erase the sadistic

smileonmyface,“Wouldn'titbeniceifthese

teadrinkersweremaroonedonadeserted


12

islandwithouttea?'Howwilltheywakeup

then? ' Am te l l ing you , i t requires

tremendouswillpowertokeepanamiable,

smilingcountenancewhileservingtea�irst

thing in the morning, to zombies, who

wouldnothaveanyotherwaytocomeback

tolifeexceptforconsumingtheirlifegiving

elixir,Tea.

And sometimes, drinking tea becomes a

matteroflifeanddeath. Iwonder,ifthese

teadrinkers,weregivenachoiceofhavinga

cup of steaming tea to actually escaping

fromaburningbuildingorasinkingshipor

a deserted island , they might actually

choosetheformer.Ihavehadanexperience

which makes me think such drastic

thoughts. We had gone sight seeing to

Kashmirwithmanyfamiliesandwewanted

toridetheCablecarinGulmarg.Itwasone

of the star attractionsof our tour andwe

werealreadyrunninglate.The queuefor

the cable carwas longandwe reached in

timeforthelastrideoftheday.Thesunwas

abouttoset.Asweallwererunningtomake

ittothequeue,Isawashackwhichsoldtea

ontheroadside.Ijustgaveitacursorylook

and continued running towards the cable

car.Aftersomestepsforward,Inoticedthat

therewasnoonewithme.AsIlookedback

worriedly,Iwasshockedtoseemyfriends

�locking around the tea shack. I shouted,

“Hurry!Youwillmissthecablecar”.But,a

particular expression of bliss was on the

faces of all my tea drinking pals. The

expressionconveyed“No.Thecablecarcan

waitorgo tohell!Teahad tobedrunk”. I

wentonaheadandexperiencedoneofthe

bestmoments ofmy life. As I came back,

'ecstacy' envelopingmeandoozingoutof

every pore of my countenance, I strutted

towardsmyfriends,afeelingofscorninside

me. 'They missed the heavenly sights of

Gulmarg for the commonplace tea'? But

then,thatdayIlearntalesson.Therewasno

repentanceontheirfaces.Theecstacyonmy

face was re�lected in their countenances

also.“Chaibadhiyahai”(Theteaisextremely

good).Andeveryonewasatconsensuson

this one. What was better than to have

delicious, steaming tea with friends on a

snow coveredhill side,with a viewof the

red,settingsun?

Now,foranondrinkeroftea,therecipefor

theperfectteaissomethingwhichyoucan

nevermasterinalifetime.MyfriendTina's

tea, Prita's Tea, Ammini Auty's tea, my

parent's tea, my parents'-in-law's tea, my

Jijaji'stea,myboss'stea-everyonehastheir

own recipe for theperfect cupof tea.And

ofcourse,theirrecipeisthebestone.There

are discussions and arguments and

discoursesonhowtheperfectteaismade.It

starts conversations and establishes

bonding between disparate individuals,

whereasIglanceatthemuncomprehending.

Thisallseems“muchadoaboutnothing”to

me.

Chaimeinadrakchahiye.(Gingerisrequired

to make tea) Ok, I added ginger. But, my

friendTinaaskedme,“Kyasabjibanayahai?

(Haveyoumadecurry?).Mymotherinlaw

swearsbyelaichi.Iaddedelaichi.Againmy

friend Tina said, “ Kya kheer pila rahi

ho?”(Areyougivingmekheertodrink?).The

best Tea is plain, just tea with milk and

water.”Myparent'ssay,“thebestteaismade

strong, in justmilkwithoutaddingwater”.


13

But,Ammaniauntysayswisely,“Teashould

neverbeoverwhelmedwithmilk,the�lavor

ofteashouldcomeout.Toomuchmilkwill

drownoutthetea”.Shemoveshereyebrows

expressively,widenshereyesandmovesher

�ingers giving emphasis towhat she says,

like a dancer enacting a scene. I look

mesmerized,likearabbitinfrontofacar's

headlights,“Yes?”Soboilitinwater,tillthe

�lavours come out. Can't you smell the

aromaofit?“Aroma”,howcanItellherthat

thesmellofteamakesmesick.Shemighttry

meforblasphemy.ToherTeawasaGodand

all Teadrinkerswere followingareligion

named'Tea'.ThatIwassure.SoIhadbetter

be careful and school my expression and

editmywords,sothatnowordmaligning

Teacameoutofmylips.

AndmyGujarati friends, swearbymasala

chai.AndtheyhugmewhenImakestrong,

sweetmasalachai for them.When Imade

the same for my relative from Kerala, an

expressionofsufferingcameoverhisface.

“Next time, Iwillmake the tea”, he said. I

have�inallyresignedtothefact thatwhile

making tea, am treading on uncharted

waters and will always do so. With my

friendsandrelatives,Ihavereachedalevel

of understanding.When they come tomy

house,Ikeepthemilk,chai,sugar,allspices

ready.Ishowthemthegasandbuildupthe

friendship and warmth between us with

sweetandspicy conversation. I leave it to

themtodecideonthequalityoftheteaby

allowingthemtomakeit.

But, of course for the new guests in my

house,Ihavetomaketheteamyselfanditis

alwayswithafeelingofapprehensionthat

Iapproachthemwiththatsteamingcupof

tea.Iarriveattherecipebylookingattheir

faces, the community they come fromand

about their preferences from their

conversation. After gleaning some facts, I

make customized tea. I watch them with

hawkeyes,astheytakethe�irstsip.Iftheydo

notpauseandcontinuedrinking,amhappy.

Iftheyhavedif�icultycompleting,afamiliar

feeling of dejection comes over me. But,

there are rare occasions, when the guest

smiles atmewith thewarmest smile and

say” The Tea is good”. That is when I

understand, that drinking Tea is a culture

and by serving people good tea, I am

somehowaddedtotheircircleoffriends.

Maybe God has come to my rescue by

shieldingmefromtheoneroustaskoftrying

to understand the psychology of tea

drinkersonadailybasis.Myhusbanddoes

notdrinkteaandIthankGodforthisevery

day.Andtillthisday,thiscontinuestobethe

one of the few things which we have in

common.AndIwouldalsoliketoaddthat,

my husband not being a 'Tea drinker',

thoughnotoneofthefactorsclinchingthe

marriagedealbetweenuswasde�initelythe

'straw'whichtippedthescalesinhisfavour.

So, lets acknowledge the power of Tea in

in�luencingustomakelifedecisions.

Still, I remember the advice given by my

boss. 'Startdrinking tea.Sinceyouarenot

drinking tea, you are excluded from the

feelingofcomradeshipanddon'tseemlike

partoftheteam”HowcouldItellhim,that

thesmellofTeamakesmequeasyandIthink

it'sthevilestthinginvented?No,thatwould

beunwise.ThenextbestthingIdidwas, I

starteddrinkingCoffee.


14

Dr.NikhilEyeroorLibraryOf�icer-C,IIST

[email protected]

In 1979 my dad's hunt for an affordable

rentedhouseinThrissurcametoanendin

an alleged haunted house. A young man

Jerryhad committed suicide in thehouse.

AftertheincidentJerry'sfamilytriedtorent

out the house. But whoever occupied the

house ended up in weird incidents like

hearing strange noises during midnight,

footsteps in the attic, swinging of coconut

leavesinanunlikelyhourofnight.

However,thestoriesdidn'tdetermydad.His

concernwasonlyabudgetfriendlyrented

house. Nothing special happened in the

initial days. Neighbours commended my

daringdad.Howeversomeoldladiestriedto

“educate”mydadbecausemymomwasin

the�inalstageofpregnancyanditwasme

whowaswaitingtoseetheworld.

OnapleasantFebruarymorning,Icameto

see the light of the world. Neighboring

ChechisandAmmamaswereveryeagerto

seethechubbyboybutallwereafraidtostep

intothehauntedhouse.Somebraveladies

took the risk by peeping through the

window.

