What is time
I remember– for the first time when we were introduced to the special theory of relativity in our physics class, I was too excited to know the concept that time is relative; it is different for different observers. Next few days, if I found some eager listeners among family or friends, I would enthusiastically discuss this concept with them with my very little knowledge. I was fascinated by the explanation of thought experiments like the twin paradox. If one of the young brothers of a pair of identical twins travels to space in a spacecraft having the velocity of light, returning after one year of space trips to earth, he would find that his identical twin brother is now an old man of eighty- something! The time that he experienced as one year in the spacecraft, actually was many decades in the earth for the other brother. At first, being a naive teenager, I thought I had found the mantra of slowing the aging process (or long life). It is so simple! Just find a spacecraft that can fly at the speed of light and there you are – always youthful, and energetic! However, very soon I realized this magical time dilation was not in my fate; not because I would not be able to afford a costly space-journey, because practically and theoretically it is improbable unless I were as light as an electron.

Our Old times: Before this for me time means mother’s old mechanical winding hand watch. In our childhood that was the only source of time in our home. With the help of time announced during the programs aired on the radio of the local radio station, in the evening mother used to adjust the time on it; she would carefully provide the necessary turns on the winding key. It was almost an evening ritual for her. Slowly my sisters also graduated to perform this ritual; but being the youngest before I could also join to do the honor, the scenario had changed. Gradually, more watches came, a wall clock was hung in the drawing room, and one day mother’s old watch like anything else became just scraping. Long story short, now after growing up everyone has one or more clocks always with us; but, what we don’t have is–yes, Time. We don’t have time for family, friends, and even for self! We now chant it like a mantra— I don’t have time. Perhaps that may be true for many of us, considering the hectic life we are now living. But, again that pertinent question– what is time— have we decoded it?
Time: an enigma?
The scientific community is yet to conclude as regards the theory of the creation of the universe. If the Big Bang theory is believed to be true, then even time and space have a beginning. What was before the Big Bang is an irrelevant question. Like Stephen Hawking said there was no time before that. The universe is created from a singularity, where no law of physics is applicable. Initially, there was no time, no space. There are, of course, other theories regarding the mystery of creation and time-space; however this leads me believe that the concept of time perhaps comes only with a physical world.
And us
Anyway, our perception of time in this cyclical world is simple. We observe the continuous change that is happening here by being present in that change. In other words, we can experience the present only, nothing else.
I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present,which is what there is and all there is
Alan Watts
From time immemorial, every wise person has been reminding us of the importance of the present. The only way we can make a difference in our lives is by being present in the moment. If we truly experience the present, the future will definitely bloom, and the past will always be fragrant. The seed is here, and ‘now’!
