I have been blessed with the friendship of Manher Sameer. We met at GB Pant University in 1974, where I was pursuing my graduation in Mechanical Engineering, and where Sameer joined the Mechanical Engineering program after completing his graduation in Sciences from the adjacent College of Basic Sciences and Humanities. So technically, he was a year junior to me, but senior to me in all other respects – intelligence, skills and, above all, compassion.

I stayed back to teach after my graduation and completed my master’s in the process. Meanwhile, Sameer set up an ice factory in Moradabad as part of his family business and later established his enterprise in corrugated boards, an innovation at the time. Together, we named the new company ‘Paperphants’. It flourished and expanded over time. After I moved to Hyderabad in 1982, we became engrossed in our respective careers and families and lost in our busy schedules.

Sameer is gifted with excellent body-mind coordination, which usually manifests in sports. He is ambidextrous, playing with his left hand and writing with his right hand. He played cricket, badminton and table tennis at the University level. I loved watching him play table tennis – the way he would produce topspin, making the ball drop near the opposite side of the net and spin back, leaving his opponent no chance of reaching it. But more than that, I was intrigued by his skill in Origami.

Origami, derived from the Japanese words ‘oru’ (to fold) and ‘kami’ (paper), has evolved over centuries into both a hobby and an intricate art form. While traditional origami focuses on creating animals, flowers and geometric patterns, modern origami incorporates mathematical principles and engineering designs, pushing its boundaries beyond mere aesthetics.

Origami relies on a series of folds and unfolds, governed by simple rules that shape the paper into complex three-dimensional structures. The key lies in the crease patterns – mathematical blueprints that guide the transformation of a flat, usually square sheet of paper into an elegant figure. There is never a cut made and regardless of the complex shape you create, the paper can always be unfolded back to its original form. These folds require precision and adherence to geometric principles, often utilising angles, symmetry and proportion and demanding a very high degree of patience. There was nothing in the origami book that Sameer could not make.

In 2008, I met Dr. Arshad Quadri, MD, an Indian-origin cardiothoracic surgeon working in West Hartford, Connecticut, in the United States. He was married to the sister of my friend, radiologist Dr. Naiyer Imam, and they hosted me at their homes for a few days. I cherished this wonderful time with truly good people. Dr. Quadri took us to his lab and demonstrated his trials of folding a heart valve from bovine tissue using the origami technique.

The issue in paediatric cardiac care is that the valve needs to change as the child grows, which inspired him to come up with a prosthetic that could grow with the child. His origami-inspired heart valve prosthetic, made from live tissue, would address these challenges by expanding from paediatric to adult sizes while maintaining structural integrity and function. I had goosebumps seeing his work. I invited him to India for a collaboration, but he was already so deeply immersed in the US system that it was too late to turn back. The valve was never made.

Then, when my friend, Dr Girish Sahni (1956 – 2024), hosted me at his laboratory, the Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) in Chandigarh, we stood in front of a giant haemoglobin mural at the G.N. Ramachandran Protein Centre. Trying his best to explain medical science to an engineer, Dr Sahni told me that all proteins are like long ribbons, and how they fold gives rise to different molecules. He also described the remarkable work of physicist Dr Ramachandran (1922 – 2001), who paved the way for the field of structural biology with his discovery of the dynamics of protein folding.

Correctly folded proteins perform a myriad of functions, such as catalysing enzymatic reactions, enabling cell signalling and providing structural support. For example, the precise folding of haemoglobin allows it to transport oxygen throughout the body, while the structure of collagen provides strength and elasticity to tissues. Misfolding can lead to various diseases, making protein folding one of the most critical processes in life sciences. Dr. Sahni praised G.N. Ramchandran’s work, stating that had he lived in the West, he would have been awarded a Nobel prize.

Origami and protein folding, though seemingly unrelated, share profound commonalities in their reliance on structure, precision and transformative processes. Origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, embodies beauty through meticulous craftsmanship. In contrast, protein folding, a critical aspect of molecular biology, governs the functionality of life itself through the precise arrangement of amino acids.

Origami has transcended its artistic roots and found applications in science, technology and medicine. Engineers use origami-inspired designs to develop compact and deployable structures such as solar panels for spacecraft. In medicine, researchers have drawn inspiration from origami to create stents and other medical devices that can unfold in the body to minimise surgical invasiveness.

Computational models inspired by origami are helping scientists predict protein folding pathways. These tools use algorithms to simulate the folding process, enhancing our ability to design drugs and understand diseases. Origami-based designs are being integrated into nanotechnology and synthetic biology. Scientists are exploring ways to fold DNA and proteins into programmable structures, paving the way for breakthroughs in drug delivery, tissue engineering and the development of molecular machines.

