Every now and then scientists have tried to take the human existence to the next level. And with this report Amit tries to explore what could happen to our society in case the invisible cloak becomes a reality.
Reading the comments by other bloggers one thing is for sure that the cloak serves no purpose except for ‘spying’ (the reasons may vary). The only check on the owner of the same that I can imagine is ‘Moral’. Hence the dangers from this wonderful product are undeniably huge.
For keeping these weirdo scientists busy, I guess better idea would have been to experiment on–
1.) Eliminating the concept of hunger from human life i.e. one basic need is completely taken care of before moving to the next.
2.) Eliminating sleep and thus increasing human productivity.
3.) Ways to improve the efficiency of the brain.
4.) Increasing the radius of earth, thickness of the ozone layer for improving human life.
5.) A low cost fresh water generator from the natural gasses like Carbon Dioxide etc.
6.) A low cost substitute to plastics.
The list is endless………
I am surprised on the selection of this invisible cloak experiment. I hope someone can clarify more.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Friday, May 26, 2006
An Inspiring Story
I found this story posted by Gursharan on the infy's personal blogs. Worth reading.....
A 10-year-old boy decided to study Judo despite the fact that he had losthis left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with anold Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move."Sensei," the boy finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?" "This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the sensei replied. Not quite understanding,but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament.Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The thirdmatch proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponentbecame impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win thematch. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched.Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. Hewas about to stop the match when the sensei intervened."No," the sensei insisted, "Let him continue." Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament.He was the champion. On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?" "You won for two reasons," the sensei answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.
"Sometimes we feel that we have certain weaknesses and we blame others,the circumstances and our self for it but we never know that our weaknesscan become our strength one day. Each of us is special and important, sonever think you have any weakness, never think of pride or pain, just live your life to its fullest and extract the *best* out of it!"
A 10-year-old boy decided to study Judo despite the fact that he had losthis left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with anold Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move."Sensei," the boy finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?" "This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the sensei replied. Not quite understanding,but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament.Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The thirdmatch proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponentbecame impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win thematch. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched.Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. Hewas about to stop the match when the sensei intervened."No," the sensei insisted, "Let him continue." Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament.He was the champion. On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?" "You won for two reasons," the sensei answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.
"Sometimes we feel that we have certain weaknesses and we blame others,the circumstances and our self for it but we never know that our weaknesscan become our strength one day. Each of us is special and important, sonever think you have any weakness, never think of pride or pain, just live your life to its fullest and extract the *best* out of it!"
Narmada bachao "creatively" like Managers
This post by aadisht reminded me of “A beautiful mind” – John Nash whom we admired a lot in the college for his amazing thesis. There were two reasons for this –
1. ) He talks about ‘win win theory’ – the basis of Nash’s quest which ultimately won him the Nobel Prize.
2. ) He proposes an amazingly creative solution (to the Narmada Bachao Andolan issue)using very basic and simple concepts which are taught in the first term of an MBA course.
He proposes –
“What if you compensate the people whose land you are acquiring with call options on the land which benefits? The option can have an exercise price equal to the current price- or perhaps with a modest premium- and it can be exercised on a date after the development is expected to be complete.”
No doubt the solution is wrought with some inherent flaws. A few which I can think out of my hat are –
1.) The development of the dam has already taken 30 years and might take another 10-15 years or so. Majority of the people who are being displaced fall in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category and require a relief package which can bring their life back on track as soon as possible. They will definitely benefit from the solution after 10 years in case they are able to survive under the current scenario.
2.) Who is going to take care of the disbursement of the call option and that too of a land which will really benefit from the new dam? Of course we will have a government body. But what is the guarantee that this disbursement would be free from the problems against which the complete ‘Andolan’ has been started. I am sure to see “NBA part II”.
3.) Poor people understand only give and take and a call option is beyond their comprehension which again leaves them completely vulnerable in the hands of government officials, real estate agents and other greedy hawks.
I am not saying that the solution is impossible to implement rather its one of the most creative solution to the problem I have seen by far.
Moreover no solution is ever perfect. Just take the example of a telephone invented a century back as a solution to our communication needs. But the improvements are still on.
