Brotherhood of atoms

It might not be so incredible to say that the compositions of all 6 bn human beings, as well as those of the thousands of other species on Earth, are, in fact, indistinguishably intertwined, making us soulmates in more ways than one. Consider this: when a bacterium, weed, starfish, peacock, dog, cat or human dies, decomposition sets in. In the process, the atoms that constitute the body are released into the atmosphere and mingle freely, spreading across wide geographical areas.

Bill Bryson in 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' talks about the pervasive nature of atoms: 'Atoms are fantastically durable. Because they are so long-lived, atoms really get around. Every atom you possess has almost certainly passed through several stars and been part of millions of organisms on its way to becoming you. We are each atomically so numerous and so vigorously recycled at death.... So, we are all reincarnations - though short- lived ones.... Atoms themselves, however, go on practically forever.'

Every one of us, as well as every member of other species, is composed of billions of atoms. So, our biocosms might contain parts of what once constituted the bodies of, say, Jesus Christ, Prophet Muhammad, Parsvanath, Gautama Buddha and Ashoka, or even those that made up the bodies of Pontius Pilate, Angulimala or Attila the Hun. That makes us an interesting khichdi of all things bright and beautiful, of all things dark and devious, and of all things that lie in between.