Sameer, Dr Quadri, Dr Sahni… an engineer, a cardiac surgeon, a biologist… in hindsight, these people look like co-passengers in the journey of my life. Each participated in expanding my consciousness. Transcending mere acquaintance and delving into the realm of shared experiences, mutual respect, and emotional connection gives life its true meaning. A frog in the well may be a cruel metaphor, but if one has no friends beyond their family members and colleagues, they have not lived any better.

As life unfolds, revealing its complexities and joys, the definition of a friend evolves, shaped by both the richness of human interaction and the trials that test the strength of such bonds. A friend is not merely someone with whom we share time or interests; they are a mirror reflecting our aspirations, a confidant in our vulnerabilities and often a beacon guiding us through the labyrinth of existence.

Friendship is a living, breathing entity – one that adapts, evolves and grows as life unfolds. It is defined not by grand gestures but by the quiet moments of understanding, the shared experiences and the steadfast presence of someone who truly cares. As we journey through life, we come to realise that friends are the architects of our joy, companions in our sorrow and co-authors of our most cherished memories.

A friend, ultimately, reflects love–not platonic but functional, not transactional but unconditional; not fleeting but enduring. Thank you, Sameer, for being there for me and ensuring that I did not falter in my formative steps and wither away without blossoming. It was during my university days that I underwent a transformation, which allowed me to develop an open-minded attitude and a creative zeal. The wings I flew with to reach Dr Kalam were grown there – no wonder he could fold my career like a beautiful origami or a wholesome protein. 

Leaving DRDO in 1997 was a leap of faith for me. I had spent 15 years working with missiles, developing India’s first titanium air bottle and facilitating the industry interface for the indigenous production of astronautical-grade aluminium alloys, as well as AKASH missile airframes. By creating a special stainless steel to make an indigenous coronary (Kalam-Raju) stent, I opted to work on the broader technology ecosystem across organisations.

Dr Kalam was there for me as both my flag and my flagpole. People listened to what I said and helped in the best way they could. Working with Dr. Kalam, I met some of the best minds in scientific laboratories, universities and industries, and developed a great interdisciplinary network across organisations, breathing innovation into societal missions. One such contact was Dr S. Sridhar, whom I met at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) during the development of a machine for creating water from atmospheric air in 2018 by Maithri Aquatech, a company founded by my friend M. Ramakrishna.

Hailing from a Tamil lineage in southern India, Sridhar’s father served in the Indian Army and settled in Hyderabad, where Sridhar was born and brought up. He graduated in Chemical Engineering and went on to specialise in molecular separation. Any young scientist faces a fork in life – one road leads to application, while the other leads to specialisation. On one path, you spread out over several areas; in another, you dig deep into one field. Dr Sridhar is unique in that, while he has delved deep into his chosen subject, he has kept the application of his work active by training 500 engineering and science graduates.

Dr Sridhar joined IICT as a Research Assistant in 1995, was promoted to Scientist in 1998, and has been working there ever since. His career exemplifies the progress of membrane technology in molecular separation. Over the years, Sridharhas developed pilot plants based on technologies that were patented as they evolved – electrodialysis, nanofiltration, gas permeation, pervaporation, forward osmosis, membrane distillation and reverse osmosis, with capacities ranging from 500 to 5000 litres per hour for solvent recovery, effluent treatment and gas purification, serving the pharmaceutical, steel, textile, aroma and petrochemical industries. He has developed several indigenous membranes for fuel cellapplications.

Dr Sridhar has to his credit more than 70 water purification plants, ensuring safe drinking water for people living in remote areas, affected by waterborne diseases such as fluorosis, gastroenteritis, jaundice and typhoid, across ten states in India. Every purification method is unique and must be tailored to efficiently and reliably filter out the root cause, while also being affordable. Local people must be able to maintain these plants themselves. This is the challenge where most others failed, but Dr Sridhar proved otherwise. Other significant societal contributions with far-reaching impacts include an import-substitute device for producing ultrapure medical-grade water and an affordable, washable, multi-layered facemask to counter COVID-19, which led to the creation of several start-ups.  

 Molecular separation technology stands as a cornerstone in the domains of chemistry, biochemistry and materials science. It involves isolating specific molecules from complex mixtures based on their physical and chemical properties, which is critical for applications spanning pharmaceuticals, environmental science, petrochemicals and biotechnology. In India, Prof Sirshendu De at IIT Kharagpur was the pioneer in this field.

