The Return of Vaman - A Scientific Novel

by Jayant V. Narlikar

  The interruption, though unexpected, would have come sooner or later anyway.

  It all started with unofficial news reports. As Vaman’s achievements were now well known in the Science Centre, it was inevitable that accounts about him should leak to the national press—garbled accounts that led to public debate, culminating in questions in parliament. What was Vaman? How was his origin related to the archaeological finds at Gauribidnur? Who was controlling him? Would the P.M. enlighten the House on these crucial matters? The clamour for an answer transcended party lines and the Speaker had no option but to admit the questions officially.

  The P.M.’s secretariat got busy. Probir Ganguly, Harisharan and Raj Nath, the three concerned relevant secretaries, were asked to furnish details. The three met, deliberated and finally decided that one of them should visit the Science Centre and collect the information first hand. The task fell on Raj Nath.

  ‘I’m glad you were chosen, Dr Raj Nath. I could not have stomached the silly questions Harisharanji would have asked’, Laxman said as they drove together to Gauribidnur.

  Raj Nath lit his pipe and brooded before making his reply. ‘Not that my questions are going to be any wiser. But Dr Laxmanan, as a once-practising scientist I can understand your feelings. A serious researcher gets upset when interruptions like this occur, more so when bureaucrats are sent by politicians to question him. But do take a wider view. Who funds your research? The nation, whose elected representatives vote the money. The bureaucrats merely provide the mechanism for a two-way dialogue between the funder and the fundee.’

  ‘Agreed, Dr Raj Nath. In a democratic system this is the procedure … one can’t avoid it. But there are bureaucrats and bureaucrats. Why are Harisharans the norm and you or Probirda the exceptions?’

  ‘Ah …’ Raj Nath let out a smoke ring by way of an answer and asked, ‘Do you have anything better to suggest?’

  Laxman didn’t. That a person who is given public funds should be answerable to the public was perfectly reasonable. But how can one establish a sensible procedure for dealing with sensitive scientists like himself? Scientists who strove to achieve excellence without compromise?

  Seeing that Laxman was silent, Raj Nath continued: ‘Look at it this way Dr Laxmanan. In this project you have got all the facilities because the P.M. backed you all the way, overriding bureaucrats like myself. Why? Because he appreciated the significance of the relics pretty early on. Don’t you think his confidence in you needs to be reciprocated?’

  ‘Absolutely! In fact, I would suggest the P.M. visits the Science Centre. All of us, Vaman included, will be honoured by that.’ Laxman responded spontaneously.

  ‘Well spoken, Dr Laxmanan. Let us work on the idea’, Raj Nath said heartily. His mind was already working out the various arrangements needed for the P.M.’s visit.

  ‘O.K. Chushiro, I promise.’ Shulz was obviously agitated, for he put down the receiver with a bang.

  In front of him was a Reuters news flash—probably the same one that Yamamoto must have seen. ‘The fellow does not waste time, does he?’ he muttered to himself as he reread the item

  The Prime Minister of India today visited the Science Centre at Gauribidnur. Vaman, the newly made robot, was introduced to him. The P.M. congratulated the staff of the Science Centre, especially Dr Navin Pande, Dr Arul, and Dr Laxmanan, for their efficient evaluation of the relic container and the follow-up action which resulted first in the photonic computer Guru and then the robot Vaman. The P.M. expressed confidence that the information from the container would launch India on the way to becoming a top class technological nation.

  Yamamoto was right to be peeved. His version of the supercomputer was still not working. Pyarelal had not delivered what he had promised—in spite of repeated warnings. Instead, he had supplied misleading information ….

  Pyarelal must be dispensed with. Of course, the real culprit was Navin. For some reason Navin had let them down. All this disinformation was being supplied by him … Given the choice Shulz would have eliminated Navin first. But he had no choice. Navin was inside—in the vital place, to be effective if he chose. If he saw what happened to Pyarelal, he could be persuaded to change his mind, thought Shulz grimly.

  Shulz rapidly thought out his plan of action. He resisted the temptation to visit India and be there on the spot. That must wait until Pyarelal was taken care of.

