Prologue 3

"Hey, have you guys ever thought about how the meanings of words change over time and across different cultures?" Aiedrow began, his eyes shining with curiosity. Vishnu and Jay exchanged glances, nodding in agreement. "Definitely! It's fascinating how language and culture can shape the way we interpret certain words and concepts," Vishnu replied.

Aiedrow nodded, his eyes gleaming with curiosity, and continued, "Take the word 'karma,' for instance. In its original Sanskrit context, it was all about the actions and deeds we perform and the consequences that follow. But nowadays, it's often simplified to mean cosmic justice or fate, which is quite different from its deeper meaning."

Jay chimed in, "And 'dharma' is another example," Jay added. "It's often translated as 'religion,' but its true essence is much more profound. Dharma is about one's inherent nature, moral duty, and the guiding principles that govern our lives."

"Exactly!" Aiedrow exclaimed, a smile of satisfaction lighting up his face. "The richness of these words gets diluted as they travel beyond their cultural origins."

Vishnu joined the conversation, his eyes alight with interest. "You know, it's not just these ancient terms; even modern words undergo changes. Take 'Yoga,' for instance. Originally, it meant 'union' or 'connection,' referring to the unity of mind, body, and spirit. But now, it's often seen as just a set of physical exercises."

"That's so true!" Aiedrow nodded enthusiastically. "Again, 'guru' is another interesting one. Back in the day, it meant a revered spiritual teacher imparting wisdom. But nowadays, it's often used casually for any mentor or expert."

"Oh, and don't forget 'meditation.' Its real essence lies in achieving inner stillness and self-awareness, but it's often marketed as a quick fix for stress relief these days," Jay added. Aiedrow leaned back, pondering their discussion. "You know what? As scholars, it's our responsibility to dig deeper and understand the original meanings and contexts of these words. It's like unraveling the wisdom of our ancestors, connecting us to the collective knowledge of human civilization."

Jay smiled, appreciating Aiedrow's enthusiasm. "Absolutely! Preserving the true essence of these concepts is vital for understanding our cultural heritage and fostering genuine learning."

"So what is all this?" Aiedrow asked, looking at Vishnu, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "What?" Vishnu replied, looking puzzled. "What do you think this whole process is? And why does it happen? the whole meaning-altering thing-" Aiedrow smiled, his gaze shifting to Alisha, who smiled back. "Because as concepts travel to different places, the lack of understanding causes the meaning to be altered," Vishnu responded. "Good. And?" Aiedrow probed further. Vishnu was at a loss for words, and Aiedrow's gaze shifted back to Alisha.

"It's not just that, is it?" she chimed in. "No. But what do you think it is?" Aiedrow responded with a smile. "Culture," Alisha continued. "Each culture has similar concepts, either primitive or more refined. The desire to preserve their cultural identity motivates them to self-mean these concepts, even when they sometimes understand the original meanings."

"Spot on," Aiedrow agreed. "Most of the time, it's unconsciously done. It feels like they already knew about the concept, just with different names, making it easier to steal and take credit for ideas that were originally very different and vast."

"Hmm," Vishnu's interest peaked, intrigued by the discussion. "Now imagine if all that was done consciously," Aiedrow suggested. "What do you mean?" Vishnu looked puzzled. "What if all these changes were done consciously, where the profound meanings of such words were reduced to these fickle concepts through a proper system created and monitored by people who knew what they were doing," Aiedrow explained, waiting for a response.

"That would be stupid because these things take time. It takes at least decades, sometimes centuries, to demean or steal concepts like these. To even believe and imagine that to be true would be stupid," Vishnu reasoned, trying to bring some rationality to the conversation."Let's say that was the case as well, but entertain the notion for a moment. What do you think it would be if such a thing was possible?" Aiedrow's words left Vishnu contemplative and silent.

"Alisha?" Aiedrow turned to her for input. "Well, it's something similar to what the Romans and even Christians did back in the day. They let one stream of ideas grow and cut off all the other branches. They limit the abilities of the subject to the extent that it doesn't even know what abilities it holds. A bird locked in a cage would eventually forget how to fly, and after a generation, it wouldn't even know what to do with its wings. It's gaslighting and manipulation mixed with propaganda," Alisha explained thoughtfully.