The roots of molecular separation can be traced back to Russia with the development of chromatography. The introduction of solid-phase columns and more efficient detection methods allowed for enhanced resolution and sensitivity in analysing complex mixtures. Innovations in polymer science led to membranes with remarkable selectivity, durability and scalability, enabling their application in water purification and medical devices. Computational models and advanced materials transformed distillation setups, making them more energy-efficient and precise.

 The maturation of molecular separation technology has ushered in cutting-edge methodologies that leverage computational power and nanotechnology. Today, researchers rely on hybrid approaches that combine multiple separation techniques to achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency.

Nanotechnology plays a pivotal role in refining molecular separation. Nanoporous membranes, for instance, exhibit exceptional selectivity, enabling the separation of molecules based on their size, shape and chemical affinity. These membranes are increasingly utilised in desalination, gas separation and selective molecular capture applications.

With the discovery of natural gas, the Indian petroleum industry faced new challenges. Natural gas is a mixture of different molecules that must be purified from CO2 and H2S to enrich methane. The petrochemical industry heavily relies on C2 and C3–olefins as feedstock to produce a vast array of chemical intermediates and final products. Separation of propylene from propane is essential for a wide range of chemical products, including plastics and solvents. Separation of CO2 from power plant off-gases or its direct air capture for agricultural purposes could reduce the increasingly alarming effects of global warming. Dr. Sridhar’s mission was to improve membrane permeability and selectivity, leading to higher yields and reduced energy consumption, which ultimately earned him the title of ‘Molecular Separation Man of India’, as evidenced by the 75 prestigious awards he has received. His work, his team, and above all, his zeal will not only benefit the Indian petroleum industry but also enhance its global role in the years to come.

The future of molecular separation technology is closely tied to interdisciplinary collaboration and technological convergence. Emerging fields such as quantum computing and synthetic biology are likely to redefine the boundaries of molecular separation. Quantum algorithms can simulate molecular interactions with unparalleled precision, paving the way for designing separation systems tailored to specific chemical profiles. Custom-designed biological molecules, such as engineered enzymes, can act as highly selective agents in molecular separation processes, opening new horizons in medicine and materials science.

The maturation of molecular separation technology reflects humanity’s unwavering quest to manipulate matter at its most fundamental level. From early chromatography to cutting-edge nanotechnologies, this field continues to evolve, addressing global challenges and enabling scientific breakthroughs. As researchers and industries forge ahead, the transformative potential of molecular separation will undoubtedly shape the future of science, technology and sustainability.

 It was natural for me to understand the role of Dr. Sridhar’swork in biomedical engineering. I recall meeting a Russian cardiologist in 1999 who used plasmapheresis to separate cholesterol from blood, a process similar to dialysis. A few sessions of plasmapheresis per year can help alleviate the side effects of statins. Russians also remove blood ammonia by this process to help the liver recover. These are all proven methods and established technologies, but their wider application is fraught with commercial forces and the formidable medical-pharmaceutical industry.

As a scientist, Dr Sridhar feels that molecular separation technologies are integral to drug development and diagnostics. Affinity chromatography, for example, is used in the purification of monoclonal antibodies and other biologics. Moreover, microfluidics-based separation systems are gaining traction for their capacity to isolate single cells or molecules in diagnostics and genomics research.

May the tribe of people like Dr. Sridhar increase, and may the culture of working across boundaries – spanning science, engineering, computer science, medicine, pharmaceuticals and more – remain open to the exchange of new ideas. Molecular separation technology stands at the frontier of scientific innovation, offering unparalleled opportunities to revolutionise industries ranging from healthcare and agriculture to energy and manufacturing. This cutting-edge methodology enables the precise isolation, purification, and manipulation of molecules, driving economic growth while addressing critical environmental and societal challenges.  

Molecular separation technology represents a transformative force in the global economy, offering solutions that enhance efficiency, sustainability, and profitability across industries.The fear that AI will take away jobs is real. However, new jobs will also be created, and people will be employed in making things more efficient and affordable. That it is happening in India augurs well.

Darning, known as Rafookari in Hindi, is an umbrella term for a mending technique used to repair holes or worn areas in fabric or knitted materials by weaving a new piece of cloth or thread into the existing material. Often done by hand, this practice was prevalent in the past, and as a child, I recall seeing it used to extend the life of clothing and other items. In modern times, the need for it has reduced drastically. Clothes have become commodities, and the ‘use and throw’ trend is prevalent.

By spiritual darning, I mean addressing our personality defects through self-awareness. German-American psychiatrist Friedrich Salomon ‘Fritz’ Perls (1893-1970), the originator of Gestalt Therapy, and A. H. Almass (b. 1944), who promoted the Diamond Approach, discussed personality holes.

Personality is like clothing that we wear to function in society. Families, communities, professions and talents become part of our presentation and interactions. So, any hole in the personality reveals one’s nakedness—unless it is mended.

