The Butterfly Effect: From Storm to Textbook

Thirteen years ago, while rounding the Cape of Good Hope, I ran into a bit of a storm. It was also the 540th birthday of Nicolaus Copernicus. Not that there was any connection.

It was merely a coincidence of no practical importance. My immediate concerns were existential which were to remain within the confines of the boat, keep the bow pointing east and the mast pointing at the sky.

The storm became part of the voyage, and the voyage became a story. The story is now part of a school textbook, targeting a group of people who had nothing to do with either the storm or the Cape, but are now forced to read about it.

They are the students of Kerala.

The latest Plus One English textbook has several pages dedicated to this particular day at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. As a student, I always looked forward to the stories in my English textbooks. Finding myself in one is amusing.

The last bit may not be a universally shared sentiment, and I imagine many students staring at that chapter and wondering why a sailor couldn't simply stay ashore and spare everyone the additional reading.

A fair question. All I can say in my defence is that I did not plan it that way.

The butterfly effect can be a dangerous thing. And it is quite a privilege.

PS- the questions at the end are interesting. Try answering them!