Book Review [173] : Moonwalking With Einstein

 As you age you start forgetting things that you used to remember clearly. It has happened with me multiple times. I used to remember/recall cricket scores of almost every match played by India in 1990s and 2000s but now I can't even recall who won MoM awards in last two Indian victories. I always wanted to know how our memory system works and how to sharpen it. I found this book 'Moonwalking With Einstein' while browsing and I read it and I found answers to few of my questions not all.

It's a good book and it talks about concepts like 'Memory Palaces', 'Mind Mapping', 'OK Plateau' etc. Written by Joshua Foer it says that The Brain is like a muscle and memory training is a form of a mental workout. Over time, like any other form of exercise, it will make the brain fitter, quicker and more nimble. Brain records everything to which it pays any degree of conscious attention, and that this recording is permanent.

The book talks about plasticity of brain. It says that the brain is a mutable organ, capable within limits of reorganising itself and readapting to new kinds of sensory input, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity. 

Experts say that there is a limit on our brain to process information. We can only think about roughly Seven things at a time. Magical number Seven is the universal carrying capacity of our short term working memory (similar to cache of a processor). 

Sometimes we hit a plateau while learning a skill it means we are not improving any further. It happens with most of the people. The Secret to improving a skill is to retain some degree of conscious control over it while practicing. I.e. to get consistent feedback and to experience failing. 

What I think after reading this book pretty thoroughly is this that no technique will make you have Photographic Memory. What you actually need are Good sleep (7-8 hours), consciously observing/reading events/books and getting rid off consistent social media chirping and screen exposure.

A Highly Recommended Book (9/10)

Jai Dev Kapoor Ji - A Great Revolutionary

Today is 100th anniversary of Kakori Train Robbery case that occurred on 9th August 1925 at Kakori, Lucknow. This revolutionary incident was orchestrated by revolutionaries of Hindustan Republican Association mainly by Ram Prasad Bismil, Chandra Shekhar Azaad, Asfaq Ullah Khan and others. This sent a shock waves to the very foundation of mighty British Empire and inspired generations of Indians to fight for our independence. Hardoi too has a connection with these revolutionaries. Our very own Jaidev Kapoor ji was part of Hindustan Republican Association. When Bismil and other revolutionaries were arrested by Britishers and were imprisoned, Jaidev Kapoor and others planned to free them from Jail but it was foiled by the Police. 

Today myself along with DM Hardoi and my dear friend Anunaya Jha Ji launched the memoirs of Jaidev Kapoor Ji in story format (voice given by Abhay Shankar Gaud Ji) on Radio 90.4 FM. One incident is worth mentioning here.  After hanging of Bismil ji in Dec 1927 in Gorakhpur, his body was taken for cremation by Jaidev Kapoor ji and others. Jaidev Kapoor in his memoirs talks about the inspiring speech given by mother of Ram Prasad Bismil Ji. She even dedicated his only remaining son to mother India to follow the foot steps of his elder brother. I feel so lucky and proud to be a part of this small ceremony honouring the memories of our great freedom fighters. We also saw the leather shoes gifted by Bhagat Singh Ji to Jaidev Kapoor. His family has preserved these shoes for more than 90 years and they are in very good shape.

"शहीदों की चिताओं पर लगेंगे हर बरस मेले, वतन पर मरने वालों का यही बाकी निशां होगा"

A Brief Introduction of Jaidev Kapoor Ji

Jaidev Kapoor Ji (24 October 1908 — 19 September 1994) was an Indian revolutionary who worked with Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azaad and other revolutionaries from Hindustan Republican Association.  He was born in 1908 on Diwali eve in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh.

While studying in D.A.V. Inter College in Kanpur, he joined Hindustan Republican Association - A revolutionary organisation working towards achieving Independence from Britishers. He also studied in the Banaras Hindu University. Bhagat Singh and stayed in the Limbdi hostel with him for several days. Kapoor was a participant in the now famous meeting of revolutionaries operating all over India which was held in the ruins of Feroz Shah Kotla on 8-9 September 1928. 

Kapoor played an important role in the assembly bombing as a protest against the Trade Dispute Bill and the Public Safety Bill. Kapoor, Shiv Verma and Shivaram Rajguru had planned to assassinate the then Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin, when he would attend a dinner and banquet party hosted by the I. C. S. officers. Rajguru was the spotter, Kapoor was supposed to hurl a bomb at Irwin's car and Verma was the backup: if Kapoor had missed, Verma would throw another bomb. That night, the Viceroy sent his car to drop three women somewhere. Rajguru noticed this and he didn't give any signal but was later praised by all the revolutionaries for avoiding the indiscriminate assassinations.

After the environment in Delhi heated up after the assembly bombings, he and others set up a  bomb factory in Saharanpur. In Police raid on the factory and all were arrested. They were then sent to Lahore and tried under the infamous Lahore Conspiracy Case. He was sent to the Kala Pani. He expressed the desire to meet Singh and other associates for last time. Singh handed over his brand new shoes to Kapoor saying that the police would take them anyway, at least, Kapoor could use them. He preserved them as a souvenir. Kapoor was released after 16 years (just a couple of years before India attained independence).

