SUMIR SHARMA

Nothing Not Even Nothing

2010-06-21T05:33:00.000-07:00

There was nothing. Not even Nothing.

In Vedic literature, there is a proposition which goes somewhat like this.

O Brahman, give me one such question, answer to which answers all the questions.

The above prayer is starting and end of all dilemmas. But no, it is not so. It is not the beginning and end. The beginning was the first assumption. The statement is that O Brahman give me one such assumption that gives that question, answer to which answers all the questions. However, all such propositions will not satisfy in ultimate. It would not give the ultimate satisfaction. There is a reason for that. All such propositions are seated in Brain. Brian has emerged when the first assumption came into being. The Brain has emerged and evolved and with it the first assumption came into being. Probably a creator created it. It was a proposition preceding the creator even. Was it a Void? No. Even before the void, there was a preceding proposition. It was not an anti-void. it was just a 'not'.

However, all such propositions are seated in Brain. Brain perceives it but it was already there hidden and written in the Brain. Those propositions which brain perceived were already there and the bunch or set of those propositions were thoughts in their true nature. The set of thoughts is mind. Mind was there in the Brain. But Brain perceives only to a limit. Nature has not yet grown a brain wherein the whole Mind get the life. Mind is there, making Brain to seek the first assumption and then the ultimate question and finally the complete and final answer. But is has not grown enough to perceive all that Mind makes it to seek for which it is not fully equipped. On the other other hand, the first assumption became the solution for every next issue. A God was created. Mathematics was created. Society was created. Money was created and even knowledge was created. Brain is there because nature is there. Nature remains and creates. Whatsoever it creates, it grows and then degenerates. Somewhere the nature is also dying. The thing which remains is the 'Nothing'.

Theory of Language

2010-03-23T08:34:00.000-07:00

Theory of Language

Special Note: The essay is open to alteration, modification, addition and editing.
It had been written before I read a book on post modernism. After reading the book, I brought out this writeup which remained stacked in my notes.

The actual truth is beyond the reach of language. Language is mere a codification of sounds. There are numerous languages. Numerous statements in numoerous languages about a single truth can exist. Numerous people knowing numerous languages may say the same thing in their respective speech but they may not understand each other even if they may be talking about the same thing of the same dimension. This the actual truth about the language. It conveys that the truth exists and can exist without a language. The truth can be preceived and the language may fail to convey it.

However in a day to day life we live in the world of langauge and sound. It is so much prevalent that we just forget the actual activity and just respond to the langauge. Sometimes it happends that language is misuded to cheat and intentionally misuded to convey something else. With that a new world keep on emerging.

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Language is a subtle and sophisticate process of codificiation. It is inate to the brain. Even if all the languages are just snapped and liquidated in a snap of a second, the brain will again discover and invent it. It may be a hypothesis but here it is emphasizing a truth that it is a natural ability of the brain to invent the codifiction. Uttering sounds, making gestures and looking at the things to sooath the mind or convey something are all the internal procedures of making cofification.

It seems that those who reached a level of spiritual achievement, they have discovered a new language, a new set of symbols and a new grammar. The pure truth conveys or transmit a new set of rules of languages. These people have not shared it with the rest of the humanity that particular language. They have tried to convey those truths in some langauges,

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like in Sanskrit, Latin, Greece, Hebrew etc. but then they also placed restrictions on its spread. As a result the langauges referred above have suddenly become out of use.

Another feature of Language: The motive of langauge is to communicate, to transmit and exchange. But what is the thing which it communciates, transmits and exchanges? It is the factum which is at the core of the activity. However the sounds produced and the symbols made are not the actual factum. They correspond to the 'factum'. They are never in a position to touch the factum. You have an abstruse thought. You are troubled because you are not able to pinpoint it. You use a number of sentences to say that thing. Suddenly you locate an assertion which is near to that factum. You feel relieved and soothed. But that assertion is not the prefect expression of the factum. But you stop there and then. It becomes the

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cause of confusion.

The world of marketing and shrewd politicians and businessmen know about the above mechanism. They dod not talk much. They actually play the mind game. The mind game is nothing but an attempt to play on the gap between language and what actually it is conveying in place of what actaully is the factum.

If you want to live a fruitful life, the real life and the actual life, then you must be attentive to real nature of the langauge and the mechanisms which exists behind it.

The another scenario which can be explained as well as the scenario that can act as an evidence for it is the field of music. The notes, the strokes, the tabs are set of sound symbols which are treated in a different way by the experts and musicians. An illiterate to the field of music, which I mean to say, a person who does not know th egrammar of music, who does not know how to play a meaningful note on a muscial

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instrument, even he can enjoy the music. There people, who do not know anyting about the grammer of music, but they sometimes are the expert listerns who can tell like an expert that which music is right and perfect and which one is out of ruthm. Most of the people enjoy music. Why is it so? Music sooathes, Music touches you. But what is in you that is sooathened? What is in you that is touched in you? It is the 'factum' which is the answer. The factum is something which is real and exist even without the existance of humanity. The language is there for that factum. But in actual use we become oblivious of the real activity which is going on and become prisoners of the langauge. It is again because of the language. The langauge is not the true replica of the factum. It is corresponding to a factum. It can be ultered

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in numerous sets of sounds for a single factum. But simlutaneously it is creating its own owrld. The humanity posess it. It uses it but become oblivious of the true activity. It starts giving importance to the utterances but not to the actual core which is behind it.

Physic Remedies:

The above theory if understood and imbibed well, can be effectively used to correct numerous physic maladies. It is highly useful for correcting or at least controlling phases of anger, angst, and despondencies.

Silence Please:

This phrase 'Silence Please' is highly effective remedy. You may call it a mantra. However, in order to get benefit out of it, one must understand the talk, thought and theory behind it. Ou can start re-reading the essay from the beginning.however, some fo the points which must be gleaned and carried along in order to exploit the efficacy of 'Silence Please' are collected the following paragraph.

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You must give recognization to 'Language'. Now, here, it can be called 'your speech'. Secondly you have to get into the core of the theory that our speech or language is merely a codification of some thought or factum. The sounds which you produce or speak in order to convey some meanging or message or a communication is merely a codification build by your brain but behind it lies some other fact which you call 'factum' or 'thought'. ( Kindly note, the ideas here are different from the 'Ghost in the Machine'. Here it has been borrowed from the theories dominating the computer languages which in turn are being derived from the working of the brain.)

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Nature of Thought and Language:

The heading can be reframed. It should be called the nature of relation betwen language and thought.

'Language' or 'an assertion' or 'a statement' is corresponding to a thought or factum. It is never an exact replication of the factum. The same thought can be conveyed by different means. The fatum may visit and cause an effect without allowing itself to be identified. It practical terms, the use of language or other means of transmission in form of a set of symbols, are practical and efficacious in use. You can not completely depend on it. You can only have faith in its efficacy. The factum/thought is paramount.

The above theory can give new interpertation to psychonalaysis and sub concious theories. Freud was using language to reach the inner psychic world. The thought had made its presence felt to him and he was expressing it in words. The rest of his efforts of giving clinical reports and

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and making experiments were mere rituals to make his work earn the certification of being scientific.

Mathmaticians and the act of doing mathematics is th real activity. Therein, the thought acquires a new form and it is the mathematic notations which are meant here. The mathematic notations are the set of symbols which only a mathematician understands. It is his language. Similar thing is more clear and apparent in writing a computer programmes especially for compilers.

Best Season for reading

2008-10-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

Dan Abbe of Book Search Support Team of Books Google dot com believes that it is the warm climate of summer which is more appropriate time to read. He knows that in cosy environment inside the house during the winter can also be a good idea for reading. However, he finally believes that it is the summer which is the best time to read.
I quote,
“I do think summer is the best time to read a book. Some might say it would be winter, because you’re inside so much, but I’m not so sure about that. Something about heat makes it even more pleasant to read: coldness demands motion, or at least bundling up, but the paltry effort required to turn a page is suited to a warm day.”
Dan come to India in June/July months to Northern regions. You will learn about the right climate for reading. By sitting in Mountain View or region around that, you may enjoy the leisure ideas from Japan. But it was in India that Buddha got enlightenment and it was not in the summer season.

How to select a correct religion

2008-02-20T23:35:00.000-08:00

First of all I seek pardon if I am offending any of the reader by my diction and formation of the title. I am not much concerned about religion as such. I am not an atheist even. I do not consider myself noble and superior enough to comment on religion or religiosity. I am rather a most ignorant creature in the world who happens to live among the books or digitized facsimiles and pdfs. I am like a silver fish hiding in the bindings of the books and when anyone rearranges or opens the books, it runs for a cover in fear of death. I may be called an atheist but at present stage of my life, I wish to respect every religion. I may be critical of each religion but if someone calls me to pass a verdict if I am so sound in criticising every religion, then as a criminal who has realised his crime, I would seek an earnest pardon.

However, here I am quoting Lala Hardyal, who had in a way suggested a method to a select a religion in his book “Hints for self Culture”, chapter 1, page 10.

“Astronomy elevates and inspires your soul, and gives you the purest poetry of Science. Thus it develops your imagination and ennobles your emotional life. But it does much more. Now, it is of the first importance for a civilized man or woman to have some sound and scientific ideas about Cosmogony. False Cosmogony has been the basis of false religion and false re1igion is as dangerous for you as a pet snake. It is your duty to understand the scientific theories of the origin, evolution, and destiny of the Universe. All religions, from the crudest African fetishism to the most advanced modem cults, have taught some sort of Cosmogony. Their peculiar superstitions are always derived from their doctrines about the origin and destiny of the Universe. There lies the root of the evil. If you wish to choose a religion that will lead you to Truth and Life, and not to Error and Death, then you must first have the right notions about Cosmogony. If your Cosmogony is wrong, your religion will also be all wrong, and then yours will be a wasted life.

Astronomy will free your mind from your inherited superstitions in this respect.”

Servile Mindset Refuse to Die

2006-10-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

Today I had a verbal tussle with one of a lecturer of Hindi language. He was talking about the IT paper in the Language study. Soon, he was praising the efforts of the Government of India in promoting the language on the net by providing the different resources. He was quite excited that the some times back Sonia Gandhi had issued some softwares on the languages.

jutted into the discussion and objected to the enthusiasm shown by him. I pointed out that there was not doubt that the government of India had tried to bring some devices on the net as well softwares which could help the people of language to use the computer for their literature but most of the were not user friendly. In order to substantiate my claim I pointed out that through various centuries of the C-DAC the government of India had tried to make the Hindi literature available on net. But the manner that it was displayed on the net, they are not user friendly. They do not run on Window 98. It is a big shortcoming. Secondly they are mostly given in PDF. They are not shown in HTML. But the lecturer countered me by praising the government. He said that there was glimmer of hope.

I objected to his positive approach to the changes which were taking place. I pointed it out that he was not able to see that it was being done in a very unimaginative manner. It was done merely to show that well we were also in computers and IT or in short ICT. But if a common man want to use these resources, he will be forced to learn something of engineering or the IT technology. Whereas, the IT technology has in its power and range, the ability that any one, who may not have any understanding of this technology, can make use of the resources. The government has overlooked this aspect.

I pointed out the case of Munshi Prem Chand stories. The stories had been posted by Raman Kaul on his portal after borrowing it from C-DAC site. The difference between his work and C-DAC is that any novice can read the stories of Dhanpat Rai on the site of Raman Kaul with any of the operating system. Whereas, in case of C-DAC portal you need only specific DOS and specific fonts to read them.

However, the lecturer, did not accepted my version. He was happy with the fact that Hindi is on cyberspace. He was happy that there are some softwares which are freely available from the government offices and he has some friends in bureaucracy from whom he can procure those resources. He does not know that how far this technology has come and how fast it is improving and changing. He does not have the understanding that visiting Internet does not solve your problem. You can not get what you desire only by wishing it on internet. It requires some experience and understanding to exploit the potential of internet for particular purpose. But before that, it is required that the information and data which could be exchanged through Internet should be made available in a manner that it could be used and accessed by all the people without any hindrance of any kind. But no, there is peculiar tendency among the Indians to accept whatsoever is given. There is absence of ability to change or modify or demand a thing in a particular form. There is a peculiar colonial mindset which they are ready to shed. There is peculiar mindset of a slave which is not ready to go away. There is peculiar tendency to praise a thing out of promotion and decry or criticize a thing without understanding the actual dimensions. I may be called of criticizing and not appreciating what is being made available. But, those who can understand, they can support me that the manner it is being made available is rather making the mockery of very idea of using IT to share the information and promote the cause of a language.

Paint Brush of Triambak

2006-09-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

Triambak Sharma is son of Sumir Sharma, the blogger. Triambak is now five years old. When Sumir is not sitting at his computer, Triambak will invariably come to his room and ask hesitantly, "Papa may I sit at the computer". If he is permitted, he will open the paint brush and make some drawings. Most of the time, he deletes his paintings before saving. However, I have saved some of his works. Earlier, I was foolish enough to delete some of his work which was incomplete. Now I save them. I am showing some of them below.

Triambak is a name of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is propitiated in Mahamritunijiya Mantra as Triamabakam. Triambak means three eyed (Tri means Three and Amba means eye. Amba is also the name of Mother Parvati.).

The first one is the sun.

The second paint brush: His idea of a Greeting Card assisted by his mother Anu. He posted his first letter, a greeting card, to his friend at Goraya in April 2006.

पापा मै कुछ बना रहा हँु" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3633/875/320/untitled.1.jpg" border="8">
The third paint brush: When I asked, what had he made here, he said in a pensive tone, "पापा मै कुछ बना रहा हँु" I.

The fourth paint brush: Probably an incomplete assignment of school assisted by my sister Sucharu, a good artist herself. (Soon it will be uploaded. Uploading accomplished)

Jitters

2006-09-17T03:24:00.000-07:00

I am not a computer expert. The knowledge about Internet Technology is equally scanty. However, I am now hooked to computer and Internet. I am able to make good use of computer and Internet. As a result, I have become dependent upon both the things. Therefore, if any disruption in my computer or in my access to Internet comes, I become jittery. In case of Internet, there are more problems. In case of Internet, the main disruption which is hated by me is any obstruction in accessing the Internet. The second disruption was experienced during the month of July 2006, when the Government of India had banned some of web sites. The incidence is now hovering on the mind as a fear.

On September 14, as I have pointed out in my postings at Blogspots again Banned in India and then at Blog Ban Revisits and then at Blog Ban Revisits , I faced the same problem somewhere around 3.30 p.m. I immediately reacted and made the above mentioned postings. I faced not only one problem. It had exploded like a bombshell to me when I found that I could not open those sites even with the help of proxy servers. The proxy servers did not display the site. One of the proxy site which was developed during July 06, that was indblogs.com did not open at all. The search option of the explorer opened totally a different site. I typed an immediate reaction. It reads,
Earlier, the people were able to access their banned blogs from the proxy server. However, this time it is not that easy. The various proxy servers are not showing the results. Secondly, the pkblogs and inblogs are also not showing the results. The pkblogs returns a null result. The inblogs takes to totally a strange site. This time, the government is showcasing its technical expertise also. However, this time, the typepad blogs have been spared.

However, before I made more comments, and I was thinking and forming in my mind many more responses, I found that the sheets which I have opened for civil war memories was being displayed. It was nearly 4.15 p.m. Soon I tried to open my own site. I found that everything had turned to normal. But before that I have already made the crises posting on my blogs.

It seems that there was a technical problem during that hour. I have not found similar reporting by any other blog or web site. May be there was some problem with my ISP. But some of the web sites were easily accessible. In any case, I have again learned a lesson, that I have yet to learn more about working on Internet. Earlier during the Reservation Issue, I had learned to wait and watch before making any controversial postings. I have matured to some extent. But it was different when I was not able to access the sites and even proxy servers were not responding.
I can think about other possibilities of that blackout of the web sites during that hour. But, now everything this functioning in a normal manner as before, I do not think that I should stretch it further. I am sure that the problem was there. It may be a problem with my ISP or some other technical glitch about which I do not have any understanding. Now, I am more particular in making my postings. Next time, I will make such postings only on Cyber Mole.

Blogspot Blogs Again Banned in India

2006-09-15T03:26:00.000-07:00

It is nearly 3.30 pm in India. I am trying to access blogger blogs. I am not able to access them. I am receiving an error message "HTTP 500".

It seems that the incidence of July 14, 2006 is being repeated. If the other bloggers are also encountering the same problem in India, then kindly raise your voice again. It seems that the people who matter, have not learnt the right lessons.

Magic Terms to Increase the Hits to the Blog

2006-08-24T06:53:00.000-07:00

It is a wish and dream of every blogger to receive a large number of hits everyday. There are web sites which are ready to increase hits to your site for some consideration. There are bloggers who have developed their blogs exclusively on this theme.

It is definitely a desire worth cherishing. You are on the cyberspace. You know people visit it by visiting various sites. They have made many sites popular. They have made many sites the fortune churning machines and made the owners wealthy. It is the visitors to your site which impart a type of status, recognition, a pride and an identification to you. Many search engines and syndication sites list the top sites. There are sites which list only such sites which are being visited by a large number of people. The directories are developed for this purpose only. There are Wiki sites wherein the site owners are encouraged to display their sites. The frequently visited sites is an asset for the owners. The dream of every site maker is that its product shall become the most popular thing on the cyberspace. It is just like having a shop keeper mentality. You have opened the shop and now you want that the customers should step. You desire that they should at least step in even if they are not interested in buying anything from your shop. It is the same case with the bloggers.

I also cherish this dream. I am not a computer expert. I have read about RSS feeds and many such other technical terms which can increase the visibility of the site. I have learned about putting your site on different directories which are place where knowledgeable people cruise for the right information. But I am not able to understand much about them.

I am however receiving regular visitors. Some of them have my address in their favourite folder and they directly reach my site. Most popular engines would display my site in their result for some specific terms. I am otherwise satisfied with the traffic which I am receiving. No doubt, I want to increase it.

However, I have identified with the help of Site Meter that there are some Magic Terms in my different blogs which bring people to my sites. I remember how I have located those terms. After I have added them in my posts, the traffic to my sites has increased substantially. One can easily check the authenticity of the claim by checking the site meter or by visiting Indian Blog and Blog Top Site icons which I have placed on three of my blogs.

Before, I say anything further, let me give out those three magic terms.

These terms are
Civil Services which forms the part of the address of my blog titled Civil Services Prelims.
The Second Magic Term is Munshi Prem Chand. Well, this term is definitely a magic term. Add something on Munshi Prem Chand on your blog and then see the result. You will yourself learn the results.
The Third Magic Term is Teej, which literally means ‘Three". I have written two articles on Teej on the demand of my sister and later added them with some modification on my blog. I never have dreamt in my wildest dreams that this word would attract so much of traffic to my site. I wonder for what actually people are looking for on the Internet.

The term Civil services was identified by me through the Site Meter. I have already mentioned this event on this very blog that how I turned to writing on Civil Services blog.

The second term was also identified through Site Meter. I think that I had made some remark about Indian social history wherein I had mentioned the name of Danpat Rai alias Nawab ji alias Munshi Prem Chand. I started receiving visitors who came searching for the Munshi Prem Chand. Later, I myself got attracted towards this personality. Through my search, I located Hind Granth Karayalya, a publishing house of Mumbai. There were three versions with the same name. In there, I found the life history of Munshi Prem Chand and list of the works of the illustrious writer. I made a noting first on my Hindi blog at Sumir Hindi Main and later, I added additional posting on this very blog titled Sumir Sharma. I started receiving a larger number of visitors to my site. I had identified some Pakistani Blogs wherein they had discussed the Urdu works of Munshi Prem Chand but foolishly I did not make a note on them. Anyhow, it brought traffic to my site. Later, I located the blog by Raman Kaul who had done a tremendous job by placing all the short stories on Munshi Prem Chand on his blog. I made a noting of that blog on my Sumir-history blog wherein I was, in those days, discussing the democratization of knowledge through sharing on Internet in response one highly technical post by William of Digital History Hack that I was some how able to understand. After that, there was a flood of visitors to my site because people came searching for the original stories by Munshi Prem Chand. The most fascinating thing was that all these stories are available on a government site at C-DAC of Noida before that. They have displayed it in such a manner that I was not able to access. Raman Kaul had just converted the stories in HTML and displayed it on the blog. The second fascinating thing is that those who come searching for Munshi Prem Chand stories on my Sumir-history blog, they definitely use the link to Raman Kaul site. The site meter always shows it on its out click link column. Some of them remain on my site for thirty to forty minutes. It happens because the Raman Kaul site opens on a separate sheet. He has displayed the stories in such user-friendly manner that the visitor definitely read one or two stories. But he forgets to quit my site. My site records the timing of visitors for thirty to forty minutes. I have made many comments on this aspect of display and flayed the activity of the government of India in its efforts to pursue e-governance and e-awareness. I do not know whether the people who matters had taken any note of it but I am definitely benefited from it as it has increased visitors to my blog.

The third term is Teej. As I have already told that Teej means Three. It means the third day of a month, a lunar calendar month of Hindus. Well, this term was my discovery for the blog. I have already mentioned that I had written a write up on a demand from my sister and later I have posted it on my blog. I never knew that so many people wanted to know about Teej. They are mostly interested in Hartalik Teej of Bhadra month. Well for the benefit of the general public especially those who are visiting from America and Canada I give the names of all the twelve Desi Mahinas. I have mugged them up during my civil services examination and I remember them well. They are mostly found written on Desi Calendars and Government of India Calendars which has adopted Saka Samvat as the official Calendar of India. These twelve months are as follows.

