The Alternate Universe by Dr. Jernail Singh Anand
Publisher: The Poetry Society of India. ISBN 9789391091859   PP 126

Onslaught of terrific growth of computer-oriented incursions into entirely fresh and different regions of unsullied drafting baffles calculative efforts to underscore growth and expansion of mind with signs of pragmatic drive. It necessitates a curious intellect to view life and existence in existing scenario. These are the provinces, which attract multifaceted contemporary philosophic prodigy in the literary world –a genius Jernail Singh Anand, defying definition. He unites science fiction, technology and spirituality as life obtains new meaning in phenomenal mayhem. Frenzied living styles amidst estimated peace and harmony non-existent in zones of war drive hatred and obvious enmity but nobody accepts. It appears radically bewildering. Anand obliquely writes and cudgels. He connects, disunites, destroys and integrates speckled mechanism of life that artificial intelligence presents while investigating minds of terrific dimensions, and so, he speculates and questions gods.

Wide-raging concepts, amazingly futuristic outlook and formidable deformations confuse a rational man whose mind spreads wings to directions uncultivated where technology, AI, science, spirituality and extra-terrestrial regions determine the areas of new lyrical epic –The Alternate Universe. The epic is a phenomenal philosophic treatise where characters from different worlds – earth, religions, technology, science and spirituality enter. To integrate essentials of regions hitherto unattended and the ultra- modern perspective that goes beyond the current age is hard. To predict peace in ethically chaotic worlds in search of coherence in disturbed inner and outer worlds where conflicts devastate and life of anarchy stays alive amidst hopes eternal appears intricate.

The Alternate Universe 2025 is a publication of Poetry Society of India, Gurugram, India.

A celebrated laureate of prestigious awards –Seneca (Italy), Charter of Morava (Serbia), Franza Kafka -Germany, Ukraine, Check Rep., Maxim Gorky and Signs Peace Award (Italy), Anand, 1955 born, a poet philosopher is an author of incredibly 180 notable books, who adorns the Poets’ Rock in Serbia. A towering literary myth from Chandigarh with amazing vision, wisdom, philosophic insight and terrific creativity embraces universal consciousness the essentials of Indian culture and heritage. He celebrates integrated vision of universal unity of man, society and humankind.

Creativity is grand and fragmented and it finds no plausible ancestry. This deportment drives to putrefy ‘the magic of human ambition’. Know that lifeless apparatus has almost ‘killed life’ - no bright ray of hope, and therefore, the invocation appears chaotic but motivating to the culture of ‘use and throw’ - a huge caricature. Man slowly moves into dense obscurity of images, and locates ‘the self’ that exists as if dead. Invoking of legendary fiends in mythology grants no relief. The poet seeks relief in the other world –the Alternate Universe where glimmers of intellect and spiritual might work. Poet Anand creates a scenario of despair, ruin and casualty, moves to a deemed heaven –a concept baffling man in search of supreme joy nurtures.

Excitement stirs as man moves from Lustus to Craza - equally fascinating invitees –driving man to more uncertainty, crisis and annihilating prospect of hope, joy and peace resulting in the concept of Overlap of Souls - an interesting outlet to run away from the unrelenting perplexity and indefiniteness Lustus and Craza create. Neither good nor evil but persuasive creations one finds. However, man is powerless to raise a finger of doubt.

Craza has no answer whether the inquiry regarding God would continue or not. However, arguments persist where Lustus is still dynamic. The creations are interesting, growing in respective areas but foresee cynical hope for man as mind, intellect and heart sans fail to riposte. However, humanity endures abundant vicissitudes -a hope emerges. If existing troubles of the world disappear, it is good as AI stands firm! Craza hopes of righteousness in the world portend well when Brahma –a Hindu God one among the Trinity, and secretary AI –Stacia speak about the plea the angels suggest. One learns from the great tycoon Craza, who enjoys life of trust lands up in Hell and desires compassion with no consecration.

Hidden elements of derision subsist when living beings speak of integrity or virtue, which carry no value. AI is an industrial unit engaged in multiplying evil where life appears enjoyable –a contemporary scenario where iniquity and affability live together lacking empathy. It is static, dreary and dead. Recognize that living being is a mini industrial unit. Romala –an envoy of Tortures asserts needs of wealth and resources in an embryonic economy where the architect has grown old, and therefore, another Vishvakarma is required. A nymph of heaven Craza tells wants adequate infrastructure with good living standards for the future world –the Alternate Universe.

