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ANTHROPOLOGISTS maintain that humans have possessed a
fully developed brain for at least the past twenty five
thousand years. How is it then that we began to progress technologically
only in the last two hundred years? For eons we gazed and wondered at the stars.
For eons we enviously watched the birds fly and the fish frolicking beneath the
ocean surface and for eons we looked in awe at dazzling flashes of lightning
amongst the dark and misty clouds. Yet man only looked, he did not dream.
He had under-estimated his capabilities. Worse,
he had over-estimated his limitations. For
millennia, our ancestors abandoned brilliant ideas, penetrating
insights and fresh possibilities. They could not
conceive, therefore they could not create. Today, we know that nothing is
impossible. If it can be dreamt, it can be achieved. We shall see but five
examples out of literally thousands of instances of man's genius and dexterity
in forging methods that make the impossible possible.
Till 1879, scientists believed it was impossible to invent an incandescent electric light bulb. And indeed, Thomas A. Edison's several hundred attempts to invent one had all met with total failure. Nobody believed it was possible — except Edison — who faithfully continued to conduct experiment after experiment. Upon his announcement that he had finally succeeded, many scientists jeered in disbelief. Edwin Western, a respected specialist in arc lighting, proclaimed that Edison's assertion was "so manifestly absurd as to indicate a positive want of knowledge of the electric circuit." But seeing was believing and uitimately all had to bow before Edison's now legendary story of success. Edison's persistent pursuit of an inner dream made possible an invention that would light up millions of homes and offices around the world.
Since the 1850s, the U.S. military had been
trying to invent an airplane or what they termed, a 'flying
machine'. However, they finally gave up hope
on two grounds. For one, theory said it was
impossible for pilots to breathe at speeds greater than 60 miles per hour
and secondly, scientists were proclaiming
that heavier-than-air flying machines were
"utterly impossible". However, two amateur engineers, Orville
and Wilbur Wright,
continued to pursue their dream of flying in the sky. Ultimately, to the embarrassment and envy of the
U.S. military, in 1903 near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the Wright
brothers became the first to fly an engine-powered vehicle, showing the
world yet again that there is no limit to what man can do.
In 1957, British astronomer Sir Harold Spencer
Jones, declared to the world with considerable scientific clout: "Space
travel is bunk." Barely two weeks later, the Russians successfully
launched Sputnik 1, the first space rocket, into orbit around the Earth.
Since 1906, the year when Einstein forwarded his celebrated Theory of Relativity, everyone, including scientists, unwaveringly believed that nothing could go faster than the speed of light. Till just a few months ago this belief held true. In August, even that 'ultimate' barrier was broken by scientists in the U.S.
In the second century B.C. a
7-year-old Indian boy was told by an astrologer peering at his hand that
he was not destined to become a scholar. The young boy went into his house,
brought out a knife, drew it where the line should have been and asked the
astrologer, "Now can you see the line?"
The boy was Panini, who grew to become one of
the greatest grammarians in the history of Sanskrit—making it so perfect
that Forbes magazine nominated it the
most computer compatible language in the world.
Every human being has a special dream. It
may be to become a millionaire, a great scientist, artist, actor, inventor,
leader, philanthropist or crusader for human rights, etc.
Whatever your dream, try to achieve
it.
Everything is possible if you believe
in yourself. God has already
endowed you with everything you need to achieve your dreams. You have a
human body, which has an incredible capacity for versatility, adaptability and
creativity. Utilise your God-given resources and live life to your fullest and
finest potential. Bequeath to the world a new
invention, a work of art, a beautiful thought or an act of love.
(The author is resident at Shree
Swammarayan Temple, Dadar, Mumbai, India. Website:
www.swami-narayan.org)
Courtesy: The Times of India, 22 October 2000