Chaitra or Chet (Punjabi)
Vaishaka or Baishakha
Jayaishtha or Jeitha or Jeith
Ashadha or Hadda or Haddi
Sravana or Sawana
Bhadrapada the month of Hartalik Teej and Karvachauth. (Chauth is ‘Four’ and Teej is Three. In Bihar, it is Hartali Teej which is celebrated in place of Karvachauth. This is the most fascinating aspect which I would like to explore further. Kaajri praises Radha Krishna, Hartalika Shiva Parvati, and Shiva Parvati love is propitiated in whole of India whereas in Rig Veda Shiva is only worshiped as Rudra.) or Bhadaon
Ashvina
Karttika or Kattak
Margshirsha or sishar
Pausha
Magha or Maghi
Phalguna or Phaggan

Well, what may it adds up to, the above mentioned terms have definitely increased the visitors to my sumir-history and civil services prelims blog.

xixixixi

Editorial Note:

The relation between Sawan and Teej has been deleted. Similarly the relation between Bhadrapada has been explained by one friend who is from Bihar. I have yet to fully verify it.

Why do people Blog?

2006-08-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Why do people Blog?

Well this is a very wide question. It is wide in the sense because every act is preceded by some initiation of a kind and one never knows why he or she has started doing that act. There are many acts about which we do not know why we do them. Now I consider blogging as an act in that category.

In present days, there are well established scientific methods to find answers to all the wide and obfuscating questions. The marketing people have practiced the science of field research and operational research to a degree of perfection. The companies take decision on production, pricing, placement and selling factors on the basis of such research. Nothing is now left to hunches. They are able to seek answer for every “why”. In such a scenario, I am just trying to give an armchair answer to the above question.

If I have collected the right information, then the blogging started somewhere in 1997. However, it was only from 2000 onwards, that it has become more popular. I am with Blogger. I have been visiting different blogs sites on Wordpress, Typepad etc. I have found that most of the bloggers have started this activity in 2005. I have particular choice for selecting a blog. Most of the time it is an academic blog or a blog relating to issues of history. Therefore, my observation may have only limited truth and validity. Secondly, it is mainly an observation which has not been authenticated by any established research model. Anyhow, I now have this impression that there are more bloggers since 2005. In case of my favourite blogs, I have found that many of them have started blogging only in 2006. It may suggest that blogging is catching up. In case of most popular blogs in my favourite category, they are started in 2006. Well, it is again an opinion on the basis of general observation. There is no concrete methodology adopted to reach that conclusion.

As I understand the blogging is working as a source of catharsis for many people. That is the main motive behind most of the regular bloggers. Such bloggers are in one profession and their interest lies in different field. Somewhere, there is sense of dissatisfaction. They are not able to adjust with this arrangement in their lives. The blogging has given them an outlet to showcase their talent in other field. This gives a soothing effect when they indulge in the blogging.

In some cases, it shows that it has become their alter ego. They are pursuing it as if blogging is the only pursuit for which they are meant. The blogging introduces them to different people from different regions. They showcase their talent. They receive back feedback through comments and references. They again come out with more work on their blog with greater force. They are very particular about the display of their blog. They are very particular to respond to the comments which they receive and make it a point to respond to them.

There are people who are undertaking blogging as a mission to promote some of their views and thinking. They promote one particular language. They promote some particular cause. Some of them are really contributing to the society by such a type of activity. I have learned Hindi blogging through such types of crusaders headed by Debashish.

Another set is just treating it as a general journal or a personal diary. They are very regular. For them also, it is turning out to be a source of catharsis of hidden desires.

Somewhere, I feel, that many bloggers feel that they have a writer hidden in them and they can win Bookers or Nobel Prize. They come out with whatsoever they consider as the best in the literature. Well some of them are really good. Some of them really deserve some prize for the literary work which they have brought on the cyberspace.

There are those people who are related to computer sciences. They are more productive. They are discussing such things which are bringing changes on the internet also. I am not conversant with this field. I am totally illiterate in the field of computer sciences and the Information Technology. I am not in a position to categorize their activity. It seems that they are definitely talking something substantial. One this is sure, they are more fertile and productive.

Those who indulge in political talks are also there. I am not interested in them. There are many of them. They are the people who make more noises and get recognized. I am with history and we history people just call them as our small siblings who are growing into brats. That is other thing that along with money, it is the field of politics which matter more than anything else. It is the case with sex sites also. I do not apologize for having clubbed sex blogs with politics.

However, by now, blogging is not being taken as seriously by the rest of the human community. Sometime, they definitely make waves. But, on the whole, the human community just treats them as a hobby of those who have luxury of time. They are not taken seriously. The rest of community has not given must importance to Internet. The Internet is considered as a good source of information. What kind of information is available on Internet? Is it authentic or not? Who are the people who place the information on Internet? How actively is the information updated? Is the information a knowledge in itself? All such types of questions are not given any importance.
Blogging as such is the next revolution. It is a revolution far greater importance than the printing of books or Gutenberg type printing which brought the Renaissance. I can declare this thing because I am student of history. I consider blogging as more important than nano technology which is the next generation activity. Blogging is here and will soon come up as the biggest and substantial thing in the field of knowledge. It is the thing which will make Internet more meaningful.

However, I still wonder that why the people blog!

Inventing Spiritualism or Identity Crises

2006-08-08T22:56:00.000-07:00

In my childhood, I was overawed by talks about a God man. The God man was Sat Sai Baba. Those were the days when Readers Digest, Illustrated Weekly and Blitz were the magazines of the elite. Being a son of a gazetted officer, I had the privilege of reading those magazines. This was the position during the early seventies.

During eighties, I had listened the whispers about the people who called themselves as Radha Swamis. I was not attracted much by them as they were closely held community visiting a place called Beas Dera. I did not have the idea where it was situated. I lived for some time in Amritsar but did not learn much about Beas Dera. In the early nineties, another God man, Bhagwan Rajneesh became popular. By that time, I was able to read English. I tried to read about him. Soon he became a rich God Man Osho. In between, somewhere by that time, electronic Media started dominating the general public opinion. It was through it, one Murari Bapu became popular. He became popular as a Kathakar, or sermon deliverer who based his sermons and songs on Tulsi Dass Ramayana. Gradually, Assa Ram Bapu became more popular when the cable net work and private television channels became a rage among the masses. Along with Assa Ram Bapu, Swami Sudhanshu ji Maharaj also became popular. He was also a sermon chanter who made Bhagvat Gita as the basis of his sermons. After that, I soon learned about rather more popular Sri Sri Ravi. A soft spoken, smiling face, speaking in simple sentences pervaded the print and electronic media with his art of living. Now these days, it is Ram Dev who has become popular along with Yog and controversies of medicine and threat perception. He has become so popular, that I found, Sikh, Muslims and people from different sects referring to his Anulum Pratilom Pranayama, rubbing of nails of both hands against each other and his ‘yoga’ books. The people talk as if it is he who has invented YOG Shastra.

I do not know if the admirers of Ram Deva know about Rishi Patanjali. Or for that matter, do they know about Naya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimansa and Vedanata? Do they know about Akkshapada Gautama or Rishi Gautama, Uluuka Kannada or Rishi Kannada, or Rishi Kapila or Rishi Patanjali, Rishi Jamini and Shankaracharya.

It seems that there is miserable situation of identity crises among the Indians. There is a great crisis of Indian Social identity passing through transition due to changed economic equations and technological advancement pervading all the spheres of life. Somewhere, the Indians come across their real heritage roots which provide answers to their present desperation but unfortunately they do not know that their answers were always with them. It was they who had been ignoring their roots. But, when one mortal clad in scarlet red or violet or milk white robes introduces them to their real self, they make a God man out him. Ram Deva or Sri Sri Ravi may be God to westerners, but for Indians their real teachers were Rishi Patanjali, Rishi Gautam, Rishi Jamini, Rishi Kannada and Shankracharya. Their God is an Advaita for those who have urge to seek him through knowledge and Advitya Advaita for those who just seek through utmost Bhakti because they believe in Him.

Shifting Paradigm

2006-08-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

For some days, I had been planning to write a post. I will not reveal the title because I have already developed the idea. Now, I want to add punch to it by substantiating with some data or some type of authentication. However, before, I would have written the post and posted it, an event in Blogging career took place which has given me a slight kick. I believe that it is haughty on my part to claim the credit for that happening but well, I want to claim it.

I had been persuading Prof. Rajneesh Khanna, an author of some major text books and far ahead than me, for writing his blog. I had visited his place and prepared his blog. He liked the idea but somewhere, that shift and zest were not there. He did not take to blogging.

A couple of day back, he posted some of his original writings on the blog and tried to develop a new blog. No doubt, he was not able to create the new blog in the right manner. He rang me up and apprised me of the new postings. I checked the blogs and was elated to read the contents on it. It gave me a great boost to my ego. I felt proud that I had been able to initiate someone quite capable in pursuing an activity which would be useful to many. I do not know whether Rajneesh would give me credit or endorse it. However, after that, I forwarded his articles to some of the forums. He had also sought further guidance for developing his blog. He would visit my place for that. The whole event had just given me a great feeling.

It has also changed my outlook towards my activity on blogging. I did not like the idea of promoting the blog through different technical means. However, it was just by untentional act when I had placed links of my blogs on some of the directories and Wikis. I had not tried to promote my blog with any major game plan. After Rajneesh had joined in, I felt that as if I was definitely pursuing a meaningful activity. Now, I have desire to promote my blog. Earlier, I thought, I should continue to write on my blog and the contents of my blog by itself bring an audience for me. Now, I desire to make use of various devices which the experts in the field of IT are developing every day and putting them on the Internet.

I am in teaching. I have developed some teaching blogs also. However, I am loosing enthusiasm in promoting and developing them. I have started the blogging activity mainly to undertake that goal. I had learnt from other teacher’s blogs and forums that blogging could be used as an additional teaching tool and as an effective tool also. By now, I have become a partisan. I am devoting more time to my blog sumir-history and this very blog. The main reason is that the atmosphere of teaching world is very distressing. You look around yourself and find many such Phds who do not impress. They mainly act as manipulators. They do not attract for their scholarship. They are dominating because they are street smart. I find many of them scum of human depravity and a social peril. They have the position but they will only harm. On the other hand, this new technology has given an escape route to people like us. Yes, right, I call it an escape route. I consider those Phds with official position as more successful than us. I am in history and history tells a lot about such people. That is other thing, there is no value judgement about them. The final verdict is yet to be passed. However, there are enough examples which teach that they are being identified as the social and public peril. Any how, the migration of Rajneesh to this arena has given me a satisfaction and confidence. When I look around in the internet world, I find many of them like me performing their act and leaving their mark. Now I feel encouraged to continue with my activity. Rajneesh is not interested in doing Phd. I am also not interested. We do not want to join the buggers. We know that there are more paths which can be chalked out and treaded to great summits. We are pursuing such paths. We want to be smarter. Now, the only thing which is required is some success in our endeavours.

Amitab Phir In Trouble

2006-08-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

(Note: It is a cross posting of post from Cyber Mole.)

A company Telefun, running a FM radio in Pakistan has placed some advertisement billboards in Karachi wishing the coming independence day to the people of Pakistan. The face of Amitabh is shown on the billboards telling that he will be there from August 14. It seems that it is going to trouble Amitabh again in India.
Checking the following postings: Meterblog Karachi.

It is interesting to read the comments of the Pakistan Nationals on that posting. The comments may suggest the type of trouble which Amitabh would face in India.

But it may also sound bad for blogging in India. They may again think of blocking some blogs and in the process again block the whole domain.

The second important posting, which is bit balanced, is at All Things Pakistan.

I am having a hunch, what may happen, it will prove bad for Amitabh Bachchan. I really do not know that how the people in the Indian government would react to it.

It also brings forth the issue that whether the company Telefun has the right to use the picture of Amitabh on their billboards. If it is proved that Amitabh has been paid for allowing his picture to be used there, then it will not be good for him. The fundamentalists in Mumbai would also react sharply.

In every case, it may turn out be another firework on cyber space as well in print and electronic Media.

Hindi Lessons Online Multimedia Source for 5 Years Old

2006-07-31T07:46:00.000-07:00

A Hindi Script Tutor developed by Avashy for the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London is worth visiting for the parents of small children.

There are interactive Hindi Lessons, teaching the script. It has a lesson breakup for the Swaras (Vowels - स्वर) and Vianjans (Consonants - व्यन्जण). It has used flash for demonstrating the writing of the each word. It has other sources based on voice.

I have an old computer with a defunct Sound Card. It is the gift of those vendors who just flaunt their knowledge without having the right expertise. They are hardly tenth or twelfth pass and learn the computer maintenance from the teaching shops. They are then employed by similar type of businessmen who believe in making money by looting the people. One such computer engineer, who visited to remove a virus from my computer, virtually crippled my computer by denying me to use the gadgets and devices bought by me in hard cash. He cleaned the directory and during the process even removed such drives which he could not replace. As a result, I am not able to exploit all the features of the Hindi tutor.

Coming back to the main topic, the Hindi tutor is a good source available online. It draws each alphabet which attracts a small child in the age group of 5 to 6 years. It has option to listen to voices behind every symbol. My child, who is now 5 and learning to read, was quite fascinated by the demonstration. He clicked each alphabet and saw it being drawn by the Flash. It helped him to remember Dantak (दन्तक) words better.

I hope this information may be useful for other parents like me.

Impact of Ban on Blogs

2006-07-23T00:05:00.000-07:00

The ban on blogs through a clumsy action of the government of India may augurs good for the bloggers of India and their community. They have acquired a recognition which they already deserve. It was their due. However, it was denied to them for a long period.

A full-page article has appeared in the Chandigarh edition of Hindustan Times of July 23, 2006 on page 12. (Links are not available and secondly the site asks for registration which as a policy I now avoid to register with sites. I have now become choosy.)

It is heartening to read the article as it is titled as "The Big Story" and a whole page is devoted to it. But the exhilaration ends there and leaves you unsatisfied.

Therein a compiler has given an assortment of the contents of some bloggers and did not try to touch the real issue. That is other thing, that in the contents we find reference to the real issue.

The main issue was that the government of India had jumped the guns in the name of national security. It had gone against its own policies and claim of being the world’s biggest democracy. It had actually curtailed the right of freedom of expression which is assured by the constitution of India.

The article has not touched the real issue. It has not given any view on the happening except for calling it a "The Big Story". A blogger has written an article "There’s no Why". Then there are excerpts from Frodo Bloggin and RAMgee. On the right hand side, there is a set of questions which had been discussed again and again by many newspapers and magazines earlier also. A column is devoted to selective Indian celebrities of Blogging activity and also a six year history of blogging and different episodes since 2001. If I am right, this activity started in 1997 and since then, it is in news. Nowhere, it has tried to discuss that why was it a ‘Big Story’. However, this much is enough for Blogging activity and we all should be thankful to it.

It shows that the Print Media has started taking note of their younger brothers.

No No No! Please wait and permit me to say it differently. I am not suggesting that we the blogger are new journalists. But we are definitely a new medium which is bound to influence the opinion making process.

Anyhow, I foresee that it will not end here. One of the leading newspapers has given place to this activity. They have done it because somewhere they feel that it was New York Times and BBC which had given the right importance to the significance and peril of banning the blog which rather they should have done. Now they are on the correction and amending path. But they have given this task to some new editor. The editor has not been able to bring out the soul of the topic. He has remained confined to give an assortment. In other words, he has done what many of blogger do on their blogs. They borrow from the views of other bloggers and then add some of their comments and then post it as their own. This is what I usually do. No doubt, I write some original pieces also. (It is my blog and I can indulge in self-praise. (Blink)) Well, soon, some senior editor will take up this topic and start commenting on it. Let us wait for that day. This has already happened in America. During the last presidential elections in America, blogs were being watched with full attention. Later, many surveys and studies were published on the impact of the writing on blogs on the poll outcome. The verdict was not in the favour of blogging activity but this activity has acquired a place of respectability in communication Media. Now, every day, a new survey comes on the blogging and its different aspects. The same thing is now going to happen in India.

I remember an incidence. There was one senior colleague who had retired long back. Whenever he used to enter the staff room ( I am a lecture in a college.), he always tried to start a discussion on the latest political activity. It was annoying for many of our colleagues. They were involved in some serious problem concerning the day to day working of the college but this person always interrupted such serious talks and forced upon us a discussion on the political issue of the national level. Well, out of courtesy, some of us gave their opinion but the senior colleague always rejected and forced his opinion on us. When he was countered by equally knowledgeable colleagues in our faculty, he used to decide his case by telling that his opinion was even endorsed by the editorial of a local leading news paper. On this, once, one of other colleague commented on his back, that the person came every morning after reading that particular paper and then claimed the opinion expressed by the editor of that newspaper as his own. He did not know that there were other frontiers also and there could be other side of the story also.

Now the idea of narrating the above incidence here is to stress upon the significance of Blogging as it is emerging now as a new frontier of knowledge and opinion makers. In the recent Iraq War, it was the private blogs which came up with more information on the battlefield than the professional newspapers. They have made a mark in the field of dispersion of knowledge and information. No doubt, somewhere, the traditional print media consider them their competitor but it was when the print media started giving place to their piece of information in their editorial, that the activity of blogging acquired the status of respectability. It may be my opinion but I understand that it was how the blogging became important in the world of communication. Now this thing may happen in India also after it has found mention in newspapers after suffering ban on it. The print media did not respond earlier. It was mainly the foreign media which took up this issue in more forceful manner. The Indian Print Media may object to it but there is truth in the version which I am giving.

On whole, the ball has now started rolling in favour of blogging and it will definitely march on.

भाजी सरकार दी अक्ल टकाने आ गई

2006-07-21T06:55:00.000-07:00

Ban Is Lifted from Blogs In India
"A week ago, we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem out pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially."

I am using Reliance Infocom for accessing internet. Now I can open my blogspot sites. I can also access typepad site. It seems that the ISPs have released these sites. I hope the rest of neticians can also open any site which they like on different blog portals.

I also hope that the government of India will review the procedures to implement their decisions in this technically advanced milieu. They have faced the music. They now know that the bloggers may be a "miniscule minority" but they can do great damage to the reputation of the government if the government behaves like an archaic state and conduct itself in a clumsy manner.

I also feel that some good has also come out of it. For me, I have learned about proxy servers. I am not going to remove the logo of Slap the block. I believe that it has bound the bloggers into a community. It may have popularized this activity of blogging.

I also want to thank the foreign media who had actually played a major role in voicing our concern. The Indian media had played its role but dear friends, it was on the milder site. They shout from the top of the roof on some clumsy stink operations or Matuk Das Choudhary (Patna) lover affair with his student Julie. But they did not find the block on blogs as gagging of the freedom of the expression. No, they did not play the role which was expected of them.

Let us hope that there will be no next time.

Now, in future, I will be more abrasive and straightforward.

However, I will not remove those posting which were made on the issue of blocking of blogs in India.

It will keep on reminding us that what can happen in this peace loving, non-violent and free country. It will be reminiscent of the draconian activities of the government.

We have to remember it because now RTI act is under attack.

BECOME INTRUDERS IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY

2006-07-19T21:10:00.000-07:00

Pkblogs has gifted to Indians their own INTRUSION site.

It says, “Unable to view pictures on your blog??
check http://www.inblogs.net to access banned blogs "with pictures" from India”

सारे जहान से अच्छा हिन्दुस्तान हमारा

I, a Bhartiya, proudly declare that the above site is MADE IN INDIA

हम बुलबुले हॅ इसकी
यह गुलिस्तान हमारा

Check it.

Funny Message on Blocking from Access

2006-07-19T08:26:00.001-07:00

Hey, just see what happened just now.

I tried to “outsource” accessing my blogspot weblog to Pakistan, I received the following message.

“You are Forbidden to access this server.”

Phew

Are they watching? Is there Gestapos in India also? Is the government watching you?

Hari OM, Hari OM, Hari OM Hari

Shri Guru Charan Saroj Nij Mukro Sudhar,

Barno Raghuwar Vimal Dayako Phal Char,

Budhi heen Tanu Janikay,

Sumiru Pavan Kumar,

Bal Budhi vidya Dayhoo

Mohe Harlo Kalesh vikar.

Bhoot Pissach Nikat Nahi Awai,

Mahavira Jab Naam Sunnavain.

The Culprit Weblogs

2006-07-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

Now the word is all over and it is reaching critical mass.

According to My Pet Jawa at http://www.mypetjawa.mu.nu/ through the reference of Dr. Shackleford and OpiniPundit (itself a culprit Weblog) at Exposing the Left the following web sites were not palatable to Ministry of Home Affairs who had instructed to Ministry of Telecommunication to block but they, the blocked holes, blocked the net itself. They should better block NIC. That would be more useful. Anyhow, one thing is proved, the Government of India is definitely learning the utility of the e-governance.