And this is my small contribution to what Medha started and people like Aadisht are carrying forward.
Hats off to you Aadisht!!!
1. ) He talks about ‘win win theory’ – the basis of Nash’s quest which ultimately won him the Nobel Prize.
2. ) He proposes an amazingly creative solution (to the Narmada Bachao Andolan issue)using very basic and simple concepts which are taught in the first term of an MBA course.
He proposes –
“What if you compensate the people whose land you are acquiring with call options on the land which benefits? The option can have an exercise price equal to the current price- or perhaps with a modest premium- and it can be exercised on a date after the development is expected to be complete.”
No doubt the solution is wrought with some inherent flaws. A few which I can think out of my hat are –
1.) The development of the dam has already taken 30 years and might take another 10-15 years or so. Majority of the people who are being displaced fall in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category and require a relief package which can bring their life back on track as soon as possible. They will definitely benefit from the solution after 10 years in case they are able to survive under the current scenario.
2.) Who is going to take care of the disbursement of the call option and that too of a land which will really benefit from the new dam? Of course we will have a government body. But what is the guarantee that this disbursement would be free from the problems against which the complete ‘Andolan’ has been started. I am sure to see “NBA part II”.
3.) Poor people understand only give and take and a call option is beyond their comprehension which again leaves them completely vulnerable in the hands of government officials, real estate agents and other greedy hawks.
I am not saying that the solution is impossible to implement rather its one of the most creative solution to the problem I have seen by far.
Moreover no solution is ever perfect. Just take the example of a telephone invented a century back as a solution to our communication needs. But the improvements are still on.
And this is my small contribution to what Medha started and people like Aadisht are carrying forward.
Hats off to you Aadisht!!!
Saturday, May 20, 2006
THe Quota Issue
Disclaimer – The write up is completely a personal opinion of the write and is ripe with a lot of assumptions implicit and explicit.
Lot has already been said, debated, scientifically analyzed, contemplated, fought and even blood spilled over this critical issue which has taken this country (especially the youth) by storm. While writing/speaking over it, I am still to see a single person who does not get emotionally charged (for whatever reason) and I am no exception to it. Reading through all their reasoning and arguments, I have tried to present my take on the issue.
The Intention –
1. Among the first ‘Reservations’ introduced in India by the British were to the Muslims to woo them to fulfill political intentions. And no one can deny the disastrous effect of this division in the society.
2. Under Gandhi’s guidance and Ambedkar’s leadership, India decided to experiment with a similar, already failed system to uplift the socially outcast, “Harijans”, but with some really good intentions backing it up.
3. Generations changed and so did the intentions. The experiment had opened up a Pandora’s Box, for the Politicians to manipulate over the next half of the century which took a monstrous shape first in 1991 and then in 2006.
4. No rational and sane person can deny the fact that backward caste people are still socially discriminated in this IT hub of the world. At heart we all agree that poverty, untouchability and illiteracy need to be rooted out to make this country a better place.
The Problem –
1. The Legacy: In this land of Hero worshiper’s we cannot accept the fact that our heroes are also humans, liable to make mistakes. Gandhi’s and Ambedkar’s experiment failed and it failed for the same reasons which lead to the making of Pakistan. But no one dared pull the plug. Why??? Because, how can ‘Gandhi’ be wrong? How can ‘Ambedkar’ go wrong? Faltering of heroes is equivalent in India is equivalent to blasting off of the Bamiyan Buddha or Public burning of Quran – a sacrilege. And thus in 60s ‘Reservations’ were made permanent.
2. Politics: Unfortunately, India’s problem today is its own leaders who are no longer the leaders of the citizens of this country rather are leaders of castes. A country marred with 36% illiteracy and 26% population below poverty lines (BPL), backward caste is a huge vote bank to be exploited. And even this recent move of the UPA government of increasing the Quotas in the election season is nothing more than a shameful example of the deteriorating Indian Political system.
Most depressing thing is that ….if put in the Parliament, the bill for increasing Quota would be passed unanimously without a national debate. No marks for guessing the reason!
