The Final Battle
- Kunal Konar
- Jan 19
- 15 min read
Updated: Jan 21
Author: Nagraj Rao, Ex- Additional General Manager, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
Contact: nagrajrao.in@gmail.com
Illustrator: Artist Sinchan Paul; contact: sinchanpaul1993@gmail.com
This fiction was first communicated to me by Mr. Rao around the first week of July 2025. At that time, I was just conceiving the Magazine Section of my website and its thematic areas. I liked the draft immediately and now I have already conceived a section for these articles. It is the Storytelling Section. And now I have the second element, a fitting illustration by an young artist with AI in the background to polish the finished painting at the artist's prompt.
Story line: An eminent scientist is challenged by a humanoid robot in a verbal combat which lays bare irrationality, inconsistency, and senselessness in our lives which we have learned to accept.
I hope it will be an effortless and good read at the readers' end.
~~ Kunal Konar, Editor-Promoter-Publisher
GCAIR-2015
The year is 2015. Excitement in the air is palpable. "The Global Conference on Artificial Intelligence & Robotics" (GCAIR) is being held in Bengaluru, India. But the excitement is not because of GCAIR itself but because a unique event is to coincide with it. Let me explain.
The year 2015 was declared the “Year of Artificial Intelligence”. The star attraction of the concluding event of GCAIR was the competition amongst the robots crafted by various countries. The international press had already named it the “Grand Prix,” of the millennium. While normally robots are judged on the basis of their dexterity at performing complex tasks accurately and efficiently, in this event, they had to prove their mental prowess in reasoning, oratory and presentation skills. A keen competition was expected amongst entries from Japan, Germany, the USA and China. Some felt that Korea or possibly India could be the dark horse.
Prof. Gautam, a well-known authority on Robotics had been pursuing painstaking research at his laboratory in Pune to build an “almost human” Robot for a decade. He was a little wary of nosy people and therefore kept his activities under wraps. But the buzz was that that his team was successful in making a human-like robot whose intelligence level was “almost” human. It can talk, discuss, argue, criticize and even draw on a screen or on a sheet of paper to explain its viewpoint. So, the hot news was that this human like robot, lovingly named “Yug” (version 1.0) by Prof. Gautam, was going to make a public appearance in GCAIR. Not only that, Yug was slated to engage Dr. Agasthya in a detailed discussion as a challenge. Dr. Agasthya was a well-known physicist, winner of many national and international awards, visiting professor at many internationally reputed universities was recently appointed special adviser to the Prime Minister. There was to be no rehearsal and no inkling was given about the topic to be discussed. Yug would interview Dr Agasthya. Prof Gautam claimed that Yug was capable of having a serious but lively discussion on almost any subject under the sun. The interview was to last about 30 min and will be telecast live on test-tube©, the international video channel. So, this Yug was expected to be penultimate version of the final entry to the international competition.
This was it! The electronic media, with their panache for publicity, had hijacked the event from the technical domain to the public domain by calling it “Battle between Man and Machine”. Newspapers, not to be left behind, had released screaming headlines like “Will Yug eclipse Dr Agasthya?”,” Robot or man-who will have the last laugh”, “Is the age of the robot already here?” “Are homo sapiens doomed to slavery by the machines?” Some even called it “Kaun Banega Jagatpati”. ("who will lord over the world" on the lines of the popular game show "Who wants to be a millionaire").
Yug- Agasthya Jugalbandi
The stage was set! The public just loved it. Initially, the organizers toyed with the idea of holding it in a stadium so that maximum number of people could watch it live. But after looking at the public hype being created, issues like crowd control and safety came up and this idea was dropped. It was therefore decided to have it in a well-equipped studio in an IT company with only a limited audience. Of course, it was to be beamed live on all major TV and internet channels. Finally, the day arrived. The time was 2.30 PM. The traffic on the roads became thin from 1PM itself.
Prof. Gautam briefed Dr. Agasthya separately about the arrangements. The professor explained that Yug had been trained to interview people. It was for Yug to decide the topic. Since Yug had been programmed to argue and respond purely on factual and logical lines, the questioning might sometimes become uncomfortable. Therefore, if at any time, Dr Agasthya felt like terminating the interview, he could do so by pushing a button below the arm of his chair. Prf. Gautam introduced Yug to the audience and gave some technical details. And then he dramatically unveiled it to the audience. If the people expected a shiny assemblage of electronics and machines with blue eyes and turning heads, they were disappointed. Yug looked almost like a human being with a genial disposition. With this introduction, Prof Gautam handed over charge to the organizers. Before leaving, he affectionately patted Yug and appeared to fiddle with some switches at the back.
It was almost time for the show. Dr Agasthya was seated comfortably facing Yug. Dr Agasthya was feeling slightly nervous realizing that millions of eyes were on him. May be; to calm his nerves, he took the initiative of starting the conversation.