• pajamaeditor.blogspot.com

• exposingtheleft.blogspot.com

• princesskimberly.blogspot.com

• commonfolkcommonsense.blogspot

• mypetjava.mu.nu

• thepirateco.us

• hinduhumanrights.com/hindufocus.html

• rahulyadav.com

• dalitstan.com

• macker-old.com

• merrimusings.typepad.com

Watch out for Best Solutions for Bailing out Blogspot.
Hey, one bureaucrat told me that the Secretary, Ministry of Telecommunication, Mr. D. S. Mathur is a meaning person.

HT Ludhiana Figures How Correct

2006-07-15T22:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, that was July 15, 2006, the B. Ed. Entrance was conducted all over Punjab. I have authenticated information that there were less than 3200 candidates who appeared in entrance test at Ludhiana.

However, in the HT Ludhiana a Heading shouts on page that "Over 5,000 take B.Ed entrance exam.

These people at Ludhiana never take care to get the right information. There were 171 centers all over Punjab. There were nearly arrangements for 34000 students only. The maximum number of candidates have appeared at Chandigarh which was not more than 3300. The next one is 3200 and they appeared at Ludhiana.

The HT Ludhiana people are quite good at such activities. Some days back they had shown the photograph of Gopal Sharma DGP of J&K and below they wrote that SSP of Srinagar is holding the Press Conference. Similarly, a month back, when present Deputy Commissioner Gupta took over at Ludhiana, there was a report calling an SDM as DC of Khanna.

Carry on. I am not going to inform you. And here I am with facts. Counter me I will come up with proofs.
Kindly read this report along with Peril of Being a Whistle Blower or Peril of Being a Whistle Blower (Kindly note that site is blocked so try either of the option).

Cough Problem with Blogspot

2006-07-15T06:02:00.000-07:00

I am suffering from cough problem. Something wants to come out but it is stuck up somewhere in the neck. I have taken the medicine but the problem is persisting. It started somewhere on July 13, 2006. On the same day, the web sites, having the term ‘blogspot’ in their addresses stopped appearing. It was not confined to blogspot addresses also. Even the sites with address having type pad as a part of their address also got inflicted with the same problem. The login page of the blogger opens. Even the account page opens. But the web log containing the blogspot term is not opening. On the start up menu site of the blogger, the sites which are being upgraded are appearing. You click them and if there is no term blogspot in it, it will open. You find the icon and logo of Powered by Blogger on them. But the sites which contain that peculiar struck up term, keep on coughing but nothing comes.

I have watched that the login page with the login ID opens and even the account is opening. I am posting it to make a record of this happening. Let us see if it gets posted. Or I may reach the google people through it and they may look into this problem. Not my problem of cough but the one which I have mentioned about blogspot.

Just a few days back, when I had completed an article on the mutiny of 1824, somewhere, a bad thought crept in mind. I wondered and feared that someday it might happen that the whole Internet setup could collapse. I would then loose all my presentations, efforts, dump of links about different useful sites which are good source of information and material, the time spent on developing the each blog. It was really a nightmarish thought. Now, nearly for forty eight hours, my blogs are not opening. It is giving me fear and I cough more.

I had thought of writing a write up on those who migrate from one server to other. I have observed some of very good bloggers, writers and thinkers shifting their activity to different site. There was a site sega which started its own site but it seems that they are just blogging through different site. Then, just a half a dozen months back, Kevin of civil war memory shifted to type pad services. However, even his site is not opening. It means the type pad.com is also suffering from some ailment. Then there was Hindu Dharma site who had shifted to Word Press blogging.

Please do not think, that I am also migrating. Hey, I have just developed a space with ***. But I have not enjoyed it. They are also masters in their field but I am still comfortable with Bloggers. It was they who published my own space and learnt them quickly. It is no emotional thing but a very practical thing to say. It was easy to learn on Blogger. I just pray that it comes back soon. Some one was telling me that there was some problem with server being run on window nt. Well I do not understand much about it. I can only wish if there is some problem, the Bloggers and Googles may rectify it at the earliest. In the meantime, I read some more books as the new session is about start. I will be ready with more material and more search queries to explore the web.

Oh, My books, How Sweet you are. This new technology is suffering from cough problem every now and then.

Sun did It

2006-06-29T07:21:00.000-07:00

"As one saith in a brave kind of expression, the sun never sets in the Spanish dominions, but ever shines upon one part or other of them."

The above given comment was made by Bacon for Spain under Habsburg Dynasty. It was made when Britain was not all that big and great empire and reached to level of giant proportion afterwards for which it latter came to be known for. It was latter that the same comment was used for British Empire. Bacon belonged to England.

Gibbon also used the term "The Roman World" in the same tone and tenure to suggest the greatness of the Roman Empire as the biggest empire of the world.

Describing the giant proportion of the British Empire, Webster had said "her morning drumbeat following the sun, and keeping company with the hours, circles the earth daily with one continuous and unbroken strain of its martial airs."

Kaiser William did not like the tone of such quotations. He sought the place in the sun.

Finally, the First World War was fought.

It means Bacon started all this.

Historians used sun to write quotations.
Sun saw history making nations.
A nation saw sun every where.
Other nation sat on sun to see every nation.
In between, the world wept for their sons.

Note: It is re-posting of History Student in a Lighter Mood at Sumir-history.

Impulsive Internet Use-How Far a Problem

2006-06-25T04:16:00.000-07:00

There was a report in The Tribune date January 31, 2005, by Neelam Sharma on a thesis by Dr. Sanjay Khanna wherein it was reported that a percentage of the internet users and surfer are compulsive sufferers suffering from mental disorder.

I introduced this topic (Internet related psychiatric disorder) on Education Forum and the leading administrator John Simkin came out with some supportive remarks. He wrote,
"Am I addicted? Maybe. I definitely get withdrawal symptoms when I am denied access to the web. Therefore, on holiday, I need to search out a local Internet Café every few days."

I had posted it on the Education Forum in the month of February 2005, when there was regular disruption of electricity in Punjab. Whenever the supply was restored, my first act had been to start my computer and log on to Internet. Most of the time, it happened that when I had just browsed through some of the sites and planned to start some substantial work related to my job, the supply went off again. It just gave me bouts of anger. I can not share whom I had been cursing and against whom I passed abuses though I live in a democratic country. In between, that was during the phased out period of electric supply, I read books related to my subject and job or watched television on the inverter supply or just killed time. Now these days, rather since long, I do not write on pages. I directly write on my computer. When electricity was not there, that could have not been done. No doubt, it was a great loss.

This year (in 2006), there is more acute shortage of electricity in Punjab. I do not know that how the present government keeps on boosting of her achievement in the newspapers through the government public relation department by inserting a slip in most of the dailies. The same thing had happened this year also. Whenever, electricity supply was discontinued, I sat idle doing nothing and fought the sultry season of Indian summer. When the electricity was restored, I again opened my computer and logged on to Internet. This year the problem is more acute.

By the way, can any one tell me that is it true India is showing 8% growth in her GDP? How is it being achieved when the basic infrastructure is not at all suited for a growing economy? How is it that when there is so miserable situation of electric supply, pothole decorated roads, increased oil prices, zooming prices of day to day basic life essentials and a sense of fear that all this talk of "India Shinning" may be a bluff played on the countrymen even then the investors are so bullish on India? I am unable to understand an economics wherein the economy is growing even when there is less of electricity, disruptive roads and high cost of basic essential items.

Well coming back to the theme, as I was saying that whenever the electric supply was restored, I just booted my computer and logged on to Internet. In between, I have found good primary sources on Internet which I am trying to review and read. However, the task reamins unaccomplished because of the disruption in the electricity supply. I find myself sitting with the family members playing games and cursing being in a country where there is so much of heat and no standard of life. However, whenever the supply is restored I again come on to the Internet. This thing is going on for a month. I have not been able to do any substantial work. Many tasks which I have planned for myself, are lying incomplete. The worst thing is that I have not able to complete the paper of General Studies Prelims and the posting of all the answers is still pending.

When I was not so immured in Internet activity, I used to read some books. But that activity was not proving useful. I used to make notes and papers used to get piled up in rooms. I have transferred a large quantity of my writing on the computer but an equal amount of activity had gone waste because after sometime I had thrown those papers in garbage. Now in case of Internet and especially through blogging I am able to preserve some of my works. But this lack of electricity supply is hindering my efforts.

I believe somewhere it is also reflecting on my overall behaviour with my family members. When I am able to read some good book, I remain in very good and satisfying mood. But if I am not able to work, or read good work, I become irritated. I think somewhere my family members felt that I was becoming more irritating. They have complained that whenever there is electricity, I remain busy on the Internet but when I am free I remain idle and lethargic. No doubt, I have not been able to do other works related to household responsibilities. They somehow concluded that if I remain busy on my computer, I become more cooperative and productive. Well it was the suggestion of the family members, and they proposed that I should think of getting a generator or a good backup inverter. I questioned about the desirability of making such spending. Secondly I revealed that I would not be able to afford such expenditure. Thirdly I am strongly against putting up a generator. It makes lot of noise and create nuisance. Secondly, it becomes a cause of air pollution. Most of the neighbours have installed it. There are laws against making a noise to a particular level. There are concerns at world level to reduce the atmospheric pollution. But who cares? In India, the people who know better than everyone and they know how to get the things done, at least they do not care. The family members felt that I had gone mad. They believe that I am a misfit. However, they came up with a proposal to contribute for buying a backup inverter on which I could run my computer. I asked the rationale and basis of their concern. They came up with the answer that it would help me to undertake my activity on Internet and also to do some of the work which is desired by them from me which could be accomplished through printing the letters on the computer. I bit the deal. Well here I am again on the Internet. Let us see what will happen when the electricity again goes off. I may be on Internet for a while. The system is of 500 watts with 800 Va specification. The vendor has assured that my computer would run for three to four hours if I run only computer and one fan on the device.

I have completed writing this stuff. The electricity supply was consistent. But, after having the system at place, I am again browsing the Internet. While doing that I have just punched in keys to write this stuff. I wonder if it is an impulsive activity with me now.

Acknowledgement:

The Tribune

Education Forum

Internet Pirates and Dupes

2006-06-17T01:47:00.000-07:00

There is a news report in The Tribune dated June 17, 2006, Ludhiana Supplement. According to the report titled "Lottery Winner ‘Cheated’, a villager of Kanganwal, received a winning notice of a lottery. He was told to keep his winning information hidden before receiving the prize money. He was made to pay some money also. Now the villager is waiting for the money and feels that he is being cheated.

Is the fear and premonition of the villager true? I believe that it is true and feel sorry for the villager. He is cheated.

How can I say that? Well, just now when I am typing this, there are 364 mails in my Spam bin. Out of those discarded mails, many of them, (nearly 50 % and rest of them about sex tablets.) are about the winning notification.

I am receiving such winning notices since last one and a half year. Let me reproduce the contents of some them verbatim. I am virtually posting the copy of the contents of one of those winning letters.

Here is an example.
It is received just now when I open my Spam bin to collect a letter required.

The contents are as follows:

BILL NOTIFICATION DESK
(Customer Services)
3b, Olympic Way,
Sexton Business Park,
Aintree, Liverpool, L30, 1RD,
United Kingdom.
Batch: 12/25/0340
Ref: BIL/101OXI/02
Attn:Lucky Winner,

We happily announce to you the draw (#989) of the BRITISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International program held on 15th June 2006.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 56475600545188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky numbers: (13)-(43)-(06)-(15)-(02)-(40)bonus # (09).Which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category i.e match 5 plus bonus. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of£500,000 (Five hundred thousand pounds sterling) in cash credited to file no KTU/9023118308/03. This is from a total cash prize of £2,000,000.00 shared amongst the first four lucky winners in this category i.e Match 5 plus bonus. All participants for the online version were selected randomly from World Wide Web through computer draw system and extracted from over 100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online. This promotion takes place bianually. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our European booklet representative office in Europe as indicated in your play coupon.In view of this, your £500,000 (five hundred thousand pounds sterling) would be released to you by any of our Affiliate courier department.Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him/her. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned !!! To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent : MR FRANK DENNIS E MAIL: lotterycompany74@yahoo.co.uk PHONE:+447031942690 PHONE:+447031917488 FAX:+448709127423
Goodluck from me and members of staff of the BRITISH INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY.
Yours faithfully,
ELIZABETH HANKS(Mrs.) Director.International Promotions Unit,

Kindly note the advice in the above letter also. It reads, For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claim is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program. Please be warned !!!

Now such letters do not come from only one place. They are from different part of Europe, Middle East and South East Asia.

Here I reproduce an extract of another winning notice from Spain.

It reads, (just check what information they are asking from me)
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 25,000 names and E-mail addresses from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America as part of our international lottery program which we conduct twice every year. We hope that with part of your prize, you will part-take next year in our high stakes 1.3billion Euros International Lottery. To begin your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent and Provide him with the information below:
1.Name:
2.Address:
3.Marital
Status:
4.Occupation:
5.Age:
6.Gender:
7.Nationality:
8.CountryofResidence:
9.Telephone
Number:
0.Fax
Number:
11.Draw Number
above:

There are many more such winning notices in the Spam which get deleted after every thirty days.

Now these are not only types of money offering notice. There are different types of notices from Africa, some lesser known European country (East Europe) or from the Pacific region.

I here reproduce an extract of a letter.

It reads;
We discovered an abandoned sum of$12,500,000.00 (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only) in an account that belongs to one of our customers who died along with his entire family a wife and two children in November 1999 in an auto crash.

After, sharing such a secret of the bank, the person will then try to take you in confidence and propose and deal in such manner that it will be aimed to convincing you that you would pull out this whole affair without any problem.

Please "DO NOT FALL FOR SUCH TYPE OF DEALS" even if you are a NATWARLAL'S Grand Father.

Then there are messages from Sheikhs who are dying because of cancer and want to donate or transfer the money to some good soul. He would report that he has found your profile and believe that you are a good person and want you to inherit his money.

I can reproduce a large number of messages which keep on dropping into my mail box every.

I just suggest to the gullible internet user that they should not fall for that. No body is going to give you money for nothing. Do not get greedy.

It is good the Tribune had taken up this issue. One can not sue such type of people. They are located in foreign countries. Their addresses are a fake. Their computer identities are also tempered with. It is not easy to book them. It is not easy for common man to pursue against them. I dare to say that even our law machinery can not even touch them. The only remedy is to create awareness about such frauds. One should maintain his moral integrity then only he can save himself from such people.

I end this note by saying that do not fall for them. Remember "Dandha Hai Par Ganda Hai".

Secondly, it is good that the Tribune has given space to such reports.

Dear Separatists, “Historians are Definitely not Boring”

2006-06-11T14:09:00.000-07:00

In the month of May, 2006 I tried to study the events, sequence and documents of secession before the Civil War of America. I read the World History blog by Miland Brown but somehow I did not read his post titled "The Dominion of British West Florida and Tips for Creating an American Separatist Cause". In the month of June, he reproduced the "Tips" to claim a separate country for oneself if one likes. When I read it, I stopped from making further postings on the American History.

I wondered why Miland talked like that. The second thought which came to mind and remained for long was that how far this could be relevant in case of India. In India, the Kashmir, North East states especially Nagaland, Mizoram, Assam, Tripura, then Hyderabad State, Junagadh State, Goa, Sikkim, even Punjab as it was in 1849, and even for that all the states which were annexed during the period of Dalhousie, must try to understand and read them.

While reading the secession declaration of South Carolina and Texas, I was once convinced that they had the reason and legal argument to establish themselves as separate state. Even before that, when I studied American history for the first time, at one stage, I felt that the thirteen colonies had virtually occupied and snatched the country from the Red Indian Tribes. I even once joked that one should enter America and then claim ownership on the land on the basis of their history on the continent. However, a student of history does not sit a judge over the past events. He has to study the past on the basis of the facts as it existed and the cause and effect relation of a period of time and concerning a region or space. He has to identify a fact as it exists and existed. If today, a good lawyer is given chance to plead the case of South Carolina and Texas and all the eleven states which later joined to form the Confederacy of States, he could prove that they had suffered at the hands of the North States and they had valid point to secede.

Well, those who have this a job to read, write, read, ponder and then elaborate, come up with such thoughts and understanding which only the people of their class and ilk can understand. Sometimes, they come out with such amusing thoughts. No doubt, the post in question is of the same genre. I first thought of making this post on sumir-history.blogspot.com but after taking it as a whole, I have brought this on this blog.
The comment of Jennie W of Kent, the blogger of Jennie’s Rumbles, is most pertinent. She says, "This is simply hilarious". Miland knew it at the time of posting it.

He did not boost in vain when he wrote, "I really should start my own separatist cause. With my knowledge of history, the Web, and how to play the separatist game, I could have a lot of fun! Or maybe not...".

The elementaryhistoryteacher really got serious with this post the way I became when I first read it. Jennie W also joined in the comment section and Miland got the chance to take a pinch at them by playing to the gallery. I am sure, while writing the reply to the comment he might have mischievous smile. Now doubt, he remarked, "Hello the CSA lost!"

On the whole, it is really enjoyable to read and share such thoughts because they come to regular readers and scholars now and then. They are not shared only because they are just minor spin off of reasoning faculty.

However, point 4 to 8 are written in lighter vein but they are very pregnant with great possibilities. The present form of Internet may change with change in technology. However, with time, the interconnectivity of internet paradigm will remain and it will be a force. The day, that will become true, the day, many people will join together on world wide web with new devices and formats, the tips of 4 to 8 can work as big bombs. Today, it may be taken in lighter vein, but they can be implemented with deafening results. I do not know why I feel that some separatist is reading those lines again and again.

Miland, get serious. The later part is worth putting in practice. I Will Claim My Share when you succeed.

Peril of Being a Whistle Blower

2006-06-02T04:39:00.000-07:00

It is a story concerning my brush with Print Media people.

The story goes somewhat like this.

A report appeared in an additional pull out of a leading national newspaper. In that newspaper, it was reported that a student had cleared the Civil Services Examination. I maintain a civil services blog. This year I have plans to collect the data on the candidates from Punjab who clear the civil services. Therefore, when I read the report, I started looking out for the details of that candidate in the lists published on the government of India web site. I found that the name did not appear in the list. I made some more searches which convinced me that the report was a fake.

First I thought of making a report myself and place it on my blog. It did not appeal to me. I just thought of sending an email to the publication about my search on the authenticity of the report. I did that. Then, as I had saved a phone number of a reporter of the same publication which I had never thought to use, I rang her up and shared my finding. I also told her, that I had already sent an email on the web site of their publication. On her suggestion, I directed that email to an address which she provided. I got interested in this activity. After having emailed the details, I started looking out in the newspaper for report concerning the above mentioned reporting. When it did not appear, I again contacted the above mentioned reporter. She apprised me that as she had inadvertently deleted the folder in which she had received my email and again requested me to resent the emails. She also explained that due to week ends she was not able to check with the authorities whose students had claimed to have cleared the examination. I suggested her to check the upsc site. She showed her failure to locate the result on the site. I told about the link on the upsc site to access the link. Then she also shared the problem of slow down load of the site. On that, I volunteered to send her all the links and reports. I directed her attention that the result was also reproduced by me on my other site at civilservices-prelims.blogspot.com. After that I again started looking out for the news in their newspaper. But in the meantime, I lost the interest in this activity.

When I start working on my computer, I first indulge in frivolous activities. It is at such time, I sometime write about what goes on my mind. Somewhere, this report and incidence remained on my mind and I felt, that one should put up such reporting also one owns blog. On Internet, I talk of democratization of knowledge which is approved by many leading scholars from different countries. They have placed their comments even on the posting where I have talked about such things. Another thing which matters on Internet is the issue of locating the authentic information. Therefore, I always try to discuss and deal in such reporting which are not authentic and genuine. I am not the only person to do it. The serious people keep on discussing such things on the web. I felt that this report comes under that genre. Therefore, I made a small report and placed it on my this very blog. My intentions were clear and pure. I have felt that the newspaper is a respectable organization but in case of this incidence their activity was not leaving any good impression. I had written that report which was determined by such a feeling. It was for the first time, that I was writing a pointed criticism, therefore, I thought it prudent to direct the link in an email to the concerned people also. I had their email address only because they had provided it when they needed some information from me. It became easy for me to send them an email. I opened my send folder, located their email address and sent the link of my posting.

After that I left my place and visited some of my friends in one other state. The incidence was lapsing down in my mind and I was now forgetting it. But, it was not to happen like that.

Just a day back, after returning from my visit, I got engrossed in my reading and writing activities. When I read or write something, I keep my phone away. In the evening I found that there was five missed calls. I checked the phone book. It was from one landline number and one from the reporter whom I had contacted earlier. I first tired the landline number. I learned that it was from the publication of the same reporter. I asked for the reporter as I had guessed that it was she who was calling me.

When the reporter came on the line, she talked about my posting, of which I had sent a link to their office. She told me that they had already reported their follow up to that report. I told about my ignorance about that. She assured me to tell me the date. The talk ended when I told her that I would call back to learn about the date and the edition in which they had reported.

I again called her on her mobile. She told me the date and the page number wherein they had denied the report. Then she also expressed her displeasure and the annoyance of her office on the contents of my posting. I told her that I was expecting a call back from her for which she explained that why she was not able to call back. Then we discussed about removing the post. I told her, even if I would remove it, the cache memory would remain and that bolg is of a long standing and web crawlers cover it also. Secondly, I told that I had written what had happened. The way out was to add some remark about. The talk remained inclusive as her mobile does not remain consistently on the waves. While telling about the annoyance of her group, she expressed some strong feelings also. I never had the idea to hurt anyone. But, I feel concerned if some one feels hurt even if I am right. Therefore, I decided to add some comments to the report.

