Does Thought need Language?

I was having lunch with my partnered colleague and a straight question: "In which language do you think?” had kept me paused for certain moments and left me pondering as it created a doubt in my mind. I went on to ask myself another question, does thought need language?

Language is mere medium to communicate. It is a set of symbol that is being agreed upon by two parties to express and communicate. Thus it is actually an abstraction to another set of people. It is an abstraction to a person until he instantiate himself to be a member of that group. Now what he is doing is actually agreeing to learn or understand their medium.

While thought on other hand is a process in which a human mind operates or functions to attain desired objective. I had put my initial thoughts but he without disagreeing tried to indoctrinate his ideas with examples. My mind was incertitude another idea of "Chicken first or Egg", resembling similar dubiety had come up in my mind. Well the former was certainly easier to answer, I felt.

I tried to dig in to the philosophy of genesis of human thought, although I had something really important to complete as a commitment, and found that this subject has been in debate as early as time of human civilization came into being. Interestingly medical science has been researching on this subject and has many theories. One of them is based on the MRI study of blood circulation in brain. The MRI scan of brain under different stimuli shows that thought generates in the portion of brain where blood flow is maximum.

Another theory which is even more interesting is study of neuron. According to it; these special cells in brain are cause of entire thought process. When there is large number of neurons active it is indication of some thought process. If neurons are hyper-active and uncontrolled the thought process is aggressive which is what was indicated by Lord Krishna as उत्तेजना'uttejana' while he was educating Arjuna, didn’t I say early days. On contrary when neurons are inert we go into trance called as संयम‘sanyam’. While we are awake there are many mundane thoughts that is always in our mind. Though there are debates over the neuron readings as the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) used for study emits an EMI (Electro-Magnetic Induction) which destroy neurons. I leave experts to ponder over it as I was feeling comfortable of my initial thoughts.

The next day another table of turn and I immediately took opportunity to explain my thoughts. I was feeling great as I continued speaking and I finished in style. "…… A new born baby does not know a language but they do think. Language is mere mode and just an aide to thought". Here I was caught again and restaurant retainer did not help my cause either. He served the soup. My fellow mate started there, he exclaimed 'the moment I touch this soup the words that come to my mind is "aae toh gorom", I THINNK IN BENGALI!!!’ I with extreme honesty tried this exercise and failed to get any assistance by all the language I knew, it was only my mind indicating that soup was hot. There was silence for few minutes as I had no answer. He interrogated further, I replied back, I think.., 'I THINK IN ENGLISH, HINDI, MAITHILI and MARATHI!!!'

१००rav Ganguly

“Cometh the moment, Cometh the man”. It is yet another feat in the career of a sportsperson who is not only mindful of adversity but is master in combating it. He is a model to the core for many youngsters and individuals who see no light in the dark clouds and are drown in sharp showers of fate. He has demonstrated the entire world that determination with grit can change despair into writ. But when asked of his resilience he presents his humble best and says that the comeback was not a demonstration to someone but belief that he always belonged to the highest level.

Little did I had faith in cricket administration in India that dada would stage a comeback as I had even lost interest in the game. It reminds me of his commercial where he asks people whether they feel he is forgotten hero and assures them of his comeback. But here he shows emulation that individual must not be hapless when in despair and desperate to get desired result but have self belief that he has in him to succeed or else analyze what it takes to be at highest level and fill in the gaps steadily. Amazing character is he, it is not easy for some celebrity who is dumped in dark burrow of ashes to dig out, but he did and to shine and glitter his way is an example to many generations in years to come.

Life certainly goes in full circle. It all started with the India's tour down under in 2003-04 when Ganguly had scored a hundred and attributed that score to few adjustment after discussions with Greg Chapel. He has influenced the cricket board for Mr. Chapel as coach and then the famous squabble. His astonishing comeback and now the glorious 'sau' th game at the ground which celebrate its own 100th game and where Mr. Chapel had played at the beginning of his career. Well, well as I say beginning, I see a new chapter getting unleashed in the glorious career of Saurav Ganguly. He deserves the rave for his 100 th appearance.

Modi-fied Gujrat

I am not an ardent fan nor i sway by the waves, of politics, though keep myself informed of changes in political arena. When the mandate was declared i was sitting pretty in dhaka chilling my appendix, keeping watch on the only news channel aired here. The moment swings were announced the picture was clear and outcome then would have re-assured people of gujrat that they would be lead by a person whom they follow more than any national political personality.

While i continued watching the vote enumeration i was amused to hear a new term coined "Moditava" and definition being comprehended by the erudite 'political statistician'. Without saying Narendra Modi already at the helm of one state is being pushed hard by the media as a national force in the days to come. It wont be incorrect to say 'it is only people who make the leaders' without taking away any credit for Mr. Modi's Performance as result need no explanation.

Gujrat has always been the case of 'Cain Drain', thought to coin a term as well. As many enterprising people left the state in search of better and even field where they would get just return for their efforts. During past few years the state has certainly been transformed in to developing one with many plan executed with success. Subsequently state has also seen return of its children as a result of NRI investment. Nontheless the results are celebrated in the west as reported.

But Mr. Modi has stood above all the developments and his fitting personality has forced me write my first blog as "Modi"-fied Gujrat.