A: How do you do, Yug?
Y: I am doing fine, thank you. And how have you been doing Dr. Agasthya?
A: Pretty good. Life has been rather good to me.
Y: Oh! You talked about life. That is something you have but I don’t. Shall we talk about it, then?
A: Oh, yes. Sure.
Y: I have already been told all about your title, achievements etc. But my first question is more basic. Who are you?
A: I am a human who goes by the name of Dr Agasthya. I reside in this planet called the Earth. On this earth there are oceans, land masses, mountains, rivers, insects, animals, vegetation, forests and of course humans like me who number approximately 7 billion. I am one of them.
Y: Thanks. How did your world come into existence?
A: We believe that there was a big bang billions of years ago and this planet came into existence. It was a slow process of evolution and after a very very long gap, we humans came into being as a species with ‘superior’ intelligence.
Y: Who manages this planet called Earth.
A: There is no single group or authority to manage it. Our planet is divided into what we call countries or states numbering more than 200. Each country manages and controls its affairs, people and territory.
Y: Well, it makes sense. Are these countries of equal area and population?
A: No. No. Not at all. They vary widely. The area varies from a few hundred square km to a few million square km and the population varies from a few thousands to hundreds of millions.
Y: Is it not illogical? It would have made more sense to have them more or less of the same area or population.
A: You see, it has evolved over centuries. There was no single entity or authority that could cause it to happen in some logical way.
Y: Interesting. But is there any apex agency to have an overall control?
A: Well, there is and there isn’t. It is known as the United Nations (UN). But it has a limited role. Each country does as it pleases and some countries fight bitterly among themselves.
Yug paused and made some unintelligible noises.
A: What is it?
Y: Well, you know. I was thinking about the name. Why don’t you people change its name to Divided Nations (DN). Ha....Ha...
A: (in a slightly irritated tone): You know, one cannot expect people to live in harmony when there are large differences amongst them. After all, we are not machines. This world consists of diverse populace. People belong to different races and creed, have different skin colors and follow different religions and belief systems. The climate also varies greatly spanning from very cold to very hot. Even the language they speak is different. It is estimated that there are more than 6000 languages. Within a country also there are many languages and dialects.
Y: I am sorry if my comment has hurt you. Then how do the countries communicate amongst them?
A: We try to communicate in a few major languages.
Y: There are so many people, as you say. Do you feel all of them are leading a contented, comfortable and peaceful life?
A: We are by no means a utopian state. More than 30% of the world population is struggling to make both ends meet. Some of them are super rich and some are living in abject poverty.
Y: What do these super rich people do with their riches? After all how much one needs to lead a decent life?
A: Well, not too much. But these super rich have super needs- they need to have a large mansion with swimming pools and possibly a golf course needing huge maintenance, would like to possess best of jewelry, watches, perfumes, memberships in the super clubs, chauffeur driven cars and so on.
Y: A lot to worry about, isn’t it? Both the superrich and the poorest have a lot to worry about. Only the nature of the worry is different.
A: You could say that again!
Y: But then the remaining population, who are somewhere in between, must be happy.
A: It is not that simple. Basic needs being met is only a necessary condition and may not be sufficient. Once the basic needs are met, one aspires for other things like security, social recognition, and empowerment. Only then could one expect to be happy.
Y: Then at least some of these people are happy, I suppose.
A: Coming to think of it, the aspirations are never fully met. It is like the situation for a restless compulsive climber. Once he conquers a peak, he finds another and this chain is never ending.
Y: Oh, the situation seems to be quite bad. So you mean to say no one is ever happy.
A: One can’t say that. See, you cannot expect anyone to be perennially happy. Sometimes they are and other time they aren’t.
Y: So, if one plots a curve in the time domain, if the sum of the periods of happiness exceeds that of the unhappiness, then he can be dubbed as happy, I suppose.
By now, one could feel the excitement in the audience building up. They were keen to listen to how this question from a robot could be tackled by their representative, so to say.
A: See, you cannot bring mathematics into it. A moment of happiness can sustain oneself for a long time. Happiness is not tangible. It does not lend itself to a strict measurement.
Y: So, what does one do in the moments of acute unhappiness?
A: In extreme cases, one may feel like ending his life. In most cases one seeks solace from his fellow being or prays...
Y: Does everyone pray?
A: If one is religious....
Y: Wait, wait. Can you explain what you mean by being religious?
A: People follow different belief systems or religions, so to say. It is a kind of belief system which is supposed to guide them in their day-to-day life. How to behave, how to conduct oneself, how to treat others and so on. It also ordains some rituals, which are to be followed by all of its followers. But there are also people who do not believe in any religion.