Anywaythecalmnessofthehousedidn'tlast

long.Onenightbrisk footsteps in the attic

made my dad awake. In microseconds he

becomesreadyto�ightmode.He�lexedhis

musclesandrushedtotheattic,alas!Itwasa

big rodent satiating his appetite with a

coconut pie. My dad �ixed a rat trap and

caughttheculpritnextnight.

My dad, triumphant and proud gave an

orientation class to the neighbours. As a

con�irmedatheistheproclaimed“allthose

ghosts and devils in the universe areman

made”. Poor neighbours listened to his

words with awe. However everything was

cool for another three days. Fourth day at

midnight, again Jerry's spirit started his

prank. A coconut tree in the yard started

swingingwithoutwind.Mydadjumpedout

withhis six cell torch light.He �lashed the

lighttothetopofthecoconuttree.Suddenly

a two legged creature jumped down and

escaped.Mydadshoutedandfollowedhim.

The“apparition”disappeared.Suddenlymy

dad noticed a pair of rubber slippers left

nearthecoconuttree.Hearingthenoisein

the midnight all neighbours came out.


1515

Mydadannounced“Iamgoingtoreportthis

incidenttothenearbypolicestation,sniffer

dogswillsmellthechappalsandcatchthe

culprit”.MydadwassurethatJerry'sspirit

wasthecreationofsomemiscreantsnearby

who regularly extract toddy from the

immaturein�lorescenceofcoconuttreesin

the yard.Dadspsychological trickworked

well. Next day morning “spirit of Jerry”

showedupandapologised.Thatwastheend

oftheghoststoryforever.

My dad used to tellme some reasons for

weird happenings in the alleged ghost

houses.

(1)Due to seasoning and climatic changes

expansion and contraction of wood can

happen. Temperaturevariationsmakethe

newwoods dry and eventually doors and

windows can slightly openby themselves.

The slight movements of doors and

windows will lead to creaking noise

especiallyintheoddhours.

(2)Inhotweather,thesunononesideofthe

house will make the wall hotter than the

other side. Noises are more common at

night when the most rapid change in

temperature occurs at night. Trapped air

pockets in pipes and �lowing water also

producestrangenoisesatnight.

(3) A newly cleaned window leading to

re�lections and distortions in peripheral

vision can cause signs ofmovement. The

human imagination creates patterns and

fantasticshapesonwindowpanes.

(4)Scratchingandnestingofrodentsonthe

roofareothersourcesofstrangenoiseinthe

dark.Nightbirdslikeowlmaytakeshelteron

yourrooftoptoeattheirpreyundisturbed.

Thenocturnalactivitiesintheroofcanalso

be frightening in the silence of night. The

callsofsomefrogs,catsandcaninessound

like human conversation and they are the

�irst-line offenders in the list especially in

theirmatingseasons.

Howeveraslongasmanpossessignorance,

greed and addiction, the market for all

conceptslikeGhost,Poltergeist,Occultand

Ouijawillremain.However,letushopethat

we can mould a scienti�ically conscious

generationbyinstillingascienti�icmindset,

inquisitivespiritandanalyticalpowerfrom

anearlyage.


16

ShashankTomar

SC17B045B.Tech2017-AerospaceEngg.

[email protected]

Arjunwokeupwithastart,strugglingforbreath-feelingabiggaseoushandclampingdownon

his throat, depriving his tension-ridded mind of the much-needed oxygen for survival.

Clamberingtohissensesherealizedthathehadforgottentochargehislife-suitbeforesleeping,

afatalmistakeonewouldsayonaplanetlikeVenus.Hethankedthestarsforwakingupontime

(thefewthatwerevisiblefromtheplanet)andchuckledtohimselfthathadhisluckworked

earlier,hewouldn'tneedtobehere.

HecalledREMO,hisautomatedassistant.

“Whatisthetemperatureoutside?”

“Thetemperatureoutsideis410degreeCelsius”

“Thatcouldbeconsideredwinterhere”astheplanet'saveragetemperatureclockedataround

460-degreeCelsius.Eventhoughhehadbeenontheplanetformorethan36hoursnow,hestill

couldn'tgetusedtothelocationofhisVenusianabode,rightbesidea�lowingriveroflava.

“Well...”hethoughttohimself,“Onecansurvivelivingherebutnotthewrathofato-be-abride

whohasmessedupherweddinggowncumspacesuit”.Arjunwastomarryher�ianceAnna

precisely12hoursfromnow,whenthesunwouldsetonVenus�inallyafter116days.This

speci�icmaneuverhadcostedArjunalotofmoneyastheInterstellarSpaceAuthority(ISA)had

no�lightsoperatingatthattime.However,moneywasnotaproblemforhim.

ApartfromthisAnnahadinsistedongettingascenicshotfromtheirweddingwiththesun

setting behind their “wedding aisle” (in the east due to retrograde motion of the planet

comparedtoearth)inaclassicactofone-upmanshipoverherfriendAnjaliwhohadrecently

beenmarriedonthemoon.TheatmosphereonVenuswasprimarilyCarbondioxide-causing


17

greenhouseeffectonoverdriveandwasthereasonforitshightemperature.Itreallygaveonea

differentperspectiveonthenon-consequentialityofthingspeople�ightoverbackongoodold

earthinsteadoftryingtosavetheenvironment.

Arjunglancedathisbracelet,equippedwithaholographicscreenand�itnesssensors(Anna

hadinsistedonthelatestonesothathewouldlookpresentableinherInstaChatandSnapGram

updates)andwas remindedof their �irstmeeting,which in concurrencewithall romantic

clicheshappenedintherainyseason.Annaseemedtolovetherain(DamnyouJuliaRoberts!)

anditwasafteragreatdealofpersuasionthathewasabletopersuadehertogiveupherfantasy

ofhavingherwedding ruinedby rain (orhavinga chance to seeanactual rainbow in the

weddingphotograph).Shewasn'tproperlyconvincedonbeinginformedofthesulphuricacid

rainontheplanetbutonbeingremindedthattheraincandamageherdress(despitebeing

madeofindustrialtitaniumalloysandnovelspaceagecomposites)disasterwasaverted.

Arjun's trainof thoughtwasbrokenbyabeep fromhisbracelet, remindinghimtogoand

overlooktheconstructionofhistemporaryweddingsite.Hestaredathishumongoussuitin

exasperation,asittooknearlyhalfanhourtoputon.TheVenusianatmospherewasharshand

torridandthesuitwastheonlythingseparatinghimfromtotaloblivion.

Afterhalfanhourofstrugglinghewas�inallyabletosqueezeintheair-tight,pressurizedsuit.

Ashesteppedout,hefeltasifhisweighthadsuddenlycompounded,sendingmomentaryshock

acrosshisspine.Hisheadhurtandshoulderscrumbledwithpressure.Allofthishappenedin

the0.7secondsittookforthesuittoadjusttoVenus'satmosphericpressure,astaggering90

timesthatoftheearth.Eventhoughhehadexperiencedthisacoupleoftimesnow,itstilldazed

himeachtimeithappened.

Recovering from the temporary lapse, he then trotted along the planet's surface with

excruciatingsteps.Eventhoughthesuithadin-builtmotorsandactuatingmechanismstohelp

locomotion,itwasstillnotsuf�icienttonavigatetheplanetwithitshighlyviscousatmosphere.

WalkinginVenuswithoutadditionalmotorreinforcementswouldfeellikewalkinginwater,

witheachmovementtakingconsiderableenergy.