The Effect –
1. The pro-reservationists argue that qualification brings the backward classes into the mainstream. The implicit assumption here is that ‘Good Qualification’ fetches a job with handsome money; which literally means social upliftment of the backward as no one bothers himself about the caste of a rich. But in India, good education (from IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and other reputed institutes) comes at a cost (not the admission fees; rather the investment required to prepare for the entrance in these institutes). This results in ratio of people coming from metros (people who can afford costly education) to those coming from backward/rural areas (with a meager per capita income) is astronomical (As almost 40% of India is poor). Thus the vicious circle of education is making rich even richer.
Conclusion –The lower passing marks for ‘Quotaites’ is errorneous as only those who can invest in preparation give entrance tests for the reputed institutes. This policy just deteriorates the quality of education.
2. In colleges there are two kinds of groups students tend to make – one based on the region they belong to and the other is caste centric. While the former happens because of the comfort of language (As India is a country where language changes at every 100 Km), the latter happens either because of a shared feeling of inferiority, complex and discontent ( as the relaxation in entrance gets directly reflected in the scholastic pursuits of backward class people especially in institutes with relative grading) against the higher class (Recall the reasons for India’s Partition-they were no different).
The Solution –
Increasing the number of seats in no way solves the problems I have tried to point out in this write up; rather they only aggravate an already deteriorating scenario.
Everyday, one of the factions proposes something and the other disposes. The problem requires a well devised long term plan to be implemented under a tightly monitored time frame. Three components of this plan which I strongly feel would be the soul of this plan are –
1. New Education Policy (System) – Almost every section of the society has proposed and debated over the pos and cons of revamping the education system of India for making it a real medium (and not a dummy one as it is now) for the upliftment of backward classes. And this is merely one module of the whole solution package.
(Empirically) Number of students from government colleges making to the best higher education institutes in India (IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and others) can be counted on ones fingertips. As argued earlier, the majority is still of the people who can afford costly education from the private schools (Even here Cost is associated with Quality for the reasons described later). What we require is
a. A sincere overhaul of the complete education system which is long overdue now.
b. Subsidizing quality education for the backward classes’ up to class 10th/12th & let the merit decide the future of this country.
2. Learn-Pay-Earn: IITs, IIMs, AIIMS pass-outs education is subsidized by this country’s taxpayers. A simple financial logic asks for a pay back.
Devise a “Rational” policy (which is next to impossible in India but its future is still dependent on it) through which these passouts directly/indirectly return back the favor, before they move on to carve a golden future for themselves. Hence, let the Learn-Pay-Earn (LPE) principal replace the Learn-Earn(LE) principal.
(I support this argument as there are countries in which youngsters have to undertake defense training and serve the country for a minimum period)
Lot has already been said, debated, scientifically analyzed, contemplated, fought and even blood spilled over this critical issue which has taken this country (especially the youth) by storm. While writing/speaking over it, I am still to see a single person who does not get emotionally charged (for whatever reason) and I am no exception to it. Reading through all their reasoning and arguments, I have tried to present my take on the issue.
The Intention –
1. Among the first ‘Reservations’ introduced in India by the British were to the Muslims to woo them to fulfill political intentions. And no one can deny the disastrous effect of this division in the society.
2. Under Gandhi’s guidance and Ambedkar’s leadership, India decided to experiment with a similar, already failed system to uplift the socially outcast, “Harijans”, but with some really good intentions backing it up.
3. Generations changed and so did the intentions. The experiment had opened up a Pandora’s Box, for the Politicians to manipulate over the next half of the century which took a monstrous shape first in 1991 and then in 2006.
4. No rational and sane person can deny the fact that backward caste people are still socially discriminated in this IT hub of the world. At heart we all agree that poverty, untouchability and illiteracy need to be rooted out to make this country a better place.
The Problem –
1. The Legacy: In this land of Hero worshiper’s we cannot accept the fact that our heroes are also humans, liable to make mistakes. Gandhi’s and Ambedkar’s experiment failed and it failed for the same reasons which lead to the making of Pakistan. But no one dared pull the plug. Why??? Because, how can ‘Gandhi’ be wrong? How can ‘Ambedkar’ go wrong? Faltering of heroes is equivalent in India is equivalent to blasting off of the Bamiyan Buddha or Public burning of Quran – a sacrilege. And thus in 60s ‘Reservations’ were made permanent.