After that, I received a phone call from a friend. The person is highly educated, highly experienced and well connected. I shared this episode with him. We discussed all the aspects of this episode. I shared with him some of my fears which was induced by talking to that reporter. Being an experienced person, he assured me and advised me to remain calm and unperturbed. He rather suggested different legal means and remedies which I could avail if the newspaper organization became somewhat adventurous. He assured that it was their wrong reporting which started all this activity. They would never be able to defend that reporting.

However, I felt that as a civilized person, I should make some correction to the report. As I had decided earlier, I added some comments.

I made the required changes to the post that irritated the people of the national daily. I thought it in right course of the things to send the link of the edited post to the concerned newspaper organization. I sent the link. After that I thought I should inform them also on telephone. I should maintain my grace even if they had not shown such virtues.

I rang up at their office on their landline number. A person picked the phone. I persuaded her to tell her name. She told that she was Parvinder. I then started telling the motive of my calling them. Before, I could complete, there came a bust of strong contention and threats which were uncalled for. It was an experience to listen to such uncivilized verbal attack. I also reverted back with some strong voice but remaining within civilized limits. But it was an experience to listen that how a big organization behaves and react on their own fault and how far they could go to threat.

I tried to call the earlier reporter who collected data from me. But the phone was disconnected without any response.

This will remain an experience with me. It was an experience of being a whistle blower. Rang De Basti. Page 3. Azad. New Delhi Times. I have just tried to do what the respectable citizens should have done. I tried to maintain a grace of an educated person and expecting a reciprocation from a big organization. What I received back is a lesson for future on how to deal them next time.

The episode revealed above is related to my post at Unconfirmed Story by HT Ludhiana Live which appears in the archive of month May 2006.

Unconfirmed Story by HT Ludhiana Live

2006-05-30T21:43:00.000-07:00

Kindly read this post along with the remark give below under the heading Forceful follow up by HT Ludhiana Live also the story in the next post titled Peril of Being a Whistle Blower.

In May 17, 2006 edition of HT Ludhiana Live, a report by HT Live Correspondent Ludhiana, dated May 16, 2006, A “PAU Student” was reported to have cleared the Civil Services Examination 2005. The said candidate was highly praised by a faculty member of Department of Food Science and Technology and also by the Dean, Postgraduate Studies. It is reported that the candidate had stood at 372 rank in the list of the declared selected candidates. (Note: Hindustan Times does not have online editions of its Live editions.)

As per the result declared by UPSC, which is also available at the site www.upsc.gov.in and on the web site of Ministry of Personnel at http://persmin.nic.in/csresult1.html, the name as reported by Hindustan Times Live Ludhiana does not appear in the list. Further, the person who stands at 372 in ranking is MYINTHUNGO TUNGOE Roll no: 033202. In addition to that, the reported name does not appear in the list of the successful candidates who had passed the written CS 2005. It is reported on Ministry of Personnel Affairs that 1174 candidates had cleared the written test and asked to attend the medical examination and the list along with their home addresses as well their roll nos. is available at http://persmin.nic.in/csresult1.html. The name does not appear even in that list.

I have sent an email to the HT through its site and also an email at ludhreportersdesk@hindustantimes.com. As I know one of the HT reporters, I have brought this information to their knowledge also. They had sought the information about the web sites from where I have gathered the information. I had provided all the links. I have also placed a copy of the result collected from the site of UPSC at my blog www.civilservices-prelims.blogspot.com at Final Result of IAS 2005 Declared in May 2006.

Such reports damages the reputation of all such organizations whose names appear in the list. Last year, an imposter had projected himself as a selected IAS in the list of CS 2004. He fooled the administration as well as many other reputed people. He even played with the emotions of a family when he managed to establish a marriage alliance.

However, there is no clarification by the Hindustan Times groups till this day. They should counter check and verify the veracity of the report. If my judgement is wrong, or if my collection of information is faulty, I must also learn. But they should respond.

Edited Remark Placed ON JUNE 2, 2006

On June 1, 2006, I received a phone from HT Ludhiana office.

They felt concerned about the contents of my posting as given above.

They informed me that they had already published a news item titled "PAU Student’s civil services success mere eyewash" on page 2 of HT Ludhiana Live edition dated May 25, 2006. In the report they had already contended against the claim of the said student.

They also showed their annoyance and displeasure at my act of putting up this post.

I am great admirer of this publication. I feel concerned that they have not liked my act. It was me who had pointed out the incongruity and invalidity of the content of the report. I had provided them the details when they asked for it all in good faith. I was expecting a return reply from them about their investigation on this report as I had provided them the data from where they could verify the authenticity of the claim. In my above reporting, I have mentioned all the emails which I have sent to them. The content of the reporting of May 25, 2006 contains verbatim repeat of the argument which I had placed before them in my emails. It was only when I did not receive any answer from their side that I placed the above mentioned remark. I have pure intentions. I am not against the newspaper group. I repeat, I am a great admirer of the reporting skills of this newspaper and a regular subscriber since 2000. I had read that edition in which their investigative reporting appeared. It just happened that I did not read the above report.

I just want to add that the courtesy demands that they should have replied back to me and informed me when they completed their investigation and published it. The tone of the posting would have been different in that case.

Dr. Subhash Srivastva Will Your Sacrifice be of Any Worth???

2006-05-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

I have received a sms which reads: " Date 20-05-2006, 6.30 pm: Dr Subhash Srivastav (AIIMS) has died because of hunger strike and media is not covering it."

Is it TRUE!!!

Shivani Bhatnagar was not killed by R. K. Sharma IPS. It is true. But Media covered it so well.

Is Media vulnerable?

The State is mightier than Pen. Is it True?

Ravi Sidhu said that journalism was a lucrative career. Is it True?

I think I must watch Range De Basanti Once Again.

Is it a war of hegemony? Is Antonio Gramsci true?

Was there need of writing Poona Pact 1932?

Why is not Communal Award written in Golden Words?

Why do we not praise the 1909 ACT?

Will there be a Civil War in Bharat in which Slavery be one of the main cause along with reasons rooted in bad history and worst custodians ideology and heritage!!?

Why is not logic considered a right virtue in Indian philosophy?

Why is logic always used to justify the irrational acts?

However, there is other side of the story.

I have talked to a press reporter of a leading national daily. According to her, the report about Dr. Shubhash Srivastva is not true. She further told that this is a stunt of some companies which have some vested interest in encouraging the gullible public to exchange sms on such a sensitive issue.

She emphatically said that if such a tragedy had taken place it would have by flashed throughout the country. She stressed that in such an event both print and electronic media would have splashed it as a breaking news.

We must try to see another side of the story. We must try to listen what the pro-reservation people are saying. Dr. Bruno has something to say on in defense of reservation and strike strike strike .

How is a Hard Work Executed?

2006-05-19T00:05:00.000-07:00

There is a report in The Tribune dated May 19, 2006 about the topper in commerce stream in Board Examination (probably in ICSE, the reporter has not specified that in which board the candidate has topped.) titled "Being Regular in Studies is her Success Mantra" by Geetanjali Gayatri.

I have hi-lighted some lines and reproduce them below.

"It was all about being attentive in class, making notes, slogging hard without being a book worm and just keeping your eyes and ears open.

"I concentrated on being thorough with my books and went over my lessons again and again. Then, of course, for quick recall, I made my own memory maps which helped me revise an entire lesson in a single glance,".

"I don't advocate tuitions at all. Besides being regular, devoting time for self-study is very essential. …"

I am more attracted to the phrase that “for quick recall, I made my own memory maps which helped me revise and entire lesson in a single glance.”

These are highly portent lines. They are the keywords telling the material things of a hard work. They have really surprised me. It is really amazing if these lines are spoken by student of +2 level. If these lines are written by Geetanjali, after listening to the topper, even then, they are very important guidelines for all the students to understand, digest and practice.

I myself, have tried to question that what actually does it mean when we say that one should do hard work in studies. I have been shifting from one explanation to other but have never reached a perfect answer.

In the above mentioned lines, the topper has remarked that for quick recall, she made her own memory maps which helped her revise an entire lesson in a single glance. This part of the quoted lines is telling about a functional and in-practice activity which is required to achieve the success. I have learned it at a very latter stage of my academic career.

What actually is this memory map? It is not an easy thing to explain. Every brain and person have his own model and explanation to give. But before that, you have to undergo an exercise to reach that memory map level. In my case, the exercise involves "Reading Writing Reading Writing Remembering Reading Writing and finally writing and writing again writing till you reach a stage wherein you can create a diagram on the contents of the piece which you are reading". The above mentioned exercise requires time and consistency. It is really a grueling regime but the final result is in form of a mental product which only you can recreate or convert into some type of a pen diagram or tag or small snippet type notes. Those notes or pen diagrams are such that they act as a summary to a whole chapter or even a whole book. The total space which such diagrams or snippets take is hardly a small percentage of the total space on pages that a book contains. All this activity takes lot of efforts and exertion which defines the Hard Work. These mental diagrams actually act as a symbol to the whole content of a book or concept on which you can elaborate to any extend. If you are asked to write it in twenty words on a concept, you can then produce amazing combination of such words which give the gist with in the word limits. If on the other hand, you are asked to explain in detail, then also, you come out with a satisfying answer.

There are some more important points which should also be taken care of. You can only develop a good mental map if you read text books. If you read refreshers like MBD, or Evergreen, or JPH or something like that, then only way is to memorize that. You can not make a mental map. The mental map you can make in case of refreshers is only of a question which such books have tried to answer. If question is there, you can answer. If the wording of the question is changed then you may not be able to articulate at all.

The next thing, which the topper is mentioned is that she studied the whole year and did not suffer from last stage anxiety. That is another good feature about which she has talked. The anxiety is such a thing that it kills your interest in studies. I may like to say that it kills the possibility of the success.

In order to develop this ability of making mental maps, one has to devote time and undergo an exercise regularly. It requires years of practice. However, it is not that you have to do it for a decade. The feel of this idea of mental map can be acquired with in month or two but in order to develop an effective product in form of mental map, you have to practice it for a long time.

In my case, I have been shifting from one type of model of mental map to other. I starting with putting some tags on each paragraph on the book itself. On reading a paragraph, I used to write some phrases or title to each paragraph giving the gist of the content of the paragraph. Then I developed the habbit of underlining it. However, it was not useful, because gradually learned that I am slow to comprehend the contents of a paragraph and I underlined a wrong line. There is some other line, which is more useful. Secondly, the underlining practice destroyed the shape of the book and made the book untidy. I also adopted the practice of hi-lighting but it also makes your book messy. The next habbit which I developed was of writing the gist in my own words. It worked well but gradually what I learned that it took too much of time and somewhere I used to just copy the book verbatim. However, with passing of years, I matured and now I write effective summaries of what I have read. Simultaneously, I have developed the ability to close my eyes, and recollect that under which title what actually is written in the book. It helps me to recollect and write about a given topic in an effective manner. In between, I have developed other different models. I keep on shifting between such models and all of them can be called mental maps.

Real Time Communication – An Imaginary Situation or NOT

2006-05-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

I imagine a scenario in which a Real Time Communication takes place.

Presently, when we communicate we can see video and text and listen to audio only. However, we are not able to smell, taste and feel. When we will be able to see, listen, smell, taste and feel a communication through all our five senses then the communication will be real and true.

The computer assemblers, research laboratories and computer engineers may kindly consider this idea seriously as it holds promise for a future business possibility.

Imagine that a doctor wants to check his patient online. Through teleconferencing the doctor can talk to his patient, see some of his vital inputs but even then there remains a big gap of vital input that is required by a doctor to diagnose his patient.

Now imagine, that a doctor has a peculiar type of a plate lying on his table along with his mike, camera, monitor and keyboard. On the other side of the computer somewhere on the other side of the continent, his patient is sitting before his computer. The patient has attached some devices on different part of his body. The devices are passing a data about the skin texture of the patient through his computer to the computer of the doctor. That data is transmitted to that peculiar type of plate of the doctor. The doctor places his finger tips on the plate and gets the simulation which tells him about the real texture of the skin. It also gives data on the temperature of the skin, the dryness of the skin and feel of the skin similar to what if he has actually touched the skin of his patient.

Further, the doctor is placing a device similar to a gas mask on his nose. On the side of the patient, there are sensors which are recording the odors around the patient. The gas mask device has cartridges similar to inkjet cartridges in the inkjet printer. The doctor receives the data from the side of the patient and the nose mask device releases controlled fumes in the gas mask giving the doctor the real odours spread around the patient. They are so real to the actual odours as if he is just sitting opposite to his patient.

Now the doctor has a complete picture of his patient. On his monitor, he is looking at his patient. He is able to listen to his voice. He can also smell the atmosphere around his patient. He can place his hand on the peculiar type of plate and get the idea how it is like touching his skin or pulse. He can have another device also which may be placed on his tongue. He wants to taste something and he can ask the patient to place the corresponding device in the required medium which the doctor want to taste.

Or for example, you want to taste the dish. The other person put the corresponding device in the dish and on your side you have place the required gadget on your tongue. That device tries to reproduce the same tingling on your tongue, which help to learn how the dish tastes through processing of the data.

If such types of devices are developed, then one can have real type of communication.

It raises many possibilities of new type of computer products.

There can be REAL COMPUTER CABIN or RCC.

In the Real Computer Cabin, when a user sits and contact to some computer where in the other user is sitting in similar computer cabin, the first user can even smell the atmosphere around the other user. They may help to taste different things through attachment in the cabin. They can also feel the touch through the attachments which are programmed to transmit the specified type of simulations.

Similarly there can be REAL COMPUTER ATTACHMENTS or RCA.

There can be products wherein one can have a device similar to gas mask. On the other side, the person who want to transmit the smell perception, has a device which can transmit such a data which is converted to such simulations that helps the person on the other side to smell things. Similarly, there can be devices which can help to touch and taste things.

Dangers and Crimes:

Such type of a possibility can counter productive also. A user may produce such type of simulation which can harm the recipient. However, threshold level can be devised in such gadgets.

Utility:

As suggested above, a doctor can diagnose his patient while sitting miles away from his patient. They are doing it even now but there are limitations. However, if such devices are developed then they may have better inputs to decide the diagnose.

Just imagine, Mcdowells helping you to get the taste and smell of their burgers. Or a whine manufacturer introducing his product by first giving the smell and taste simulation. Think, how a perfume maker can approach you. Imagine the type of advertisements on your monitors.

Everybody is invited to expand this imaginary situation.

Is there anyone, who is interested in joining this imaginary situation?

Is H. G. Wells envious of me?

Are the programmers getting some ideas?

Seminar becomes Bloginar

2006-04-17T03:18:00.000-07:00

Kevin on his blog "Civil War Memory", had commented thus,
"I have to admit that as a teacher I am frustrated with myself for feeling this way. Blogging is one way of filling the hole that has resulted from fewer speaking engagements. I can post what I want and by now it seems I have a fairly regular group that enjoys and profits from my ideas and research. And new people are introduced to the site on a regular basis."

He has poured out his feelings of a teacher who learns, unlearns and then relearns but when he comes out with his findings he find that he can not carry people out of their grooves. People tend to live with preconceived notions and fixed opinions. They do not know that even their opinions are not their own. They are being induced to carry a particular opinion by number of factors. They do not learn to seek knowledge through a practice of persistent exercise and exertions. They do not show persistency and learn to verify their hypothesis in a scientific way. It takes time and consistency. The teachers develop this ability gradually.

Kevin has shown his disenchantment with the groups which indulge in seemingly intellectual activity to satisfy their hidden complexes. The teachers are called and made to share with their findings. No doubt, a scholar comes with details and elaboration. A part of exposition taken out of his elucidation works as arguments to justify the stand of some partisan groups. However, when a scholar ends his lecture or presentation with some different conclusion, they come out in a nasty way against the scholar. However, they continue to call him back just to make a show presentable.

The second thing which Kevin has referred to is the cost of a visit. I may like to add that the amount of work and efforts which a teacher invests in learning about a fact incur such a cost for which society never like to pay. A teacher continues to undertake this activity because, the activity of learning becomes his second nature or his basic character. He keeps on investing money in pursuit of his knowledge. A professional put up a fee but teacher just believes in sharing. No doubt, it is a frustrating sometime. No doubt, many teachers get exhausted soon and continue to remain in job if they are not enough enterprising, just for the sake of earning a living.

The other day, one of my friend teased me that whenever I start talking, I invariably refer to my blogging activity. He questioned the very utility of blogging. Well, the utility of blogging is a different issue but I gave an answer. I said that blogging is definitely a substantial activity for a teacher or an intellectual because he tends to place the required knolwedge and information at one place and those who are serious get the right knowledge at a desired and right place. He just mocked at it and then switched to his highly costly mobile to talk to his business associate.

I also remember the reaction of some people near to me when I bought the computer. At that time, computers were definitely a costly item in India. I did not know that how I managed to arrange for such a money. However, when my friends learned about my new possession they showed different reactions. One person asked that what new business I was going to start with computer. The second person was more concerned about my well being. He tried to advice me that being a novice and simple in life I was wasting money. He strongly advised that I should better utilize money by investing in real estate. All of them were teachers. Every one was questioning my decision to buy a computer which was for them a costly item and thing of mere possession. I was so much irritated by their queries and advice that once I retorted that I was amazed to learn that why they were not feeling the need of computers. No doubt, by now, all them have computers and very quick to tell that they can write their letters and applications on their own personal computers. Just that much.

The next reaction was really typical. Soon, they learned that I am using to computer extensively for surfing. They started seeking me with suggestive offers of visiting the "real sites".

The worst thing happened when I tried to point out the gap in availability of some original sources on the net for the Indian history. I wrote a paper in which I tried to compare the availability of original sources in case of American history and Renaissance period vis a vis Indian history. I collected nearly 700 such sites and developed a short paper. I suggested to one Conference organizer on regional history to include the paper. His first remark was that how can Internet be an issue of study in field of history for primary sources. He passed a remark which made me highly disenchanted. He remarked that I would be bringing merely an assortment of some web sites. Well, he was right to some extant but he did not bother to listen the conclusion. When I persisted with the argument, his remarks were that the making of archives available on the net was the work of the government of India. The universities and the history department could not find any role in it.

Similarly, in case of writing and interpretation of Indian history, which has become a major issue in post NDA government scenario, or to put in other words, in post Ramjanambhoomi period, the similar thing is being seen. I have come up with some write ups wherein I have used the colonial primary sources made available on the net. I am just holding them back because I desire to visit some of the related places and archives to verify for once that they are the same as they are shown on the net. However, I have now developed different views and reached some different conclusions. I have placed some of them on sumir-history.blogspot.com. I am also getting some responses. The comments are mere appreciation and there is no concrete criticism or discussion on that. But, I have this hunch that it will soon start. I have watched the blog of Miland Brown, the education forum of John Simkin especially JFK debate, and many such other debates, wherein the scholars bring new facts and proofs and share it through discussion groups and blogs. Such activities may not be brining money to them. Rather, they may be spending out of their pockets but such activities are basic Dharma of teachers and scholars. Such activities are the core of the profession.

I consider blogs of teachers are continous seminars. The teachers who are interested in such pursuits may take the benefit of this technology and continue with their activity with full conviction. It will keep the teacher in them alive. The product of their mental exercise would definitely make their place.

Aquarium

2006-03-28T12:07:00.000-08:00

I bought the aquarium in December 2005.

My aquarium has now thirty-six fishes of different species. No doubt, all of them are tropical fishes and a large number of them are Gold Fishes. There are different species of Karps.

It was nearly three months back, in the December 2005, I had bought this small world. It is really a prized possession now. I have actually bought nearly sixty two fishes by now but twenty six of them have died. I lost eight fishes in the very first week because I was not fully conversant with the techniques, science and intricacies of keeping and maintaining an aquarium. I was not able to maintain the temperature at the required level. I had bought the heater along with other gadgets but the heater was not working. The month of December was quite cold and therefore I lost the fishes. It was only after that when I discussed the problem with the vendor, that we realized that there might be some fault with the heater. It was actually first identified by my wife who is M. Sc in Zoology. She did not help me much with her knowledge but when the fishes died every other day, then she pointed out that being a tropical species, they could not survive in extreme temperatures. No doubt, I was a novice but I think the main excitement of life and any hobby is to explore and learn. When you do not know anything then it becomes more excitable to learn from the follies and in discovering ones own ignorance. One enjoys learning more when he or she is not taught by an expert and the person learns gradually.

There are some more devices which are being used to maintain the aquarium. One, as I have already mentioned, is a heater with a thermostat. It helps to maintain the temperature of water between 12o c and 32oc. Then there is a filter. It is basically a submersible pump which sucks water through a sponge and the blow the water out side. In this manner, the sponge holds back the particles. The third device is an air pump which throws out bubbles of air through ducts. The ducts are kept at the floor of the water tank of the aquarium covered in some toy or some thing like that. Apart from these three main devices, I have fixed a fluorescent light below the lid of the aquarium. The size of the aquarium is 2 feet X 1 foot X 1 foot.