Finally,hereachedtheconstructionsite,wherethreepeoplewerepreparingamakeshiftstage

fortheceremony.Hehadbeencalledasapparently,theyhadmisjudgedtheamountofenergyit

wouldbeneededtoelectromagneticallylevitatethematerialstotherequiredplaceandsetup

thechairsfortherequiredguests.Theconsequencewasthattheenergyreservedforother

purposes, such as for the accommodation of guestswould now be used for this purpose,

essentiallymeaningtheguestlisthadtobecutdown.Inhismind,Arjunwent“Shit,thisisgoing

tobeamess”asanIndianWedding(evenifitwereextraterrestrial)won'tbecompletewithout

theguestscreatingamess.


1818

Allofthemwanttoattend,eventhosewhohateyou-justtocriticizethe�ineraspectsofthe

wedding.HecouldalreadyhearAnnacomplaininginashrillvoiceabouthermaternalaunt's

brother(whomshehadprobablymettwice)nownotbeingabletoattend(whichapparently

wouldleadto“defamation”onherfamilyInstaChatgroup).Itwaswithgreateffortthathehad

managedtocutdownthe�inal listofparticipantsto40,outofwhichonly5werefromthe

groom's family.Apparentlyhaving aPunjabiweddingwith less than35participantswas a

cardinalsin,andabiggersinwashavinglessthan8fooditemsfortheafter-weddingfood.He

hadtofundajointteamofISROscientistsandMichelinStarChefssothatIndianFood(be�itting

foraweddingbuffet)couldbemadespaceready.

Aftertakingstockoftheremainingamount,hewasinformedbyJay:Arjun'sgo-tomanfrom

WEDS(WeddingsatExtra-terrestrialDestinations)thattheycouldnowonlyaccommodate25

people,includingthebrideandthegroom.Henowhadthemammothtaskofaskinganalready

tensedAnnatofurthercutdownpeoplefromher“reduced”guestlist.

“Anna,Ihavesomegoodnewsandsomebadnews”

“Don'tbesodramaticbaba,Giveittomestraight”

“Well,youknowthepowercutwefacedearlierandthedelayedtimeitistakingtoconstructthe

stage?”

“Yeah,so?”

“Thethingisthatdespitetakingallprecautions,thenumberofenergypodsthatwehadbrought

inhasfallenshortduetotheunexpectedharshnesshere.So…”

“Sowhat?”

“So…wehavetoreducethenumberofpeopleontheguestlistto25,welltechnically23not

countingthetwoofus”

AnnaatthemomentwasapplyingHennatoherhand.Shewithdrewherhandina�itofrage

whichspoiledtheentiredesign.

“MyGod,nowthismehendihasalsohasbeenruined.Whyiseverythinggoinghaywireinthis

wedding.First,wehadtoreduceonthenumberofbridesmaids,friendsandfamily.Nowyou're

askingmetocut-downevenclosefamilymembers.Ievenhavetodomymehendimyself.Whatis

thepointofhavingtheweddingherethen,ifnobodywouldbetheretowatchit?”

“Butbabywecanstillhave18ofyourclosefamilymembers,isn'tthatenough?”


“HowdoIselect18fromtherest?Aswespeak,mostofthemarealreadyseatedintheSTS(Space

TransportationSystem).HowdoIaskthemtogetoffthatrocketnow?Thisissoembarrassing;

couldn'tyouhaveplanneditbetter?”

“Iamjustaskingyoutoreducethenumberofguests.Thisproblemwouldn'thaveoccurredin

the�irstplacehadyounotinvitedtheentireentourage.Thisisawedding,notaconcertandthat

tooonVenus.Doyouhaveanyideaofthedif�icultiesIamfacinginordertopullthisoff”?

“IamnotgoingtotheonetosaynotomyrelativesafterIhaveinvitedthem.Youhavecreatedthis

messandthereforeyoushallbetheonetocleanitup.YouknowIdonotwantaclosed,indoors

kindofceremonywith2-3peopleattending,especiallyafterwhathappenedearlier…”

AndAnnabegansobbing.Arjunhadtouchedarawnerve.Anna'searliermarriagewasaquiet

affair,acourtmarriagewithRajesh-herfriendfromcollegedays.Theyweredivorcedayear

aftermarriageandAnnawasatthebruntofallthebacklashthatherfamilydoledout.Having

falleninloveagainaftersuchalongtime,shedidn'twanttoleaveanystoneunturnedthistime

andhadgonefortheentireshebang.

“Don'tworry,Iwilltalktoourfamilies.Itiselderswhoprimarilyneedtobepresentandwhose

blessingsweneed.TheyoungersiblingscanstaybehindonEarth.Ishallbookthemonaplaneto

Jaipur,wheretheycanlookaftertheweddingreception.Thiswaynobody'sfeelingwillbehurt”.

AnnahuggedArjuninatightembrace.Bothofthemfeltgratefultohaveknowneachotherand

foundsoulmatesinsucha�ickleworld.

The damned beep of the bracelet ruined the moment again. Technology only seemed to

disconnectpeopleandcreatedivides. Itwas Jayagain.TheSTSwasabout to take-off from

FrenchNewGuineaandtheMissionDirectorhadkeptthelaunchonholdafterthenewsofthe

energy depletion reached the Command Centre. Arjun talked to the elders, explained the

situationtothemandthencajoledtheyoungeronesintogettingofftherocket,bribingand

scoldingwhennecessary.TheSTSwas�inallyreadyforlaunchandthustheguestsofthemost

exoticweddingintheworldwereofftotheirrockydestination.

Earth:10daysbeforethelaunch

“TransactionCompleted:20millionUSDtransferred”.

Rajcouldn'thelpbutletasmirkshowonhisface.Althoughhehadtrainedextensivelytonot

showhistruefeelingseveninsleep,assassinsalsowerehumansattheendoftheday.The

customerhadbeenparticularlydiscreteinconcealinghisidentity(eventhoughitwasnottoo


dif�icult to deduce). All the transactions had been through untraceable, illegal channels

(Althoughhedidappreciatethatthepaymentshadbeenontime).Theinstructionstohimwere

clear–“TokillArjunDeSouzaonVenus”.

Itmayseemcrazyat�irsttogotoanotherplanettokillsomeone.NotinthecaseofArjunDe

Souza-arisingtechbillionairelikedbyboththemassesandthegovernment.Histightsecurity

andmini-celebritystatusmadeitdif�icultforsomeonetokillhimandmoreimportantly-to

escape.Also,hiskillingwouldmakeitdif�icultforhisclienttoescapeunharmedasthebad

bloodbetweenthetwowaspublicknowledge.ThisunexpectedVenusianadventureprovided

theperfectopportunityasthechancesofapersonbeingkilled“unexpectedly”wasunusually

highandthereforehisdeathwouldarousesympathy,butnotaggression.

TheharderpartofthemissionwasgettingonthehighlyexclusiveguestlistgoingtoVenus.After

anextensivebackgroundsearch,Rajwasableto�indtheperfectalibi.Itwastheonlypersonon

theentirelistwhowasnotdirectly“family”.“Sushanth”exclaimedRaj,�lickingthephotograph

whileponderingoverhisbiodata.Incidentallyhewasnearlythesameheightandbuildashim.

SushanthwasMrs.TaraDeSouza's caretaker.Mrs.Tarawasanoctogenarian–wheelchair

boundandpartiallydeafbutwassurprisinglyfulloflife.Arjun'smotherhadpassedawaywhen

hewasthreeyearsandMrsTarahadtakencareofhimalmostlikeamother.Consequently,they

wereverycloseandArjunhadinsistedonherbeingintheweddinginspiteofherdelicate

condition.Mrs.Tarahadgladlyaccepted,preferringtodieonVenusthantomissherbeloved

Arjun'swedding.

Inordertogetontheship,Rajneededtocreateconditionssuitabletohim.Thiswasarrangedby

Raj'sunknownbenefactor,whohad somehowmanaged to get Sushanthdecisively sick24

hoursbeforethelaunchandmadehimrecommendRajasthe“caretakerinabsentia”.Itwas

clear his client must had strong connections to the underworld and pretty sensitive

informationaboutRaj,elbow-twistinghimintogetting“sick”.