Y: How come there is no single belief system or religion, as you call it?
A: Over the years, different religions have evolved and it is so much ingrained in the minds of the people that it is now impossible to think of a single religion. Followers of one religion fight bitterly with others and battles have been fought over it.
Y: But then, followers of one religion must be living harmoniously amongst them I suppose.
A: Well not exactly. Within a religion also, there are sub sects, who do not see eye to eye with each other.
Y: Why is it so? Is there no common code of conduct within one religious group?
A: There was, I suppose, in the beginning. But over the years, people have interpreted the original teachings of God in their own way and then the differences arose.
Y: What? What did you say? Who is this God?
A: Each religion believes in a supreme entity called God, who has different names in different religions but, as I mentioned earlier, some do not follow any religion and therefore do not believe in any God.
Y: If there is one God in a religion, then why should there be differences within them?
A: I really do not know.
Y: Is it not illogical and inconsistent?
Dr Agasthya appeared ill at ease with this line of discussion.
Y (continued): Okay, does the God or do the Gods of one religion accept the existence of the Gods of the other religions?
A: Well, it does not appear to be so. Each religious group considers their God to be supreme head.
Y: How could there be so many supreme heads? This, by definition, does not make sense.
Dr Agasthya, on one hand appeared to be irritated and on the other felt a need to brace himself to face the onslaught of questions. Yug seemed to sense it.
Y: I am sorry but I feel the need to point out inconsistencies when I see one.
A: It is alright. I can see your point of view. It is like this. Each religious group thinks “their” God is supreme.
Y: Well, that should be fine so long as they follow the code of conduct ordained by their God and do not interfere with the other religious groups. Is it so?
A: Well, I suppose it should be so, but.......
Y: So, I gather it is not so. By the way, you told me there are millions of people living now. Was the number always so great?
A: Of course not. The population has been increasing continually and rapidly. For example, it has doubled in the last forty years.
Y: How did this large number come about? How many were there in the beginning?
A: It must have started with very few. May be there were only two as per the belief of one of the religion.
Y: If this is so, then all must belong to a single tribe. Isn’t it?
A: Yes.... I never thought about it!
Y: Did they start following the religion from the beginning?
A: I do not suppose so. We learn from the history that the primitive man was busy in procreation, preservation and survival. It is only much later he turned follower of one religion or the other or just followed his native customs.
Y: So, I gather that the initial populace followed their own native customs and it is much later they turned followers of one of the religions. How did this come about?
A: I think a small group felt directly ordained by their God to follow their religion and presumably this group started persuading others to follow their religion.
Y: So whichever group was more powerful or resourceful succeeded in increasing their numbers. Is it so?
A: Yes, this is what seems to have happened.
Y: Well, I have digressed, I think. Coming back to our topic of happiness, you said one seeks solace or happiness by praying. How does it happen? Can one get rid of all his troubles by praying?
A: You see, the real-world problems cannot be got rid of instantly by praying. That would be a miracle. But people claim that by praying they can calm their minds, find solace and thus deal with their unhappiness.
Y: So, what you mean to say is that it is all in the mind. Before and after praying the world has not changed. But the mind is no longer unhappy. If religion can give this support, then it is great. Then this religion must be a great unifying and benign force to bring all round peace and progress.
A: Well, not so fast. Followers of different religions in the past have waged large scale wars, spread hatred and caused mass genocides.
Y: Wait a minute! We were talking of reducing unhappiness. Now the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. You are speaking of large-scale misery, destruction and unhappiness.
A: Unfortunately, this is true. And things are far from over. Even today such things are happening in some or other parts of the world. Sometimes even within the followers of the same religion.
Y: Now..now...You have completely confused me. Earlier you spoke of different religious groups following their own gods. I thought such groups within themselves must be an epitome of harmony, brotherhood as they are, so to say, “Children of the same God”.
A: Well you are right from your own perspective. But the real world is much more complex. Over the years, religious books, scriptures and religious teachers have interpreted their Gods’ teaching in their own different ways. Some rituals have also evolved to be followed rigidly by the populace. This has caused a lot of confusion and has also led to misunderstandings leading to large scale conflicts even within one religion.
Y: Well, I can understand if a common man, who is otherwise busy in running his day-to-day chores and struggling to meet his basic needs, does not find enough time to think and analyses. But the senior religious preachers/leaders are expected to play a proactive role to lead and guide the common people.
A: But this group of preachers/teachers is busy in playing one up man ship among them and building their own support base.
Y: How shameful. Can you call these people enlightened? If they are missing out on the teachings supposed to be ordained by their Gods, how can they be called spiritual leaders? If this is the fate within one religious group, I can imagine what it would be like among different religious groups. In fact, pardon me my saying so, I would expect such religious leaders of all the religions could get together to evolve a common code of conduct for everybody and an apex organization like UN can help in enforcing it. This could be based on universal brotherhood, non-interference in each other’s lives, mutual respect and cooperation to fight jointly common problems of the world.