Jaidev Kapoor died naturally on 19th Sept 1994. He is survived by his son Sanjay Kapoor ji who lives in Hardoi.

Old Habits Die Hard

                Summers in England has always been memorable for India be it NatWest Final victory in 2002 or a heartbreaking defeat in 2019 World Cup Semi Final or the latest scar that we all got on 14th July at Lords. Cricket is my first love and it is the only sport I follow lock, stock and barrel. I will leave ODI and T20 from this article and will come to the most serious facet of Cricket i.e. the Test Match Cricket. 

            I grew watching Indian Cricket in 90s and our performance in that era was pathetically pathetic. I don't remember any match we had won overseas including Sri Lanka. Things only changed when Ganguly took over the captaincy from Sachin after disastrous 0-3 loss to Australia (1999-00 series) and 0-2 home series loss to South Africa (2000). That period was the darkest period of Indian Cricket altogether. Before going to Ganguly period I will come back to the most heartbreaking defeat in 1997. 

            The young Indian Team (Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Abey Kuruvilla, Doda Ganesh, Venkatesh Prasad - out of 11 players these have not played even 10 Test matches till 1997) under the leadership of Sachin faced the world class bowling attack of Ambrose, Walsh and Bishop when it toured West Indies in 1997. In third Test Match of 5 match series, India had to chase 120 runs in the final inning of the match and we lost the match by 38 runs and got all out at 81. This was not a heartbreak, it was an absolute surrender. I could not sleep that night. Many times Sachin has said it on record that it was the most depressing day of his career. This young Indian team could have become immortal but .... 

Another day came just two years later when India had to chase 271 runs in final inning in First Test match against Pakistan in Chennai in 1999. This Indian team was way more experienced and by this time Laxman, Ganguly, Dravid, Prasad etc have all well established themselves.Pakistan had the best bowling attack in the world - Akram, Waqar and Saqlain. Despite of Sachin's valiant inning of 136 runs (I consider this inning as his best Inning ever) we lost the match. It was a true heartbreak. Even to this day we rue our chances in this match. May be Moin Khan cheated in this match. May be it was all fault of our top order.

The Lord's test match is another such heart breaking test match and I can never forget it. We should have won this match. May be Jadeja should have shown some more intent, may be Bumrah should have avoided that shot, may be Nair should have been more watchful! There are so many may be. This match was ours to win. We always celebrate our fight and we are right in doing so. But when our fight will get convert into memorable Test victories.

When we will forget our old habits! When will our swordsman give us memorable victories! I salute his inning in World Cup 2019 Semi Final. I consider this inning as the best inning played by any Indian player in a losing case.

Book Review [172] : The Power Of Now

A book that's more than 5 million copies has been sold since its first publication deserves to be read. 'The Power of Now' by Eckhart Tolle is one such book. Through various random links and twitter accounts of prominent intellectuals this book got my attention.

 

To an eastern mind this book is an average read and "nothing" to offer except to observe the moment that is now without thinking about the past and worrying about the future. Though it looks simple but it's a very powerful concept. Most of the times we live in our past and get ourselves busy in past glory, animosities and lost chances and remaining time gets occupied in future planning. We (most of us) disrespect our present. This book underscores our present.

Over thinking is a major issue. We always think and think and because of this the mental noise always clouds our true inner being. This book also tells how to get rid of this 'absurdity'.

This book is a slim book, about 191 pages. First half is really good and introduces/emphasizes concepts that are really good while second half is pretty boring and looks superfluous.

I will still recommend this book as it has Some Thing to offer depending on how much exposure one has towards spirituality/meditation.

Recommended (8/10)

Book Review [171] : The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind

'The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind' by Dr. Joseph Murphy is the first book i read this year. It has a very high rating and more than a million copies have been been sold since its inception. It was first published in 1963 and since then it has been translated in more than 30 languages.

I found this book very effective. It talks about how to bring positivity in life and how to achieve calmness/greatness. Some may call it pseudo science but it is what it is. Similar concepts we learn when we meditate or do guided meditation or indulge in Yog Nidra. Break the connections between conscious mind and the outer world and let your subconscious mind take control.

Its an old wisdom that says 'Think good and good follows. Think evil and evil follows. You are what you think all day'. It was correct then, it is correct now. 

Nothing can disturb you but your own thoughts. The suggestions, statements or threats of others have no power. What the other person says or does can not really annoy or irritate you except when you permit him to disturb you. You should not let some one else to disturb your peace of mind.

 

Do the thing you are afraid to do, and the death of fear is certain.

Spread light not darkness. 

Spread positivity not negativity.

Spread goodness not evil.

Stay positive, stay good and always make your mind free from all doubts and negative energy. Always start the day on a good note and end the day with a good note. You are the captain of your soul, master of your fate. World is yours dear friend.

Highly Recommended (10/10).