TheplanwastosneakpoisonintoArjun'sfoodasgunsoranyothersuchammunitioncouldnot

besnuckinonaninterplanetarymission.Sneakingpoisontoowouldhavebeenreallytoughbut

thisiswhereGranny(Mrs.Tara)provedtobeuseful.Ahighlylethalpowderedpoison,made

fromthevenomofblackmamba,boxjelly�ish,blueringedoctopusandtheIndianscorpionwas

chosenforthejob(Rajhadbeenledtobelievethatthisconcoctioncouldkill10elephantsand

thereforeatechbillionaireshouldn'tposetoomuchofaproblem).

Thecontentsofoneofgrandma'scapsuleswasemptiedand�illedwiththepoisoninstead,

assuringitsarrivalonVenus.Rajcouldn'tcontainhisexcitement–hewaspoisedtobethe�irst

interplanetaryassassin,adorninghisnameonthesamewalloffameasLeeHarveyOswald,

JohnWilkesBoothandNathuramGodse.


“No”,hethoughttohimself,“Iamgoingtobeevenmorefamousthanthem,mypurposeonearth

willbeful�illed”.Seeminglyfullofhimself,heputonhisbutlerclothesandproceededforthe

requiredmedicalcheckbeforetheominouslaunchvehicleblastsoffintospaceafewhourslater.

12Hoursbeforethewedding(InterplanetaryStandardTime),Venus

Twointerplanetarytransfermodulescarryingallthepassengersoftheweddingreachedthe

Venusiantransferorbit2hoursbeforethescheduledtime(thankstotheimprovedMerlinV35

enginesthatArjun'sdearfriendandspacegiantBenedictMusklendhimasaweddinggift).The

entirecrowdnowhadtoundergoformalitiesatthespacestationorbitingVenusbeforethey

couldbepermittedtoboardtheirrespectivedescentmodules,headingdowntothewedding

destination.

Thecrewon-boardtheVSS-2(VenusianSpaceStation2)wasoverwhelmedastheyhadnever

seensuchahugecrowdbefore.Althoughthespacestationhadbeendesignedtoaccommodate

100peopleatonce,theyneverencounteredmorethan5-6atonce.Thepaper-�ilingandre-

entrycapsuleseatingtookmuchmoretimethannecessary,whichwascompoundedbythefact

thatMrs.TaraDeSouzawasbeingespeciallydif�icult tohandle.Herboutsof forgetfulness

coupledwithher famousshort-temperednaturemadehera formidable forcetodealwith,

consideringthedelicatenessofthespace-stationenvironment.Onlyafewinchesofsteelwere

allthatseparatedmortalhumansandlifelessspace.

Rajwas �inding it very dif�icult to dealwith her tantrums. “I am a goddamn assassin”He

mutteredunderhisbreath.Undernormalconditions,hewouldhaveslitsomeone'sthroatwith

hisbelovedbladeforevenafractionoftheannoyancehewascurrentlybeingsubjectedto.Asif

oncue,grannyhithimsharplyonhisshoulderwithherbonywrists,sendingamixofpainand

shockacrosshisupperbody.“ControlRajControl.JustafewmorehoursandIwillbefreeto

escapethisevilgranny”(or�inishheroff,asthesituationdemanded).

Grannywasabouttohitheronceagainbutsuddenlytheelevatorbeepedandoutcamethe

personresponsibleforalltheseshenanigans,Mr.Arjunhimself.Rajcouldswearthatgranny

jumpednearlyaninchortwoaboveherseatasshehuggedherdeargrandsonwithallhermight.

Shebecamesurprisinglywellbehavedafterthat(tothereliefofeveryoneelsepresentthere)

andtheworkprogressedmuchmorequickly.ArjuncameclosetoRaj.Thepreyandthepredator

lessthanafootapartfromeachother.

“Soyoumustbethenewassistantforgramma”


“Yes, Sushanthhas a tendency todevelop cold feetwhen required themost”Raj chuckled

nervously

“Thatisreallystrange,inallthetimehewaswithusheneverusedtobeabsentsosuddenlyand

withoutanypriornotice”

“Idon'tknowaboutthat,butIdofeelsorryforhim”

“Yeah,IguesscomingtoVenuswaswritteninyourhoroscope.Howisyour�irstweekofwork

going”?

Rajsmiledmeekly,“It'sgoing�inesir”

Arjunsensedhistruefeelings,“Grammacanbeparticularlyformidableinitially,butthelonger

you staywithher themore of her hard shellwill start towither away. Itwasdif�icult for

Sushanthtoointhebeginning,butaftertheinitialhurdlestheywereliketwopeasinapod”.

“Nosirit'snotlikethat”

“Youdon'tneedtohidethetruthfromus,youarelikefamilynow”

Andtheconversationwentonforalittlelong.RajexpectedArjuntobethetypicalbusinessbrat-

proud,arrogant,abrashandonewhowouldn'ttalktoproleslikehimwithafoot-longrod.He

wascaughtoff-guardnow.“Iwillnowhavetokillhimpainlessly”heresolved.

Theprocessionreachedthegroundstationsafelyandwereimmediatelytakenabackbythe

Venusianatmosphereandgravity.Mostwerethankfulthattheirtribulationwouldlastonlyfor

afewmorehoursunlikeArjun,whohadlivedontheplanetlongerthananyastronauteverhad.

Thepeoplewerecrammedintotheirrespectiveroomsandtheweddingpreparationswerein

theirfullswing.Thestagehadbeenset;thefoodsachetsready.Thecameramanwasgetting

usedtohisnewcamera–newlydesignedforthisveryspeci�icpurposeandthoroughlytested

by both Indian andAmerican space agencies. Afterall aweddingwithout pictureswas no

weddingatall.

Ontheotherhand,Rajwasfranticallythinkingtoexecutehisplan.Thegrannywon'tlethimgo

anywhereoutofhersight,keepinghimbusywithrandomstufflikemassaginghersoresoldiers,

re�illingherwaterglassforGodknowshowmanytablets.Hehadtobeextracarefultonotlet

herhavethe“special”capsule.

Annawashavingtheweddingblues.Evenhavingherfavouritebridesmaidsbyhersidewas

ineffective incalmingher.Herweddinggownhadnotpannedasexpectedand theshoddy


workmanshipwasdrivinghermad.Shewasscreamingatthetopofherlungsatthestaff,letting

hersteamoffatthewrongaisle.Arjunrealizedthisandknewhehadtobeondamagecontrol,

otherwisethealreadyoverworkedstaffwouldnotbeabletotolerateitanylonger.

Heknewjustthesolution,aglassofredwinethathehadspeciallyorderedbebroughtfor

situationslikethese.Hehimselfintendedtotakeoneconsideringthemadnessthatwasensuing

aroundhimwithonlyhalfanhourleftforthesuntosetandthemgettingthatpicturesque

weddingphotographtheyhadbeenlabouringfor.Hecalledoneofthepeopletogoandgetthat

powderedwine extract (as transportingwine normallywasn't possible, so nowone could

biblicallytransformwatertowine).

Rajletagrinescape.Hehadoverheardtheconversationlikeanintenthawk,nowknowingwhen

tostrikehisprey.Hestoppedtheotherguyinhistracks.

“Oi,whereareyougoing?”

“WellArjuntoldmetogetsomealcoholpowderbutIdon'tknowwhereitis”

“Ahhthat…Youleaveittome,I'llgetit.YoucontinuewithyourcurrentworkbeforeAnnabursts

again”

Sayingthisheslidslylyintothestorecompartment,�inally�indingthepacketlabelledas“red

wine”,keepingitinhispocketandjustabouttosneakoutwhenheheardthatirritatingshrill

voiceagain.