2. Politics: Unfortunately, India’s problem today is its own leaders who are no longer the leaders of the citizens of this country rather are leaders of castes. A country marred with 36% illiteracy and 26% population below poverty lines (BPL), backward caste is a huge vote bank to be exploited. And even this recent move of the UPA government of increasing the Quotas in the election season is nothing more than a shameful example of the deteriorating Indian Political system.
Most depressing thing is that ….if put in the Parliament, the bill for increasing Quota would be passed unanimously without a national debate. No marks for guessing the reason!
The Effect –
1. The pro-reservationists argue that qualification brings the backward classes into the mainstream. The implicit assumption here is that ‘Good Qualification’ fetches a job with handsome money; which literally means social upliftment of the backward as no one bothers himself about the caste of a rich. But in India, good education (from IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and other reputed institutes) comes at a cost (not the admission fees; rather the investment required to prepare for the entrance in these institutes). This results in ratio of people coming from metros (people who can afford costly education) to those coming from backward/rural areas (with a meager per capita income) is astronomical (As almost 40% of India is poor). Thus the vicious circle of education is making rich even richer.
Conclusion –The lower passing marks for ‘Quotaites’ is errorneous as only those who can invest in preparation give entrance tests for the reputed institutes. This policy just deteriorates the quality of education.
2. In colleges there are two kinds of groups students tend to make – one based on the region they belong to and the other is caste centric. While the former happens because of the comfort of language (As India is a country where language changes at every 100 Km), the latter happens either because of a shared feeling of inferiority, complex and discontent ( as the relaxation in entrance gets directly reflected in the scholastic pursuits of backward class people especially in institutes with relative grading) against the higher class (Recall the reasons for India’s Partition-they were no different).
The Solution –
Increasing the number of seats in no way solves the problems I have tried to point out in this write up; rather they only aggravate an already deteriorating scenario.
Everyday, one of the factions proposes something and the other disposes. The problem requires a well devised long term plan to be implemented under a tightly monitored time frame. Three components of this plan which I strongly feel would be the soul of this plan are –
1. New Education Policy (System) – Almost every section of the society has proposed and debated over the pos and cons of revamping the education system of India for making it a real medium (and not a dummy one as it is now) for the upliftment of backward classes. And this is merely one module of the whole solution package.
(Empirically) Number of students from government colleges making to the best higher education institutes in India (IITs, IIMs, AIIMS and others) can be counted on ones fingertips. As argued earlier, the majority is still of the people who can afford costly education from the private schools (Even here Cost is associated with Quality for the reasons described later). What we require is
a. A sincere overhaul of the complete education system which is long overdue now.
b. Subsidizing quality education for the backward classes’ up to class 10th/12th & let the merit decide the future of this country.
2. Learn-Pay-Earn: IITs, IIMs, AIIMS pass-outs education is subsidized by this country’s taxpayers. A simple financial logic asks for a pay back.
Devise a “Rational” policy (which is next to impossible in India but its future is still dependent on it) through which these passouts directly/indirectly return back the favor, before they move on to carve a golden future for themselves. Hence, let the Learn-Pay-Earn (LPE) principal replace the Learn-Earn(LE) principal.
(I support this argument as there are countries in which youngsters have to undertake defense training and serve the country for a minimum period)
1. The Infrastructure: Even if all these policies are in place, would the benefit reach the deserving living in places where there are no schools for many kms, no quality teachers and nothing to motivate them???
Hence there are a few pre-requisites we need to take care of even before all those policies are even thought over. The foremost among these would be an intensive infrastructure laid out across the length and breadth of the country.
Even today in Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, Chattisgarh, Himalyan states and many other parts of the country are completely inaccessible.
Hence there are a few pre-requisites we need to take care of even before all those policies are even thought over. The foremost among these would be an intensive infrastructure laid out across the length and breadth of the country.
