WONDER OF WONDERS |
S.K.Bhatnagar
Jaipur
om
Preface
This bouquet of poems is dedicated to my Grandfather
who was one of the main source of my interest in Nature
and development of curiosity which increased by leaps
and bounds when I chose biology as a subject - each lesson
enhancing my sense of wonder about natural phenomena
which were explained so nicely by our good teachers, of
botany and zoology in particular, that,it went on increasing
day by day . .
Thereafter a gap of several years ensued but that interest
resurfaced when I got an opportunity to update my meager
knowledge later on. However, when I tried to do so It proved
to be a Herculean task as there has been virtually an explosion in
various fields of science-particularly biology and many new
disciplines have emerged - and along with them new wonders
have come to light.
But with the active encouragement of my dear wife
and sister coupled with revival of interest in English poetry
my little effort has bloomed in its present form.
The idea here is to present proven scientific facts and
theories in Verse (rather than prose ) form in a rhythmic
and rhyming manner, in a simple language, to make it
interesting and intelligible to gentlemen from other than
science background but interested in scientific discoveries
and understanding of Nature.
For this purpose effort has been made to cull the latest
and precise facts from published works--encyclopedias and
reference books/journals and explain the technical terms
and some references through foot notes etc
Another feature which I have tried to impart is to refer
to western or Indian mythology , wherever possible, and try
to match well known ancient episodes/incidents or views
with some facts or features about modern living organisms
or phenomena discovered now, in an effort to show that
what appears impossible was plausible and thus to render
the matter more interesting.
Luckily my father had familiarized me with the ancient
Greeko Roman and my mother with old Indian mythology and
ethos and this has come handy in fulfilling this task undertaken
because the ancient Greeks and Indian communities were
very close to nature and their scientists/philosophers and
our Rishi muni were very keen observers of nature ;
in fact
various Vedic hymns are dedicated to Nature
and ancient astronomy etc. are a proof positive there of .
Our modern
scientists are also great experimenters and keen observers of
the same nature ; further aided by modern instruments they
have been able to see better and probe deeper and farther.
It is therefore not surprising if many old observations or
speculations made centuries ago find echo in modern scientific
discoveries .and I have tried to imagine and draw parallels
whereever it is striking.
The fact that many English poets have in their
similies drawn on European mythology and Nature
has also been a source of inspiration and allowed me
to indulge in a sort of day dreaming ; but with facts as
my base rather than fantasy.
It is a maiden effort and an experiment of sort and
my purpose will be well served if those who take pains
to go through it are able to share my sense of wonder and
appreciation of the Nature’s propensities .
[ Incidentally it may be found useful to those readers
who are interested in general knowledge or are preparing
for some competition .;if so it will be an additional bonus ]
The book is biocentric and so planned as to arrange
the whole series of poems in such a fashion that :
The first poem is : general - depicting wonder about
wonderful tendencies of
Nature ;
succeeding poems : each - - focuses on natural wonders
relating to a specific field of scientific
investigation and research and related
matters.
Wonders of nature are infinite-they are going on from eternity
and will go on till infinity, all the same a beginning has been made
with selection of a few of them and ,inshah-allah, more may follow
in due course .
I will be failing in my duty if I fail to acknowledge my debt to
to my brother in law Professor Dr V.S.Bhatnagar who first suggested
its publication, and but for whose guidance it would not have been
possible to do so.
S.K.Bhatnagar
5/108 . SFS mansarovar Jaipur 302020
91-9413994544
Contents
1 Wonder of wonders ------ Nature’s tendencies ; peculiarities .
2. Wonders of nature ------ Sensitivities of living beings .
3 Nature’s wonders ------ Tale of a cell as a Song of Life .
4 Wonderful secrets ------ Ways and techniques of Nature .
5 Grand Cosmos i ------ Grandeur ; Children of the Stars ;
6 Cosmological wonders ii ------ Solar system –planetary peculiarities
7 Wonderful earth ------ Geographical wonders .
8 Wonderful changes ------ Changing forms, roles and tales .
9 Life’s Mystery ------ Miracles – facts and fantasy .
10 World inside ------ Palentological wonders .
11 Friends and foes ------ Relations in Co-evolution .
12 Evolution and embryo ------ Embryological surprises
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Saraswati vandna
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oUnuk bl #i esa dj jgk gwa vkt vfiZr
lR;e f’koe lqUnje flzf"V
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lR;e f’koe lqUnje flzf"V
dksjh dfo dYiuk gS ;k lgh \
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ifj.kke fudyrk gS ;gh \
Hk;adj vkSj izy;adj Hkh rks
'kadj ds gh ifj;k; gSa
fo/kkrk drkZ HkrkZ grkZ
flzf"V ds gh rks miuke gS !
xkFkk,a dFkk,a vusdksa lc ns’kksa esa
;qxksa ls gS ;kas rks izpfyr
fdUrq fdruh lR; vuqHko
fdruh dYiuk ls gaS izsfjr \
ijUrq ,d vVy vdkV;
rF; rks gS ;s loZfofnr
fd ;s Lo;aHkw 'kk’or cgq#ie;h
flzf"V _raHkjk vk’pz;Ze;h
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Santosh Ratan
5/108 SfS mansarovar Jaipur
lUrks"k jru