The acutest of intellect that probably held the keys to opening the door of understanding the mysteries of time and space has been lost, at least in the physical realm of our existence.
The cynosure for millions of inquiring minds he was the pinnacle of scientific temper and enterprising intrigue. He breathed his last at the ripe old age of 76.
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An Unparalleled Genius
An unparalleled genius that conquered the odd at personal and cosmological levels, Steven W.Hawking influenced and inspired many a generation. He is widely regarded as one of the most shining minds in the spheres of Cosmology and Astrophysics, an heir apparent to Einstein himself.
Given two years to live, in 1963, he was diagnosed with a rare and debilitating motor-neuron disorder called Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS(Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).
He did not accept the writing on the wall and lived for another 55 years. Deprived of the abilities to write or move, he used his powers to bring out something of his thought and creativity.
His Achievements
Among his many achievements, the post of Lucasian Professor at Cambridge for three decades was a highlight. The post was once honoured by Sir Isaac Newton himself.
He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1982, an honour just second to knighthood.
At the age of 32, he was inducted as one of the youngest Fellows in the Royal Society. Even though he was a British citizen, he was awarded the American Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.
A man of miracles, he refused limitations of circumstance many times. Just like when he survived Pneumonia by having a Tracheotomy in 1985 which left his speech impaired. Undefeated, he started using a computerized speech synthesizer. And miraculously the progression of his ALS froze to almost static.
His Works
From the complex world of sub-atomic Quantum Theory to the unfettered expansion of the Cosmos, the great mind played a crucial role on both the edges of human understanding and curiosity of Physics.
He posited the ‘Hawking’s Paradox’ that suggests a mathematical inconsistency between Einstein’s theory of relativity and quantum theory. A challenge still undefeated in the field of Physics.
It was his bestselling book titled ‘A Brief History of Time’ that made him a star. The book has sold an estimated 10 million copies since its release in 1988.
Revealing the complexities of the Universe for the non-academicians and non-physicists through the book brought his name among domestic households.
Hawking Radiation
Using Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, he and fellow British scientist Roger Penrose pointed toward a definitive beginning and end of space and time mosaic.
This led to the theory that black holes aren’t completely black, but emit radiation and eventually disappear and the demystification of Black Holes as being really black abyssal spheres of despair. In other words, they dissipate energy, explode and eventually disappear into insignificance.
The radiation named ‘Hawking Radiation’ linked black holes with the rest of the Universe and provided an alternative to the erstwhile perception of black holes as the dead-end for the laws of Physics.
Other Side of Hawking
Far from being perfect, he did have his faults and follies. His first wife Jane Wilde considered him to be a very egotistical, misogynistic and unflattering image of the man.
Perhaps he was not even the best Physicist of his time and famously lost a few bets with his peers like the ’information paradox i.e. loss of physical information stored in a black hole at its demise’ or that the discovery of ‘Higgs-Boson particle’ was not possible.
The fact that he never won a Nobel Prize does not help the claim of him being the most successful in his field. Even though he did win a plethora of other awards like Albert Einstein Award, the Fundamental Physics Prize etc and had an incredible 12 Honorary Degrees.
His Belief
Even his vocal commentaries of God and religions received both flak and admiration. Unlike Einstein who believed in invisible guidance (in the Universe), Hawking declared that God was not needed in the creation or running of the Universe in his book Grand Design.
In an interview with CNN, he opined that God may exist but was not necessary to explain the creation of Universe as, “Science is increasingly answering the questions that used to be in the province of religion.”
Turning to philosophy and metaphysics, he relegated religion to a realm circumscribed by Physics. Apart from his fierce scientific curiosity, it was his rapier-like wit and impeccable sense of humour that made him a darling to so many of his peers and admirers.
He showed an indefatigable spirit and travelled in hot-air balloons and zero-gravity Boeing 727s. From appearing on TV in shows like Star Trek: Next Generation, The Big Bang Theory, The Simpsons etc and his life being translated to film screens through the much-acclaimed movie, ‘Theory of Everything’, he enthralled and captivated numerous hearts.
A Good Human
Even though he had a streak of nasty arrogance in him, he amply showed politeness and compassion exclusive to only the very best of humanity. Not surrendering to his natural physical incapacities and leveraging his seemingly supernatural abilities, he became an icon that transcended science.
The iconography of a wheelchair-bound man with head rested on side spinning the most magnificent of ‘scientific fairy tales’ will surely withstand the test of time and space.
He regarded aggression as the biggest human failing or a relic from the ‘Caveman’ days and archaic for the present age. He had his reservations about Artificial Intelligence and shared concerns about the environment and human tendency to self-destruct.
Rejecting the atmosphere of isolation and describing Donald Trump as “a demagogue appealing to the lowest common denominator” (in ITV’s Good Morning Britain) he always had trenchant observations on myriad issues.
He will forever be a lodestar for the triumph of hope over adversity, ability over fate and will over the body. As the man himself put it, “However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up.”
He is survived by 3 children and 3 grandchildren. Although, his demise has left a yawning Black Hole of intellect and intelligence that might never be filled. Maybe he is still extant in what he would call a better part of the Multiverse.
