A Journey Called Life: A Collection Of Short Essays

Book Code: 1111036803278

Syed Ibrahim Rizvi

About the book:

This book is a compilation of short essays. The essays portray an array of human emotions which make human existence on this earth such a meaningful journey. The essays highlight how humans have evolved and how they have imbibed qualities which make them unique.

About The Author:

Syed Ibrahim Rizvi is a Professor of Biochemistry at University of Allahabad, India. He is well known for his research work on mechanism(s) of aging and anti-aging interventions. Prof Rizvi is widely travelled and has lectured across the globe at numerous international conferences and seminars. He has been a visiting faculty to large number of prestigious international Universities. Prof Rizvi is a regular columnist with major newspapers. His short story compilation books, ‘A Kaleidoscope of Thoughts’ published in 2020, ‘A Tryst with Emotions’ published in 2022 and ‘Hues of Life’ published in 2023 and The Wandering Mind published in 2025 have been hugely successful.

Contents

Acknowledgements  .......................................................................... 9

Preface  ............................................................................................. 11

1. How human beliefs have impacted mankind ............................. 13
2. Why wives find their husbands lazy? ....................................... 17
3. The Joy of Sin....................................................................... 21
4. And there used to be an evening! ........................................... 25
5. The Demise of Melody in Bollywood Songs ............................... 29
6. The female instinct to look fair! .............................................. 33
7. The concept of ‘God’ has an evolutionary benefit ...................... 37
8. Are humans happy? ............................................................. 45
9. Does beauty lie in the eye of the beholder? ............................. 51
10. The evolutionary instinct of mate selection .............................. 55
11. Quo Vadis Cricket ................................................................ 59
12. The Ides of March ................................................................ 65
13. Why cupid strikes during rainy season ..................................... 69
14. It is the language which makes us human ............................... 73
15. Why romantic love is important to humans .............................. 77
16. How humans became monogamous ......................................... 81
17. The Joy of Monsoon ............................................................... 85
18. The Origin and Demise of Qawwali in Bollywood ....................... 89
19. How time shapes our lives ..................................................... 93
20. The Lure of Uncertainty ......................................................... 97
21. Does life have a purpose? ..................................................... 101
22. If humans have a lifespan of 160 years .................................... 107
23. Look at that Face! ................................................................. 111
24. Is marriage the proverbial ‘laddoo’? ......................................... 117
25. Insane poetry and melodious songs ......................................... 121
26. Fear is the key ...................................................................... 127
27. Till Death do us part .............................................................. 131
28. We are humans because we lie! ............................................... 135