It is not difficult to maintain an aquarium. I am finding it more easy than keeping a pup. You have to train them in first three months. Then, you have to take them for walk, to the doctor, chain them when some guests come and similar many other excursions and exertions. Secondly, you can not leave them unattended. You can not lock them in a room and leave the city for a night. No you can not do that to your pet. In case of fishes, there is no such problem. The fishes can survive without food for more than a week. Secondly, their food requirement can be easily managed. There are specialized foods available in the market. A pack of 100 g can last for a month. Then, the freezed worms can be given as additional food which I call the non-veg food for the fishes. As far as medical attendance is concerned, there is anti-itch liquid. You have to put five to seven drops after every three or four days. One can change water after three months. You have to just clean the filter regularly. However, if one does not clean it for four to seven days, it can do. I have found other way out. You may not change the whole water. Just take out a bucket of water from the tank and add fresh water after twenty to thirty days. Clean the tank after three months. It is quite an effective activity.

It is really relaxing to watch them moving around in the tank. It is really exciting to find them growing and making brisk movement when you sit near the aquarium. At the time of getting the food, they become excited and on the mere sound of you in the room, make them huddle together near the place from where you drop the food. After that, it is really an indescribable spectacle. It is really an experience watching them holding the small granules in their month and then taking them out and retrieving them and making movements of mouth as if they are chewing them.

Most of the guests get attracted to them. The girls are really excited to watch them and they tend to sit near the aquarium. Same is with the children. No doubt, they are inquisitive and ask you such questions that you can not answer them. It was really fascinating when my son suggested that we should name them. It started a fascinating activity in the house. No doubt, we have named some of them.

The eye specialists strongly recommend watching aquariums as it works as an exercise for the eyes. As per Vastu Shastra, an aquarium consisting of seven or nine or thirteen gold fishes and one black fish is good for the prosperity of the house and keeps away bad influences. I have not kept it with above mentioned motives. Being a nuclear family, both of us leave for our jobs and the house remains locked for the whole day. It is my belief that it is not good that in a home the movement should cease during the day. When I gave this reason to my wife, she retorted that the movement remains in the house because there are ants, flies, lizard, cockroaches and rats. No doubt, I was not able to counter her but this feeling that the house remains locked during the day time and there should be some active movement keep going in the house and that is good for the house, prompted me to bring the aquarium. Now it is other thing that when my wife watches movies or soap operas, it is observed that in every movie wherein some urban or city seen is depicted, one can locate an aquarium in a frame. We learn that Magasthense had specifically mentioned that Chandragupta had maintained a tank in his palace in which he had kept coloured fishes. We find similar mention of such fish ponds in different ancient books. On of the avtaars of Lord Vishnu is fish. Hence, all these arguments had been used by me to maintain an aquarium in my house.

__________

Further Links:

Check Aquarium Lore of Eugene Lim. I have tried to learn about other bloggers earlier. May be I was not searching rightly. However, on this blog you will find good information provided it can be counter checked. Lim seems to be perturbed by unappreciative remarks. Wikipedia remains the best source for furthering information for person looking for it as a hobby provided you put the right query in the search of Wikipedia.

Indian Teachers and Bloging

2005-12-01T07:10:00.000-08:00

For long, a query is disturbing me. It has been placed by John Simkin in on educationforum.ipbhost.com in response to one of my post.

I consider John Simkin as my Guru in the field of bloging and using it as a tool in teaching and personal aggrandizement. Hence, any query by him is for me a moral duty to answer. However, I am not able to find any satisfactory answer to his query. His query was about the Indian Teachers who have developed their web sites as a tool of their teaching. This is something, which the European teachers are using as one of the aid for teaching. This is part of their ICT project. Use of blog and web site are two main features of their ICT projects. The Indian Government has launched Edusat and Gyandarshan a T.V. Channel as a part of their ICT project. Some of the teachers and the students of IITs have also developed some programmes in that direction. However, I was not able to explore much about them. The few links which I had opened through the UGC site, consisted of such technical instructions for use of the softwares which they had developed, that I did not find enough encouragement to explore them. I had started bloging and I was more interested in getting a practical shape for my efforts in field of bloging as a teaching tool. Anyhow, I have come across a web log which has attracted my attention.

The web log is titled India School News. It has address at Banglore Karnataka India. It has on it a directory of various schools. It is being aggressively used for placing the job placement advertisement by different school and coaching centers. There is one message section asking for membership in order to post the comments but there are very view discussions going on it. They must watch and explore the activities of educationforum.ipbhost.com of John Simkin in order to imbibe some finer points in order to make their more alive. Then there is a section on school products also. It is called school store. Presently they are promoting products of Encyclopaedia Britannica only. On the whole, it seems to be the right seed and may soon sprout into a green tree. However, they must explore the ways to popularize it.

I have been searching for the blogs by the teachers. I have found some of them. However, they intend to give many personal things on it apart from writing about the subjects in which they are dealing. The most impressive activity in this direction is that of Delhi Public School Delhi. Their computer section is doing something really worthwhile. I have a hunch that they are going to establish themselves as leaders in their field. This aspect, that is bloging as a tool of teaching will definitely emerge as an in thing.

In case of foreign teachers, I have been watching many such blogs. Some of them are really doing a great job. Some of the leading teachers and scholars are alive in blogs and regularly update their blogs and sites. I have made links to such blogs on my other blog at www.sumir-history.blogspot.com. I have commented on the contents of such blogs also. One of the main blog, which remain the centre of my attraction and am a regular reader of that blog is of Milind Brown. However, for the last two days, I have found that there is higher rate of attrition among the teacher’s blog. I have checked only in the field of history. Some of the blogs which I have are Teaching American History "HISTORY TOGETHER" Evaluation ; Teaching History is Fun ; Teaching American History to Today's Youth; History 479 & Student Teaching; Teaching American History : Podcasting in Action and many such other blogs. However, I have found that they are there only there for last one or two months. Secondly they are not updated after making some posting. Why have they discontinued? There seems to high rate of attrition in this field even in America and Europe. Further, they become very personal while making post. They discuss the working of their school environment and behaviour of their students. But they are discussing the subjects. Some of them are really talking something substantial but they are not of that level about which I have made links on www.sumir-history.blogspot.com .

I have to make some more searches and studies in order to answer John Simkin. I just remain short of telling him that I, the big I, seems on be the only one using Blogs as a teaching tool. That is other thing, it was he, or his forum which is equally well looked after by Andy Walker, that taught me about it. Some of regular teachers like Grahm Davis and David and apart from them a galaxy of young teachers and in addition to that Jane Walker from Australia, all of them have left their influence on the contents of my blogs. Further, I have not been able to pursuade my students to come to my blog. It is rather the American and Canadian students who are visiting my www.undergraduatehistory.blogspot.com for notes on Ferdinand II, Louis XIV, Feudalism, Industrial Revolution and many such other topics which have been developed as per the syllabus of Punjab University Chandigarh. Any how, I am still here. I am here only for the last one year. Secondly, I have also became dormant in case of above mentioned blog due to non-academic, discouraging and hurting atmosphere at my college where I teach. God saves me! The NAAC team, if it visit, may not read it.

_________

Edited on Friday, December 02, 2005 at 6.40 pm

In the posting Indian Blogs Mallika Chopra is discussing the similar thing but on different part of the spectrum.
Mallika and Shekar are discussing the plans and charter of the blog and how far it is achieving it. One thing which I found here, regardless of what is being said there, most of the blogger talk about politics and interested in giving their version on what is happening. One of the commentator had raised this point and nicely pointed out that all the talks are not enough pregnant to be delievered as concrete activity. Secondly, they are not confining to one field of discussion. It has been nicely pointed out by one of the commentator that with the links and connection, the people on the intent blog can bring around such a discussion which could help otherwise in some concrete terms.

Again, I am unable to understand the actual import of South Asia and then talk only about India. Mallika was right in pointing out that there should be some thought on similar blogs from Pakistan and Bangladesh. If she really knows there are some really good blogs from Nepal and they prefer to write in Devnagari.

Further, she finds it fascinating to talk about making links. She is impressed and fascinated by activities of some of them. I have read some criticism about such activities a year back. There was some force in the arguments of that blogger.

Finally how I wish that similar thing is done by Teachers of India, some thing similar to Delhi Public School of Delhi so that I can answer John Simkin.

ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF ONLINE BOOKS

2005-11-30T17:35:00.000-08:00

While studying the Indian social history, a question on the decline of Indian society is generally made an important issue of discussion. The reasoning given, as explanation of the decline of the Indian society is that it suffered because the spread of knowledge was stifled. A section of Indian society generally identified with the Brahmin caste tried to establish its complete control over the spread of knowledge. They restricted the spread of knowledge by putting restriction on the right of individual and classes to gain knowledge. In the Middle Ages they banned the low castes and women from seeking the knowledge of Vedas. Further, they restricted the spread of knowledge by restricting it to Sanskrit. Then, they restricted the learning of the Sanskrit language to a large number of castes. Gradually it effected the development of the Indian society. The myths and superstitions developed and flourished in such a scenario. As a result, India suffered on many fronts. The progress of knowledge suffered. The society suffered form many social vices. It badly effected the cultural growth and intellectual achievements of the Indian people. Finally, it became the cause of the servitude of Indians of foreign invaders for more than one thousand years.

Spread of knowledge and its easy accessibility are two main important operational aspects for saving the whole humanity from numerous and some major maladies from which it suffers. Another historic fact also stands in favour of readily availability of knowledge in practical terms the books and such information which is restricted because of many restriction. IN European history, the major change in the life of European people is attributed to many factors like decline of Feudalism, rise of middle class, the attack on Constantinople, geographical discoveries and so on. However, there are many scholars who would stress that above all such changes, the invention of press and availability of printed material to a large section of humanity was the most vital among. The invention of press and availability of the easily availability of the printed material is nothing else but a easily availability of knowledge. In those days, it was a big technological solution to availability of knowledge as it is today the availability of books online.

Those who are in not favour of this approach and counter its wider implications give following arguments.

They raise the issue of intellectual property right.

They raise the issue that the knowledge is gained through extensive research and development which requires lot of investment. Therefore, those who have invested on it, only they should have the right to possess it.

Some may say that unrestricted availability of knowledge can be counterproductive. The anomaly groups (read terrorists) would get access to knowhow of making atom bombs. They would destroy the world. Therefore, unrestricted accessibility of knowledge is not the right thing to achieve.

All the above arguments and many more like that are basically political and commercial section version.

The actual truth lies somewhere between both the arguments. It rather stands alone but favours in unrestricted and total accessibility of knowledge to all. The online solution is the answer to achieve that. Therefore, there should be online availability of knowledge.

Page Three of Blogdom

2005-11-24T05:27:00.000-08:00

Here is something. It is called Intent Blog. It has a logo of a sunflower. So it is something pure and pious.

Nothing funny of the sort.

Including Administrator (Who is he?), there are 54 glibs in a party. Exclude him, then there are 53. Believe it, nothing of the cranky sort if you have not yet moved to that site.

Believe me, They are who’s Who of the world that matters.

If interested, then why do you not log in? Believe me it is nothing of f*** sort of thing.

Nothing cantankerous.

Nothing Obnoxious.

I assure you, if you are associated with India, you wont grumble if you are a serious person. I tell you it is nothing that mama forbades to do. Take her along or call her when you log in.

Mind it, it is nothing funny sort of thing and do not complain if you do not get expected "Real Thing".

Well, if you already knew about it then 123.

MSN in Fighting Mode

2005-11-24T02:44:00.000-08:00

Recently two changes have been observed on msn search engine and msn portal.

It seems that Bhai log of internet are feeling the heat and the war is becoming serious.

On the MSN search, if you try to search for some concept, term or terminology, you get an answer from msn to that also. I think it is a recent feature.

There are now many search engines which give such a feature. However, most of them have some type of mechanism to collect the information from the web and display it as their answer.

"Oh, come on, the man has taught the artificial intelligence to behave as a crook. It is indulging in plagiarism."

One of the search engines , ‘beta.previewseek.com’, provides answer to such terms and events. The engine even claims to declare that it knows about many people and provides a brief biography of a name, if you seek information on a name. It starts with the claim, "PreviewSeek also knows this about: Aamir Khan" if you have typed the name Aamir Khan.

It can be said from a personal experience and interaction with previewseek people that, they collect the information mostly from wikipedia. In case of one recent search of a similar kind, the previewseek administrator himself pointed out about their source of information.

However, the contents and information provided by wikipedia continue to be questioned, doubted and remain an issue of debate.

Now MSN people have also set out on the same path. They are also going for collaboration with cyber users for building their information bank. However, they are giving it a level of respectability for every search term for which msn also suggests it own answer. They are calling all to edit and update the information. They use their highly rated contents and information of Encarta Encyclopedia and invite all to add to it. But they point out that it would be checked by the team which looks after the encyclopedia. I, myself, have been using it. However, a recent feature on Google, the Books.google.com, has overshadowed it for the utility for which I was using Encarta CD. Now that CD does not permit me to watch the additional information. But it hardly matters, because I now get it from Books.google.com.

The second feature of msn, which has been engaged into top-gear, is blogging. In case of India, they have adopted an amusing marketing strategy. Now I know, that why Bill Gates was visiting Indian again and again. (Blink). It is an unconfirmed report that msn has joined with the stars of Bollywood to promote and popularize their blog feature, which has been successfully turned into an effective marketing tool by the googles. Even Yahoo has lately awaken to this fact. The best example is Mangal Pandey Blog by Aamir Khan. I learned it just a week back but it is there since July 2005. That is other thing that there is no entry for September, October and November 2005 archives. Is it over now?

I am wondering that how many of Bollywood stars are now punching keys for msn. Is it not fascinating that Aishwarya, Preti, Rani and young babes blogging while sitting before their laptops? "Hey, where they do all this."

I float a suggestion to msn to promote their blog space. The MSN should approach President of India, Honourable A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. He is a techno savvy person. He is quite popular among the teenagers. It is not difficult to see that if Mr. President becomes available on a blog, how many hits his blog will get. The visitors will be children and it is up to blog provider to attract them to their services. President Abdul Kalam is a person, who can understand the potential of such a medium to reach out to the people and the arrangements can be made only if the bureaucracy may not bring in their tardy and unnecessary sneering approach. President Abdul Kalam is from a state, which is also known for its techno-savvy population. The e-tutors of Kerala and Tamil Nadu are quite popular now these days. Therefore, a good idea is here, waiting to get exploited. As far Google is concerned, they are already having on me on the role. Yeah, I mean it.

In recent months, I am using Yahoo, Previewseek and Google as my search engines. However, I will remain with them and blog through googles. However, I am watching msn also because many of visitors to my sites are being directed to my sites by msn search.

sumir-history: More Digital Book Sources available ONLINE

2005-11-21T08:04:00.000-08:00

The google book project is taking my time. Numerous thoughts are just jamming my brain. It has become a cause of going for more searches on the net and yielding more information. It is also becoming a cause of many more thoughts. I may write them out on my blog otherwise they are making me to turn again and again in my chair and holding me back from my other important tasks.

The post on sumir-history contains information in a form which can be used. But, I My Me has yet to take over here.

Is the Contention Against Google Print Valid?

2005-11-11T06:05:00.000-08:00

I am unable to understand that why there is so much hue and cry about the Print Google.

They have been accused of stealing the printed contents of the rightful owners and making them available to the rest of the souls on the earth without any price and thus causing the monetary loss to the writers and the publishers. They are being accused of infringing on the intellectual property rights and copyrights and thus forcing the victims to take them to the court. They are being accused of starting the trend in which the laws have to be re-written.

For three days, I am trying to experiment with the Print Google dot com. I am using the terms, concepts, the names and authors related to Indian history. I am getting a huge list of books. It is very exhilarating to see the list of the books, the name of the authors, the date of publication and all the material, which are required for any research scholar to start his work. The lists which comes up can be used by a teacher or student or a researcher in a field to plan his study in more effective way. I am excited to see them because I feel that if I have to submit a synopsis in future for some research work and write a bibliography then I will be able to do all that while sitting before my monitor. The time will be saved. With a well defined question in the research activity, the work will be done in one sitting for collecting the material which is required for the research.

However, If I try to check the links, I am showed some pages under the link “some more results for the book”. I am definitely showed some of the pages. However, some of the pages are listed there but with a rider that they are not allowed to be seen there. I am also showed the contents of the book and also the bibliography section along with the index. I can tell from experience that all those pages are gif files which are created on scanning a book. (Please do not sue me in telling that because I know some may have concluded that even I have scanned some books.) But I am not shown the whole book. Yes, they do not show you the whole book. You can check the whole book in a book store and come out without buying any book. Here you are shown the book for some pages as per the query you have put in the search. But you are definitely not shown the whole book. Further, for each page there is warning that it is a copyright material.

However, if you are interested in buying that book, just on the right hand side they have given the links to the publisher or froogle or some other book selling portal. But you can not see the whole book at all. Well I can understand that by changing you query for search, you may see more pages but I have not tried that yet.

Well, what actually has this Print Google done? I think they have done a great job. They have given a practical shape to a great Idea. I think that all the publishers and authors should be dancing on their own heads and shouting for coming good days. They should thank the google people for having done that. They should go and kiss their hand. They should pray for their long life and the company. They should visit their houses and sweep their floors for what they have done to earn fortune for them. (Sweeping floor of someone is an Indian concept.) But No and Big NO. They have not done that. I have learned that they are suing the Google for this trouble.

Are they really true businessmen? Have they themselves checked that what is the true picture? Whatsoever is accessible on Print Google, you can get it by visiting any bookstore and library. In some of the libraries, they are even providing the photostat facility. In India, I have found people getting a whole book Xeroxed. I have seen medical students having Xerox copies of established book which cost less by being Xeroxed than to buy a fresh copy. Well, I am revealing a breaking of law in India but it is quite rampant here. Similarly, if you have good rapport with a bookseller, he may allow you to get a book Xeroxed. But whatsoever the google people are doing, it is not going to do any harm. What I see is that it will rather boost their sale. I believe that they are doing a free job for the publishers. They are promoting their sale. But it is strange that the publishers are perturbed and annoyed by their act. It is strange.

On thing is sure that those who are leveling different allegation against the google, have not actually checked what they have done. They are unnecessarily making wrong noises. They should first check what they are doing. They are becoming self appointed sales men. It is really goes to credit of those publishers who have offered them their books. They have made the smartest move of their business activity. They are going to be benefited.

Those who are undertaking a tirade against the Print Google, they better first check what actually they have done.

________

Edited on November 18, 2005. Local time 10.00 pm

The Google print is now Google Book Search.

Next Stage in the Project of Google Print

2005-11-09T13:54:00.000-08:00

Google should not be cowed down by the fear of lawsuits and negative verdicts.

I do not have any idea about the American laws, American Judiciary and the Intellectual Property Right. One thing is sure that those books which have come into the public domain can be brought online. Whatever may be the verdicts, one thing is there, the Google Print will have enough books to bring online and this Project will not be shelved.

There is need to envisage a next future course of the Goolge Print. The very idea which prompted the Google Print to bring the books online is to provide the right content matter on the net. They want a "Counter to Nonsense" as Miland Brown had said.

It is a logical progress of the google Print project that they shall bring the unpublished doctoral thesis and research papers which lie dumped in universities libraries, department libraries and faculty stores. Those unpublished theses are storehouse of information which can prove decisive in this age of fast communication and exchange of information unhindered by geographical distances.

However, if the Google Print undertakes such a project of bringing the unpublished but approved thesis and dissertations on online, then again they will face strong opposition.

They will be opposed by Research Laboratories and university faculties. They will be again countered with argument of propriety, intellectual property rights and undue misuse of research funds at the expense of their efforts.

However, they may oppose Google print due to many other fears which many of them will never like to speak out but they know it will seal their fate and very existence. They will oppose them because their pseudo-intellectual hollowness will be exposed. They will fear that their act of plagiarism will be exposed and then they will be sued for infringing on the intellectual property rights of other scholars. They will fear that the emptiness and hollow research and claims to high intellectual achievements will be exposed. Many universities and research laboratories would cry hoarse shouting against bringing out the truths and secrets of their efficiency.

On the other hand, many publishers will join in as regular visitors to Google Print to find probable manuscript for their press and sale counter. They do not care to check and find the material worthy for printing. They expect that the writers should come to them and seek their kindness to get their work published. When such a work become business success then they can boost of promoting the author who had been pestering them sometime back and they had been behaving as imperious czars. However, soon they would visit the Google Print to find material to print in order to earn their bread and butter. The day will come when any good writer or researcher will directly publish on net and then where will these publisher go.

Google Print should definitely consider this proposal and send their scanning teams to Theses section of every university and Research Institute. It will also bring before the respective governments the need, the viability and significance of funding different research projects and different universities.

Letter in Support of Google Print

2005-11-09T10:11:00.000-08:00

Dear Google,

First of all, be sure, you are doing the right thing. Continue with your activity with full conviction.

I, being a student of history can tell you, that you are getting freedom for the world by bringing the old books on line. Gutenberg.org has been doing this job and they were the only people doing it. However, during the course of my browsing, I have been able to locate similar sources on web which I am regularly posting on sumir-history.blogspot.com.

