Question

Briefly explain the following statement from the text.

“You neither travelled to the past nor the future. You were in the present experiencing a different world.”

Answer 1

The statement is from the text The Adventure written by Jayant Vishnu Narlikar. These words were said by Rajendra to Professor Gaitonde in the context of his entering into a different state of consciousness, which revealed a different version of the outcome of the Battle of Panipat. According to this version as revealed to Prof. Gaitonde, the Marathas emerged victorious in the battle, which is contrary to the facts as presented in the History books. The statement reveals that one can experience an altogether different world without travelling to the past or the future. Prof. Gaitonde was witnessing a different set of events remaining in the present. It was not a matter of fantasy or imagination on the part of Prof. Gaitonde but a different reality as revealed to him. Such alternative realities occur due to bifurcation leading to a different course of events simultaneously. In the present context, the bifurcation took place in the Battle of Panipat so that in one course of the event the Marathas emerged victoriously and in another, they lost the battle. The History books mention that the Marathas lost the battle of Panipat, which is also true and the other version as revealed to Prof. Gaitonde is also true.