Interviewer: Gurudev, pranam.
Gurudev: Pranam, pranam.
Interviewer: Viewers, today we have with us, alongside Gurudev, the famous geologist Sujit Sir. I want to start by asking Sujit Sir about the recent surge in earthquakes. It's been happening so frequently lately; one even hit Kolkata yesterday.
Gurudev: Someone once said that as the cold weather decreases, the earthquakes will start. And indeed, as the temperature rises, the frequency of earthquakes seems to be increasing. Every morning, we hear about earthquakes occurring here, there, and everywhere. I would like Sir to analyze why this is happening. We are quite frightened. What if something happens while we are sleeping? There's nothing we could do. Sir, please share something that might put our minds at ease.
Sujit Sir: To understand this, we first need to know what an earthquake actually is. We see the ground shaking and we feel it, but scientifically, yesterday's earthquake released energy equivalent to about 150,000 atom bombs from within the Earth's interior. That is how powerful it was.
Sujit Sir: Yesterday's earthquake occurred at a depth of 7 kilometers below the surface, with a magnitude of 5.3 on the Richter scale. Generally, if such an earthquake increases by just one point on the scale—to 6.1 or 6.3—it could cause a massive surge of water, about 8 to 10 meters high, to sweep through Kolkata. It would create a terrifying tsunami-like situation. We were lucky it stayed at 5.3.
Sujit Sir: Secondly, look at the Earth's surface. All these big buildings, houses, and railway lines are balanced by the Earth's own natural laws and internal forces. But when we engage in excessive construction, that balance is disrupted. When the balance is disturbed, the Earth tries to regain its equilibrium. This process of regaining balance is what we call an earthquake. It is a vital natural process.
Sujit Sir: Earthquakes have always happened, but now their intensity and frequency are increasing rapidly. A major reason for this is modern construction, which didn't exist in the past. As we do more of this work, the problem worsens.
Sujit Sir: Furthermore, global warming has been ongoing for a long time. There is no ice left at the North Pole, and massive chunks of ice are breaking off at the South Pole. This causes sea levels to rise. When sea levels rise, the balance of the landmass is automatically disturbed.
Sujit Sir: Specifically, regarding yesterday's earthquake, the location is known as the "Eocene Hinge" or the "85 Degree East Ridge." This is a landmass that was formed about 130 million years ago when India drifted away from Australia. This is an extremely active zone, and we are the ones damaging it.
Sujit Sir: For instance, we built tunnels under the Ganges River for the Metro. There was no need for that; we could have built a bridge over the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River instead. By digging tunnels, the ground beneath has become hollow and weak. The Eocene Hinge line runs right under the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River. If any tremors occur there, they will pass directly through Kolkata, because the city sits right on the Eocene Hinge.
Sujit Sir: Additionally, this hinge extends from Kanyakumari in the south to the Shillong Plateau in the northeast. This is why an earthquake in Northeast India, North India, the Bay of Bengal, or the Andaman Islands will affect Kolkata. Previously, we thought Kolkata was relatively safe from earthquakes, but it has now entered a highly effective earthquake zone.
Sujit Sir: There is no immediate escape for Kolkata. We keep talking about human awareness, but individual awareness won't change much now. Only government intervention can help, and it needs to happen immediately. A massive ice sheet in Antarctica has recently melted. If that ice turns to water, Kolkata could face a "watery grave" within the next two years. We don't have much time left in Kolkata. We need to shift our thinking to realize that Kolkata is nearing its end. Until people realize this, they won't wake up or question the politicians asking for their votes. They should ask, "How long will I survive in Kolkata if you talk about development?" This needs to be demanded as a right. Otherwise, there will be no progress. There is still a way to save Kolkata, but not without government action.
Interviewer: Awareness is there, but people haven't truly grasped the gravity. Sir, shifting slightly towards Gurudev's perspective—the prophecies in the Bhabishya Malika say the world is heading toward destruction. Are these the signs?
Sujit Sir: Fundamentally, the Earth itself doesn't "end," and it won't. If anyone says that, they are mistaken. Before our current era, the Earth experienced eight ice ages. Each had a beginning and an end, and each ended with a "Mahapralay" (Great Deluge). All life was destroyed, and then it started anew.
Sujit Sir: We humans think we are special, but humans didn't exist before previous deluges. In this coming deluge, humans will be wiped from the Earth. We are standing on the threshold. In this coming catastrophe, humans will be the most affected. Other species won't be as affected. Humans, being the "highest" form of life in the current ecosystem, will be the first to leave, followed by vertebrates and mammals. The whole Earth will be covered in ice. Then, life will start again, but in the next ecosystem, there may be no humans. Humans are a wonder even to God—a creature that tries to challenge God Himself.
Interviewer: So, what science describes as the end, you are saying is a cycle? Gurudev, what does spirituality say? Is this the end of the Kali Yuga and the start of the Satya Yuga?
Gurudev: Exactly. A "Mahapralay" (Great Deluge) is happening. This means human life will end. New life forms will emerge and take over the Earth. This extreme warming and heat we are suffering through will eventually lead to extreme "Himanayan" (glaciation/cooling). The whole world will become covered in ice. Temperatures will become extremely negative, and all current life will end. Slowly, the climate will change again, and life will evolve once more from small organisms.
Sujit Sir: And through that evolution, humans—or something else—will be created again. Life must go on.
Interviewer: It was in the news today that icebergs are melting.
Sujit Sir: Yes, a terrifying crack has appeared in an Antarctic ice shelf. Its size is almost 50% of the landmass of India, and it is about 16 meters thick. If such a huge mass of ice melts, global sea levels will rise by 1 to 1.5 meters. Places like Diamond Harbour and Kolkata will be submerged.
Gurudev: Science confirms that water levels are rising every day. As the ice melts, the water rises.
Interviewer: So, when the Bhabishya Malika says the Jagannath Temple in Puri will go underwater, is this how it happens?
Gurudev: Yes, the signs are coming repeatedly from the Puri temple.
Sujit Sir: Most places within roughly 73 kilometers of the coastline will be submerged under the sea within the next 12 to 13 years. That includes Puri and very likely Kolkata as well.
Gurudev: It will happen. There is no way out. We are heading downwards. Perhaps in 10 to 12 years maximum, it will all be over. We won't even need to talk about "doing this or that." It will happen automatically.
Interviewer: Alright, we will leave it here for today, Gurudev. One small thing—as we started this episode, it is Shivratri today, so you might hear the sound of microphones and noise from the surroundings in the background. Please forgive us for that. Sir, namaskar. Gurudev, pranam. Stay healthy, everyone. Stay well.