SERENDIPITY

 SERENDIPITY   [noun]

Serendipity is a kind of ‘Eureka’ in its own right!

To put it in plain terms, ‘serendipity’ is just tumbling on something that proves useful for all subsequent times. Quite a few definitions are available; some of them are as under:

‘Some pleasant happening by chance’ 

‘The fact of finding something valuable/ interesting by accident’

Perhaps the best definition of ‘serendipity’ reads thus: “An unsought, unintended, and or unexpected but, fortunate discovery and or learning experience that happens by accident.

Thus, it is an unplanned, fortunate activity.

The name ‘serendipity’ seems to be a derivative of a Persian fairy tale, where Three princess of Serendip, keep making discovery accidentally or by sagacity ,though they never meant to look for such findings. [Though a deviation, it is opportune to recall the Tamil writer DEVAN’s   novel -‘Thuppariyum Sambu’ in which Mr. Sambu deciphers several crime plots by sheer accident or a ‘leading utterance’ which provides a clue to unravel the complexity].

Instances of serendipity are quite a few indeed.

The first noted Antibiotic Penicillin came to be recognized for its antibiotic property by an accidental finding by Alexander Fleming [1928]. On a culture of Staphylococcus plate, Fleming noticed Penicillium growing and no other organism could grow in the presence of Penicillium. Penicillin thus came to be recognized for its ‘Antibiotiic’ potential to inhibit several bacteria.

The Micro wave oven [credited to  Percy Spencer] was conceived from an observation that emissions from Radar equipment had melted the candy in  his pocket.

The ‘HOOK’ and ‘LOOP’  FASTENER was developed [George D  Mestrel from his observation that Cockleburs[ a plant with fruits of spiny surface] that had stuck to his person , had several hooks on each bur; it prompted the idea of design   of VELCRO- now a popular device to bind / relax two edges in dress or in foot wear.

Several other phenomena or utilities have been understood by acts of Serendipity. These are existence of Radio activity, Atomic nucleus, X-ray imaging of bones, Vulcanized rubber and Microwave Oven to name some.

If systematic research was the lone mechanism to discover /invent, Humanity would have to wait for too long; it is Serendipity that delivers solution in quick time, however unplanned the efforts have been. The ability to observe the unexpected in the course of an effort is the key to success – may be a providential guidance on time.

Prof. K. Raman