These ‘holes’ can manifest as unresolved conflicts, unmet needs, or incomplete development of certain aspects of the personality, leading to feelings of emptiness, dissatisfaction, or psychological distress. Some people are shy and unable to form connections. Some people hide their talents. Some avoid taking responsibility. Irritability, anxiety, lack of empathy, poor impulse control, low self-esteem, difficulty in decision-making, lack of resilience, procrastination, bad habits and addictions represent various holes of different sizes and shapes.

An unborn baby depends entirely on the mother for every aspect of its existence. A foetus gets all it needs—material for physical growth, oxygen, warmth, etc.—from the mother. After birth, the child must be able to breathe independently. The mother begins to wean the child after a few months, and as time passes, the child learns to crawl, walk, bite and chew, and becomes self-supportive, developing its own movements and awareness.

Next come choices. The child starts becoming demanding. Depending on what is available and what is not, and how its demands are met, each child develops their unique strategy and style to achieve their goals. It sorts out what works and writes a life script that guarantees its survival. The way we behave in later life is decided in our childhood.

But life is a two-way road. Demands are made upon the child, too: sit down, eat, speak, sleep, don’t cry, and so on. Some of these demands may be unreasonable, but the child must manage, nonetheless. Some of its potential is then alienated, repressed and projected in this process, manifesting as phoney behaviour—a fake smile, pretentious servitude, etc.—that can lead to cheating and deceit.

Ultimately, this divide between our biological and social existence results in ‘holes’—lacking the ‘eyes’ to see, a ‘heart’ to feel, a ‘spine’ to take a stand, and so on. Next comes compensation for what is lacking. If a person has a ‘hole’ for eyes, they project their gaze onto the environment and live in a state of self-consciousness, permanently haunted by the feeling that they are being watched, judged, or accused.

One can know a person by what is being exaggerated. If someone constantly brags about their wealth, cars, or luxury items, it suggests they may be of a low social status. Exaggerating accomplishments can be a way to cover up the fear of being overlooked. Embellishing personal stories may indicate a desire to appear more interesting or adventurous than one feels. Overstating difficulties could signal a need for empathy, attention, or be an excuse for not meeting expectations. Exaggerating one’s looks, strength, or fitness could indicate desperation to impress others.

The name ‘Diamond’, as used by A. H. Almass, symbolises clarity, purity and the eternal nature of the human soul—diamonds are forever. The soul expresses itself through love, compassion, goodwill, peace, strength, joy and clarity. Almaas views personality holes as leaks in one’s life-force, and his approach aims to help individuals become more self-aware.

The worst and most common hole is not having ‘ears’. Such individuals continue to speak and expect the world to listen to them. They close their ears to what others have to say and can only tell others what they need. Problems arise frequently when two such individuals are placed in a situation. Next is the hole of not seeing. Obvious facts are ignored by such people. They are bound to mess things up, and, naturally, they are rarely given bigger responsibilities and the rewards that come with them.

The human personality is like a dress covering the soul. A new dress will come only in the next life. Darning is inevitable, and you must do that yourself.

A third part of our lives is spent in sleep. Every night, everyone sleeps. Even those who work the night shift must sleep for a certain number of hours during the day. The purpose of sleep is twofold. One is physical rest and the other is mental housekeeping. Dreams are an integral part of the sleep cycle. Dreams reveal our holes—our blank spaces, areas of our life and aspects of our personality that we have disowned or avoided in waking life. All the elements of a dream are fragments of our personality—like chipped pieces from a broken artefact.

According to Almass’s method, acknowledging ignorance is the starting point of any inquiry. Inquiry can commence the moment you become aware of your lack of knowledge. Assuming you already know something makes any investigation impossible. Take nothing for granted and assume no facts. You are here in this world to know. 

Our feelings of discomfort—aches, high blood pressure, non-cooperation by insulin in the blood, shortness of breath, bloated intestines, and so on—are all cries of ignorance. Feel these discomforts and address their root causes, rather than relying on pills and balms. We must also understand our emotions and behaviours—why am I angry, fearful, anxious, frustrated, elated, timid, or outspoken? We must explore this more thoroughly.

Your awareness is the price of direct knowledge. Like a burning flame, keep looking for answers to whatever is happening to you, and the path will appear before you, even if the future is unknown, like a deep and dark cave. The simple answer to the fundamental existential question of ‘Why am I here?’ is ‘I am here to know what I don’t know.’ 