  From his highly select little telephone book, Shulz picked a Bombay number … An underworld contact who owed him a return present.

  3 The Precaution

  In the presence of Professor Kirtikar and Arul, Laxman opened the sealed package. The next stage in Vaman’s evolution was outlined here.

  ‘The information appears to be in two parts’ Laxman said, while Arul busily started translating the details from the ancient script. Thanks to Guru’s training, both Arul and Laxman had gained considerable competence in understanding that language. Arul was soon at a terminal.

  ‘The first part enables Vaman to think for himself while the second teaches him how to make his own copy. Of course, for the second part we do nothing but feed him with instructions. He could figure them out himself …’ Arul was reading the information that had appeared on the terminal.

  ‘So part two must necessarily come after part one’, Kirtikar said.

  Even the first part leading to a thinking robot contained information that was several decades ahead of the present knowledge on artificial intelligence, thought Laxman. Like Arul, Laxman was feeling that they were once again at a step that marked a quantum jump in mankind’s ascent of the technological ladder. They both looked expectantly at Kirtikar, who had begun to walk up and down that small office.

  ‘Which scientist can resist a fantastic discovery especially when it is presented on a platter like this?’ mused Kirtikar, trying to keep pace with the rush of conflicting thoughts. ‘I can understand your excitement. But two decades separate us. Call it a generation gap if you like! And I cannot help feeling uneasy … are we going to repeat the episode of Bhasmasur from our Puranas?’

  Bhasmasur … the monster created by Lord Shiva, a monster who could turn to ashes anything he put his hands on. And eventually Bhasmasur threatened Shiva himself.

  ‘I too thought of the same story, Professor Kirtikar’, Laxman smiled as he said this. ‘But Shiva was, after all a very naïve god who could be easily taken in. We can be more cautious. Vaman, whatever he does, needs energy to do it. He derives it from his in-built battery which can be charged—and is always being charged—by any kind of light. But any mechanical device, however sophisticated it might be, can also be rendered ineffective. I can arrange to render his batteries useless by a remote sensing microwave device.’

  Professor Kirtikar looked at Arul, obviously for a second opinion. ‘Yes. That is possible. Before we feed Vaman with the first part of the package, we should try out such a device and implant the appropriate receiver in him.’

  Kirtikar passed a hand across his brow. It was clear that both the younger men were keen to go ahead: Laxman more so, because this was a dramatic step in his field. That Arul also seemed keen could not be ignored. Although he possessed it, Kirtikar could not bring himself to exercise the veto. True, Laxman and Arul had come up with a fairly satisfactory preventive device in the unlikely event of Vaman going out of control. But would it really work when needed?

  ‘Well, I have to go along with you two after all’, he said, finally making up his mind.

  ‘Shake hands!’ Laxman broke out of his usual reserve in his presence … excitement had taken full hold of him.

  Keeping the first part on the table, Laxman carefully repacked and sealed the second and restored it to safe custody. He then went over with the first part to his lab.

  ‘Arul, what do you honestly think? Will Laxman’s safety mechanism work when it comes to the crunch?’ Kirtikar asked Arul.

  ‘When? You mean “if” don’t you? Arul was startled by this query. ‘A device using remote microwave c
ontrol is very straightforward. Why should it fail? If it were something complicated … of course. One has to allow for failures … But this one? Surely not!’

  However, even as he said so, Arul became less sure. Kirtikar rarely raised technical objections; but whenever he did, he had almost always been justified. Even now he voiced his reservations. ‘The very simplicty of your gadget may mean that it could be easily spotted by Vaman. After all, a thinking robot is almost human. Like us, he will want to protect himself. When he discovers that he is harbouring a debilitating device …’

  ‘We will have to ensure that he does not discover it so easily, Professor Kirtikar. But your point is well taken’, Arul said thoughtfully.

  ‘I think we need to go further, Arul … and that, too, without informing Laxman.

  ‘Why?’ Arul asked, shocked. With Laxman he had had no secrets so far.

  ‘Because Laxman looks upon Vaman as his creation. Unconsciously, he is emotionally involved with him. Even as a scientist, his sole criterion at present is to make his experiment a great success … to make Vaman as efficient as possible. It’s not his fault. All dedicated scientists are like that.’

