Book Review: By Gurdev Singh Srikhandpur
“For the rest of my life, I want to reflect on what light is” - Albert Einstein
From the early days of Brahmagupta and Aryabhatta to the modern-age pioneers like Ramanujan and C. V. Raman, the Indian subcontinent has produced some of the most prolific scientists and thinkers who not only made some incredible contributions to the evolution of mankind, but also found ways to attach a philosophical niche to their theories and discoveries. Fast forward to the 21st century, and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the “Missile Man of India”, was elected President of India in 2002.
Throughout the centuries, many hundreds of such great minds have come and gone, but very few have had the distinction of being listed in the halls of fame or mentioned in history books. Today, I shall bring to your notice one such great personality whose name you might not have heard before, but whose contributions you definitely have “seen”.
Let me introduce you to Dr Narinder Singh Kapany, aka “The Father of Fibre Optics”. Have you ever used a LAN cable for your internet connection? Have you seen doctors use specialised scopes that go into the deep crevices of the human body? Who do you think made LASIK surgery possible? It’s this man, right here. Winner of the Padma Vibhushan award, Fortune named him one of seven "Unsung Heroes of the 20th Century" for his Nobel Prize-deserving invention.
I had the chance to read his memoir, aptly titled “The Man Who Bent Light”, and it took me on a lightspeed voyage of discovery and humility. Born into a Sikh family in 1926, Kapany spent his childhood years in India before moving to the UK, where he made his early discoveries, which garnered him much respect within the scientific community. When bigger opportunities presented themselves, he moved to the US, where he founded Optics Technology and made his massive contributions to philanthropy, agriculture, and spiritual learning.
The book unravels very quickly, with each page more captivating than the last; each new invention propelling him higher in the scientific community, and each new community effort earning him the trust and respect of scientists and global leaders. Though a passionate man of science—with over 100 patents to his name—Kapany is also a hopeless romantic. In his book, he takes every opportunity to mention how much he loved his wife and how much her support meant to his mental and physical wellness over the arduous years.
Apart from his scientific career and his role as a family man, Kapany is also a devout Sikh, who recently discovered that his lineage can be traced back to Guru Amar Das Ji. This book also highlights his various roles as a mediator, a supporter, and a philanthropist for various Sikh organisations, having helped in the construction of schools and Gurdwaras as well.
Though I’ve mentioned his many attributes and accomplishments, I assure you that we’ve only scratched the surface. Go pick up “The Man Who Bent Light” by Narinder S. Kapany and set your time machine on autopilot because it’s going to take you tearing through the space-time continuum at the speed of light.