So, whether by capturing through our dreams the emotions we avoid, or by understanding what lies beneath our emotions in our waking state, we must reclaim our awareness, which can serve as a means of healing and mending. Much like darning a piece of fabric to restore it, spiritual darning addresses wounds, gaps, or wear caused by life’s challenges, doubts, or disconnection from one’s inner self or higher purpose. A continuous process of repair and renewal allows us to live more consciously and move forward with greater clarity and resilience.

For most people, the pursuit of happiness is the purpose of life. All actions and thoughts are fuelled by the desire to be happy. No one wants to be unhappy, yet unhappiness and dissatisfaction are prevalent. Perhaps serving others can be one’s higher purpose, leading to deep satisfaction rather than fleeting happiness. Two brothers I met are living examples of this.

I met Dr Vishnu Swaroop Reddy, the renowned ENT Surgeon, when he returned from the UK and joined Care Hospital, where I was engaged in interdisciplinary research, working on developing India’s first coronary stent as a defence technology spinoff.

The idea of developing cochlear implants—tiny sensors that enable hearing—has become common ground. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam instantly liked Dr Reddy and invited him to be his guest at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. With his clinical and audiological team, Dr Reddy examined the entire staff and 600 children from the Rashtrapati Bhavan Estate Schools, focusing on their hearing status, and submitted a report, to the great joy of the people.

The Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, a centre of excellence in the science of sound waves, called sonars, undertook the development. A team headed by Dr V. Bhujanga Rao eventually achieved success in developing indigenous cochlear implants, which brought down the cost manifold—Rs. 1 lakh (1100 USD) compared to between 7,000 USD to 21,000 USD for imported implants—and helped many profoundly deaf children hear sounds and, as a result, develop speech. Dr Reddy furthered cochlear implantation surgery using cost-effective local anaesthesia, which cost merely a hundred rupees. He has performed the most procedures in India under local anaesthesia, which very few surgeons worldwide can do.

Through Dr Vishnu Reddy, I met his younger brother, Vinod Reddy. They hail from the coastal village of Mypadu, in the Nellore district. Their father, N. Kodanda Rama Reddy (NKR), an M.A. in Political Science (1953-1955) from Presidency College, Madras, was fondly called ‘English Kodandaram Reddy’ for his imposing personality and gracious manners.

The elder brother chose to become a doctor. After his MBBS and MS in ENT from S.V. Medical College, Tirupati, Dr Vishnu Reddy went to England in 1993. He did his FRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Scotland, and DLORCS from England. Dr Vishnu Reddy trained with the best surgeons across the world—at the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles, USA, under Prof. Derald Brackmann; at Marien Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany under Prof. Wolfgang Gubisch; at the University of Hannover, Germany, under Prof. Thomas Lenarz; at University of Paris, under Prof. Jean Abitbol; and at Graz, Austria, under Prof. H Stamberger. The world’s best hospitals were now open to him. He worked as a Consultant ENT and Facial Plastic Surgeon at the Staffordshire General Hospital, Stafford, England, and at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary University Teaching Hospital, Aberdeen, Scotland. Today, he is considered the top ENT surgeon in this part of the world.

The younger brother became an engineer, graduating with a Computer Science and Engineering degree in 1990 before earning a master’s at the University of North Texas. Vinod Reddy worked in the travel and transportation industry at American Airlines, applying operational research to understand customer needs better. When the Indian economy opened and new technology arrived, Vinod Reddy returned and led the American firm Broad Vision in India. He created an e-commerce platform under the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) that made visiting the station and filling out travel detail forms a thing of the past. It was a watershed moment. In 2009-2010, daily online ticket bookings surged from just 30 individuals at launch to 500,000.

Pursuing excellence leads to a deeper, more profound sense of satisfaction than simply achieving a goal or winning an award. Like his brother, who made restoring hearing to the deaf his mission, Vinod Reddy chose customer service. He created his company, CRMIT, headquartered in Bengaluru, to live his dream of developing information technology in customer relationship management. Breaking the one-size-fits-all barrier, his company developed industry-specific solutions unique to business goals. It has become a global company operating in the USA, the UK and Australia.

CRMIT has become a leader in optimised healthcare delivery by partnering with America’s largest healthcare company, UnitedHealth Group. Here, the paths of the two brothers converge, like the confluence of two rivers. When I recently met them at Dr. Vishnu’s home in Hyderabad, we passionately discussed how technology can free Indian healthcare delivery from the inefficient and corrupt referral system.

Digital platforms enable seamless, trackable and standardised referrals between providers, reducing delays, errors and opportunities for corrupt practices like unnecessary referrals or kickbacks. Centralised databases consolidate patient records, referral histories and treatment plans, ensuring transparency and reducing duplication or misuse of resources. Technology-driven scheduling minimises favouritism or manipulation, ensuring fair access and resource allocation.