  Still, Arul was unsure. A clear, logical mind like Laxman’s … would it succumb to ego, to the extent of not foreseeing the catastrophe should Vaman turn belligerent?

  ‘Remember the Mahabharata’, Kirtikar sought to drive home his point. ‘At Duryodhan’s birth there were all kinds of ill omens and his parents were advised to get rid of the child as he would otherwise cause everyone great misfortune …’

  ‘Come, Professor Kirtikar! Surely you don’t believe in omens and astrology?’ Arul said.

  ‘I don’t. But that is not the point. Dhritarashtra and Gandhari, the boy’s parents, did. But they still could not bring themselves to abandon their first born. Vaman is Laxman’s first born, after all! What I have to suggest now had better be kept secret from him.’ Kirtikar was totally serious as he said this.

  At last Arul caught his drift and was again shocked. You are not suggesting that we …’

  ‘I am … if the need arises, there is no alternative! Let us hope the need does not arise.’

  Urmila was watching a Tamil film on the VCR. The video recorder was one of the few concessions Laxman had made to alleviate the monotony of her existence in the Science Centre. For a couple of weeks after its arrival the equipment served its purpose as Urmila watched one film after another almost continuously. But eventually the films brought their own monotony of essentially the same set plots with minor variations. Today she had decided to lock the equipment away after the film was over. No more would she ask Laxman to send someone over to Bangalore and get a few more tapes from the video libraries there. Enough was enough!

  ‘Umi … here is some fun for you.’ The unexpected voice of her husband behind her made Urmila get up with a start. Yes. She was not dreaming. Laxman was there in person. She was even more surprised to see that he was not alone.

  ‘I brought Vaman along since he wanted to meet you.’ Laxman indicated his little companion. It was a break with routine in more than one way. For the first time Laxman had dared bring Vaman outside the main office building.

  Urmila did not quite know how to greet a robot. It was Vaman who took the initiative. He joined the palms of his hands in traditional fashion and said, ‘So delighted to meet you, Urmila. You are a lucky man, Laxman.’

  ‘Why … when did you start talking, Vaman?’ Urmila burst out of her reserve. Vaman’s voice was somewhat mechanical, with hardly any inflexions. Nor were there any emotional overtones in it. But the delivery was perfectly clear.

  ‘Since the day before yesterday. Laxman gave me my personality that day. I have evolved a good deal since then … so much so that he feels that I may now talk to other human beings. Naturally, I chose you as the first non-scientist to talk to.’

  Naturally! What self-confidence the statement implied. Yes, Vaman had definitely changed from the efficient but mechanical robot she had seen earlier. He had, as he just said, acquired a personality.

  ‘Well spoken, Vaman!’ Laxman said with the beaming approval that a teacher feels towards a student prodigy. Then he felt that he owed an explanation to Urmila. So he added, ‘This little guy, Umi, is not just an ordinary robot any more. He can think for himself. And he is a glutton for knowledge. … It is all I can do to pull him away from Guru. He is learning so fast that soon I will have no more to teach him. Nor will Guru have any more information than what Vaman has stored in his little brain.’

  ‘Sister, if I may call you that … Laxman is exaggerating somewhat’, Vaman intoned. ‘As an ordinary robot I did only what was ordered, may be more and more efficiently as I repeated the same tasks over and over again. Now I can act on my own, without Laxman’s password and order. I am aware of the nature of information fed to me, aware of what it can lead to and what its limitations are. I can use it effectively when needed. Initially this awareness brought confusion. Now I am able to assess and act. I need to know more and Guru supplies me with more.’

  ‘But, Brother Vaman, what is your purpose in seeking so much knowledge?’ Urmila asked.

  ‘Why, as I said, to make myself more effective in serving your needs. As Laxman told you, I am beginning to be more efficient than even he could have imagined.’ This was said by Vaman in a matter of fact manner, without any trace of self-glorification.

