Quest For A Theory Of Everything - Notes

QUEST FOR A THEORY OF EVERYTHING

1. Write a note on the character of Jane.

Jane was a shy teenager with a strong faith in God. This faith was ingrained in her by her mother. She believed that good can come out of any adversity. When she met Hawking after his discharge from the hospital, he was in a sad state. She felt that he had lost his will to live and he was very confused. She was not put off by his physical or mental condition. Hawking liked her optimism and their friendship grew. They thought that together they could make something good.

For Stephen it made a big difference. He applied for a research fellowship at Caius, one of the colleges of Cambridge University. In 1965, when he was 23, he received his fellowship at Caius. In July, 1965, he married Jane. They had 3 children. In fact it was Jane who gave the moral support to Hawking to overcome his adversities and do something great for mankind.

2. What was Hawking’s attitude to his disability? How do you estimate it in a wider social context?

He chose to ignore his difficulty. He expected others to adopt the same attitude. In the modern days we call ‘disabled’ people as ‘Differently Abled People’. A physical disability does not have to make you desperate and a victim of sympathy. People with physical disabilities have achieved marvels. Franklin D. Roosevelt, one of the most famous American Presidents spent most of his working hours in a wheel chair and walked with leg braces and a cane, supported by others.

Now we have a blind play-back singer Bhagyalaksmi. There is also a blind music director named Afsal. Handicaps need not be looked upon as excuses to be lazy. With hard work one can overcome his handicaps. Helen Keller – blind, deaf and dumb – became world famous because of her determination to succeed. And she did.

Activity – I (Writing)

Attempt an assessment of the personality of Hawking in a short paragraph.

Hawking was a man of determination and perseverance. When he was at Oxford, in his late teens, he was lively, buoyant, and adaptable. He wore his hair long. He was famous for his wit. He liked classical musical and was interested in sports. When he was in the 3rd year at Oxford he applied to do a Ph.D. at Cambridge. He was accepted on condition that he got a ‘First’ from Oxford. But during the examination he had only borderline marks between a first and a second.

The examiners summoned him and asked him about his plans. He told them bluntly, “If I get a first, I shall go to Cambridge. If I receive a second, I will remain at Oxford. So I expect that you will give me a first.” They gave him a First and he went to Cambridge. This shows how frank and open he was. When he was 21, he contracted a rare disease which caused disintegration of the nerve cells of his spinal cord and brain. He walked around with a cane, supporting himself against a wall.

His speech was impaired. But nothing stopped him from achieving what he wanted. It was this determination that attracted Jane Wilde whom he married. He lost his voice after a tracheotomy operation. But he continued working with an Equalizer, which helped him to choose words from a computer screen. He asked fundamental questions like where did the universe come from and whether it has boundaries. Is there a beginning of time? Could time run back? His book ‘A Brief History of Time’ contains a lot of paradoxes that will surprise us. He is often called another Einstein.

PROFILE 

Write a profile of Jawaharlal Nehru using the hints given below.

Jawaharlal Nehru

Born: 14 Nov 1889, Prayagraj - Known as Chacha Nehru

Spouse: Kamala Nehru

Career: Indian Independence Activist, First Prime Minister of India. - Writer, Politician

Notable works: “The Discovery of India”, “Glimpses of World History”

Awards: Bharat Ratna.

Death: 27 May 1964, New Delhi

Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964)

Jawaharlal Nehru was born on 14 November at Prayagraj in 1889. He is known as Chacha Nehru. His spouse is/was Kamala Nehru. He was an Indian Independence Activist. He was the first Prime Minister of India. He was also a writer and a politician. His notable works are The Discovery of India and Glimpses of World History. He got Bharat Ratna award. He passed away on 27 May in 1964.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 

Sample Questions:

1. Who inspired you to become a……?

2. What is the turning point in your life?

3. Who is your role model?

4. Do you enjoy this career?

5. How did you achieve your goal?

6. Any challenges in your life?

7. How could you overcome the challenges?

8. What is your message to the youth?

9. What is your next project?

10. 10.What is the secret of your success?