I will like to attract your attention to one of my post which was mainly a response to a comment on a statement by Miland Brown on World-history-blog.blogspot.com which is at following link. The link is http://sumir-history.blogspot.com/2005/10/counter-to-nonsense.html

In that post, I have just commented on the attitude of the publishers of the books who are now opposing your activity (at the time of commenting I did not know that you were facing the law suits against you from them.). The poor people (publishers) who claim themselves to be big businessmen are unable to foresee that what benefit will this activity bring for them in terms of sale. I will rather suggest that you should put fees on putting anything on google print for publishers if they want their book to be there. No doubt, there are portals that are promoting their books. But they did they fail? It is only because an interested person who can be their buyer just do not get opportunity to see what is there in the book. How can one buy a book without knowing the actual position of content of the book?

I can tell you my experience. If I like a book, I read it for two to three times. But If I have to borrow it again and again from the library, then only I go to buy book. On the other hand, while visiting a bookstore, if I just buy a book because it has just attracted my interest, most of the time, I am not able to read it for many months. For nearly two to three years, I have only bought such books which I have first read it in the library. I suggest you that just show this comment to the publishers who disturbing you by taking you to court.

I have a hunch. Very soon, these people who are taking you to court, will line up and seek personal favour in getting their books on line. They do not know that some of the books which are out of print can again become saleable commodity if they are brought before the readers. There are many such books which did not get the attention of the buyers but they are definitely needed by many readers which include research scholars, educators, students and even those who start trends in the field of business.

If you believe me, then kindly continue with Google Print project. It is going to be a big success. It will be beneficial for the google, the publishers and writers in terms of money and revenue and benefit the readers who are ready to pay for it.

Good wishes.

________

Post Script:

This is an email directed to google blog in response to Google Print Debate

It has reference to a previous post content A Counter to Nonsense and Google Print .

Tehri Dam

2005-11-04T00:44:00.000-08:00

The site of the Tehri Dam was chosen in 1961. It was an urban center on the banks of the river Bhaghirthi, one of the three rivers which join at Deoprayaga to form Ganga. The plan also envisages another dam named Koteshwari Dam. The project is being looked after by Tehri Hydro Development Corporation. The Government of India and Government of Uttranchal are the joint partners of this corporation. The Planning Commission had sanctioned the Tehri Dam in 1972. The work on the dam started in 1978. The land was acquired in 1976. The Koteshwari Dam will be started only when Tehri Dam will be completed. Hence, there will be two reservoirs on Bhagirithi River before it joins Alaknanda River at Deoprayaga.

In 1980, the then prime minister of India, Indra Gandhi, again got it reviewed. At that time, the committee under Dr. S. K. Roy strongly ruled against the project and the project was abandoned. It is on record that there is a comment by Prime Minister Indra Gandhi on the file that the project would benefit only the contractors.

In 1987-88, this project was reviewed by the government of the time. At that time, the Soviet Union showed interest in it. The standing committee of Ministry of Environment and Forest of Government of India again ruled against it. However, the Government of India overruled the recommendation of the ministry and sanctioned the project.

Even before that, this site was chosen for making a dam by the British Indian Government. However, due to strong opposition by the people and under the leadership of Madan Mohan Malvia, it was abandoned.

The site stands on seismic activity which when come into play may create a earthquake of the magnitude of 8 to 9 on the Richter scale of 12.

The dam will impound 700 billions gallon of water. The height of the dam will be 260.5 m. The dam will produce nearly 2400 MW of power. It will also facilitate irrigation of nearly 2.6 lakh hectares of agricultural land. It will provide the 270 million gallons of drinking water to Uttranchal, Uttar Pardesh and Delhi. The life span of dam is estimated at 30 years from 2015 onwards. After that, it has to be abandoned due to siltation.

The electricity generation machinery is being provided by Voith Siemens. The construction work is being carried out by JP Industries.

On December 5, 2001, the impounding of the water has started.

The Controversies and Issues:
Since the day of inception of this plan the project has been embroiled in controversies.

The first issue came in form of concern for the environment and preservation of flora and fauna. There was strong demand for environment studies that should be carried out and also need for the clearance from the environment ministry. However, the clearance of environment ministry came in 1990.

The second major issue was the location of the project and the design of the dam. It is still strongly contended that the dam stands in a seismic sensitive area and will cause great damage in case of earthquake. Related to this issue is the design of the dam which is made to withstand Peak Ground Acceleration of 0.25 g. It is argued at in case of a earthquake of the magnitude of 8, the PGC will be 1.0 g. In addition to that, there are regular landslides which will be cause of increased siltation reducing the total life span of the dam before the estimated age of the dam. Further, the cost of generation of electricity will be more than what is being generated from other hydroelectric units. It is argued on the basis that the cost of raising the dam has already increased to a level that it will be not profitable at all for the Uttranchal government. It is further argued that beneficiary states in case of irrigation and electricity will only be Uttar Pardesh and Delhi.

The third issue is the rehabilitation of the displaced people. It is strongly protested in the press media that the government is not keeping its promise in rehabilitating nearly one lakh people displaced in and around Tihari. However, the rebahilitation is being carried out as per the recommendation of Hanumantha Rao Committee. Hanumantha Rao Committee was established in 1996 after environmentalist Shri Sundar Lal Bahuguna went on hunger strike. The recommendations of Hanumantha Rao Committee was accepted in 1997. However, the dam has displaced a large number of people and created a major social problem for the area which requires compensation more than what the committee has recommended. The Janmanch has given an extensive report on the Resettlement and Rehabilitation.

The fourth issue is the emotional and religious issue which comes again and again in form of headlines. It is belief of Hindus that the three streams which join to form Ganga are vital for the present characteristics of the water of Ganga. When the dams will be raised on Bhagirithi and Alaknanda (Which is the second project after Tehri), the water will be entrapped for a longer period. That will destroy the original purity of the water of Ganga. They argue that only the flowing water will ensure the purity of the water of Ganga. The second issue is that Bhagirith had brought down the river Ganga for the salvation of his ancestors. It is a matter of belief that the same credit is gained by all the followers of Vedic religion (Hindu Religion). As per mythology, any obstruction or stopping of Ganga at any stage will bring catastrophe for the region. There are some stories in Puranic literature which tells that in case Ganga disappears, it brings great hardship for the people of the region.

The fifth controversy is that there is a section of experts who say that there is not need of raising huge dams. They claim that it is there expeerience that such huge dams are not profitable in long run as they cause more environmental harm. Ramaswamy Iyer of the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi is strongly against such big dams. He believes that water harvesting is the better answer. (Quoted from a report of Don Oko given on the website of www.grist.org)

The sixth controversy is the corruption and embezzlement while undertaking the rehabilitation and resettlement.

Sources:
Sanctuary Asia

Rehabilitation of the uprooted people from Tehri Dam area (PUCL Bulletin). It contains statistical data on rehabilitation.

A Dam Shame

A Saffron Twist by T. K. Rajalakshmi, Frontline, Volume 18, April 14-17, 2001. Discusses the Religious Issue and the role of VHP.

Janmanch A people’s Forum. Detailed report on Rehabilitation and Resettlement.

A Counter to the Nonsense

2005-10-17T05:29:00.000-07:00

Miland Brown has made the following comment on his post The Napoleonic Revolution and I quote, "I always like it when professors put there (their) lectures online. It is such a great counter to much of the nonsense which passes as history online."

The comment has a bigger meaning and may materialize sometime in future. It may not be surprising that many pundits in the field of communication and education may read this comment but care little about the actual import of this comment and move on with their activity without getting hooked to this comment.

The internet and its future modification in form of availability of text, audio messages, video messages, graphics, simulation and animations on hand held devices like cell phones, or a futuristic device which may become more interactive by becoming sensitive to input commands like touch, voice, or even just a look at a thing on a screen just in order to activate the commands hidden behind them, is already taking into a world wherein new beyond-imagination activities would take place.

However, before that, the situation at present is that one has to put it on the web the information which can be sought by someone on the other side.

There is general mythical belief that everything is available on Internet. How far is it true that everything or all the information and thing available on Internet? No, it is not like that. For anything information to become available to the user of Internet, the most important thing is that someone should first put it on the Internet. Now this factor, "someone", is the most crucial factor at present.

This "someone" is not some thing new. It has been there since long, dominating all the media which somewhere I feel is decisive in outlining the perspective and opinion of the common man. The general held perspective and opinion about ones own surrounding decides you consciousness about yourself and your surroundings. This collective consciousness is your history, but in your present, it becomes the vital core of your being alive in present and actions which you take that effects your future.

The need is that the actual pundits for their corresponding epistemology should come forward to put their paradigm on the Internet. But they are not coming. No doubt, lot of nonsense is available on Internet. There is no counter that. The people, who can counter them, they do not do that. May be, putting information and paradigm on Internet is still a futuristic thing to happen. May be, they are too busy. May be a new set of ethics are required in the field of knowledge and more effective activity. May be, there is need to attach some monetary value to the activity which can become an incentive for the required pundits to bring their knowledge on the internet and everybody can access it without paying directly to the pundit.

An issue, which does not seem to have attracted the attention is that what type of information generally available on the Internet. The information is given by the political authorities or the government. The information is given with an idea to make some deal or result into monetary gain. Now these factor of monetary gain are based on ones own perspective of making a business and deal out of a general activity. However, there is no information of a category which is gained only by spending much on research and development. There are addresses of such organisations which give such information but they remain short of providing you information about the latest findings and future implications of those findings.

However, there are many pundits or professors, who can tell so much to the people. There is need that they may also come and play this role.

________

Note:

It is a double copy of already published post at sumir-history.blogspot.com. However, the administrator has found the contents of this post equally relevant to basic core of the blog.

Hindi Granth Karyalay: Munshi Premchand : A brief life sketch

2005-10-10T05:54:00.000-07:00

The essay is by Hindi Granth Karyalaya and Publisher of Mumbai. It is about the life sketch of Munshi Prem Chand. However, the essay covers all the works of Munshi Prem Chand and there are further links on which the information on Munshi Prem Chand can accessed.

Civil Services Prelims: Sanskrit Literature: Books and Authors Bank

2005-10-10T05:37:00.000-07:00

On the link, there is an article from the Banglapedia on Sanskrit literature. It is a very detailed article on the history of Sanskrit as a language in India and different literature and research on it from the earliest time, that is from the Vedic times to present day. It is written from the perspective of Bangladesh scholars. However, the chronological evaluation of the development of the Sanskrit is quite prefect. Different written works in Sanskrit are discussed as per the chronological manner. Hence, it turns up a very good article on the history of Sanskrit literature. My study of history of Sanskrit literature is based on Wonder That Was of India by A. L. Basham. I have not found even a single fact in conflict with the presentation given by A. L. Bhasam, the Australian Sanskrit Scholar who had spent his time Calcutta before compeleting his work.

In addition to that, the essay includes number of such books and authors which are not found mentioned in Wonder That Was India.

Sitemeter Talks

2005-10-09T07:57:00.000-07:00

Yes, the sitemeter talks.

I am not a marketing expert or an advertising expert. But I feel that I have been able to work like a true marketer and an advertiser.

My experiment with blogs started somewhere in February 2005. I got the idea, vision, motive and confidence from the discussions on educationforum.ipbhost.com. I knew about the blogs before that. As I do not have knowledge about computers and working of internet, I did not give much attention to the concept of blogging. However, the people of education forum in their e-help and e-learning section were aggressively talking about using web sites and blogs for teaching purpose. It was there that I was made to think seriously and try my hand at putting up on the web my professional achievements. Finally, in the month of February, I was able to locate the Blogger.com and pressed their three step buttons. I learned that I could do that. However, they immediately asked me to make some entries, and I developed sumir-history and I got my first address on the web as www.sumir-history.blogspot.com. If I remember it right, it was February 14 or February 18, 2005 when this thing happened. (Well, it can be checked from the records on blogger.com itself.)

After that I stopped for two days. I thought and thought over my new discovery. I was really excited and wanted to use it as a teaching tool in my job. I did not have any idea how I would reach my students and what would I put in to use it as a tool for my teaching. Gradually I developed a picture about what actually I would do. In the meantime, I just posted one posting. I added some of my already written and published views. I borrowed them from my Email enrollment with H-Asia of H-Net. Somewhere, I thought that my readings and writings could be useful for civil services aspirants and UGC NET applicants. Therefore, before I had made my blogs for teaching purpose, I created three more accounts after browsing through the contents of Blog Knowledge links on the blogger.com. I had written manuscripts for TATA McGrow Hill which they had refused to accept after having encouraged me for sometime. I knew that I had a good idea behind that manuscript and I posted already written some material on civil services blog.

In the meantime, all my attention was diverted to the working of blogs. It was summer holidays in the university. Earlier I used to read some books in those days or write some material for my lectures or visit places. But I spent those days on blogging. I started visiting other blogs and looked into the contents. I was definitely impressed by the appearances of many blogs and envied those who had developed their blogs nicely. One thing which always increased my jealousy was sighting a meter wherein it was showed that how many hits that blog had received. Some how, I learned from the Blog Knowledge of Blogger.com that it was an add-on feature which I could also use. By that time, I had also developed my undergraduate and postgraduate blogs with a plan how to use them as my teaching tools. I got the site meters in all my blogs. It also gave me some confidence in fiddling with the template and HTML. Here again, education forum became handy. They had the suggestions and lessons for learning HTML. I did not learn whole of HTML. However, I had learned how to check the HTML page, what was css and what does HTML and body code or tags do.

I had desired that my first blog should have become popular. But, I soon learned that it was my civil services blog which was receiving hits. It was during those days that I also managed to register for the Adsense feature in my blogs. I had learned about the HTML codes and I had become confident and I was able to implant them nicely because I could read and locate the tags. The Adsense account also gave me reports that where the people were visiting me.

In those days, that was in the month of April and May 2005, the sitemeter was not all that elaborate as it is today. I think the person who is looking after it, is David. He is a true professional because if you email him, be sure, that you will get back a reply. However, the site meter contents showed me about the referring URLs and also the search terms which were used in search engines which had directed the net surfing people to my site.

It was May 13, 2005, when the civil services result was announced. Suddenly, the rush to my civil services blog increased. I checked into my site meter for civil services. I found that most of the visitor had visited me to check the result. I immediately visited the UPSC site and implanted the desired link on my site. On May 15, 2005, the prelim test took place. From May 16, 2005, the hits on my site suddenly increased. I checked into the site meter. I found that most of the visitors who visited me were seeking the answers to civil services prelims paper. As my address was civilservices-prelims.blogspot.com, the search engines were locating my site for the search query.

One of my relatives had cleared the civil services in the already announced result of the Civil services. I phoned him and asked me to procure the papers of Civil services especially of history and also of general studies. I was able to procure general studies papers for me. The paper reached me on May 23, 2005 and I started posting the questions from May 25, 2005 onwards. On May 25, 2005, the total hits to my generalstudiesupsc.blogspot.com were hardly 10. All those visits were made by me. By June 4, 2005, I had solved whole of the paper and posted it on the blog. I had posted some wrong answers. But the demand of the question and answer to them was so great that people joined in to correct the answers. Here, one engineer, Tripathi really played a big role. By June 10, 2005 the total hit to my General Studies blog had crossed three hundred.

Now after seven months, the total hits on civil service blog and general studies blog have crossed 1000 hits for each blog. On the other hand, the visits to other blogs which I cherished that they should have become more popular, have not crossed even 500 hits each. I was highly disappointed when I found that my students, who are so eager to show off their latest and costly gadgets, did not visit the blogs whereas I have given enough useful material on them. It was only when I posted their lecture statement on my blog that they started visiting the blog. But, that was not my aim. I wanted to use the blog as a teaching tool and to improve my own learning by exploring the net for information and then using that information on my blog to increase my knowledge and that of my students.

In between, I have stopped looking into the sitemeters. But, the onsite meter on civil services is showing that it is still receiving rush. I have stopped posting new material on it. But it has enough content on it that it is attracting the visitors. Now when the total count has suddenly crossed 1100 on civil services, I visited the site meter reports. I was astonished to see the people and their queries with which they had visited me. It really amused me. They were not only from India but from virtually all the continents except Africa. The maximum numbers are from America and Canada. Some of the details even fascinate me. There are many people in America who are interested in Civil services examination of India. Who are they? Secondly, many of them are interested in Ancient India. I have made a list of the query phrases. It has given me a great boost to work further on blogs.

Now two things come out of my experience of blogging for the last seven months.

First, if the contents of your blogs have some stuff in it, then you will definitely get the hits.

Secondly, You must know what actually is in demand. In case of general studies blog, the answers to the latest question paper was in demand. I learned about it from the site meter. I provided the material. My material was not correct. Even then I received the visitors and gradually appreciation also. Some of the people prefer to email you instead of placing the comments. Or they do not get the idea that they can reach the blogger by placing comment below the post. But they are prompted enough to search for the email address or email icon and send a message to you.

The second observation is more important. In order to remain popular, you must know what actually the seeker wants to know. If you have the right material and knowledge then provide it. You will start getting the visits. But, before that, you must know that what they want to know. You must know what is being sought out there. Here, site meter has really become very handy.

Why Was Gandhi Not Given Nobel Prize?

2005-10-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

"He is undoubtedly a good, noble and ascetic person - a prominent man who is deservedly honoured and loved by the masses of India...(But) sharp turns in his policies, which can hardly be satisfactorily explained by his followers. He is a freedom fighter and a dictator, an idealist and a nationalist. He is frequently a Christ, but then, suddenly, an ordinary politician," Professor Jacob Worm-Müller, 1937.

The above quotation is of a committee's advisor of Nobel Prize Norwegian committee, Professor Jacob Worm-Müller, who wrote a report on Gandhi in 1937 when his name was nominated for the Nobel peace prize. This is a quotation taken from a report which has appeared in Times of India dated October 8, 2005 at 12.10. It may appear in Print on October 9, 2005.

My main motive to bring this post here is not to discuss Gandhi and his contribution or the working of the Norwegian committee for deciding Nobel prize. It is one of the aim of this blog to collect the quotations of historic personalities and similar judgements on Historic personalities and historic events.

I have not brought any such post as yet and this turns out be the first one. Why have I picked up this quotation? Why have this very words attracted my attention?

Well this is another question. I have not studied Gandhi in detail. However, being a student of history and teacher, I have been studying Indian history. It is the result of the study of history, that I have spoken a number of times during my lectures that Gandhi has been presented out of proportion in the history of India. I have been studying about Surender Nath Banerjee, Gopal Krishan Gohkle, Bal Ganghadhar Tilak, Feroze Shah Mehta, Subash Chander Bose, the activities of Hindustan Revolutionary Party and many others. I have studied the role of different people and felt that they were the people with a vision and personality and Gandhi was one among them. However, there is so much talk about Gandhi and he is being studied as an institution. I have been giving a justification for that. I say that as it was the Congress party which came to power after the independence and therefore, the party in power projected the history overshadowing the achievements of other people in order to leave impression about its own achievements in making and raising of India. It was in course of such an attempt, the party in power had a mascot which it could project. Therefore, Gandhi became so important. Definitely, it had given rise to the controversry between Tara Chand and his work "Freedom Struggle" versus R. C. Majumdar and his writings with Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan series work.

Did the same government not present an apology when they bestowed upon Subash Chander Bose the Bharat Ratna? Who were the people who denied him such recognition for such long time and why?

I am not speaking against Gandhi. I have read only one book by Gandhi and that was My Experiment with Truth. When I read that book, (I have never completed its reading), I had also read "The Discovery of India" by Jwahar Lal Nehru. I have read the whole book. I am so much impressed by the writing ability of Nehru that he infatuates me. However, my study has remained confined to 1947. I have not studied beyond 1947. On the other hand, I have fully read the book by Sumit Sarkar, "Modern India 1885-1947". I have read with great attention and interest those pages in which Sumit Sarkar had studied the issue that Gandhi was a myth or what was the cause of the popularity of Gandhi. He had discussed this issue that how far it was true that the general public had a true perception of Gandhi. Somewhere he was accepted as a representative of Viceroy and on the other hand a special officer directly appointed by Queen of England who was even over and above the Viceroy. I have also studied the STS strategy of Gandhi as presented by Bipin Chandar. From those reading, I have acquired this confidence to say what I have been saying in my lectures. Now, here, I have found another quotation which was given somewhere in 1937. This quotation also gives the impression which Sumit Sarkar had tried to elaborate.

It is not an issue here that Gandhi could not be praised over and above all. I believe that he was the only person among Indians, who had the charisma and influence, and only he could have negotiated with person in authority at that time. No body had acquired the stature and vision that Gandhi possessed at that time. The country needed a leader and he was the person who could fulfill their need.

Why was then, Gandhi killed? Without going into different interpretations and generalizations, if we take the historic causes, then it was that, at that time of partition and after the partition had materialized, he was towing a liberal line towards Pakistan. He was creating an opinion about dealing with Pakistan on softer lines. He was in favour of giving the compensation which was being demanded by Pakistan but refused by the authorities which had taken over the responsibilities of the governance. The general public was pained by the massacre and communal riots that had created an environment, in which, the fundamentalists did not like his soft approach to Pakistan. They were not ready to accept the division. Gandhi, a politician and apostle of peace knew better than they did. The fundamentalists were not ready to accept a reality that Pakistan had become a reality. They were not against Islam or the Muslim population that has remained in India because their heart is in India and they are true Indians. The fundamentalists were against the political stance which Gandhi had taken on the issue of divisions of assets when the rest of nation was watching with dismay the sufferings of the refugees and riot effect Indians which included both Muslims and Hindus.