"Now, this is what I was talking about. If done consciously, it falls under two subjects - Sociology and Propaganda. Both are crucial for us, as they encompass a range of things like manipulation, spirituality, psychology, lying, and more. The very structure of society, how it can grow, why and how it falls - these questions can be answered through these subjects. Back in the day, we had scholars who dedicated their lives to such ideas, like Sushruta in medical science. He wrote a book called Sushruta Samhita, but there's a lot more about him and his book that isn't completely understood," Aiedrow continued, his words flowing with passion and knowledge.

"Wait, where are you getting with this?" Vishnu asked, curious about Aiedrow's train of thought.

"Jay, name nine famous scholars of ancient India," Aiedrow looked at Jay, inviting him into the conversation. "Akbar's Navratnas," he answered.

Aiedrow smiled at Jay's response and nodded. "Indeed, Akbar's Navratnas were a group of nine exceptionally talented individuals in his court. Let me shed some light on these remarkable souls and the subjects they excelled in," Aiedrow began.

"First, there was Birbal, known for his wit and wisdom, he was a master of literature and poetry and often served as Akbar's advisor. Then there was Todar Mal, a brilliant economist, and administrator, who played a pivotal role in implementing land reforms. Raja Man Singh was a skilled military strategist and commander, leading many successful campaigns. Mian Tansen, a maestro of Indian classical music, was considered one of the greatest musicians of his time. Fakir Aziao Din was a revered Sufi saint and spiritual guide, and finally, there was Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana, a poet and scholar known for his deep understanding of Persian and Hindi literature," Aiedrow continued, accurately identifying the Navratnas.

"Now, here's something that very few know. Birbal, whose real name was Mahesh Das, was a multi-talented genius who wrote under various pen names, excelling in a wide range of subjects like astronomy, astrology, and metaphysics," Aiedrow added, providing a lesser-known fact about Birbal. 

Aiedrow then turned to Vishnu with a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Tell us about the Navratnas of King Vikramaditya." Vishnu thought for a moment and then replied, "Well, King Vikramaditya, the legendary ruler of Ujjain, indeed had a group of nine remarkable scholars known as the Navratnas. They were considered paragons of knowledge and wisdom, contributing to various fields."

"Among them was Varahamihira, who excelled in astronomy and astrology. Kalidasa, the great poet, and playwright, wrote masterpieces that continue to enchant readers to this day," Aiedrow corrected, ensuring accurate information about Vikramaditya's Navratnas.

"Then we have Dhanvantari, the pioneer of Ayurvedic medicine, who made significant contributions to the field of healthcare. Shanku, an extraordinary mathematician and inventor, devised various astronomical instruments," Vishnu continued, accurately mentioning the other Navratnas and their subjects.

"Amara Simha, a renowned grammarian, and poet, contributed immensely to the development of Sanskrit literature and language. Ghatakarpara, the skilled musician and composer, produced soul-stirring melodies," he further elaborated, providing accurate details about the remaining Navratnas.

"Now this is what I was talking about. These exceptional individuals and their contributions have shaped the course of history and knowledge in profound ways," Aiedrow remarked. "Alisha- The Navratnas of King Krishna Dev Rai?"

"Tenali Rama - A witty poet and jester. Timmarusu - Chief advisor and mentor, skilled in governance. Madhuravani - Talented musician and singer. Tenali Parikshit - Distinguished scholar in philosophy and literature. Ramaraja Bhushana - Historian and chronicler. Jambavati Kalyana - Brilliant mathematician and astronomer. Chaitanya Prasad - Gifted painter and artist. Vidyavathi - Erudite scholar and polyglot. and finally, Abhinava Kalidasa - Prodigous playwright and poet.", Alisha answered.

"hmm, so now we know another thing, for a proper and stable reign one needs a group of talented individuals, wouldn't you say Vishnu?", Aiedrow asked. "That is a fair and very obvious statement.", Vishnu replied.

"Now remove the idea of limitation from your brain," Aiedrow said, using his index finger to point at his forehead. Vishnu slapped it out from his front to which Aiedrow smirked and laughed lightly. "You see, even before Akbar, Krishna Dev Rai, and even Vikramaditya, there was a king-", Aiedrow said. "You are not talking about Ashoka and his 9 unknowns, are you?" Vishnu looked at him in surprise.

