Time as a psychological measurement. - A musing

In the year 1751, The English parliament passed a bill to bring its Calendar in tune with the Gregorian cycle that was used all over Europe. It was called the Calendar (New Style) act 1750 or Chesterfields act, named after the Earl who introduced the bill. The effect of this change was to begin the New Year on first of January rather than the traditional twenty fifth day of March ( Lady Day - the feast of annunciation ).

The first consequence of this bill was to make the year 1751, the shortest in the Christian era - only 282 days; and the second, more profound impact was to be felt when the subsequent year 1752 was to advanced by 11 days (11th September was followed by 14th) to adjust for equinoctial fluctuations. . This had deep psychological repercussions in society. It meant that people lost eleven days in their lives.!!!!!!!!!! There were huge protests in England against this move. The measurement of time - so ingrained in the human psyche led to the belief that by advancing dates, the government had taken away a slice of their lives. The fact that division of time into days, months and years or even Hours, minutes and seconds is only an act of pure convention, and has no basis in reality - is something that eluded the populace and educated public. It is like mistaking the measurements of latitude and longitude as actual lines zig-zagging the globe., and any attempt to tie the earth with them is as foolish as believing that one has lost 11 days due to change in numbering. Ironically, It needed the Church's intervention to convince its fold that they would be compensated in an after life (heaven or hell, as the case may be) for these days; and that they should now get back to work..

The reason for penning this post is that I have been bombarded with new flashes, mails and radio reminders that Day light savings end tonight at 2.A.M, and , how I could snatch one more hour of "extra" sleep on a beautiful, cold, cozy Sunday in Atlanta. What Earthly difference does it make to me by an increase or decrease of a few hours in a day. As long as my time zone does not change to the extent that my biological days and nights getting reversed, I really would not be bothered. Yes, My work schedule would get affected a bit, but that is not a deep psychological issue that I need to deal with. And for God's sake !! how do I teach my body to sleep for an hour more because some bloke has decided to turn a human made clock by one hour. Over the last two days, At least, twenty people has voiced their concern to me about this "radical" change, with a look of unhappiness or perplexity on their faces. I refuse to even acknowledge the remark..

To me, all this points to a deep existential problem. We are so caught in measurements of all kinds and shapes, that we forget to realize that life cannot be captured in a net. It is wriggly by nature. obviously, We have imposed some conventions upon it to regulate our interactions in society; beyond that - it has no use whatsoever. To be existentially troubled by it is the least dignified stand we could allow ourselves to take.

A curious thought strikes me at this point. If I were meet Einstein sometime. somewhere, here is a question I would want to ask him..

"Sir, how did you react to Day light savings and Time zone differences.."

I am sure his grave , studious and mellow grey eyes may break into a twinkle and might reply

" Are you talking of planetary time zones or Universal time zones or cosmic times zones, Pls clarify?

Well, I cannot even guess at what he is talking about. It is so relative. Why bother at all???

God bless..