“OiLackeywhereareyouslackingoff.Whyareyouroaminghereandtherewithoutbringingme

myfood?YouknowIneedmyfoodatregular intervals to takemymedicine.Oh lordwhat

happenedtoSushanth,thisguyissuchanincompoop,Comehere…”andshekeptdroningontill

hewasforcedtoattendtoher.Afteralongarduoustime,he�inallywasabletoescapefromthe

grannyonlyto�indthatthecouplehadgonenearthestageasthesunwasnearlyabouttoset.

Whenthecouplewasreadingtheirvowsandgettingphotographed,Rajwaspreparingthe

deadlydrink,clearlydistinguishedfromtheothersbyitsred-winelikesmell.Hepreparedthe

drinks,keepingitexactlyattheceremonialaltarwherethegroomwoulddrinkit.Itwasthe

perfectcrime.Annawouldbeaccusedofkillinghimforhispropertyasitwasherplantoget

marriedonVenus.Thisalongwithherassociationwiththeredwinewouldappeartobeaclever

schemeinhindsight.

Theentirethingwastakingtoolong(thenewlywedcouplecouldn'tgetenoughoftheview,

torturing thecameramanatdifferentposes).Tiredofwaitinghe tookout theorange juice

powderfromhisupperpocketandhadaheartydrink.


ThecouplereturnedsoonafterandRajwatchedanxiouslyasArjungulpeddownthedrink.A

waveofrelaxationranthroughouthisbody,hehadcompletedhismission.Arjunshouldbe

droppingdeadonthe�looranyminutenow.Hefeltevenmorerelaxednow,hismuscleseasing

up.Aminutepassed,butnothinghappened.Arjunwas�itasahorse,smilingandtalkingtoAnna.

“Howisthispossible”?

Thewordsescapedhismouthsluggishly.Hisbodybegantosuddenlydroopandhecollapsedon

the�loorsuddenly.“Whatishappeningtome?HaveIbeenpoisoned?Whyisn'tArjundeadyet?

Wasthepoisonfake?No,itcan'tbe…”hehadittestedbeforehisarrival.Hiseyelidsstartedto

droopandjustbeforehepassedout,hemanagedtomutterasinglewordfromhiscontortedface

–“SHIT”

Hehadrealizedwhathadensued for the tables to turn thisway.Thegrannysuffered from

anxietyandhadbeenprescribedaverysmalldoseoflaxativeinordertorelaxher.Rajhadtaken

theentire100daycourseatonce,leadingtoaseveremusclerelaxationacrosshisbody.When

thegrannyhadbeenhagglinghimearlier,shehadhithimintheshin,causinghimtofallandthe

packetsfallingdown.Shethenpickedupthepacketsandgaveittohim–whichtheassassin

didn't�indunusualatthetime.Howeversomehowtheorangejuiceandlaxativepacketshad

beeninterchanged.Thepoisonmixedwiththeredwinepowdertoohadbeeninterchangedwith

thepurered-winepacket.

Whetherthiswasbydesignoranaccidentisstillunknown.Thelimpassassin,histonguerolled

outandlimbsinadisarray,wastakenbacktothemothershipandlatertherestoftheprocession

returnedhappilybacktoearth.Theassassinisconfusedtothisdayastowhethertheslightgrin

hesawonthegranny'sfacewhilebeingcarriedawaywasanotheroneofhishallucinations.


RituAnilkumarScientist/EngineerSC

NorthEasternSpaceApplicationsCentre,DepartmentofSpace

[email protected]

Abstract

VforVendetta isagraphicnovelconceptualizedbywriterAlanMooreandillustratorDavid

Lloyd in 1982. The nuclear winter setting of 1990 sees Evey Hammond along with V, an

anarchistattemptingtoignitearevolutionagainstthefascistrulers.Astheplotdevelops,we

observealongwiththetransformationofEveyfromahelplessdamselindistresstoarevenge

seekingmurderesstoacharacterofstrengthandwisdom,astrongmessageagainstfascismand

awarningagainstinactionandlackofpoliticalinterest.Bydrawingparallelswithavarietyof

welldevelopedworkssuchasAnimalFarm,1984,BraveNewWorld,Fahrenheit451andseveral

otherswhichhavebeeninstrumentalintheconceptualizationofthisnovel,thisstudyanalyses

thedystopicperspectiveofthegraphicnovelassociatingitwithtwomajoraspects:(1)The

variousformsofdystopicgovernancesuchascommunism,capitalismandrightwingedfascism

arequalitativelydebateduponand(2)theroleofintegrityonouridentityisintrospected.

Introduction

RaymondWilliamsinhis1956essaytitled'ScienceFiction' [1]talksaboutthreecategories

that science �ictional works can be demarcated as: Putropia, Doomsday and Space

Anthropology.Ofsigni�icancetothisstudyisthegenreofPutropiawhichinessencehasbeen

de�inedasacorruptionofUtopianromances.WithexamplessuchasBraveNewWorld,1984and

Fahrenheit451,WilliamsdescribesPutropiaasafuturesecularhell.AlanMooreinaninterview

withBBCFour'sComicsBritanniaSeries [2] statesthatwithmostfutureworld'sinScience


Fiction, it is not the future that is being described. Rather, it is a direct re�lection or

manifestationofthepresent.TakeFahrenheit451forexample.RayBradburyhastalkedabout

howtheconceptofbookburningwasaninspirationforhimtowritethenovel(NormanRose,

1956 [3]). At another instance he has talked about the advent of televisedmedia and its

in�luenceonthemasses(ReidandAnne,2000[4]).

WhileOrwellandHuxleytalkindetailaboutgovernanceandsocietalstructurewithregardto

theextremesofcommunismandcapitalism,AlanMooreandDavidLloydthroughthedystopic

graphicnovelVforVendettahaveportrayedapostnuclearwarrightwingedfascistregimein

England,Norse�ire.Early in its regime,Norse�ire roundedupall individualswhowerenot

white,Christianorheterosexual and subjected them toexperimentin concentration camps

whichledtohorrendousphysicalandpsychologicaltrauma.TheprotagonistVwasasurvivorof

onesuchcamp:theLarkhillCamp.ThenovelbeginswithsixteenyearoldEveyHammondwho

cannot earn a livelihood by the bareminimum shemakes. She attempts solicitingmen in

exchangeformoney.Underthefascistregime,prostitutionisillegalandthekeepersoflaw:the

Fingermen,foritwasFingermenthatEveyHammondhadunwittinglyapproached,couldkill

her.Atthisjuncture,weareintroducedtotheprotagonist:aGuyFawkesmaskdonningcloaked

�igurewhoreferstohimselfasV.Heswoopsin,savesEveyandbeginshislegacyofchaosby

detonating bombs and �ireworks at the House of the Parliament. The story follows the

destructionunleashedbyVontokeymembersofthepartyparticularlythoseinvolvedinthe

inhumanactivitiesoftheconcentrationcampssuchasapedophilicbishopAnthonyLilliman,

thevoiceofFateLewisProtheroandforensicpathologistDeliaSurridge.Heseekstooverthrow

theregimeandhavethevoiceofthepeopleheard.Aswouldanyauthoritariangovernment

worthitssalt,theNorse�ireregime�ightsbackinvolvingallitsagenciestocombatthethreat.

MeanwhileEveyhasayearofupsanddowns.ShebeginstounderstandVandhisideologywhen

heabandonsheroveranargument.SheistakeninbyGordonwithwhomshebeginsaromantic

relationshipwithbeforeheiskilledbygoons.Inthepursuitofrevenge,weseeEveybeing

capturedandtortured.IncaptivityshereceivesaletterfromValerie:alesbianinhabitantofthe

concentrationcampwhotalksaboutnotgivingupwhoyouare.Herdeterminationandquiet

de�ianceofthesysteminspiresEveytoholdontoheridealsanduponfacingachoicebetween

deathandcompliance,shechoosestheformer.ItisthenrevealedthatEvey'simprisonmentwas

infactahoaxstagedbyVtoshapeherthroughordealssimilartothosehefacedatLarkhill.One

year after Parliament is demolished, V destroys the Eye (visual surveillance), Ear (audio

surveillance),andMouth(spewingpropaganda),permittingthecitizensofBritaintheir�irst

tasteoffreedominages.However,VdieswhileattemptingtodestroyDowningStreet,anact

thatEveycompletes.Shethenassumesthemask,costume,androleofhermentorV.

