SEN: UNIVERSE OF KNOWLEDGE FROM A NEW ANGLE 7 Annals of Library and Information Studies Vol. 56, March 2009, pp. 7-12 Universe of knowledge from a new angle B K Sen 80 Shivalik Apartments, Alaknanda, New Delhi – 110019, Email: bksen@airtelmail.in Describes the characteristics of universe of knowledge composed of segments, space and time; and the characteristics of segments composed of objects, actions, space and time. Discusses the concept ‘subject’ and provides a definition of the same. As not much work has been done in this field, scholars are urged to explore the further. Definitions Segment – A part of the universe of knowledge that harbours a subject and sometimes acts as a component of a subject system. Subject — A subject is composed of a segment or segments of the universe of knowledge. Subject system – A subject having a component or components like object, action, space and time. Example: History: India: British period. Universe of Knowledge – The totality of knowledge that has survived till date. The knowledge that is being generated now and will be generated in future will also be a part of the universe of knowledge. Introduction Knowledge is the creation of human beings. Since time immemorial, humans have observed, experienced, experimented, reasoned, expressed and recorded many a thing. Of all these things, whatever has survived, formed the universe of knowledge (UoK). The aforementioned activities of humans that started in prehistoric era continues till date unabated and will continue till humans exist on earth. Hence, addition to the universe of knowledge will continue up to a time one cannot foretell. Characteristics of the Universe of Knowledge i) It is composed of scattered segments separated by space. ii) It is not continuous like time, a river or a line. iii) It is infinite, multidimensional, dynamic and expanding in all directions. The expansion is invariably linked with time. If the time component becomes zero, expansion automatically stops. Similarly, if the space harbouring the UoK becomes finite, expansion stops. Hence, time and space both will have to be infinite for the eternal expansion of knowledge. iv) Expansion without action is incomprehensible. Therefore, action is an integral component of the universe of knowledge. v) The UoK is super flexible. However much a segment expands, there will always be space for further expansion. vi) The speed and form (theoretical, practical) of expansion in all directions is not the same. vii) In the course of expansion some segments get overloaded, attain critical mass, and finally burst into smaller segments establishing their own identities and remain bound with the parent segment. viii) In certain cases, with the passage of time, parts of two or more segments merge together to form a new segment e.g. biochemistry, while the parent segments do not lose the parts. ix) At times several segments are found together in the form of a cluster where all segments retain their own identities, e.g. oceanography, physical sciences, etc. According to Hindu philosophy, the universe is composed of five primary elements, i.e. kshiti (earth), ap (water), tejas (energy), marut (air), and vyoman (space). In the