Confusion mounts as Prophet speaks of heartrending tales. He affirms the thought of heaven or hell is illusory. Does it mean it is a world sans any worth or class, for each opposite contains a constituent of positive value? The idea stands conveyed but Brahma’s envoys fail to transmit the truth of actions on earth. A constitution stipulating no distinction between the human world and the divine appears an explicit challenge to the Gods. Nevertheless, an arrogant mythical creature strikes at humans’ drawbacks and questions the wisdom, vision and knowledge of scriptures. The prophet desires wiping out of lines of distinction. Good and bad should continue for the survival of beings. Purity of quality is a myth. The dilemma is not to create new beyond imaginations and images. The actual trouble starts when the poet realizes defiance of the creations. It happens with a genius when he grapples with the character. Craza is not simple and Lustus embodies impudence, loves darkness and shadows whereas Craza loves light but insipidness overwhelms.

To find relevance in the world is the major issue where Anand’s struggles to establish relationship with life and existence. To that extent, his creations love to enjoy the regions of heaven and hell. It appears irrational since the poet is delineating the existing psyche of men where Craza and Lustus live and enjoy in purgatory overlap. Exclusivity is a sticky situation. The poet inspects the plight of human beings, where sovereigns thrash about to rule and sustain integrity at will but transiting, and the violent fight back between the good and the bad sans restrictions continues. If Anand invests his creation with the power and intelligence of Kukudmi who visits Brahma with a request to find a suitable match for daughter Ravati, it is possible but he cannot. He is neither a king of penance who fought for the cause of gods, descended on earth for a long sleep to kill fatigue, meets Krishna before he reduces Kalayavana to ashes. Anand works for conciliation among the three key players –the science, technology and spirituality!

Brahma understood the involvedness, and considered to call a summit of Indra,Vishnu and other prominent gods. Divinity Creda, a creation of Lustus the custodian of Evil enters, and learns that heaven offers no motivation but reveals that ‘…people have no stake in Goodness / As a result of which / Heaven is losing its followers / While the Hell’s popularity is growing much faster. / It will be great to make some provisions / To attract people towards Heaven 33.’ Now, the media’s crusade -publicity drive to open courses in various subjects in the art of sinning begins -

Some people were greedy after wealth,

But then they started spending it for good of the earth.

Now, the records show they are evil

But their lives show they were doing good deeds.

For such people, at least Sire

Some space can be earmarked

If not in Heaven 34

Exasperating creation flaunts signs of candor even in lunacy and futility. She adores a suggestion that a few corrections in law are essential to make entry to heaven easy, and visualizes the solution. The poet is very near the resolution a powerful ruler presages. The chaos means substantial flow of souls –‘… a genderless mass… is the idea of men and women /only earth specific? 36’ Prophet is aware that only gods hold the power of creation ‘…create men and women /only for the earth, /That too for the sake of procreation.’ Nonetheless, Craza a king of Artificial Empire with business interests in several planets avers judicious proposition to gods will help who with the help of AI may ‘… create a man who possesses / the procreative apparatus/ of a woman’ without any physical union 36-37. Immense disagreement is apparent. Marriage has no reality it is garbage, a tribal obsession. The dialogue on structural changes sans any category, categorization, caste or colour drives to the theory of ‘alternate world order’ that loves proximity to gods.

Now, the images start to form silhouettes where Marx and Lenin with respective theories of class struggle and regime outline an unyielding notion of the alternating world. They speak of workers and class struggle even as the god reminds Marx that he had avowed religion as opium- a startling close. In the conversation, in the evolving form of society words like proletariat and Bourgeois gather strength. A protracted dispute takes shape where hypothesis about communism, capitalism cropped up, denied and disappeared but capitalism stays though socialism fades away to a some extent but still survives with readjustments in form and concept. Underneath, insight about life and existence are insignificant where knowledge, wisdom and vision matter, and apparently, changes in the system are obvious. The dialogue is not philosophic but carries incredible consignment of good judgment.

The poet recapitulates an eternally mind-numbing debate and after haranguing on civilization, wisdom, Greed, Wealth and Power, world and its fake theoretical allusions and faded suggestions, says –

Men don’t want to lead happy lives.

Men don’t believe in a class society.

Humanity is a divided house.

You cannot finish struggle

For power and subsistence 40

The words hint at definite collapse, the poet foretells and insists that man in whatever mode may endeavor, will never succeed in the formation of ethically objective society. His efforts will come to nothing, for he will continue to love wealth, and the consequent struggle for more of it is adequate to create chaos, anarchy, hatred, and fight for supremacy temporary –ending in tragic annihilation. Nobody would share the responsibility for the trouncing and elimination. Thus, the mechanism of continuing clash, incongruity, dissection in acts and thoughts, class, caste and communal realization would take well-located or deadly forms.

Thoughts on the alternate world appear disquieting despite benefits of AI, hazards and doubts on absolute control of human mind due to lassitude, conformity and love for reliance and related innovations for human comforts. The incongruous postures would survive. Craza argues on signs of variance and encourages slavery, hunger, poverty, and therefore, many live under strain of men’s creations as the onus shifts to gods. Mechanism of continuity in inner or outer inaptness must end. It requires radical change in mind-set.