This had raised the question that why did Gandhi not taken this stand during the All Party Conference of 1928? Does this mean that it was only during the course of time, he evolved his doctrine of peace and modified his philosophy of Ahimsa after 1928? Did the Poona Pact frame his doctrine of peace? But that is not true. His doctrine and philosophy of Ahimsa might have undergone a variation but it was there well in place when he first visited Champaran in 1915. No doubt, the fundamentalists were wrong and Gandhi approach was right. Now if we go by the argument of the fundamentalist of that time, then they should also treat Atal Bihari Vajpayee playing Gandhi while dealing with Nawaz Sarif with their stiff dealings. In the recent days, the fundamentalists were again infuriated when L. K. Advani, playing a politician, called Jinnah a secularist. However, the issue of presenting and interpretation in history still demands some different approach. India needs a history written for the Indian nation. In that, a large number of people had also played a role which has not been rightly highlighted but the image of Gandhi is being created to such a proportion that their existence is being overshadowed and overlooked, should be brought before the country. The above mentioned quotation directs the attention to that fact, that the perception about Gandhi at that time, that is during 1930s was not such that he was the only leader. There were doubts about his overall role. When such doubts are expressed then it also suggests that a person, who has tried to doubt, knows something else also. He, here Professor Jacob Worm-Müller, who might had at that time, read some reports about other Indian leaders, had felt that if Gandhi was to be praised and recognised for his peace role, then there were other people also who were giving meaning to the struggle for peace. However, who were they? Well, this again a question of debate. But it seems that an impression was carried that he was one of the freedom struggle fighter. The politics of those time, that was Gandhi versus Bose, might have been read and reflected upon the judgement of Jacob Worm-Müller. Gandhi for him was a politician fighting for his nation in the country of Buddha and Mahavira (Jacob Worm-Mülle might not have studied about Mahavira).

Factor of Eight and India

2005-10-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

Today, in the morning, India was shaken by an earthquake. The epicentre of the quake was in Muzzafrabad in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The date is October 8, 2005 or 8-10-2005. The total of the numerals in the date is 7. It is 8+10+2005; that is 8+1+7 and that is 16 and finally 7. They are two numbers i.e. 8 and 7 in that order.

On December 26, 2004, the southern shores of India was hit by Tsunami. Again the date was 2+6 equal to 8. In this case also that the date was 26+12+2004. It makes 8+3+6 and which adds up in the order to the total of 17 and finally 8.

On another date, that is January 26, 2002, Bhuj was visited by an earthquake. Again the total of the date was 8. The total of the numerals in the date was 26-01-2002. It adds to 8+1+4 and it makes 13 and finally 4.

In the coming days, the dates 17 October, 2005 and 26 October, 2005 will make the same total.

Another date, that was August 17, 1988 was another important date when Zia-ul-Haq, the then Military President of Pakistan died in an air crash.

Well there is no scientific basis to predict the natural calamities or historic events. However, such patterns do emerge. The numerologists may stand up and give justifications and patterns behind it. The astrologers may also join in. However, there are no ascertainable basis for such numbers and their correlation with events. You can not predict that when an earthquake emerge.

On the other hand, August 8, 1942 is considered as an important date in the freedom struggle of India when Quit India was announced. There are many scientists who were born on a date which added to the total of eight or the date was eight.

The issue of date eight had emerged when Tsunami visited. But if we take this argument further in the year 2006, eight will emerge number of times. In that case, 2006 would see many startling events. It is difficult to say whether they would be natural calamities or the historic events. But the factor of eight continues to reappear.

UGC Aspirants and Search Engines

2005-09-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

UGC NET HISTORY has remained a neglected blog.
For some days I had watched that the visits to this site had increased. I had not placed any major posting on this blog. It has remained neglected because I have plans to develop it on a later date. Secondly, I am working on a plan to first attract my students to my blogs and then to use blog as one of tool in teaching. While writing for undergraduate students, I may be writing on such topics which will cover the Indian history as well as World History. As far the Philosophy of History is concerned, I want to write some original essays on this topic on Sumir-history Blog and Review View Analysis blogs. Any how, I found that my UGC blog was receiving regular hits.

I have not checked the reports of sitemeters for some time. When I had placed the sitemeters on the blogs, I was always eager to know who visited my blogs. I spent lot of time on reading the sitemeters reports.

I have learned many things from reading the sitemeters. I learnt that what were the main search phrases of the visitors. That had given me many ideas to write the posts. I also learned about many search Engines. However, lately, I have discontinued watching the reports. The rush to some of my site had increased and I was hard pressed for time. There is a perennial problem of electricity cuts. I do not know how India Today has declared the Punjab as the most progressive state. I have not read the magazine at all because I can not relate it with the suffering which I am experiencing while living in Punjab.

I checked the site meter of the UGC blog. A very fascinating thing was observed. Nearly twenty recent visits to this site was reached through MSN search. Is MSN search becoming popular?

However, when I checked the referral url which took me to msn search engine, I did not find any major change in the research results of the MSN. It is same old type set up. Secondly, I am not able to use its preview section at all. I have found my visitors coming to my blogs from MSN preview.

It is my general observation that most of the users use google search or yahoo search. Yahoo search has tremendously improved in recent months. It seems that it is trying to give competition to googles. Even I have now shifted to yahoo. Just a day back, while getting Acrobat, the yahoo tool bar had been embed on my browser. First I thought of removing it but then I decided to maintain it for the time being.

On the other hand, I am getting infatuated by the search results of beta.previewseek.com. It is really a different material. I have started using its left hand side classification. It is more helpful then to check whole of the list as the search engines dish it out before you. It is definitely a more intelligent device.

The other important thing which I found about visitors to my UGC site is that they are from technical field and more concerned about clearing ugc cisr. I can understand why they are doing it. But their preference only for one particular engine really attracts and fascinate me. The visitors from Hyderabad were all MSN users.

Another visitor amused me more. He visited my site while seeking information for Rahon sword. The searcher, as per the sitemeter, is placed in America. He was also using msn search engine.

Somehow, I am made to conclude that the people who are in research field and students (because they have yet to clear ugc/csir eligibility in order to pursue their higher studies), they prefer MSN search engine. However, I have found google, yahoo and beta.previewseek.com as more effective tools. May they just place their desired term in IE address and the inbuild MSN search option find it for them.

Now, in coming breaks, I will check the reports of civil service blog as the visitors has suddenly increased and crossed 1000 mark.

Previewseek: A Search Engine

2005-08-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

Previewseek Limited is a privately held, UK based company.

It is based in London. The exact names of the owners and professionals are not given.
The Previewseek claims, "Our mission is to help ordinary people find exactly what they are looking for quickly, easily and efficiently." It is their claim that one does not have to visit number of search engines in order to check other available information for the answers sought for a question. It is further emphasised that their search engine is based on twenty years research and such technologies which are not yet tried by other people.

They consider google as their standard benchmark. They claim that they have an edge over it and set ahead than googles. This is their main selling point.

They have a point when they elaborate on the point that their search engine is better than google. No doubt, they paid due regards to google people. But when they talk about their good points, they are not bragging. However, after using it for a week, I may say, they are different, practically useful but as I have talked once about Kartoo.com, one has become so accustomed to google searches that he may turn back to google results also. For some time, even Yahoo searches have showed improved results. It seems that they have also added some thing into their device that one can use them also.

They also claim that their results include the searches of other search engines also. If I remember, there is another search engine which tells that which variable is given in a particular form on different search engines. However, their presentation is definitely a work of a professional.

The engine also gives you a picture of the web page on the left side. They call it is their discreet presentation or prescient feature. If I remember, it is also done on MSN. That is other thing, where it is now, I do not know. It has reverted back to its older form. MS has thirst only for getting money even for breathing while you are using their softwares. That is other thing, a person like me may ask Gates to pay me first in order to even remember that he is there.

On the whole, it is a good search engine. I am using it for some days by now. It was only then I desired to look in for the people who are running it. The remarks evoked some feelings which I am not able to express here. I had actually done it to record those feelings but a type of write up has come up.

I here acknowledge that I learnt about it from Chittah Vishav.

The site link to previewseek is http://beta.previewseek.com/

Achilles’ heel of intellectual world

2005-07-06T06:48:00.000-07:00

The scholars base their facts on assumptions. The whole of the intellectual world starts with an assumption that a given thing is a fact. The best example is mathematics. They begin with the assumption that there is a zero and there is a quantity which can be equated to one.

You change the assumption, the whole world of logic and reasons become redundant.

The truth remains exclusive just like the god.

The scholars begins with an assumption. He assumes that a given thing or proposition is a fact. Around that seed he builds a world of truth and realities.

It seems that every assumption, if it is taken as true, has the right to acquire life. A world can be built around that assumption. The world gives the impression that it is true and final.

You change the assumption, the whole world created around the earlier assumption will crumble down as a house of cards.

The scientific methodology helps us to ascertain the veracity of a fact. However, it is an assumption which helps us to define any experiment. It is again a set of assumptions which are used to classify and derive conclusions from the data gathered from the experiment. It is again an assumption when the conclusion is used to pass the verdict on the thesis.

One thesis is proved to be true at a one point of time. But soon a counter fact emerge and dismantle the veracity of that thesis. If that thesis was true at a given point of time then how it has happened that it is proved wrong at other point of time. There is only one reason and that it is that the intellectual world begins from an assumption. The time changes, the assumption changes and thus the conclusion changes. Here is Hegel went wrong. He gives a rule. But if you start questioning that why every thesis would be followed by antithesis, then before jumping to the argument that it the gradual revelation of the idea, try to use the paradigm that it was the assumption which was changed. The assumption can change with time, it can change with place, it can also change with the circumstances which is again the function of time. In Shantiparva of Mahabharta, Bhimshma Pitmaha had put it is more effectively. He explained to Arjuna that whatsoever is dharma today will become Adharma tomorrow. The Adharma of today will become Dharma of tomorrow. The change take place with time, place and circumstances. Similarly, the same process and mechanism is explained in the last chapter of the Tulsi Ramayana. It is explained through Shakbhushundi, a crow.

Here again the question arises, that it is being explained as an ordained mechanism. It also try to same that it is a law that change would take place in a particular pattern. But, if we break ourselves from this type of understanding and try to question that if it happens like that, then why does it happen in that manner? It will bring you to the point where you may be compelled to ask that what actually goes in your thinking process when you identify a fact, or an information or a thesis as true. You call it hypothesis before declaring it as a thesis. It is a process by which the brain identify an assumption and then take that assumption as a thing or as an assertion. Then begins all the play of intellectual exercise.

Take any example of adopting a given fixed criteria with some variables. Now, through logic you can deduce a world of intellectual conclusions. But then declare that the starting premises was mere an assumption, you may find that all the derivations were mere exercise in mental imageries. The best example is accepting a god. For a second, do not identify god either with Christ, or Allah, or any symbol of god. Do not identify it with non descriptive existence or "Onkara" or the ultimate. Just try to feel and understand that it is an assumption. You will soon find, that whole of the world works like that. The best example of this exercise which have given results is mathematics. The quantification of any force, or anything thing, or even time, is an assumption. But try to see. Can you do without them now in this scientific world.

Further, the truth exists exclusive of your understanding of the truth. You can understand English. You may make out sense out of whatsoever is written up to this point. The same thing can be said in Chinese, in Arabic and Sanskrit. It can be said in Latin and Greek. But if they are used to convey whatsoever is said here in English, you would not able to understand anything. But the understanding can be conveyed to you in the language in which you can communicate. In India, many people know Hindi. But they do not know Sanskrit. Same thing can be said in Sanskrit. But a common man will not be able to make any sense out of it. Tell the common man the same thing in Hindi, he would understand what is being said here. Therefore, it means, that fact is exclusive of language.

For the same arrangement, it can be said, that truth remains as it is. Whatsoever, you consider as true is merely your assumption. Some assumptions help you to live a time with seemingly fruitful activity. But that does not mean that you actually know the truth. The truth remain separate from you assumption. It is only that your assumptions present a seemingly workable paradigm. But soon you realize that there is a shortcoming in your understanding. You do not say that your assumption was faulty. You would say that you have not understood the truth in the right form. There are some more contours of the truth which you have discovered now therefore, what you understand earlier was a half truth. This is how the world of intellect works. As far as the successes and achievements are concerned, they are mere mirage. The ultimate truth remain untouched and it keep on goading you to reach it but you never reach there. You can not get the truth. Whatsoever is with you is an assumption, which you take as true. That is not true. But you believe that it so. You have identified a method of enquiry which you call scientific enquiry. It is again an assumption. But it has shown some results. But it is not the ultimate way of learning the truth. The main lacuna is that it is based on assumption. It is some thing which Preto has said and explained. This is how the intellectual world lives. No doubt, the Indian Rishis were true and right, when they said, that wait for the intuition to receive the truth. That seems to be the only way. But again, it raises the same question and that it is, is it not an assumption?

My photo

2005-06-26T05:06:00.000-07:00

Is it a News for ME?

2005-06-17T13:19:00.002-07:00

Me and Me.

I am getting dreamy and falling into a reverie.

There is a news for bloggers from the Sarkar. HEEE HEEE.

India government is thinking about e intelligence and doing e thinking.

My dear Sarkar, Kindly first ensure regular supply of electricity and pot and pond less roads. At least in Punjab they are not there since Ravi Sidhu is behind bars.

A news item is HERE.

The most marvellous thing is that this news item has been found on daily reporting on Blogger Buzz. Hey, Do you know, you sitting there on other side of the Atlantic (or the pacific, which ever way you have placed your desk),. I am not sure to complete writing this because I do not know when the electricity would go off.

Yesterday, I remained awake the whole night. The electricity men had slept without attending their duties and I was able to blog and do work on my computer.

I was able to do three things.

First I was able to record some pages which I have been writing when there was no electricity.

Secondly, I was able to post a tabulation in HTML under heading "A Trial" on one of my inactive blog. I do not know much about HTML. But I am sure, if someone look at the work, he would definitely exclaim, "Man you have done a hell of a job."

Thirdly, I was able to post in Hindi. There is so much talk about promoting Hindi. I am in the middle of the Book, British Paramountancy and Indian Renaissance. In the first three chapters, there is discussion on the English in colonial India. There is another essay which I have downloaded from net titled "A dubious Qoutation". I desire to pass a comment on that. The book that I have mentioned is written by a nationalist historian Dr. R. C. Majumdar. It is worth reading. It is astonishing to learn the detail about how English was introduced in India. Then the dichotomy will be revealed. Then one can see how dubious are the talks and desires of the people who want to promote the national language and how they have failed in nurturing sincere desires. Is it also a part of Apadadharma? Well, what PaP can be there when Ganga is following?

The Alchemy of Desire

2005-06-04T00:58:00.000-07:00

The address of the web site of Tarun Tejpal the author of The Alchemy of Desire is as follows:

Site address: http://www.taruntejpal.com/default.htm

The Indian edition of this book costs Rs. 500/-

I went to buy it but returned buying some other books.

The author seems to have launched his site for promoting his book. However, in the biography link, he has given his other writeups also. It is good to have this site because when Tehlka was in news, being over conscious, I abstained from accessing it. Later when I tried to open, it did not download. Here, this site just appears without efforts.

Another section section contain the comment of the general readers which include leading names from the world of art, cinema, intellectual world and others.

(Category: Resources on Net)

nct-Griffith

2005-05-28T23:15:00.000-07:00

nct-Griffith

Just for general interest. Requires earliest review.

Are You Ready

2005-05-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

(Refer here to A New Discovery – A relieving letter, Friday, December 08, 2000 5:05:54 AM.)

It is the only real truth. You say your thing forcefully. You make your own virtues. You free yourself from the set of values which the society is professing. You try to discern the real set of values. They are based on opportunism.

I still believe in the existence of god. My god is not what the set of values the society profess. My god is a center of power which is there to help you and work for you. Rather you are here to use him. Just use him. You act like Dr. Fastus. You god is not a satin. He is god. He will show the right path. He is not bound by the values as professed by the society. He helps those who help themselves. He is having his own way of rewarding. He does not evaluate you as per the standards of the society. If you try to be humble it is not that you do it to appease the god. You act in that manner only to appease the society. If you want to appease the god then do that what the people whose names are recorded in history had done. Just achieve whatsoever you want to achieve.

Demand from the god. Sit and ask for his help and then start working. He would help you. He is the real creator. He is the real doer. Be his medium. Be his machine. Do not think much. Have faith in Him. He knows all. He is just waiting for you to identify him. He does not reveal himself in scriptures. He reveals himself directly to the seeker. The books written about the saints are written by men. Nanak did not speak to appease the people. He was rather chiding the people. Did Chaitanya care what the people were saying about him? People call such people as mad. They call Hitler an oppressor. They praise Mahatma Gandhi. But try to see the clippings. What message do they give? Was not Nehru as great as Gandhi was? People would like to call Mahatma Gandhi a saint but not Nehru. The simple soldier who dies on the border is not the saint but Gandhi is. This is what the fact is. Be a real soldier. Soldier dies may be for his bread or his nation. He is called a martyr. He is not called a saint. So do not think much what the scriptures say. Believe in yourself. Believe it that you have discovered the real truth. Achieve the uncharted success. Buddha claims to have learned about the real truth. Mahavira claimed to have learned about the real truth. But in what form do you find their followers. The Jains are rich. What actually do they do? They are sought not because they are the followers of Jainism but because of their money. Where are the Buddhists? They are admired because they had the esoteric powers. What about Tibet? Is Buddha not helping them? Is Shangila of no help to them?

Keep on reading more and more history. Just do not remain confined to Indian history. Learn about the history of other nations and other people. Learn about other subjects also.

Develop the idea given in this write up. Do not get worried my what is happening between you and them. Just believe in yourself. ---------------------------------------- (Personal lines omitted). Why do you wait that God would do the justice? ------------------ (Personal Lines omitted). Do you see that schemer? It seems that he also have the similar thoughts. It is why that when he has to attend to his agenda he justifies his entire act in the name of necessity.

Why do you try the unimaginable today? Be strict with your self also. ARE YOU READY?
____
Old Bag

Expression on History reading. Wednesday, July 11, 2001

2005-05-19T22:07:00.000-07:00

I read about Peter of Russia from Fisher. What is written on him? It was a story of a man who did not have virtue. He had the courage. He lived to kill.

What actually is recorded in history? it is always similar type of records. They are the records of the men who had invaded, oppressed killed and ravaged. They are admired even for their inhuman acts. They are shown to have brought civilization towards perfection.

What is happening even today? There are rich and poor people. There are oppressed and oppressors. The system of government virtually suffocates. It is not for the benefit of the man. It is just providing a situation in which you can live for the next day. If you want to achieve something you should be oppressive, scheming and lucky. If you are not lucky then you just cry because of the pain. Riots take place. People are killed. A man with money ride over you. People try to acquire power not because they have divine origin but it is useful to be in power. The human beings keep on living under the mirage of living a better tomorrow. The saints fool you. They say that god is there so be nice.
____
Old Bag

Thoughtless Me Or HE

2005-05-19T21:53:00.000-07:00

Inspite of the earlier experiences, the man is prone to repeat his mistakes. It is mark of some a major flaw in the personality of the person. The main reasons of such causes are his earlier training and experiences especially form his childhood years. When the man becomes mature, he realises and discovers the flaws but he finds it difficult to overcome them.

The solution to his problems can only be found in the strict discipline.

Other way out is stoic approach to one own self.

The third approach is the psychological approach.

In any case, only his own will power can provide the protection from the maladies from which the man is suffering. The question of will power is bit mystic in nature. It takes one to the question of God. God worship then becomes one more solution. The god affairs give the hint of delays. It does not result into immediate result and rather it works with lot of procrastination, which rather increase the problem of the man.

In defence of God, it can be said that the creator does not go against his own creation. The laws, which he had made, he permits them to work and does not interfere in them. If the person is suffering from the maladies, it is he who is to blame.

But the person would like to ask the question, that first of all why he was not informed of the liabilities of the action on his part. He would like to argue that if he was doing any thing as per the law of the nature and then why was there no caution. Why was he not told about the language by which he could judge and understand the liabilities? Why are the remedies so difficult? Why are the remedies not readily made available to him? All these questions have strength and validity.

It seems that the human existence is a punishment. In it, there is chance of partiality. Some of the people get the access to the remedies and easily get themselves absolved of their liabilities and others are intentionally made to suffer. Why does every one not get the food? Why minimum required facilities are not available to every one? Why am I better than him but worst than him? It seems that even the God is not fully perfect.

____
Old Bag

Walking Theories

2005-05-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

For some days I have been again going for walk. It is a good experience. On the walk I am getting the mystic thoughts once again. I had been passing through the phase of acute procrastination. It was as a remedy that I had started the walk again. On the walk I am again getting the thoughts which I call the mystic thoughts.

I ponder upon the real nature of life. I try to understand the real nature of soul and the human existence. During the internal discourse I get the new vision this time. I am able to conclude that all the confusion about the validity of the soul and spirituality is the result of the confusion of the brain or the carnal existence. That confusion is normal feature of the carnal existence. There is existence of soul and all the souls are equal. Those who seem to be totally manipulative, abusive and lecherous are just responding to the confusions of the carnal existence. They all suffer from the inner fight of soul and the human existence.

