[Dr. Zafar Ahmed, zai-alpha@hotmail.com, 06-12-2021]
Reading Time: 10 Min
Once an Indian friend (say X) of mine from abroad asked me if I had read Paul J Nahin (PJN), the best selling author of Science and Math. I got excited and replied that PJN, in his book “Inside Interesting Integrals” had discussed one of my my integrals. This friend of mine is supposed to be well read, so he had this book too. The next day, without any excitement or any friendly appreciation, X told me that PJN has also discussed other integrals in his book.
In fact, in addition to the other things in his book, PJN has discussed 7 not so easy integrals, mine is at number 7 among the old legendary Integrals ! Even this surprising information I got from a student of mine in the US. I thank God that I have been sheer lucky! Later, I bought this book where the author has spent some 5 pages over it, calling me : An Indian mathematical physicist.
Now, the question is how Mr. X, who is supposed to be well read has missed those pages. I often doubt the well read ones, they perhaps over-look some things to finish reading a book. I have also read that the best sellers are hardly read, their books are only bought. I hope I ‘m wrong here.
My second question is why Mr. X was not excited, at least after knowing and exploring it on my suggestion. What did he expect!? of PJN’s book. Should the whole book have been devoted to “Ahmed’s Integral” ! Then the title of the book would not be what it really is.
Is it a case of an over expectation by an (escapist) NRI, from a native (indigenous) academician like me?
Another friend of mine (say Y) was a well established material scientist in the US. He after hearing about “Ahmed’s Integral”, wrote to me that Ahmed of AI was actually an “Arab”! but he hurriedly pushed the information that he (Y) invented a new very light and very strong metal which went by his name!
Though I congratulated him heartily and I was awed as though this friend of mine could even see the atomic layers! yet I was annoyed that he should have told us about it earlier and not like that.
Then, I rattled Y, saying “if one searched in Google for AI, on the first page itself, there were some 6 listings , of which 5 were about Indian Ahmed and one about that “Arab”” Surprisingly, Y took a great interest in the “Arab” leaving his own classmate of M. Sc. days! Later, he looked into it again and apologized.
When all this was going on in the email group of our M. Sc. friends, our scientist friend working in a reputed lab abroad (mis)understood the conversation and said “ you guys have opened a mutual appreciation club or what?” She simply overlooked the achievement of both of us. Others were just silent as though nothing had happened!
About two years back, one day Y had an ordinary fall at home, he became unconscious and was rushed to a hospital in New York. He wast in a coma for about a month, not getting up again. Doctors could not diagnose! and most unfortunately he passed away, untimely!! May his soul rest in peace. I will not be surprised if his alloy (PANDALLOY) has already entered our household in some form or the other.
However, there were friends and people who congratulated me saying various nice things. My friend G. Ravikumar talked about it high and low, in BARC. That time 27th batch used to have an email group and I was overwhelmed by their compliments. Several times I heard that AI made small ripples in some high level committees in BARC/DAE.
For me it was enough that they heard about it and from the then Head of Lib. Division, I was asked to write about it in the News Letter (NL) of BARC. I offered to write a one-page article, the Head insisted that write a longer one otherwise it would be published as a communication from Physics Group where there would be no author, but I did not agree. Despite, that I pushed my one-page article to him. Ironically, the Head did not realise that half of my name was already there in the title itself. But things changed when Ravi became Head of Lib. Division and I appeared with my full name as the Author of that one-page article in our NL.
Well wishers remember this term AI (some say ZI) and a part of me lives in the reflected glory of this integral which looks simple but it requires some very special methods, It seems right from its inception in the year 2002, it has been discussed well at different forums. I came to know about its impact only in the year 2014. The Wolfram Mathematica is known to be cautious about IPR, however, they adopted AI even without my permission! I welcome this lovely offence of theirs
That we Indians have done nothing or we have done everything (and left others behind) are two extreme views, but the fact lies within these two limits (if not outside). Such extremism should only be left to politicians. See some interesting claims: Our maiden journey to MARS was successful, unlike other’s. This journey was cheaper (Rs./ Km.) than even travelling by an auto! Some even claimed that it was based on Vedic calculations.
In our WhatsApp group, some friends get carried away and become extremists, for some time. Thankfully, there are friends like Bhaskar Pandit who understand the undeniable importance of the west vis-a-vis our modest position in science and technology. Time and again they restrain us duly and ground us well. Friends, we cannot boast off much but at the same time we should not be provoked.
HUM HONGE KAMYAB EK DIN, MAN MEIN HAI VISWAS PURA HAI VISHWAS…….
HAR EK BAAT PE KEHTE HO TUM KE TU KYA HAI? YAHI KAHO KE YE ANDAZE GUFTUGU KYA HAI?……
RO LEIN GEIN HUM HAZAR BAR, KOI HAMEIN ROOLAY KYOUN?……….
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I WROTE A STORY 