If prophet stands for the attributes of human beings, Craza holds a different opinion and speaks of the ultimate disintegration of human intellect. Artificiality can afford to behave like the original, and this thought is calamitous for growth. System has to change for the better and words like sins, crimes, lies, penalty, hell, heaven etc should change. Ennui of today could faint. The controversy is infinite and the conflict to agree exists around.

However, the final scene appears to lose past, constructs different future to become past and dead with incessant mustiness and fatality. Nothing memorable would live as newness materializes. Craza knows truth and limitations of man and the eternal God, a transient experience. Man’s continuity is certain. Here, Craza forecasts a new territory –Space K Plus, a place that could sway relations among men and God. This space will obstruct man’s path to God because scrutiny of God’s command appears inevitable. Anand’s idea of creation derives strength from ancient scriptures or history where child takes birth through a mere thought sans any violence to woman. Radioactivity and concept of digitalization existed at that time… and still exists, one believes!

Thought appears outrageous, unbearable, spurious and ridiculous but the poet’s wordy images create scenes shattering innate religious construction and scriptural warp and weft where built-in interrelations and connections nearly defy coherence. If one were constructing new binds of thought or philosophic rationality in enigmatic situation translated into actuality, one confronts trans-reality phenomenon, which leads to frequent appearance of challenging circumstances where Craza and Prophet face real test of identity. The words hint at the totality of human heritage, culture, civilization and slithering uneasiness and distortion visualizing extinction to which sage Markandeya was the eyewitness. The thought of auto-destruct strikes Craza as Prophet throws a question and visualizes death.

Brahma holds consultations with Indra and Vishnu about Craza’s reflection on the Alternate Universe. Craza in-depth study cautions the lords but foster no doubts about Craza. Vishnu expresses fears and uncertainty of conduct of human beings in such situations and so they live in confusion and suspicions lacking knowledge and wisdom, spend life in bafflement, and live in a state of acquiescence.

However, Brahma talks about the non-performing world where men fail to do their duties and cannot come out of the possibility of life and death, and hence the sufferings continue.

Vishnu tells of lack of knowledge since the real wisdom lives in dark areas far away from the divine joy. He knows flaws of men that encourage Craza to use knowledge devoid of element of divinity, and desires to construct beings with the strength of technology. It leads to imperfection and terrific anarchy –the alternate world. Vishnu looks worried. Brahma recalls Gandhari and so Vishnu obtains the answer. A man goes beyond what he holds and will acquire. He understands the ability of saints, sages, seers …who go beyond the mortals. However, Craza needs special type of knowledge technology offers beyond the terrestrial worlds located somewhere between the sky and earth - a mix partly human and partially divine - coalesce of technology and spirituality. One can anticipate nature, knowledge and acts of living beings of such a world –‘the alternate space’.

In the protracted discourse full of anxieties, they are cognizant of the inequity in the world and indicate wrong use and so it hurts divine quality of the gods of heaven. Men of pragmatic virtues and clean life with little of unconstructive ingredient could bring transformation in conformist living style. It is good to embrace changes. Craza has no past and men without history give a suggestion then …imagine future. It is easy to make corrections…look at the present scenario of ambiguity even if one notices changes in state formation where no thought or variant works. Naturally, some dissentions can surface in dead construct. May be distortion in new labor looks drab, no match to archetype celestial? However, Craza is conscious of the new lifeless being even but working like a human sans emotions and aspirations for material or inner hunger. In the past it was different – a struggle to become good or…but it could bring fall down of system –a bleak future. Negative qualities of new system could overwhelm. It is not good for man’s freedom despite comforts technology provides.

Anand, the poet with innovative thoughts creates fascinating scenario where many petitions from different organizations reach. Indra apprises Brahma of the situation. Arguments are put across against the new world technology creates. AI arrival is dangerous many feel but it is incorrect. Perfection is an ideal not reality - impossibility. To walk on the path of truth is good and men should not fear alternate Universe. During the course of argument, Brahma wants Craza to speak because he considers God is generous. Craza requests for a space Overlap -some space meant for a mix of ‘neither good nor bad’ –a weird perception with iota of celestial delight. The suggestion appears eccentric for technology will control men. AI would do what asked, for it would not conceive resolution, and thus, new man would do no good, since here technology and politician will work together and make life desolate and empty.

After immense deliberations, the gods agree with Craza because gods wish good of humankind that pursues path of virtue and uprightness. Thus, gods finally accept what Craza wants where AI plans, designs and executes …and the project ‘the Alternate Universe’ takes form. Such is not precisely an eerie or bizarre world but definitely unusual and beyond typical human thought –the birth of new man –the impersonal man, and then, the assault of values –morality, rights and duties and the motionless growth with its imperfections -motorized functioning sans soul. Know soul makes man a creation of god – thinking and experiencing. These possible faults caution and so the lords ask the king of technology not to damage sensibilities and finer instincts of man.