The theory of this confusion is based on other theory. The main theory is that whatsoever has its beginning in birth, it will ultimately perish. The thing which is born is always in flux. As it is said in Buddhism that you are different from what you were a second before. Anything which is passing through this existence of birth and death, will suffer the confusion. That which is born, marches strongly towards its end. Therefore, whatever is true for it for this second, it does not remain true with the next second. Buddha said to Ananda, "See what is here in my hand is true. The leaves which are lying on the ground were true. The leaves on the tree are true. But our perception of truth is confined only to those leaves which are in our hand. Hence, anything which is flux, it bound to change and this change is cause of confusion.

Another theory which I have developed during the internal discourse is that the nature is all a result of soul. The man’s soul and the soul of nature are at perennial competition with each other. The nature tries to impose her forces on the carnal existence which is her creation. The soul which gives life try to use the time of her existence in the carnal form and is given the task to become stronger than the soul of the nature. The scientists try to overcome the shortcomings of the nature or try to understand the laws of nature in order to settle their confusion. In the process they learn about the weakness in their understanding. They are trying to get the material knowledge but it is the silent existence in them which is most benefited from the efforts of the brain which again is a carnal and perishable existence. When the scientist dies, he is not able to enjoy the fruits of his discoveries. It is his successors who are benefited from the knowledge which he had gathered from the womb of nature. It is wrong to say that he had lost all when he dies. Actually, it his soul which is benefited from his efforts. The other souls try to get the benefit from the knowledge which he leaves behind for the posterity.

With in few years we are going to gather so much knowledge about the nature that no one man can in his life time be able to learn whole of the knowledge which the humanity is able to gather through her scientific procedures. Does that mean that after some time we will be not able to benefited from the knowledge gather from science. No it is not true. It is the soul which is benefited from the knowledge and when that soul again come back to the earth it will be in a position to enjoy that knowledge. Actually the soul of the nature is the standard for the soul living in carnal existences to achieve.
____
Old Bag

It is better not to seek some answers

2005-05-19T07:19:00.000-07:00

Such questions should never be asked answer to which might destroy some existing setup. Was the creation of Pakistan justified? Now if the answer to such question is negative, then what will be the result? Pakistan is in existence for fifty two years by now. They had raised such people who are there because Pakistan is there. Then should one avoid asking this question? The answer to the first question can be big no. But should the question still be asked? The answer to the preceding question is yes. Today if some answer negates the existence of any setup, then we are enough mature to decide the fate of the existence of the existing structure in fruitful manner. If the answer to the question of the justification of the Pakistan is negative, then the question will be to give a justification to the present setup of Pakistan. But then, numerous questions will also emerge which will defy any answer. However, even then answer should be sought to such questions answer to which may destroy the present structure.

Should a husband or a wife inquire about the extramarital relations of their spouses? In this case, answer can be negative. It is question of individual preferences. A person may digest a possibility of extramarital relation of his or her spouse, but not everyone should be expected to behave in the similar manner. In that case, a particular solution is expected. If that solution is expected, then some one say, that if you are going to accept the extramarital relation of your spouse then where is the question of inquiring about the possibility of the existence of extramarital relation of your spouse. Then the question and possibility will rise to give the justification to the concept of the extramarital relation. The argument will be sought from the antiquity. Hence, it is better not to learn about such questions and their answers, which may destroy the existence of the present setup.

No doubt, If you dislike duality and seek truth, then sometime the truth hurts.
_________
Category: OLD BAG

Assumption is the Real Truth

2005-05-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

I am convinced of the existence of something near to soul. This is the only level to which I have reached. I have the impression that there is further place to go over but I am not just qualified to reach there. Why do I believe in soul? The conclusion is based on the circumstantial evidences, experiences in spiritualism, and the logic. The logic worked on the bases of assumption. My faith in the existence of soul is also logical hence, based on assumption. Those who refute to accept the existence of soul, they also base their conclusion on assumption. You change the selection of your assumption and you may be atheist or theist on the same hand.
_________
Category: OLD BAG

We Have Defined HIM Wrongly

2005-05-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

We have wrong definition of god with us. This had lead to confusion. The idea arose after reading the comment of an earthquake victim in Taiwan. He said that why the god had punished the Taiwan people. If we accept that it was the act of God to punish the Taiwanese, then we find God as some thing of an oppressor. However, it is not so. We are carrying our own image of God. We are defining him from out of our own angle and logic. He has bigger designs. He has his own logic. He does not have the same value system, which we propagate and try to attach to the name of God. His ways are beyond our understanding. It is from him that we seek our property and wealth. If the act of nature destroy that prosperity and wealth we complaint against the wrong methods of God. What will we do after wards? We again pray to god to give us the more prosperity and wealth. However, before that we complaint that he had snatched it from us. Then we seek back our property from him. If we get it back, we thank him. If we do not get it back, we can not do anything. The death takes place and we go to the next stage, which give us new aspirations and new aims.

Are we really sure we go to the next stage? It is what we are struggling with. We have the feeling of the existence of god. We do not know the real plans of the God. We do not know that he works with his own logic. We may go next stage or we just end with this life. It is not clear.

Now it was same when Tsunami took place.
_________
Category: OLD BAG

When God Turns His Back on You

2005-05-19T06:48:00.000-07:00

God has given the time and opportunities. Every opportunity requires the time to accomplish before it is completed. If you are not able to judge the opportunity, you loose it. If you try to postpone its completion, it is lost to you. If you do not perform the job or allocate the time the moment you was able to learn about it, then the time which god had allocated for it passed away. If you try to complete it some other time, you are cutting into time of some other job or trying to take the time of some other job. In this manner, you lose. You also create hurdles in the path and designs of the god. God gave you birth with special purpose for you. You failed to perform that role which god had allocated for you. God gets disinterested in you and switch over to other options or the alternative options, which he had made. It is why that some one had said that the lucky are those person who were at the right place at the right time. If you did not succeed and found some worthless man on the successful position, then it is not that god had done some wrong thing or the calculation, but it was default on the part of the person in whom he had reposed faith.

If you are not able to perform the job, it is because you had defaulted in allocating the right time to the different opportunities and frittered away the time. Now when you learned that you had remained behind, you suffer the frustration. For this, you should pray to god to take you again in his important design. When you have learned this secret then now you should remain very conscious.
_________
Category: OLD BAG

Why did I not make it to IAS

2005-05-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

Prefatory Note: It is an edited form of letter to one of my friend. He has become my friend through my blog at civilservices-prelims.blogspot.com. He wrote me a letter to which I gave a reply and that is reproduced below at the end of this note.

As the motive of this blog is personal aggrandizement and ego satisfaction, I am reproducing that letter below just because somewhere it brings out those features of personality traits which can be called the real grit and mettel in me. I considered this letter a personal thing and had thought of writing another post for civilservices-prelims.blogspot.com/ based on the contents of this letter. I did not want to post it at all as I wanted to keep it between me and my friend. However, yesterday, I visited one of my acquaintances, who had cleared civil services 2004. While we were rejoicing in his success, his friend also arrived who had also taken examination along with him. He had also faced the interview. His name has not appeared in the final list. He was very dejected.

I really felt pain for that person, who is a medical practitioner, when I learnt that it was his fourth and the last chance. He had appeared for the interview for the third time. It was in itself an achievement.

The father of the successful candidate tried to console the doctor. But the doctor became suddenly very melancholic and sad. He was cursing his stars. He recollected, that how at the time of his selection to MBBS also, he suffered like that. He remembered that during last two chances also he had missed by couple of marks. He said that he might have suffered due to some lesser score in one of the elective paper and he was also not very enthusiastic about the interview as he said that it had not gone well.

When he was repenting like that, suddenly I felt that these were the very feelings which I had suffered when I failed. The very reasons, the cursing of his stars, the previous failures have reflected on his performance. It was similar feelings when I suffered just two months before the Mains which had destroyed my chances.

There are many reasons when you do not achieve success. But, there are many factors which are in your hand and you fail to manage them well and you fail. His melancholic mood, his sadness, his negative talks were such which prompted me that I should place these feelings on blogs. It is meant for civilservices-prelims.blogspot.com/ but it is something mere personal talk. Therefore, I am putting here and will give link on civilservices-prelims.blogspot.com/. It is another aspect which matters in ensuring your success. Apart from doing hard work by preparing different topics of the elective subject and showing persistency in your preparations, the civil services aspirants should also be very particular in disciplining their emotional life. It is also part of organising and planning for the success. There letter which I am reproducing below, was written when the person to whom it was addressed just showed nerves around April 17, 2005, nearly a month before the day of examination. Now when General Studies paper was bit tough this years, such type of mental phases could have become a big hindrance in achieving success.

Hence, apart from preparing for the syllabus, One should also discipline his mood and mental states. That is must. I would like to call it:

Emotion Management : A Key to Success

Anyhow I am reproducing the letter below.

The Letter:

Your letter always remained in my mind and while walking, driving or taking food, I kept on thinking about the contents of a letter to you.

The D Day is approaching and you may also be hard pressed for the time but I wish that you must go through this letter.

First of all the main query:
I clearly remember that I have attempted 98 correct answers in history when I last cleared Prelims. There was enough time for the elective subject. I remember that after answering 98 questions at the very first reading, I had marked the answers there and then when I read them. I was left with lot of time. There was full clarity and movement I read it, I just looked for the right option.

After completing them, I again read the remaining questions, and believe me, I remembered that I did not know the answers to nearly eight of the questions. There were five such questions about which I did not have any idea. I left them and marked only 115 questions. After coming out of the examination hall, when I checked them, I was sure that my 108 questions were correct. In Punjab, one Mr. Vinod Sharma in Patiala is quite popular for coaching for civil services. I visited him and he identified that I had marked 112 correct answer. I remember that I had made marks on those question which I have tried after answering the first 98 question. Vinod Sharma remarked that 92 correct was safe and assured me that I should better start preparing for the mains as I was sure to clear the prelims if I am having 112 correct answer.

In case of general studies, I remembered that , that I have marked 105 correct answers. You do not get time during the examination of General studies to have a spot analysis of the GS paper. Remember that. If this your second attempt, then I hope you know that what I am saying. On the whole, as per Vinod Sharma, I had marked 125 correct answer. I remember that there were mere guess work on the remaining 45 questions and I did not have any clear idea about the questions. I just marked them after making qualified quess.
This much about the performance.

The Method of Marking:
I believe that I must talk about how to mark answers in the examination hall.

I had adopted a particular plan. I used to read the questions on one page and placed a mark against the correct answer without marking it on the OMR answer Sheet. The invigilator earlier used to object to it but now when you are allowed to take back the question papers, I think, if any invigilator stop you from doing it, then ignore it. Once I was highly obstructed by one invigilator for doing that. I do not know any guidelines about it but I think there is no objection by the Commission if you place some marks on the question paper.

After I read one page, I used to mark the OMR sheet. There are usually five to six questions on one page. This is a useful way of doing it.
Remember, In case of General studies, you are not able to complete the whole paper if you read the whole question paper. Just read one page. Identify the right option and then mark OMR. Do not adopt to mark one question at a time. It takes more time. Secondly, It can became a cause of wrong marking. This thing had happened with me. You want to mark an answer to question no 15 but there in stressful condition, You may mark it on 45. It happens. Be careful about such things. If you adopt marking a group of questions then such a possibility is minimised. If you have some better idea, then share it with me.

Now about the nerves:
Now this another major problem. I am sure it happens with all the candidates and the candidate who will top in 2006 must be undergoing the same mental state. That is other thing, that after getting success you may throw air around you and say anything about your confidence. You quote many phrases on success here but the fact is, the fear, the fear of loosing is the main characteristic of human life. It is there with every one.
Now let me start on different lines. You know that I am not an IAS. I tried and I failed. I succeeded to write mains but I failed. I failed after reaching the final post. Why did I fai?

I can give many justifications for that but the fact is, I am not an IAS. I may keep on repenting and finding faults for giving justifications, but it me only who suffers. It does not effect body at all. I have to just live with it.

But I must face it and learn that where it went wrong.
Now nearly ten years have passed and I am mature to face some shortcomings in me. The first shortcoming which I have identified is that I become nervous. Now that is the shortcoming. Now today, when I share this pain with you, I can not do anything about it. This pain will remain there. There was nobody around me to share my jitteriness at that time. You have shared it with me but there was no one there near me at that time. So, it is the major culprit. Do not say that I am jittery. You are stressed. Stress should be there. It helps to bring out the potential in you. The way you manage this stress and continue to work as per the plans and have faith in whatsoever you are doing, all such things will decide your success.

I still remember that when I was preparing for the mains, the floods came in Patiala where I had gone to prepare for mains. It took away nearly a week away from me. I shifted back to my native place in Jalandhar in the month of September. Something happened in my family (something personal) which pushed me into a gloomy mood. I remember that I did not study whole of October. I started somewhere again in November. I obtained 937 marks. I obtained 290 in sociology. (approx. , marklist is with me but it is somewhere in the huge mount of papers which are with me.) I failed miserably in General Studies. Only in history I had obtained 335. I also obtained less marks in essay. I failed.

Now when I look into the notes which I have prepared for sociology and history, I just feel like weeping. Those two months in which I did not study, just changed the whole course of my life. The culprit was that I did not behave in a mature manner. There are many things in life which happens and disturb you but a mature person never takes off his eye from his goal. When I look into the notes which I have made at that time, You can imagine what goes on in my mind. I had prepared notes on all such topics which have been asked in the papers. It was just that I did not revised them and secondly I went gloomy for two months before the papers. Just look at the total. It was 927. Add two months into it, it could have given me 980 and I would have been there in the list.

So no these Jittery, Stress Flip Flop talks. Just shunt them out. Have only one emotion. The paper is there. You have covered a section of the syllabus. Have faith in you. Remember and concentrate what you have prepared. In case of general studies, continue to read the topics from different Refreshers and magazines. If you are writing your notes, (and You must do that even if you are keeping magazines with you, or if you have just copied it from the magazines) continue to add to it.
Remember 100+ in History, 110+ in General studies at the maximum 90+in history and 100+ in general ** a safe going and then start for the mains even before you get the result.

I have hurriedly written it because I have to leave again for my next duty. These are examination days in Punjab and I have to work as invigilator as well as evaluator also for which I have to move from one center to other.

One thing more:
You may find it amusing but now everything is required. Take the help of astrology. Ask you parents to get you kundli checked. Learn about the position of Sun and Jupiter (suyra, guru and budha) in you horoscope and do upayas accordingly. If you sun is in good house then surya archana and Jala must be given. Give green vegetables and chara to cows (buddha). keep you head covered with a cap (buddha). If is white cap, then it will more good. Kacchi Lassi (milk in water) on Shiva linga on Monday (Chandra and Buddha). Yellow laddoos (Bunddi) before the idol of Genesha in a temple (not at home) (Buddha and Rahu). Try them if you do not have time to consult an astrologer. Ask some one at your home to get your horoscope checked and seek upayas for maintaining confidence.
You may find my advice amusing but what is harm in taking this aspect in consideration at this stage.

I may write another letter also before May 15.
sumir.

Another Peculiar Factor thing:
It may amuse many reader further. As I mentioned above, that we were rejoicing in the success of the friend, we also picked the issue that why his brother did not make it to civil services. He was more motivated. Secondly, he was more studious. He made it to medicine when this boy who has cleared civil services had failed to clear CET. His brother has cleared MLE and PLAB. He is becoming quite popular as a doctor.
The reasoning which emerged, may amuse many people but in my circle we believe in it.

The reason is "Nazar" or "BAD EYE". Yes, the similar one, which you usually find written at the back of each and every truck or public carrier vehicles. We reasoned that the doctor had told each and every person about his civil services preparation. He was clearing his medicine papers and he was also trying for civil service. Every one tried to learn how he was managing his preparation. Whereas, this boy has not revealed it to his nearest relatives about his preparation till his name appeared in the list of the successful candidates.

In short, Nazar and Hok ‘ka, Try to save yourself from these two curses. Do not let many people know that you are preparing it.
You may find it amusing. Well, I believe in it. I claim that I am a grown up man, mature and experienced person. I talk about logic and reason. Well, there are some facts, which defy reasoning. It is not a matter of choice. It is basically a limit of our reasoning faculties decided by nature herself. There are many things which defy explanation. The solution is not to reject them or escape from them or overlook them. Just do not let them go out of consideration. You may not give much importance to them but you should also not ignore them at all.

Colonial Historiography

2005-05-13T23:58:00.000-07:00

Colonial Historiography

HUBBELL EXPERIENCE

2005-05-13T22:17:00.000-07:00

(Prefatory Note: It has been written a long time back.)

Saturday, July 21, 2001, India.
HUBBELL EXPERIENCE:

I just saw the Hubbell episode on the Discovery channel. It has left me spell bound. It has raised many questions and anxiety in mind. I am feeling a typical pain in my toes. I am feeling somewhat relieved. It is totally a different experience. I do not want to call it a mystic experience. It is some thing different. It is something beyond. It is something even different and more beyond than the mystic experience.

What is the total expense of the space? Where is it suspended?

I have jumped to a conclusion that mind lives. When you die and shed the body, one thing remains and that is mind.

I feel that all of us were just taking birth again and again. We learn a quantity of knowledge in one birth and continue to acquire more in our next birth. The process goes on.

The experience of Hubbell has also given a new feeling of time. It has also given a new variety of perceptions. It can be explained and learned thus. Suppose you learn the expanse of the space. How will it be communicated to you? What would be the words which could convey the extent of the space. What would be the feeling and perception, which will help you to understand that what the expense of the space, is. It will be called Hubbell perception.

Some people may like to say that it is infinity. Even the idea of infinity is also finite. The infinity of the space, if you were able to learn, would be different kind of infinity. It would be Hubbell infinity.

Here a Vedic concept becomes very useful. The truth which then will be learned be such that you have nothing to learn after that. What will be that question which would give me the right answer about the extent of the space?

Here again the limitation of language is revealed. The words together give a perception. But the words have never been able to give the right truth. It is the discrimination power of the brain which keep you goading for learning the truth.

Problem will rise that what would be that set of words which would convey the real expanse of the space? Suppose you learn that it is not an ending thing. Then, can you perceive that what would be that knowledge that tells you that space is wide and wide without any end? It will give you an illogical situation.

However do you not feel that logic is not the right science? It is just a view that a thing or thought can be logical. Space without a limit idea is something which can not be perceived. Is our brain just not framed to perceive such a knowledge?

The question of omnipotent, self created, time less, unbounded god seems in reality a definition of the space. We have clouded it by making it in the mould of man. He is shown powerful not because he is powerful, it is the desire and need of the weak and fearful man who requires that kind of thing; A powerful and all wish fulfilling identity. He may not be like that.

The expanse of space and creation and death of planets and stars out of the mass of gases and particles seems to be very provocative. It is thrilling. Some particles where moving around unbounded with each other. They came together and my earth was born. Then I was born. Every thing continues to happen. Today I have come and now questioning why all this is happening. I know that I will go away. But I start questioning the very existence of the world as if I am the biggest judge and authority who could question anything.

Can you imagine that what would have taken place in you mind while thinking about such an unconceivable idea – the extent of the space? Words are not capable to write and convey about that. But the idea as it exist in mind is true. The words are able to capture them. Suppose you learn about the last limits or the limitless extent of the space. What will be the form of the idea and knowledge in your mind which could record that fact. Is not brain a small thing trying to question too many things for which it is not even made to contain and receive the fact? But the fact is that it has the ability to perceive such a question. It is quick to fear and assume facts which do not exist. But it not able to perceive those facts which could answer many of its questions. It can perceive unconceivable. It can not perceive some truth. Or it may also be possible that the brain is given the wrong type of training to perceive the ideas. The language seems to be the culprit. This sound and sight based symbols are a big hindrance. There can be another capability in the brain to perceive the world. Is it intuition?

What type of the day that would be when the man would learn the actual dimension of the space. What would be that symbols and sounds that could convey the fact of the actual dimension of the space.

It has also raised the question that how we are using our time? Are we really utilizing our time? Is it that we are enjoying a luxury of living the life which actually is meant to do something different. Can an illiterate person do all such talks in writing? No he can not do that. However he can think about it. I may forget after sometime the feelings and sensations, which I have experienced after the Hubbell experience and may not be able to restart them at the same wavelength. Even now while I am writing the sensation and tone of the sensation which I was feeling while thinking about all such things is not the same. When I have started writing it had toned down. But an illiterate may have the capability to do it again and again and get his results fixed in mind. I am not capable of fixing many results of my musing. It is why that I have started writing it. I claim that many a time I have reached such level of perception and mind processes and reached such facts which could be claimed a godly achievements. But now I do not have them. And what am I now? Nothing! If ever I had them then I would have changed. But I am the same common level man.

There is something in it.

2005-05-11T20:50:00.000-07:00

Every one desires to talk about himself.

No one is ready to listen to others. Everyone tends to come to one line and that is that I did it or I am so and so or I faced it.

Here is a posting which is written in the same manner. But it is some thing totally different. It is a "Welcome Address by Subroto Bagchi, Chief Operating Officer, MindTree Consulting to the Class of 2006 on July 2, 2004 at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, India on defining success" at http://deepaknagaraj.blogspot.com/2005/05/go-kiss-world-by-subroto-bagchi.html.

The whole address is about me, my and I, but it is not pedagogic and even then very refreshing and edifying.

There is something in it. The english, the diction and images are all Indian but the language is perfect. I may go to this post again and again. No, I will make a copy of it and read it again and again.