Afterwards
By now Dr Agasthya was feeling very uncomfortable. How does one make a robot understand the human responses which many times are not rational and more on an emotional plane? He felt this interview is going nowhere and decided to terminate it by flicking the switch.
The interview ended abruptly triggering off frenzied reactions and discussions all over the world. The audience shared a feeling of anger, betrayal and embarrassment. They felt something urgently needs to be done to correct the contradictions, anomalies and irrationality which had crept into their lives.
The news media went overboard in declaring this interview as the “Interview of the Millennium.” An elite group of scientists felt that the issue has gone beyond the technology and straight into the realm of ideology. They called for a special emergency session of the UN to look into this issue in the interest of global peace and harmony. Secretary General of UN declared that a special committee will be constituted having global leaders in the religion, judiciary, science and human rights activists. This committee will meet expeditiously and will furnish their recommendations to be taken up in the general assembly especially called for this purpose. After deliberations of three months, the team came out with the following report.
Universal Belief System
Preamble
Everyone in this planet has a right to equality, freedom of choice and to lead a life of dignity in a way which does not impinge upon the similar rights of the other fellow beings. Primary cause of strife, sometimes even leading to wars, is on account of the differences in the perception of the religious beliefs held by the others. After an extended debate, it was agreed that the teachings contained in the holy books of various faiths and so also the teachings of the great religious leaders and the thinkers of all faiths advocate common things, namely:
Not to hurt others (Nonviolence).
To be helpful to others.
To have concern for the under privileged.
To have compassion for everyone.
To have respect for everyone.
Not to covet the possessions of the others.
To have feeling of the universal brotherhood.
To promote peace.
And finally, the golden rule. One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself.
In view of the above, it is feasible to evolve an acceptable universal belief system which can encompass all the above points. A separate committee will come out with this new system which will henceforth be known as "Universal Belief System".
Conclusion
On a personal level, everyone is free to pursue a religion or a belief system of his own choice. One is also free NOT to follow any religious or belief system. However, in social or public domain, everyone should follow "Universal Belief System", because, therein lies a potential to achieve wellness and welfare of the entire humanity.
A proposal to this effect was moved before the general assembly and was passed unanimously.
Author's Profile
After completing Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Jodhpur in 1968, obtained M.E. in Power Systems Engineering from the Electrical Engineering Department of IISc in 1970.Worked for 31 years at BHEL Bhopal and later at Bangalore in the Industrial Systems Group (Situated on MG Road), dealing with Drives, Controls, Automation Systems, Project Engineering for Industrial Projects. In 1995 moved to the Electronics Division of BHEL Bangalore (Mysore Road) to Head Semiconductor and Photovoltaics Dept. After this long stint in BHEL, took VR and became advisor for a Dept. of Science & Technology-TIFAC project on Hydrogen Energy involving Production and Application of Hydrogen including Fuel Cells (Project Group based at RV college of Engineering). Went on into teaching Non-Conventional Energy Sources in RV College of Engineering, Bangalore and later became Professor and HoD of Electronics and Communication Dept. of East West Institute of Technology Bangalore. Have keen interest in Energy in general and Renewable Energy in particular. Reading interests: general books on mathematics, physics and astronomy. Deeply interested in listening to Indian classical music. |  Now into English to Hindi translation of Children's Books and Popular Science and Technology Articles. I started a blog called ‘Electrical Anecdotes’ about 20 years back and later created some general posts too. https://www.youtube.com/@nagrajrao/videos http://electricalanecdotes.blogspot.com/ http://mindunshackled.blogspot.com/ https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/294412 |
Artist Profile
I am Sinchan Paul. By profession I am a Mechanical Engineer. I am an analytics consultant, proficient in social listening, competitive intelligence, account management, client experience and brand strategy. Experienced in analyzing large data sets, converting it into compelling and actionable insights to inform key business and product decisions. I was graduated in BE (Mechanical Engineer) from the Anna University, Chennai in 2014. Thereafter I have been working in the industry in various capacities like Solution Sales/Consultant, HoD-Presales, Presales Manager, Senior Analyst, Managed Service Consultant and Process Associates. Along with my day-to-day professional work, I am also a passionate artist. And I have decided to pursue and teach the Kalamkari Art Form. I also teach painting to kids and painting enthusiasts in Bengaluru. |  I have started selling my selective artworks, recently. For details you may contact me at: kalamkaripaintings@gmail.com; and view some of my works via my instagram handle:@kalamkari_paintings. |
~~ Kunal Konar, Editor-Promoter-Publisher; 19Jan2026
Comments