In the prevailing universe

…

Religions have been teaching to men

In a thousand ways since millions of yours

…Men have deteriorated.

It is clear they have development immunity

From religious teachings.

The fundamentalist streak shows

‘Humanity is fast receding into divisive chaos. 85’

The theory of elimination will operate for blemishes. It is a universe with laboratories as if wombs so that reproduction is possible but offspring inclined to formation will react, even if it has some ties with the celestial origin. It will not know past and as averred earlier, will be vigorous in the present. With a few exceptions, God agrees to what Craza proposes. Harsh changes are not good but karma should control men with souls and so enjoy charisma of life. To have concord in families is good. Split is bad. Spirit of love, togetherness, sacrifice etc. brings joy. Total good is an idea ‘let man turn into good with little flaws’ if not unqualified purity. You act when you find infringement not otherwise and so Craza should not deprive man of innate charm and dynamism. Destiny and Celestials require protection. Let people live without any distinction of the current times and quarrel. Natural conduct is better. Any violation will disfigure and tear down the system.

If creation is free from the burden of past and memories, it lives forlorn and no past chases if new system functions. Karmas good and bad will be absent in the new system and so no judgment. Indra refuses to agree to this feature in the new system where it is a mystery. To Craza the horror, fear and uncertainty of birth and death cause suffering, erosion and dissolution. The dialogue ends nowhere. To the creator Brahma the major worry is the expansion of knowledge that turns man probing and impatient disturbing his peace but wants him to work for Moksa –deliverance.

Cloudy, obscure, fanatic and indistinct is the reason of prayers, worship etc. Any other alternative will not work. Death is another destined event. Craza’s flawless concept of man and the world is good but unfeasible. Buttons will not do any good to the new world –the alternate world, for it would be stagnant and dead…. no novelty. Sans mental and physical fault-lines, the world would be a myth, and in fact, the system would appear lackluster sans memory. To think, feel and move makes man conscious of some unknown power and so search and prayers are attributes that enrich the world. Indra tells Craza that his button-operated world would appear dead.

Again, the talk begins and reaches nowhere.

God partially agrees but he emphasizes that death is an occasion of celebration and serious reflection, and this opportunity brings man near God. In the alternate, distinctions among men are absent. All enjoy life and considered equal before the divine. The disjointed, splintered, infected or contaminated men cause insecurity, disquiet, hostility and dissonance. Craza’s viewpoints appear strong. God looks uncertain and suspicious, and therefore, wants all-inclusive talk. Craza’s suggestion that he can create a world of guided men who act on defined lines and agenda sans any evil or impious intents, desires or hatred or violence. Without memory, a contented world will be ideal!

God is not ready to distort or finish his creation the way Craza suggests and wants changes in God’s world. Indecision continues because Craza new-fangled thoughts appear against the essential nature of man.

Prophet is aware of the god’s scheme where certain fissures in men’s thoughts, acts and style of living stand revealed in pieces, and so, the truth stays concealed but the god is not ready to tell what it is. God knows of the obvious creation and its failings that keep his status and position integral and upright. If sovereignty given to man pursues Craza’s thoughts, it would do no good. Brahma wants a perfect and ideal world. However, it is not possible to agree to the plan where Craza gets a free hand.

True one finds evil and sin in the world, and requires modification but unwarranted control will injure the heredity and theory, and undermine Man’s ‘Freewill and Freedom.’ If man faces controls, he will be unhappy. If technology gives comforts, AI - the synthetic astuteness takes over mental and physical regions of men, it is perilous. Other options with an element of spiritual inquest and blend with Craza’s selected innovations will work, and it would allow human beings to grow without interfering much with God’s perception --

‘We also permit you to apply /The concept of Induced Amnesia, /It is memory which keeps men tied to their past. / …All we want is a better harvest of people. 108.’

Brahma speaks that the thought of timeless simplicity is supreme and man learns about the birth but let death remain a mystery. Sharing is impossible and so death remains a secret. Ultimately, Craza agrees to the authority of Brahma in running the work of the Alternate Universe. Craza further agrees that he would not interfere with the scheme of Brahma.

Realization dawns that technology has a role to play in the growth and nourishment of spiritual world. Therefore, a union of joy and happiness fills life of gods and human beings. A positive thought of ‘the Alternate Universe’ of joy and happiness makes the poet happy even as technology and AI prove source of divine grace and blessing to humanity.

The eccentric epic journey to ‘The Alternate Universe’ frustrates, mystifies and challenges ‘you’ to sit down and reflect ... where would you go from here?