What is research, but a blind date with knowledge!

Where to start with the topic so thrown upon is a question of import. But that doesn't mean that it's not worth attempting. The topic required to be elaborated is not to be found in a book to provide help if any.But that is the beauty associated with the examinations that civil services happen to be.

Coming back to the topic,it can't be gainsaid that it requires a lot of reflections before we become able to write something apropos of it.

Topic enjoins us to write about the very research. So one could attribute the topic to meta research which involves researching the aspects of research to find its very nature and purpose.

What actually is the research? Is it not searching for knowledge(!) that could be the solution of the problem faced in the present or stored in the future? Only a fool will undertake any research without having a problem or purpose in hand. 

All important inventions and discoveries are, generally speaking, the outcome of an organized research. 

Today one wants to go for a business or study a course or launch a product etc. the minimum that is expected of us is to go for what we call "research". The meaning and purpose of research is different for different people. 

There's also one thing that a researcher has "something" in the form of "hypothesis" or the like to offer to "knowledge" that he passionately seeks before he undertakes this "dating" journey. If he hasn't one he runs the risk of being jilted.

 But one thing is common, which is they seek knowledge passionately.

Gone are the days when knowledge came to the researcher accidentally in the form of "Eureka". Research must make plans to meet knowledge by dating carefully devised a priori. Hence research for meeting with knowledge must be a planned one and essentially futuristic.

But this seeking journey or quest for knowledge is not known as to how long it will continue.

All that we know is that a researcher is on a journey for dating with his beloved one that "knowledge" happens to be for him.

Is it not what happened with Edison who spent years before he could find his cherished knowledge of making a bulb. He himself once said-In the course of his endeavour to make a bulb he came to know the thousand ways by which a bulb can't be made.

Similarly JC Bose was exploring something else when a new loved one called "wireless" one crossed his way to his comfort (?). Oh!She changed her way to meet Marconi.

So researching is very truly being ready to wait in hope for the unknown with all the beautiful apparel in the form of data, its collection & methodology of research. 

All said, even with the best strategy you adopt to attract the one you pine for as a researcher there is no guarantee dating endeavour with knowledge will be an eventuality. To your disappointment the knowledge may not come on the appointed date. But what if you are a true lover you will always forgive her for her infidelity. Because you know infidelity on part of hers can never be permanent if the fire of yearning within you for that research based knowledge is aflame. 

So for a true researcher dating may be blind but not infructuous! Ultimately knowledge has to condescend by way of giving the research a pleasant meet.

R.R.Prabhakar. 

11.01.2022.