Analysing referral patterns and health data can help easy identification of anomalies indicative of corruption or inefficiencies, enabling authorities to take corrective action. Blockchain technology can create immutable records of referrals and resource transactions, fostering trust and accountability. Above all, mobile health platforms can empower community health workers and patients with access to referral information, promoting transparency and community engagement.

Why is it not happening? Unfortunately, inertia is a terrible force. Once people become used to bad habits and unfair arrangements, it is difficult to change them. Who does not know that consuming tobacco leads to cancer? Everyone knows the benefits of nutrition and exercise, yet one can see people paying scant attention to their health everywhere. The health insurance industry has become a conduit for funding tertiary care hospitals, destroying primary healthcare in the process. If you have a headache, undergo a CT scan; if you have stomachaches, get an endoscopy done. Do you suffer from back pain? Get an MRI done. Chest pain? Undergo an angiogram, followed by angioplasty.

While upgrading technology in primary healthcare is a vital step towards improving public health, it is generally most effective when combined with other elements such as infrastructure development, workforce training, policy reforms and community engagement. Technology can enhance diagnostics, record-keeping and communication, leading to faster and more accurate care. However, a multifaceted approach that addresses social determinants, education, sanitation and access to care is also essential to achieve comprehensive, improved public healthcare outcomes.

But someone must bell the cat. How about a pilot in one district, where 10,000 patients are screened using an integrated digital system that captures their identity, history, symptoms and possible ailments? Those who need to see a doctor, say 1000 or 2000, are referred ‘directly’ to the specialist. A few hundred who need tertiary care go to tertiary care hospitals. The rich and powerful do not crowd them and block the needy. Who will allow this? I think this is not a valid question anymore. Instead, the question is—who can stop this? This is what I feel after meeting people like the Reddy brothers.

Caves are inseparable from human imagination. When the Vanara army searches for Sita in the Ramayana, they are clueless and lost in the dense forest. Tired, thirsty, and hopeless, Hanuman sees some birds flying into a cave, which he infers is where water must be. The group enters a deep cave. Brightly illuminated, the cave is full of running streams, fruiting trees, and blooming flowers; it is encrusted with priceless jewels, mountains of gold and silver and platters stacked high with delectable roots and fruits. A female ascetic, Swayamprabha, has been meditating there for thousands of years. She uses her Yogic powers to help them reach the seashore. Her soul is freed from her mortal body (trapped in physicality) and ascends to a higher plane. 

The ancients had a knack for embedding coded intelligence in the guise of folklore, rich in symbolism, which, though fanciful in appearance, carries more profound meaning. Here, the frustration of the monkeys led them to meditation (entering the cave) and intuition (the ascetic there is thoughtfully named Swayamprabha, which is the Sanskrit term for self-illumination). Jewels, gold, and silver symbolise past knowledge we carry in our DNA. Those who meditate know well about this treasure embedded in the perennial consciousness. It also keeps appearing in dreams, but we often ignore it as a fantasy.

I am blessed to have the friendship of Nagpur-based Santosh Pathakji, with whom I got acquainted through Dr Ashok Tiwariji, my long-standing friend. We started interacting when Santoshji shared information about a handwritten copy of the Ramcharitmanas, which a Brahmin Kripa Ramji wrote in Chitrakoot. He marked the date in the Samvat calendar, corresponding to May 21, 1838. It was a tradition in Brahmin families to write scriptures by hand for deeper study and veneration. It was preserved in the extended family for 187 years. Later, we often spoke on the phone and exchanged information on WhatsApp, which is the trend today. Pathak ji is an electrical engineer and senior to me. He worked for almost a lifetime with the Maharashtra State Electricity Board. I found an evolved soul in him and consider the material he shares a great blessing.

Recently, through Santosh ji, I learned about French geologist Michel Siffre (1939 –2024). He explored deep caves, a branch of geology called speleology. Unlike the recent trend of doing science by inference, confined to well-equipped laboratories and sustained within an echo chamber of conferences and journals, Siffre chose to be an explorer, spending time alone in deep underground cavities. He was fascinated by space explorers, who spent a long time alone. Of course, he must also have been curious to know why some hardened/heinous criminals were condemned to solitary confinement—the ultimate punishment that can be given to a human being. Indian scriptures emphasise meditation, which is, in essence, shutting out the external world by withdrawing the senses inward and exploring the inner world, which is imagined as vast and limitless as the Sky (chidakash).

After living in several caves, cut off from sunlight and carrying no watch for extended periods, Siffre decided to stay for six months in a 440-foot-deep cave in the southern Texas region of the United States. He made a simple scientific protocol and, without knowing it, shaped the field of human chronobiology. Siffre counted from 1 to 120, taking one pulse as one second. It took him five minutes to count to 120. In other words, Siffre was experiencing everything twice as slowly as on the surface of the Earth.