ThisstudyattemptstounderstandandanalyzesomedystopicaspectsofVforVendettawhich

primarily include twoaspects.One is social: thosepertaining to an individual andhis/her

identitywithinsociety,andtheotherpolitical:thosepertainingtothemodeofgovernance.


19

VforVendettaasaDystopia:

VforVendettaisatypicalandwellstudiedexampleofascience�ictionalendeavorwhichuses

dystopiastoexaggerate�lawsinsocietyandinspirearevolution.Itwaswrittenintheformof3

booksnamelyEuropeAftertheRains,TheViciousCabaretandTheLandofDoasyouPlease.

EuropeAftertheRainsreferstoapaintingbyMaxErnstofthesamenameandisrepresentative

oftheclimaticupheavalsofthenuclearera.Itsetsthemoodfortherestofthenovelasadim,

bleak,washedoutappearanceofthefuturetotalitariansociety.Thisismaintainedthroughthe

artworkwhich in its earlier editions began in black andwhite andmoved on to colorized

versionsinvolvingbleakshadessymbolizingthehusky,bleachedoutmoodofdystopia.The

ViciousCabaretispossiblyareferencetothemovieCabaretdirectedbyBobFossewhilethe

LandofDoasyouPleasesymbolizingthevictoryofanarchyisadirectreferencetothebookby

EnidBlytontitled'TheMagicFarawayTree.'OverallVforVendettacontainsmultiplereferences

indicativeofthepoliticalpessimismofitscreators.WithregardtothereferencesAlanMoore

writes: 'Thelistwassomethingasfollows:Orwell.Huxley.ThomasDisch.JudgeDredd.Harlan

Ellison's"RepentHarlequin!SaidtheTicktockman.""Catman"and"ProwlerintheCityattheEdge

oftheWorld"bythesameauthor.VincentPrice'sDr.PhibesandTheatreofBlood.DavidBowie.The

Shadow.Nightraven.Batman.Fahrenheit451.ThewritingsoftheNewWorldsschoolofscience

�iction.MaxErnst'spainting"EuropeAftertheRains."ThomasPynchon.TheatmosphereofBritish

SecondWorldWar�ilms.ThePrisoner.RobinHood.DickTurpin...'[6]

Dystopiaischaracterizedbythedegradationofhumansocietyanditsvalues.M.RCarey's'The

GirlwithAlltheGifts'depictsthisdehumanizingquiteliterallywiththecannibalistichungries.

ManjulaPadmanabhan'sHarvesttalksaboutabjectpovertyandthepromiseofacomfortable

life-styleleadingtosomeheart-wrenchingdecisions.InworkssuchasFahrenheit451orBrave

NewWorld,itisnotquitesoobvious.Theauthorsdepictdehumanizationthroughthelossof

culture, literatureandthewilltoexploreandexperience.In1984, thelackofoppositionby

citizens towards the fascists, theconstant fearandcontrolled living isverysimilar toV for

Vendetta'ssociety.Howeveramarkeddifferenceliesintheending.While1984talksofableak,

allcontrollingstate,VforVendettaendsonapositivenotewithahopeforchangeandfreedom

unleashedupontheworld.Fore.gVforVendettaseesEveystaystrongontoherbeliefsevenin

the face of dire consequences unlikeHuxley'sBrave NewWorld which sees BernardMarx

snivelingandbeggingforpardonandOrwell's1984whichseesWinstonandJuliabetrayeach

otherlosingthatveryinchofyourselfthatisdescribedsoquaintlybyValerie.Thisringsustothe

sectiononidentity.

IndividualityandIdentity

Perhapsthemostimportantaspectofanourishingsocietyisthefreedomforanindividualtobe

abletothinkwithoutlimitations.RaymondWilliamshasconveyedtheideaofputropiaasan

ndividual’sconcernaboutthesociety'sbeliefsorlackthereofopposedbybrutish,compliant

massesincapableof identity.VforVendetta,revealsnotthatthemasses lackindividualistic


sympathiesbutrathertheidentityoftheseindividualsaresuppressed.Alldissentingviewsare

metwithcaptivityandtortureuntilcompliance isobtained.Phasingoutof individuality is

simplevictory for the suppressor if one ismade to choosebetween compliance to lossof

identityanddeath.

Thehuntagainstdissentingviewsisfurtherexempli�iedinChapterValerie(chapter11)which

exploreswhatfreedomreallymeans.Valeriesigni�iestheideaofidentity:thatafterstripping

awayallthatyouposses,allwhomyouloveandeverybitofyourphysicalentitywhatcannotbe

takenawayisaninch,averysmallpartofyouinwhichresidesyourspirit,youridealsandwhat

youbelievein.Givingupthatpartofyouisdehumanizingforthat'swhatmakesyouhuman.

ThroughtheletterbyValerieVandlaterEvey�indsstrengthtoholdontowhattheybelievein,

maintaintheirintegrityeveninthefaceofdeath.

Tryingtimeshavealwaysbeenattestedtoshapingofonescharacter.Inthiscontext,Haruki

Murakami'slinesfromKa�kaontheShorecomestomind:"oncethestormisoveryouwon't

rememberhowyoumadeitthrough,howyoumanagedtosurvive.Youwon'tevenbesure,infact,

whetherthestormisreallyover.Butonethingiscertain.Whenyoucomeoutofthestormyou

won'tbethesamepersonwhowalkedin.That'swhatthisstorm'sallabout."Eveycameintothe

worldasatimidgirlprotectedbyherparents.Upontheirdeath�ightingforwhattheybelieved

in,Eveywaslefttofendforherself.Thedrasticstepofprostitutionfullyconceptualizesthe

degreeofdissatisfactionprevalentineverypartofthesociety.HerrescuefromFingermen

evolved intoadependenceuponV.While sheunderstoodhis ideology, shequestionedhis

executionandthisledtoherabandonmentinthestreets.HereweseeEveyonceagainlooking

forsomebodytodependuponandthispositionistakenuponbyGordon.Duringherstaywith

Gordon,sheexperiencesloveandintimacywhichmakesherseekvengeancewhenGordonis

killed.Notehere thather thoughtsonviolencehavebeenmodi�iedwith theexperienceof

losingsomethingshevalued.ChapterVicissitude(chapter9)andVermin(chapter10)book2:

the Vicious Cabaret sees Evey captured and tortured emotionally and physically. She

encountersaletterfromValeriewhichinspiredhertoholdontoherintegrityandnotgiveinto

hertormentors.Throughtheexperiences,shegrowsasahumanbeing.

Signi�icanceoftheLetterV:

Ofprominencethroughoutthegraphicnovelandmovieistheuseoftheletter'V'.Apartfromof

coursethenamesVandEvey,weseeeachofthechapternamesgiveninTablebeginwiththe

letterV.ThereisalsothefamousVdialogueasithascometobeknown'Voila!Inview,ahumble

vaudevillianveteran,castvicariouslyasbothvictimandvillainbythevicissitudesofFate.This

visage,nomereveneerofvanity,isavestigeofthevoxpopuli,nowvacant,vanished.However,this

valorousvisitationofaby-gonevexation,standsvivi�iedandhasvowedtovanquishthesevenal

and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsa�ing the violently vicious and voracious

violationofvolition.Theonlyverdictisvengeance;avendetta,heldasavotive,notinvain,forthe


value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this

vichyssoiseofverbiageveersmostverbose,soletmesimplyaddthatit'smyverygoodhonorto

meetyouandyoumaycallmeV.'Wealsonotetheuseofthenumber5whichinromannumerals

isnothingbutVandnotjustinthepretextoftheroomnumberbutalsointheformofmusic.

