A Truly Beautiful Mind
Analysis
·
The chapter ‘A Truly Beautiful Mind’ is
a beautiful opportunity to peep into the life of one of the greatest
scientists, Albert Einstein. The life story of Albert Einstein is a true
example of a beautiful personality with a beautiful mind.
·
The story highlights that with
unshakeable determination and unquenchable thirst for learning one can reach
his pursuit against all odds. Einstein was considered to be and called as
‘freak’, ‘boring brother’ and good for nothing by his friends, family and
teachers but he disapproved and shocked everyone by emerging as a scientific
genius.
· Albert
Einstein passed away in 1955. He devoted
his life to scientific explorations and advancements and spread the message of world
peace and democracy propagating for the formation of world government. Even
fifty years after his death his genius reigns.
Summary
/ Synopsis
§ Albert
Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany on 14 March, 1979. His
head was too large and he could speak only after he was two and half years in
age. Every one including his mother considered him to be freak. His friends
called him ‘boring brother’. His
headmaster declared that he would never get success at anything.
§ He
was fond of playing with mechanical toys and learning violin and later became a
gifted amateur violinist. He went to school in Munich and was good in all
subjects but he hated school’s regimentation and left the school. His next
joined a school in Switzerland which was much liberal than Munich.
§ Einstein
was gifted in Mathematics and interested in Physics so he studied science at a
university in Zurich. He was attracted towards his fellow student, Mileva
Maric, ‘a clever creature’. They both fell in love.
§ At
the age of 21, he started working as a teaching assistant and in 1902 he
secured a job of technical expert in the patent office in Bern. While assessing
other people’s inventions he worked on his brilliant ideas. He called his desk
drawer as the ‘bureau of theoretical physics’.
§ In
1905 he developed his well known Theory of Relativity and the world’s most
famous formula (E=mc2) describing the relationship between mass and energy.
§ Though
Einstein’s mother didn’t approve Mileva thinking she is older than him and too
intelligent, they both married in 1903 and had two sons. But the marriage wasn’t successful and
they divorced in 1919 and same year Einstein married his cousin, Elsa.
§ In
1915 his General Theory of Relativity was published. It provided a new interpretation
of gravity and an eclipse of sun proved it. Newspapers proclaimed it as ‘a
scientific revolution’. He received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921.
§ When
Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, Einstein moved to USA. With the
discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin Einstein warned American President
against a possible threat of nuclear explosion. Americans secretly developed
atomic bomb and dropped it on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Being utterly
shaken by the destruction caused Einstein wrote a public missive to United
Nations and proposed for the formation of world government. Later he became
active in politics campaigning against arms build up and their use.
§ Einstein
died in 1955. He was not only a scientific genius and but also a visionary and
world citizen.
Chronolgy of Einstein’s
Life
14 March, 1879 born
in Ulm, Germany
1894 joined a school in Switzerland
(at the age of 15)
1900 employed as teaching assistant (at
the age of 21)
1902 started working as technical expert at
patent office in Bern
1903 married with Mileva
1905 developed Theory of Relativity
1915 General Theory of Relativity was
published
1919 divorced from Mileva
1921 received the Nobel Prize for
Physics
1933 moved to USA
1945 wrote a public missive to United
Nations proposing for the formation of world government
1955 died and left this world
Important Question answers
Q1. Why did Einstein call his desk drawer at the
patent office? Why?
Ans. Albert Einstein jokingly called his desk drawer
at the patent office the ‘bureau of theoretical physic’. He used to assess the
scientific inventions and theories submitted by people. These papers were kept
in his desk drawers for study and approval. That’s why the desk containing
theories related to Physics was termed as the bureau of theoretical physics.
Q2. Why does the world remember Einstein as a ‘world
citizen’?
Ans. Einstein led a life devoted to scientific
developments and advancements and for this purpose he broke the boundaries of
nations and cities. He left his country as it was not liberal and conducive to
creative and free learning. As a scientist he worked in Switzerland and USA. After
Hiroshima Nagasaki tragedy he was utterly shaken and wrote a public missive to
United Nations proposing for the formation of world government. Later he became
active in politics campaigning against arms build up and their use. He also
campaigned for world peace and democracy. Though he was born in Germany, he never
limited himself to his country. When he died, he was
considered to be a visionary and world citizen.
