Biographer Kai Bird sheds light on ‘Oppenheimer’s’ fascination with Hinduism and his interpretation of the famous ‘death’ line from the Bhagavad Gita.
‘Oppenheimer‘, the American theoretical physicist, read the sacred text in Sanskrit and expressed that after the successful Trinity test in 1945, he recalled the verse: “If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst into the sky, that would be like the splendour of the Mighty One… I am becoming death, the destroyer of worlds.”
Bird, who co-authored ‘Oppenheimer’s’ biography, revealed that the physicist studied Sanskrit under Arthur Ryder, the lone Sanskrit scholar at Berkeley University, to read the Gita in its original form. Though ‘Oppenheimer’ found the Vedas too challenging, his interest in Hinduism garnered renewed attention with the release of Christopher Nolan‘s successful film, ‘Oppenheimer.’
Prior to the film’s release, writer Devdutt Pattanaik pointed out a thing in Oppenheimer’s interpretation. Pattanaik mentioned that the line in question is from chapter 11, verse 32, which translates to ‘kaal-asmi,’ meaning ‘I am time, destroyer of the world,’ rather than ‘I am death, destroyer of the world,’ as Oppenheimer had stated.
Addressing the controversy over this interpretation, Bird explained that some Sanskrit scholars believe the more accurate translation is ‘I am Time, destroyer of worlds.’ As a quantum physicist, Oppenheimer aimed to comprehend time and space, topics that the Gita explores on some level.
The film ‘Oppenheimer,’ starring Cillian Murphy, has enjoyed both critical acclaim and commercial success, grossing over Rs 50 crore in India and more than $180 million worldwide in just four days. However, a particular scene where Oppenheimer recites the ‘I am become Death’ line during a sex scene has sparked controversy, leading some audience members to call for its removal from the film. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur has reportedly demanded explanations from the Central Board of Film Certification in response to the situation.
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