This newsletter is changing...

...here is what you can expect

I started this Substack almost two years ago, and first used to share frankly terrible serial fiction.

We then had some better serial fiction, and then I started sharing what I enjoyed learning. Actionable advice from books, films, podcasts, stories etc. Information is as important as oxygen to me, the most unproductive day is a day I don’t learn anything.

And sharing this knowledge brings me more joy than almost anything else. However, as you might have noticed that my newsletter has become more and more infrequent over the past year.

This is because my pre-med tests are coming closer and the fact that I have additionally decided to study math is not doing any favors to my schedule(however, it is greatly increasing my life fulfillment, so there’s that).

This combined with a few more projects which are going on(my first textbook being one of them) leaves me with almost no time to write. While I can probably write a half baked unresearched newsletter with motivating buzzwords, I believe in quality over quantity.

So we are switching things. Instead of having essays or compilations like I used to previously have, we’ll have a weekly letter every Wednesday. It will have some things I learnt. Some things I tried and some things which I just want to tell the world. Don’t worry, the old style is not going anywhere and I will probably return to it by July 2024, but for meanwhile, I request you to join me every week as we learn and grow together.

Also I would like to thank all of you who have remained subscribed despite such infrequent posts. The infrequency started when the family was about 150 subscribers and despite an infrequent stretch the numbers haven’t gone down, it has actually increased.

I cannot thank you enough for that. As I change the format, I hope you’ll remain part of the family.

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I was recently left waiting on the Surat railway station for 4 hours as my train was delayed due to rain.

The train was halted in Sanjan, a small town in Gujarat, which has its own wikipedia page for some reason. And I gave it a read. Sanjan was the place where Zoroastrians first came to India from Turkey as refugees after the fall of Sassanid Empire in 698 AD.

Sanjan has historical significance as the place where Zoroastrians first sought refuge in India after the fall of the Sassanid Empire in 698 AD. They were received by the fair and secular King Jadi Rana, who, when approached by the Zoroastrians for asylum, symbolically filled a vessel of milk to the brim to indicate that his kingdom was already full and couldn't accept more refugees. In response, a Zoroastrian priest added a pinch of sugar to the milk, signifying that they wouldn't overwhelm the kingdom and would make the lives of its citizens sweeter. Impressed by this gesture, Jadi Rana granted shelter to the emigrants, allowing them to practice their religion and traditions freely.

Those refugees were called Parsis(since they came from Perisa) and the name still stands. Just as the priest promised, Parsis have integrated seamlessly into Indian society and made significant contributions to Indian history. Their reverence for knowledge is evident in their faith, as their supreme god is referred to as the 'wise one.' This emphasis on knowledge has led many Parsis to become well-educated, and they played a pivotal role in organizing the Indian freedom struggle and scientific advancements in India.

Lal Bagh na Raja(The king of Lal Bagh), the biggest idol. It is organized by the fishermen of Bombay thanking him for the knowledge of fishing and marine climatic patterns which allow them to earn money while being safe.

This also got me thinking about Ganesh Chaturti. Its an Hindu festival where we celebrate Ganesh, the Hindu god of education. While its origin is a story for another time, it’s by far my favorite festival.

Legend has it that Lakshmi, the goddess of Wealth, and Saraswati, the goddess of Wisdom, are sisters who cannot sit together unless Lord Ganesh unites them. This symbolic narrative underscores the idea that wealth and wisdom are truly potent when united through education.

During the ten days of Ganesh Chaturti, small clay idols of Lord Ganesh are brought into homes or large communal spaces within apartment complexes. These idols are worshiped thrice daily for the duration of the festival, believed to be the time when Lord Ganesh roams the earth. On the tenth day, the idols are immersed in water, signifying Lord Ganesh's return to his celestial abode.

What I particularly adore about this festival is that Lord Ganesh's domain is knowledge alone. His hymn begins with the line, "Sukhkarta Dukhharta Varta Vighnachi," which praises him as the one who bestows prosperity and removes obstacles by imparting knowledge. He stands apart as the deity who doesn't grant your wishes directly but empowers you with the knowledge to attain them yourself. While requesting and receiving assistance may be akin to spoon-feeding, acquiring knowledge and accomplishing your goals through it is the essence of true learning.

As I write this, we are just one week away from the day when the Ganesh idol is immersed. While I understand that most of my readers may not be Hindu, I invite you to embrace the spirit of learning and discovery and learn one new skill this month. As Benjamin Franklin once wisely said, "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."

Recommendations

1. I have been obsessed with Tu Jhoom by Abida Parveen and Naseebo Lal. The song is about not worrying, and facing the hardships with a smile and dancing through hard times.

2. This may be a book suggestion only a few of you will actually need but Modern Olympiad Number Theory by Aditya Khurmi is the best text on number theory I have ever read. The best part, he has put it out for free.

3. Polish, no, not nail polish is a new Substack newsletter which I believe you should check out if you enjoy learning about different cultures(which everyone likes)

Quote of the week

The saddest aspect of society right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.

- Isaac Asimov

Whoever can comment the name of the person who quoted this, will receive a surprise present, you will like it.(Contest is closed, the winner is Stephen Kastner)

Warm Regards,

Arjun Agarwal.