Symphonynumber5ofBeethoventhe�irstfournotesofwhichsignify'V'inMorsecode.This

bringsustothequestionwhyV?WhynotAorBorC?Anarchyiscollectiveandasinglepersons

viewscanneverholdsigni�icance.ThesymbolofanarchyhasoftenbeenattributedtobeanAin

acircle.ThisissimilartohowVsignsoff.Thisleadsustobelievethat'V'symbolizestotheidea

of"we"or"togetherness"forthepurposeofhighlightingtheideaofanarchy.

GovernanceandPolitics:

VforVendettatalksabouttotalauthoritarianismortotalanarchy.Theredoesnotseemtobeany

in-betweens.Itsallextremelydarkandbleak.Thisraisesquestionsastowhetheritreallyhasto

bethatwayatall?Isitpossibletohavealeaderwhotrulyattemptstounderstandhowtobetter

thelifestyleofthecitizens.Isthatwhatwecalldemocracy,orisitabenevolentdictatorship?

Addressingthecaseofabenevolentdictatorship�irst.What immediatelycomestomind is

Whatisabenevolentdictatorship?Iftheanswerisconstruedtobeadictatorwhoactivelyworks

forthebene�itofthecountryandtakedecisionsthathe/shebelieveswillmakeitprosperthe

most.Thisbringsustowhatisprosperityandwhatthedictatorbelievesisprosperity.Doesthe

dictatorbelieveprosperityissatisfyingthemiddleclass,thepovertystrickenpublic?Doeshe

think technological advancements are theway to progress?AdolfHitlerwas a benevolent

dictator to the Nazi's, but certainly not one to the Jews. Clearly totalitarian and fascist

governmentswouldbedetrimentaltosociety.Thishasfurtherbeenestablishedthroughthe

argumentsbywriterssuchasOrwell,Bradbury,MooreandLloydetc.Butthisstillleavesus

withoutananswer:whichformofgovernmentisbetter?Anarchyistheformofgovernment

withthepowerinthehandsofthepeople.Butthedecisionofthemassesisnotalwaystheright

decision.Thiswouldleadtosel�ishagendasandmarginalizationofminorities.Inadditionto

this, there isnosenseofaccountability. Isdemocracytheanswerthen?Howeverwhenthe

choiceinitselfisundesirableandweareforcedtoselectthelesserofthetwoevils.Onaclosing

note,itwouldappearthathumanitytoowouldbeforcedtoselectthelesserofallevilswhenit

comestogovernance.Itisimpossibletoappeaseeverybody,sowegoforthemajoritykeepingin

mindtheconceptofintegrity,moralityandhumanity.


Table1:Listofchaptersandtitles.NotetheprominenceoftheletterV


Conclusion:

InthebooksAnimalFarmand1984,OrwellbuildsuponhisfearofEnglishSocialismduetothemightof

thethenUSSR.Ontheotherendofthespectra,AldousHuxleythroughBraveNewWorldtalksaboutthe

capitalist,materialistic,consumerismbasedAmericansenseofethicsandmorality.Dystopic�ictionis

oftenameansofshowcasing(sometimessatirically)theidiociesandhypocrisiesoftechnology,society

andpolitics. ThroughV forVendetta,Moore andLloyd convey to the readers the loss of humanity

associatedwithtotalitarianism.Anarchyasthemanifestationoffreedomisportrayed.Thisstudyshed

lightuponthetheformsofgovernanceanddebateduponanidealcaseofmaximizingbene�its.Italso

talkedabouttheroleofindividualidentityinwhatde�inesusashumanbeings.Thegrowthofaperson

throughhis/herexperiencesisre�lectedinEveyandherstrugglesshapingherasthenovelprogressed

andsheattainedanidentityofherown.

Science�ictionasagenreiseverevolvingandscopeforfurtheranalysisisendless.Thisstudydeals

largelywith an individuals experiences shaping themand the role of societal structure in shaping

humanlives.Regardinggovernanceandtheleastdystopicformofpolitics,acrudejusti�icationwas

presented. Extensive understanding however, was not gauged in this case of different political

structuresassociatedwithdystopia.Athoroughanalysisofthesamefromtheviewofapoliticalscientist

canbeofsigni�icanceandwouldcertainlyberecommended.

REFERENCES

1. Adams,A.A.(1September2006)."From1984toVforVendettaviaMinorityReport"Universityof

EdinburghSchoolofLaw.

2. Boudreaux,Madelyn (1994) An Annotation of Literary, Historic and Artistic References in Alan

Moore'sGraphicNovel,VforVendetta.

3.Bradbury,Ray(2003).Fahrenheit451(50thanniversaryed.).NewYork,NY:BallantineBooks.

4.Carey,Mike(2014);TheGirlwithAlltheGifts,OrbitBooks.

5.Crick,Bernard.IntroductiontoNineteenEighty-Four,Oxford:ClarendonPress1984.

6.GaldonRodriguez,Angel(2011).GeorgeOrwell'sNineteenEighty-FourasanIn�luenceonPopular

CultureWorks:VforVendettaand2024.

7.Huxley,Aldous(1932).BraveNewWorld.NewYork:HarperandBrothers.

8.Karolides,NicholasJ.;Bald,Margaret;Sova,DawnB.(2011).120BannedBooks:CensorshipHistoriesof

WorldLiterature(Seconded.).CheckmarkBooks.

9.King,David(1997).TheCommissarVanishes:TheFalsi�icationofPhotographsandArtinStalin'sRussia.

Metropolitan/Holt.

10.Moore,Alan(1983).BehindthePaintedSmile.Warrior(17).

11.Moore,Alan.TalksVforVendetta,BBCFourComicBritanniaSeries,2010.

12.Nozick,Robert.Anarchy,StateandUtopia(1974).BasicBooks.

13.Orwell,George(1949);NineteenEighty-Four,Penguin.

14.Padmanabhan,Manjula(1997),Harvest,KaliforWomen.

15.RaymondWilliams,'ScienceFiction',TheHighway,vol.48[Dec.1956]:41-45,1956.

16.Reid, Robin Anne (2000). Ray Bradbury: A Critical Companion. Critical Companions to Popular

ContemporaryWriters.CT:GreenwoodPress.p.59.

17.Rose,Norman.Narration. 'TickettotheMoon(tributetoSciFi)'(Ogg).BiographyinSound.NBC

RadioNews.December4,1956.


NageshGEngineer“SF”,

AppliedOpticsAreaLEOS.,ISAC,[email protected]

Bali is a province of Indonesia with

Denpasarascapitalandthemostpopulous

city. Because of less industrialisation and

minimal exploitationof natural resources,

Balihascleanrivers,pristinebeachesand

rejuvenating atmosphere that spark your

senses.Youwill�indlushgreenvegetation

andwellmaintainedgardensandparksin

abundance.Thishasagreatsoothingeffect

onthetravellerwhoisaccustomedtosevere

noiseandairpollutionandconcretejungle

andurbancentricdevelopmentinIndia.

OnanearlymorningwelefttoKempegowda

International airport to take a �light to

Singapore by Silk Air. The journey to

Singaporewasverypleasantandwhenwe

landedatSingaporeairport,wewerevery

freshandimmediatelyrushedtoboarding

gate to take the next �light to Denpasar

airport,Bali.Wehadspeciallybookedthis

routesothatnotransitvisa isrequiredat

thestopover.OntheKualaLumpurroutea

transitvisaisnecessary.Thewholedaywas

spent in travel and when we reached

Denpasar, it was late evening. To our

pleasantsurpriseVisaonarrivalatBaliwas

issued free of cost. Generally there is a

nominal charge of $10.From Denpasar

airport to Ubud is a long way with busy

traf�icandtookabouttwohourstoreachour

hotel.Wetookrestforthedayafterasimple

dinner.


