Prakash Kumar

Throughout history, civilizations, communities, and individuals have sought to uncover the true purpose of human existence. Rationalists, scientists, spiritualists, and religious leaders have all contributed their perspectives, resulting in a vast array of literature on the subject. Yet, a universally humane definition of the purpose of mortal human life remains elusive. Each entity endeavors to define it in its own unique way, varying widely across regions, communities, and individuals. Amid this diversity, a unifying thread has often been missing, leaving the multitude of definitions on the purpose of life seemingly disconnected. Recently, I came across the thoughts of Nick Cave, a multifaceted individual—a musician, songwriter, screenwriter, novelist, and actor—whose reflections seemed to serve as a connecting point, shedding light on the fundamental purpose and meaning of our existence. Cave delineates two essential pillars that lend meaning and purpose to our brief sojourn on this...

Reflections on the journey through 2023 have been a profound learning into the complexities of life, akin to navigating through a maze of professional, personal, emotional, sentimental and familial challenges. As I sit here in the final week of the year, the external facade of control belied the internal maelstrom that persisted, known only to the depths of my own being. At times I enjoyed this inner struggle to come out of the situation. Throughout this tumultuous but remarkable year, I endeavored to employ every learned life skill and experience to weather the storms, yet often found myself in the throes of inner turmoil, occasionally erupting into harsh external manifestations. While there were moments of brilliance, quietness, and remarkable events, the overarching narrative was one of enduring internal strife, conflict, and confusion.The solitude which I was used to was no where. In the midst of this chaos, I grappled with the struggle to exist in the present moment, wrestling wi...

Throughout my life, I have found myself intrigued by some of the pivotal choices I have made almost on a whim, leaving them to fate and chance. This tendency is not limited to me but it is a common thread among those close to me and in general in the society at large—friends and family alike. We often plunge into decisions without much thought, especially the big ones like education or marriage or career which has far reaching consequences in one's own life, family and society. Recently, I have noticed this pattern among those I know quite well, and the swift outcomes surprised me. It led me to ponder life's unpredictable twists and turns. Yet, despite introspection, I haven't quite found clarity. The debate about fate versus our own thoughtful action in crucial moments lingers. Some advocate for relying on education and intellect,for clear thinking, taking opportunities, and having a definitive life vision.This viewpoint dismisses leaving things to chance or tradition, urg...