His mind failed to capture time without sunlight and a watch, and his memory was in disarray. It was like living one long day without sleeping. Sometimes, he would sleep for two hours and at other times, eighteen hours, but he couldn’t tell the difference. Siffre concluded that his body adjusted to a 48-hour rather than a 24-hour cycle without time cues. Instead of experiencing divine bliss or peace in consciousness, he developed a sense of overwhelming lethargy and bitterness in isolation.  What is a man but a little tent with a flickering light under a vast, starry sky?

The absence of time can lead to a disorientation in consciousness. In most societies, time serves as a framework within which people live.  Clocks govern everyday routines. However, when stripped of time, the mind loses the sense of the past, present, and future. This temporal dislocation can heighten awareness of the present moment, leading to a form of mindfulness. In solitude, individuals may be deeply immersed in the immediacy of experience—sounds, sights, and feelings become magnified as distractions fade. This heightened state of awareness can foster creativity, allowing for innovative thoughts and insights often overlooked in the busyness of life.

Conversely, the lack of temporal markers can initiate a psychological unravelling, as the mind may struggle to impose meaning without the structure that time provides. The human brain is wired to seek patterns and predict outcomes, and chaos may ensue without time as a guiding principle. Days may blur into one another, anxiety may heighten as uncertainty grows, and existential questions about meaning and purpose may surface. This confrontation with the self can lead to a profound sense of clarity or a descent into despair. The reactions are often influenced by individual temperament and prior experiences with solitude.

Moreover, solitude can amplify internal dialogues. In the utter darkness, one can see the vast imaginary world through one’s inner light. With fewer external distractions, the mind may begin to engage in extensive self-referential thinking—a process known as metacognition. The mind’s need for social interaction can provoke loneliness and isolation in solitude. This craving can manifest in heightened anxiety or a longing for reconnection, fundamentally altering one’s perception of identity and belonging. Experiencing an absence of this connection can lead to feelings of insignificance or a rediscovery of autonomy, where individuals, away from societal expectations, dive into the unconscious and embrace their thoughts and feelings. Sri Aurobindo writes in Savitri (Canto Five, lines 747-748):

The vague Inconscient’s dark and measureless cave

His only sunlight was his spirit’s flame.

Living in solitude without a sense of time can be both a transformative and tumultuous experience for the mind. The interplay between heightened awareness, emotional disorientation, and internal dialogue shapes a unique psychological landscape. Through this lens, one can see that solitude is not merely the absence of others but the presence of an opportunity to reflect, create, and ultimately redefine one’s relationship with the self. Embracing this process can lead to deeper self-understanding, an enhanced appreciation for life’s fleeting moments, and, potentially, a newfound clarity in navigating the complexities of modern existence. This truth is conveyed when Shri Krishna defines a Stithpragya (anchored in universal consciousness) as a person satisfied within himself – आत्मनि एव आत्मना तुष्टः स्थितप्रज्ञः तदा उच्यते (Shrimad Bhagavad Gita 2. 55). The immortal Self inside is our guide, and the Infinite Self outside is our goal. The handwritten Ramcharitmanas was a brilliant way to fill the solitude.

I learned about Don Quixote, a novel written in the early seventeenth century, through various articles. It is the most translated and best-selling Spanish novel by Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra. Still, I have only recently read its English translation by John Ormsby. I couldn’t believe this philosophical humour was written almost 400 years ago; it seemed so modern. Besides, the character of Don Quixote does not look strange, as people like him appear everywhere in the contemporary world.

The novel is set in medieval Spain. Alonso Quijano is a bachelor landlord of around 50 who lives with his niece and a maidservant. He is enamoured with chivalry literature and starts believing himself to be a knight on a mission to protect good people. He assumes the name Don Quixote de la Mancha. He finds an old armour from his ancestors and makes up the missing parts using assorted metallic junk. He names his old and malnourished horse Rocinante, befitting a sturdy horse a knight must ride.

In his first outing, Don Quixote arrives at an inn, which he believes to be a castle. He demands that the innkeeper bestow upon him the noble title of ‘knight’. When he sees a young shepherd being beaten by his master, he tries to stop him, only to be humiliated. Next, some merchants whom he mistakes as invaders give Don Quixote a brutal beating and leave him on the side of the road, where he is found by a peasant and delivered home. His two well-wishers, concerned about his sanity, burn down his library and tell him it was done by a rival magician in his absence. He happily believes the story; it is a confirmation of his fantasy.