Nextdaymorningwewent toseeawater

fall. The place was very scenic and well

maintained.Therewereanumberofforeign

touristsaround,andBaliassuchpromotes

tourisminagrandway.

Baliisknownforcoffeeplantationandwe

hadbeentoaplacewherewecouldtaste16

to18varietiesofcoffeeandtheysellpure

tobaccoleavesthathasaromaofcloveand

paperstomakeyourowncigars.

GoaGajahorelephantcaveisaveryancient

placewithhugetreessurroundingthearea

thathasterrainlandscapewithsteps,small

rivulets and some stone statues of Hindu

andBuddhistgods.Theentranceofthecave,

saidtobemeditatinghall,isaccessedonly

bywalkingdownalong�lightofstairs.This

placeiscertainlyimpressiveandafeastfor

naturelovers.

Thereareanumberoftemplesandweneed

to wear a colourful cloth called sarong

around the waist and I suppose they are

given free of cost at the entrance for the

tourists.

AftertheearlymorningDolphinshowinthe

Lovinabeach,weheadedtowardsanatural

hotspringtotakebath.Thisplaceiskeptso

clean, that we cannot �ind any plastic,

garbageor�ilth.Thereisapondformedby

thehotspringwerewecanswim.Thewater

is yellowish in colour because of high

sulphurcontent.Thereisaprovisiontotake

acleanwatershowerafteryouare�inished

with hot water swim. This place is

maintainedinanexcellentcondition.

Aswehadleftthehotelatabout3.00AMwe

tookthepackedbreakfastinthecarthatwas

provided by our hotel. We proceeded

towardsPuraulunDanuBeratan.Thisisa

journeythroughthemountainsandvalleys


andtookaboutthreehours.Finallywhenwe

reached the placewewere spellbound by

thebeautyof cloudspassingover the sky,

freshwaterlakeandthetempleinthemidst

of lake. The place is so much scenic and

serenethatithasfoundaplaceintheBali

currency.

On an early morning we went to watch

Balinese dance called Barong and after

watching this I felt there are lot of

similarities between this Barong and

Yakshagana played in coastal Karnataka.

Barongisapantherlikecreatureandisthe

kingofgoodspirits�ightingagainstRangda

an evil character. There is a background

musicthatincludestabala,harmonium,etc

playedbyafewmusicianssittinginacorner.

Oneafternoonwehadbeentoarestaurant

onthetopofahillforlunchandfromthere

thevolcanomountainwasvisibleatafaroff

distance.Thismountainissurroundedbya

lake and the volcanic eruptions happened

earlier couldbe seen in the formof black

lava.ThisiscalledmountBaturandisalive

volcano.

Nusa Dua is a very �ine beach about 20

kilometres from Denpasar that has a

numberof rocks at the sea shorewhere a

touristcanrestandtheviewofIndianOcean

is beautiful. Water is very clean and

swimminghereisfabulous.

OnthewaytoUluwatutemple,onasunny

afternoon;weweredesperatelylookingfor

some vegetarian food. There was a

restaurantthrongedbyanumberofforeign

tourists and we could hardly �ind a table.

Finally when we went through the menu

therewasnothing vegetarian.Weordered

something called Nasigorang, a rice dish

similartoourpuliyogare.(curryleavesrice).

Thisuluwatuisonplungingseacliffsabove


oneoftheBali'sbestsurfspots.InBalinese,

Ulu means tip or “land's End “and watu

means rock. It's exactly where rock ends

abruptly leading to a magni�icent ocean.

Sunsetisthebesttimetovisitwhenthesky

andseaglowinlateafternoonlight.

ThereisonecustominBalithatlooksvery

strangetous.PeopleofBalimakeanoffering

totheirGodinahandmadepalmleaftray

that contains �lowers of different colours,

rice, betel nuts and in some places I saw

cigarettes! This is called Canang Sari in

Balinese and essentially prepared by

woman in the house and found in the

temples,smallshrinesinthehousesandon

theground.

Ubudisabusytouristplacewhereyouwill

�ind a number of Indian restaurants that

servenorthIndianfoodandtherearegood

shopping centres to buy printed shirts,

coffee powder, etc. Monkey forest is an

evocative jungle with huge trees where

monkeysroamfreely.

As far as currency is concerned my

experience is that you carry suf�icient

amountofUSdollarsandyouwillgetbest

exchangeratestoIndonesianrupiah.Indian

rupee is traded much lower than the

exchangerates.

Afterhavingvisitedanumberofsoutheast

Asian countries, my observation is that

thoughweboastofrichhistoryofIndiaand

thegloriouspast,ourpresentconditionsin

no way justify it and on the other hand,

countrieslikeThailand,Malaysia,Indonesia,

Singapore,Hongkongthathavedevelopedin

the past 100 to 200 years have shown

remarkabledevelopmentinconservationof

natural resources, waste management,

tourismpromotion, etc.Automobile traf�ic

onthestreetsissuperbandeverymotorist

displays a great degree of patience and

honking is a rare phenomena. This aspect

hasimpressedmealotamongotherthings.


Whatadelighttohavealife,

havingnoconstraintoffacingproblem.

Whatadelighttoseeinlife,

thelightmesmerisestheinstilledsoul.

Isthisarealityorjustapictureinmotion,

wherewearejustthecharactersamongtheocean.

That'sthethingwhichcomplexifyme,

that'stheharshrealitythatjustterrifyme.

What'sthemeaningofthingswhichweseeinlife,

irrespectiveofthefactthatwedon'tknowwhatislife.

Weallarecompanionsofeachother,

normalisingthehighsandlowsofeachother.

Whataworldisthis!Instilledofinertbeauty

Withinwhateveritis.

Amerere�lectionoftheheaven,

somethoughtitconsistoftheworldofseven.

Thingsgetdramatic,theworldisadrama,

buthowwillinglyyousaythatitisadrama?

TheplayofGod,thecreatorofcreation

theonewhoknows,whateverthesituation.

Don'ttaketheburdenandlovejustme,

leavethiscreationandsubmergewithinme.

Iamthealmighty,themightieramongthemightiest.

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So,don'ttakeachance,enjoytheplay

dowhateverforyouaremadeandneveryoucomplain.

Thingshaveabeauty,thingshaveapain

butrememberthatnoeffortofyourswillgoinvain.

Igaveyoumind,sobealwayskind

andliveforotherssothatnooneisleftbehind.

Youareahuman,mytopmostcreation,

neverthinkthatIamyourcreation.

Otherwise,thingstakeaturnandletyouseethetruth.

Theworldwillexpeltheevergreenalmightytruth.

Thebeautyisnowhere,exceptwithinyourheart,

Theworldisacycle,itstartsandendsinyourheart.

So,believeinourheart,thereyou�indyourself,

Theultimatecreatorofthecosmos,youwill�indmewithinyourself.

Thus,loveeveryone,lovethespace

youwill�indmewithinyourself,thecreatorofeveryspace.


��तशोध

जब खल गए ह� ह�त तो,

��मा�� को चल जान दो।

ना रोको अब इन बाजओ को,

बधन ना �फर कोई डाल दो।

अब 'हम या तम' का य�ध हो,

इस य�ध को �छड जान दो

उन र�त क �यास� को अब

र�त तम बह जान दो।।

सह ल� ह� सौ जो गा�लया,

अब च� उठन को चला,

ऐ द�ट, अब त जा सभल

कटन चला तरा गला।

सहन क� सीमा �ीण हई

��तशोध-अि�न ह �बल

म�य तर ��य� ह,

तरा काल अब तो ह अटल।।


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In Memory of Sugathakumari Teacher

SURABHI - iist.ac.in

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