"Propaganda, Physiology, Microbiology, Alchemy, Communication, Gravity, Cosmogony, Light, and Sociology. these were the nine subjects. You see, for instance, Propaganda, in this context, refers to the art of effective communication and persuasion, not the spreading of false news. It does include that but is not just it. Physiology includes exceptional martial techniques and strategies, improving our senses to their maximum extent. Not just the art of fighting. Imagine the contents from one page in that book gives birth to JUDO. imagine the knowledge," Aiedrow said.

"You gotta be kidding me- don't tell me about fairytales," Vishnu said. "Is it though? Again, stop limiting yourself," Aiedrow said. "You're doing that thing again- ", Vishnu said looking at him. "Wha- what thing?" Aiedrow looked confused. "That thing where you get too lost in fantasy to the extent you forget reality exists. Those 9 unknowns of Ashoka's are a myth- secret societies? What's next? Aliens? Or that gods are coming back? These 9 unknown men are but a mere fantasy," Vishnu chuckled as he finished his sentences.

"And what if it is? What does it change?" Aiedrow took a step forward. "Don't do this again. We have been through it; the world is not a story, and we're not the leads," Vishnu said. "Besides, even if such things do exist, what are we going to do? Search for them? Be what? The next nine unknown? Is this big enough of an imagination for you?" he continued.

"We'll write it," a sweet voice echoed through the hall as a girl entered. Her dark black hair and rosy petal-like lips made her look ethereal, and her big, beautiful eyes only added to her magnificence. However, her exceptional beauty was just one aspect of her; she was also the only person who ranked above Aiedrow and Vishnu. It was Ameya.

"Your imagination, Vishnu, it falls short of what this crazy-head aims for. We won't be trying to find the nine unknowns and their books, but we will write subjects we choose and be masters of them," Ameya said. "Aim so high that even your failure is better than others' success, wasn't it Aiedrow?" she looked at Aiedrow with a smile, almost taunting.

"See? She gets me. Real or fiction doesn't matter, does it? It won't be easy. We'll have to experiment with the idea and gather information and sources ourselves unless we get further support from the outside. But that's precisely what excites me. We'll be pioneers, exploring uncharted territories. The field of Communication, for example, can even involve attempting to communicate with different species. Who knows what we might discover? We will have the opportunity to be known as legends, the ones who laid the foundation for something extraordinary.", Aiedrow finished his sentences.

"I and Aiedrow also did talk about this before, and I must say, I am fascinated by the idea of this place. Sounds cool, Count me in."Aiedrow smiled, impressed by her enthusiasm. "Welcome aboard, Ameya. With you by our side, we're bound to achieve great things. But I can't help but suspect your intentions," Aiedrow teased.

Ameya chuckled, her eyes locking with Aiedrow's for a moment before she continued, "I have always believed in the power of knowledge and the potential of a well-rounded education. I want to be part of something that challenges the conventional norms of learning. You know that better than anyone, As for my intentions, you'll just have to wait and see." 

Vishnu's gaze drifted from the conversation to the distant horizon, his mind awash with a tumult of thoughts. He couldn't shake off the newfound curiosity that Ameya's presence had ignited in him. Aiedrow's passionate ideas and Ameya's unwavering conviction made him question his own perceptions of reality. The notion of challenging and imitating fiction seemed both intriguing and daunting at the same time.

Lost in his thoughts, Vishnu found himself pondering existential questions. "If we really can challenge and imitate fiction, where do we draw the line? Who are we? Insects? Animals? Primitive humanoids? Gods? Or the universe itself?" The vastness of the possibilities overwhelmed him, and he wondered if they were merely scratching the surface of something much greater.

While Vishnu was lost in his contemplation, Aiedrow and Ameya now joined by Alisha, and Jay continued their conversation, discussing their vision for the new place and how it could revolutionize education and knowledge. They spoke with enthusiasm, sharing ideas that seemed to surpass the boundaries of traditional thinking.

After a while, Vishnu's attention returned to the group, realizing that he had unintentionally drifted away. He couldn't help but marvel at Aiedrow and Ameya's passion and determination. "What are these two?" he thought to himself, feeling a mix of admiration and confusion. They had done it again - Vishnu was left questioning whether he was limiting himself with his rationality, for the second time in his life. Aiedrow and Ameya's unyielding belief in something beyond the conventional norms of reality made him wonder if he was missing out on a grander perspective.