Even today in Bihar, Jharkhand, UP, Chattisgarh, Himalyan states and many other parts of the country are completely inaccessible.
Quality education asks for Quality teachers who require a Quality incentive to share their knowledge, which refers to an infrastructure which provides a sufficient standard of living for which they have slogged throughout their lives. Basic economics teaches us that infrastructure attracts industries, Industries require manpower, to attract manpower schools, hospitals, parks come up which improve the standard of living – attracting Quality scholars resulting in better education which would help us achieve the desired objective. Examples of this are all around us from Bombay to Bangalore and now Baddi. Even China achievements today are the result of its investment in the infrastructure.
Putting the effect of infrastructure more simply in the words of my friend N.H. Krishnan – “A road in a village means a bus stand, which means another hanging place for children, means observing people of all classes and creed and thus a brush with a whole new world. This in turn lights a desire in them to explore more of this ‘New World’, motivates them to know more which is an incentive enough for them to learn and gain knowledge. Development automatically follows.”
Putting the effect of infrastructure more simply in the words of my friend N.H. Krishnan – “A road in a village means a bus stand, which means another hanging place for children, means observing people of all classes and creed and thus a brush with a whole new world. This in turn lights a desire in them to explore more of this ‘New World’, motivates them to know more which is an incentive enough for them to learn and gain knowledge. Development automatically follows.”
A Thought – The world will provide you with stones every day. What you build out of it is your outlook ---- a BRIDGE or a WALL.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Winning
‘Gyaan’! The first impression that any typical MBA grad would get about Winning – another addendum to Welch’s ‘Straight from the Gut’. And after GE Money proudly announced that anyone sitting for their interview needs to go through this book (during the pre placement talks), I got a bit more eager to lay my hands on it.
Believe me, in no way is the book an anticlimax to its title. Welch’s proprietary no-nonsense, precise and dominating style keeps one bombarded with surprises. Thanks to the amazing layout that makes the book a 20-30 minutes read J. Every chapter hangs independently like a ripe mango from a full grown tree, ready to be plucked from the branch closer to your side.
Enriched with personal anecdotes, I personally found – Candor, budgeting, The right job and Work-Life balance the most amusing of all the chapters. Every word of them is worth imbibing.
The pointers are so precise and to the point that their elaboration gives an impression of repetitiveness at times. Though it does not seem to be a business Encyclopedia as claimed by Warren Buffet, it is definitely a job well done.
Interestingly, Welch shares his views on the one of the hottest topic being debated currently in India i.e. Quota in the private sector. His views seem to resonate through the Indian Industry on Manmohan Singh’s call for affirmative action.
“Winning companies (read countries) are meritocracies.
Quota undermines meritocracies. They artificially push some people ahead, independent of qualifications. That can be demotivating to the top performers who are passed over, and it doesn’t do much for results.”
My take on the book is 7.25 on a scale of 10. Hope you would enjoy it too.
Believe me, in no way is the book an anticlimax to its title. Welch’s proprietary no-nonsense, precise and dominating style keeps one bombarded with surprises. Thanks to the amazing layout that makes the book a 20-30 minutes read J. Every chapter hangs independently like a ripe mango from a full grown tree, ready to be plucked from the branch closer to your side.
Enriched with personal anecdotes, I personally found – Candor, budgeting, The right job and Work-Life balance the most amusing of all the chapters. Every word of them is worth imbibing.
The pointers are so precise and to the point that their elaboration gives an impression of repetitiveness at times. Though it does not seem to be a business Encyclopedia as claimed by Warren Buffet, it is definitely a job well done.
Interestingly, Welch shares his views on the one of the hottest topic being debated currently in India i.e. Quota in the private sector. His views seem to resonate through the Indian Industry on Manmohan Singh’s call for affirmative action.
“Winning companies (read countries) are meritocracies.
Quota undermines meritocracies. They artificially push some people ahead, independent of qualifications. That can be demotivating to the top performers who are passed over, and it doesn’t do much for results.”
My take on the book is 7.25 on a scale of 10. Hope you would enjoy it too.
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