  ‘That you are, sonny boy!’ Laxman beamed as he patted Vaman on the head. He then addressed Urmila. ‘Let me tell you of his recent encounters. You know Raghavan. How he prides himself as a trouble-shooter when there is any mechanical breakdown. Today, as he was busy trying to locate the fault in our big dynamo, this fellow came along and spotted it within minutes, I am going to try him out on our medical officer later today.’

  ‘What, are you letting him loose on Dr Antia?’ Everybody on the campus was overawed by the M.O., not least Urmila.

  ‘Why not? It will pull him down a peg or two!’ laughed Laxman. Then he became more serious as he added, ‘But, Urmila, the best so far is what Vaman did to Arul. He solved in a flash the mathematical equation Arul had been struggling with for over a week. Arul was so impressed that he took out his ring and put it on Vaman’s finger, saying that henceforth Vaman was intellectually his superior.’

  Vaman showed the middle finger of his right hand where a gold ring sat somewhat incongruously. ‘I will always greatly value this present, Urmila. It is not often that we robots get such an honour.’

  ‘You deserve it Vaman!’ said Urmila as she looked at the ring admiringly.

  She dismissed a passing thought that puzzled here. Like most women, she prided herself on being very observant where human beings were concerned. Yet she could not recall ever seeing the ring on Arul’s hand before … but then, she told herself, what with her recent video craze, she had not met Arul for several days.

  4 The Decoy

  ‘No, Dr Navin. There is no mistake with this message. Pyarelal is dead … murdered’, Major Samant said seriously as he fingered the sheets of paper on his desk. One sheet contained a scrambled message from Kamala Prasad Singh, the other had Samant’s unscrambled version.

  ‘But he was always so careful. He had bodyguards … he had survived several attempts on his life. I still can’t believe it.’ Navin was deeply shocked.

  ‘You will, when you see press cuttings from the Delhi papers tomorrow … But they won’t add much to what we already know. And certainly they won’t suspect the reason, as I do.’

  ‘Reason? Isn’t it obvious? Some gang warfare with the Bombaywallahs getting into it?’ Navin asked.

  ‘That is for the papers. These rivals don’t normally operate like that. They don’t infringe on one another’s territory. No, there is more to it than meets the eye.’

  ‘My eye, certainly’, said Navin.

  ‘You will soon see. The killers were induced by heavy payoffs … from abroad. From our dear friend Shulz.’

  Navin was speec
hless with amazement. Why should Karl kill Pyarelal who was an important link in the chain to the Science Centre … to him?

  ‘Pyarelal was killed because he kept feeding false information. The information you supplied, Dr Navin’, Major Samant said in even tones.

  ‘I did so at your suggestion’, Navin said—half in accusation, half in fear.

  ‘You did. I admit I overplayed the hand. I was expecting Shulz to merely abandon Pyarelal and try to establish direct contact with you. That he has overreacted to the extent of having Pyarelal killed means he is himself under pressure … from his clients. However, the end result is the same. The decoy is dead … the tiger will soon come out in the open.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Navin visibly paled as he pictured Karl Shulz after his blood next.

  But Major Samant was on the internal phone.

  ‘Yes, Dr Laxmanan. Please come right away. I am also calling Dr Arul … And don’t forget to bring Vaman, too.’

  ‘Vaman? Why Vaman?’ asked Navin.

  The Major motioned him to silence. He obviously wanted time to think, to react to this new situation.

  In a few minutes Arul and Laxman rushed in, followed more ponderously by Vaman. In a few crisp, well chosen sentences Major Samant appraised the first two of what had happened. Then he concluded: ‘I asked you to bring Vaman because whatever Shulz may do next will concern him.’

  As Arul and Laxman took it all in, Vaman said, ‘I’m afraid that I am in the dark about these people. Who is Pyarelal? Who is Shulz? Why do you suspect that one killed the other? And why does it all concern me?’

  The Major looked at Laxman. He had always been somewhat at a loss when talking to Vaman, whom he could not accept as an intelligent robotic counterpart of humans. So Laxman had to brief Vaman about the roles of Navin, Pyarelal, Shulz and Yamamoto.

  ‘So Pyarelal lost his life for supplying false information—what Navin had supplied as genuine’, Vaman summed it all up.