After staying home for a while, Don Quixote recruits Sancho Panza, a farm labourer, as his squire, a male attendant to a great personage. Don Quixote has no money to give as a salary and promises him riches, fame, and the governorship of an island. The duo moves out to fight with the evil forces, help the poor, and dispense justice—a tall Don Quixote riding his horse, wearing armour and carrying a nine-foot pole as his weapon, and short and bulky Sancho Panza following him on a donkey.

The long novel shows how Don Quixote imagines extraordinary situations in his stale and mundane life. He sees a herd of sheep as an invading army and a lady who salts meat in butchery as a damsel in distress; he must be rescued only to be beaten by the people around him. His worldly, wise, and practical servant saves him every time. His vision of windmills as demonic giants and his fighting with them are iconic images, making quixotic an idiom.

At this point, they came in sight of thirty or forty windmills that there are on that plain, and as soon as Don Quixote saw them, he said to his squire, “Fortune is arranging matters for us better than we could have shaped our desires ourselves, for look there, friend Sancho Panza, where thirty or more monstrous giants present themselves, all of whom I mean to engage in battle and slay, and with whose spoils we shall begin to make our fortunes; for this is righteous warfare, and it is God’s good service to sweep so evil a breed from off the face of the earth.”

“What giants?” said Sancho Panza.

“Those you see there,” answered his master, “with the long arms, and some have them nearly two leagues long.”

“Look, your worship,” said Sancho. “We see that there are not giants but windmills, and what seem to be their arms are the sails turned by the wind to make the millstone go.”

“It is easy to see,” replied Don Quixote, “that thou art not used to this business

of adventures, those are giants; and if thou art afraid, away with thee out of this and betake thyself to prayer while I engage them in fierce and unequal combat.” (Part I, Chapter VIII, Para 1)

The contrast between the real and the fantastic highlights how perception is subjective and how one’s beliefs shape one’s view of the world.

It is no business or concern of knights-errant to inquire whether any persons in affliction, in chains, or oppressed that they may meet on the high roads go that way and suffer as they do because of their faults or misfortunes. It only concerns them to aid them as persons needing help, having regard for their sufferings and not their rascality. (Part I, Chapter XXX, para 2)

In the novel’s second part, published 10 years later, Don Quixote embarks on another adventure with Sancho. A Duke and Duchess invite them to their palace for amusement and practical jokes. Sancho is given a false governorship, a deceptive prank that leads to humiliation. When Don Quixote is conquered in a battle with the Knight of the White Moon, he is forced to lay down his arms and abandon his acts of chivalry for one year. Before the battle, the conditions are agreed upon with the ‘knight’, who is dressed in a costume, that Don Quixote would go home if defeated. Eventually, Don Quixote retires in the countryside and falls sick.

After a few months, he recovers his sanity completely and, despite Sancho’s encouragement to restore his faith in fantasy, takes back the name of Alonso Quijano. He apologises for all the craziness and any harm that he may have caused before passing away.

As nothing that is man’s can last forever, but all tends ever downwards from its beginning to its end, and above all, man’s life, and as Don Quixote’s enjoyed no special dispensation from heaven to stay its course, its end and close came when he least looked for it. (Part II. Chapter LXXIV, Para 1)

But now, it is Sancho’s turn to imagine. As Don Quixote becomes ‘realistic’, Sancho’s spirit ascends from reality to illusion.  What this novel stirred in me is the acuteness of the universal problem of the human mind. Quixote’s insanity is gentle and easy to sympathise with—he can’t understand the harshness and ridicule of the people around him. He assumes himself as a hero and a champion of the weak and oppressed. Sancho is a practical man with survival as his main agenda. He is rooted in common sense. Yet, he also adopts some of his idealism towards the novel’s end.

The mind is a compelling entity. Humanity has dominated planet Earth by using the mind but also created strife. Like a double-edged sword, the mind cuts both ways. In the final analysis, the mind is placed at the root of all human misery by various thinkers and philosophers over the centuries.

माया मुई न मन मुवा, मरि–मरि गया सरीर।

आसा त्रिष्णाँ नाँ मुई, यौं कहै दास कबीर॥

Kabir says that neither the illusion of a creature nor his mind dies. Only his body dies again and again. Despite wandering in many births, hope and desire never die; they always remain.

The minds of people can cast such a spell upon them that instead of living in the present moment, they dwell mainly in the past (ruminating their memories as animals chew all their food eaten earlier) or wander in fantasy (building castles in the air). Very few people live in the present moment. Then, some people escape from their unbearable reality by using alcohol and drugs. How are they different from Don Quixote? Listen to any popular leader giving a speech, and you can enjoy Don Quixote charging a windmill for a demon.