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summary of chapter comet2

The Comet - II

-Jayant Narlikar

I

Jamess doubts

After their discussions, Sir John dropped James at his hotel. James found it hard to believe that Comet Dutta was on a collision course with the Earth when he looked at the peaceful night sky. For a moment, he doubted his own calculations. When he came for the conference, his other doubt of Sir John being able to organise an international conference within a week was removed. All the invited astronomers, scientists, nuclear physicists, technologists were there along with Duttada.

The secret conference devises a plan

In the conference that went on for a week, the calculations made by James were checked many times. It was found that Comet Dutta would indeed hit the Earth. There was a slight chance that it may just scrape the atmosphere and cause less damage. But, the experts had to take action. They did not agree with the defensive plan of living in underground bunkers. They planned an offensive measure.

All of the nuclear material available on Earth would be put in a spaceship. It would be detonated by a remote once it reached close to Comet Dutta. This would change its path to avoid collision with Earth. The secret mission was named Project Light Brigade.

Time-table for Project Light Brigade

October 10: Spacecraft with the nuclear material to be launched.

November 15: Spacecraft to meet Comet Dutta and the nuclear material is to be exploded.

December 15: If the plan is unsuccessful, Comet Dutta would strike Earth on this day; otherwise it would pass by at a close but safe distance.

The scientists hoped that the comet was not too big, only then could it be deflected from its path.

Duttadas friendship with Sir John

During the week of the conference, Duttada and Sir John came to like each other and became friends. Duttada asked Sir John if he had any hope that their plan would succeed. Sir John answered truthfully that he would not buy any Christmas presents till December 15. Duttada spent two weeks after the conference in Britain. He visited observatories and met astronomers. He was welcomed back home by a huge group of friends and admirers.

II

Duttadas frustration at the ceremony organised by his wife

Duttada arrived home to find Indrani Debi had organised a prayer meeting oryajnato ward off any evil. He was furious that she still believed in superstitions like travelling abroad being bad or discovering a comet being unlucky. His brother tried to convince him that the prayer had been organised to bless him and do away with the bad effects of the comet. Duttada replied angrily that such beliefs were fine only in the olden days of mans ignorance. In the modern day, comets had been studied to be heavenly bodies with mathematically calculated paths. There was no relation between calamities and comets.

Exchange of letters between Duttada and Sir John

Duttada liked Sir Johns ability and discipline, and Sir John appreciated his logical approach. They kept in touch with each other. Sir John mentioned the progress of Project Light Brigade in a roundabout, hidden manner in his letters. Comet Dutta followed the path that scientists had foreseen; it neither evaporated nor broke into pieces. Mid-October, Duttada got a letter from Sir John hinting the launch of the spaceship. The question remained whether it would meet Comet Dutta on time and if the explosion would take place as planned.

Duttada could not share his worries with anybody. He participated in the festivals like Durgapuja and Diwali. During daytime, he enjoyed interacting with his grandson Khoka and during nights with his telescope Dibya.

Good news regarding the comet

Duttada followed the comets path regularly and it was now visible to the naked eye. He received an urgent telex message from the British Council on November 18. It was from Sir John mentioning he was now confident of buying his Christmas presents. He ran to buy sweets from his favouriterasagollashop in celebration. On December 15, Comet Dutta came at the closest distance of 80,000 kilometres. Many people were struck in wonder, only a few knew it had been a threat that could have led to complete destruction of Earth.

Duttadas disbelief at the divide between the rational and the superstitious

Duttada enquired of his wife if she was now convinced that no destruction could be related to the comet. Indrani Debi agreed that there had been no devastation, but that was due to his grandson Khoka performing the prayers in his place in theyajna. He had refused to perform the rituals but their guru had found this solution.

Duttada had difficulty imagining his grandson uttering prayers and doing rituals he did not understand. He was baffled by the two extremes of logical, scientific approach and age-old, superstitious outlook.

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The conference of experts: James was surprised when he went to attend the conference.All the experts who were invited were present Sir John had also invited Duttada.

Scientists plan to save the earth.

 At first the scientists checked James calculations and found that they were correct. Comet Dutta was sure to collide with the earth on December 15.

Some suggested a defensive action. They suggested that underground bunkers should be constructed for everyone to live in.

But this suggestion was not practicable. It was not accepted.

Then the scientists suggested an offensive action. They intended to give the comet a push to change its course. For this they planned to send a spaceship with nuclear power. The ship would intercept the comet at the right time and then it will be exploded by remote control. This project was named the Charge of Light Brigade. A time- table was drawn for the action.

Will the action succeed?

Duttada and Sir John had become good friends. Duttada asked Sir John’s opinion about the success of the project. He said he could not say anything with certainty but he would not buy his Christmas presents before December 15.

Duttada returns home: Duttada stayed in England for another week. He visited observatories and met astronomers. Then he came back to Calcutta.

Preparations for a yajna: There was a big crowd at his house.His wife Indrani Debi had consulted Guruji. He had advised performing a yajna to bless Duttada, and to pacify the evil spirits behind the comet.

But Duttada was displeased. He refused to have anything to do with the yajna. He explained that there was no connection between the appearance of a comet and the misfortunes of the world.

The charge of Light Brigade is successful: Comet Dutta came very close to earth. Millions of people admired it. But they didn’t know how dangerous it was. Duttada had been worrying. Then he received an urgent TELEX from Sir John. It said that he was going to buy his Christmas presents on December 15. No one could understand what it meant. But Duttada was extremely happy. He knew that the charge of Project Light Brigade has been successful. The earth had been saved from complete destruction.

Who saved the Earth? After the comet had disappeared, Duttada said to his wife, “Now you see that there is nothing harmful about a comet.” But she smiled. She said that the comet did not harm because the yajna was performed. Duttada’s grandson had performed the yajna on behalf of Duttada.

Rational and superstitions: Duttada was shocked. He wondered that even in this age the rational and the superstitions exist together, though the gap between the two was too wide.
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