(Thanks to Nachiket for this amusing real
life story. The boy in this story is
actually one of the family friend of
Nachiket's family.)
There was a boy at IIT, Kharagpur. There
were a lot of mosquitoes at IITKh so he had to
set up mosquito net before he could sleep.
Once unfortunately, this mosquito net
got a hole. Mosquitoes used to enter the
net through that hole and trouble the boy.
He simply made another hole in the
net and connected a flexible tube from
one hole to the another.
Poor mosquitoes, they did not know who
they were pitted against !!! :D
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Coming of age
He was 60 years old.
He had retired as top exec.
He had two children, doing well.
A top investment firm managed his money.
His wife (still) loved him.
He reclined on his chair, sipping tea.
And he thought,
What was the purpose of my life?
He woke up.
He was only 60 years young.
He had retired as top exec.
He had two children, doing well.
A top investment firm managed his money.
His wife (still) loved him.
He reclined on his chair, sipping tea.
And he thought,
What was the purpose of my life?
He woke up.
He was only 60 years young.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The One
I often hear or read about people seeking the ultimate
truth. They speak with a sort of fantasy in their eyes.
To be one with the universe or to be in sync with the
universe, to experience that deep sense of unity with
the universe where there is no subject or the object,
just the one.
I do not want to speak about what that state might
bring about. I have a question about the ultimate
truth. Does it exist? And I want to present a
different point of view on this.
Human beings need to make sense of what they see.
They need to make abstractions in order to store
information and use. They need to make abstractions
of abstractions to simplify things. They tend to
seek invariant patterns in everything they see,
everything they do. It is perhaps necessitated
by how our brains work, tending to remember
patterns and attributes.
So humans are compelled to make a ladder of abstraction
chain. Perhaps the notion of the ultimate truth
which is the highest abstraction originates from
this tendency. It is the way we think, the way we
hypothesize that has created this hypothesis and
so it does not guarantee that such a concept exists.
It may be just a by-product thought generated
because of the way our brains work.
It does sound crazy but who cares !
- Onkar
truth. They speak with a sort of fantasy in their eyes.
To be one with the universe or to be in sync with the
universe, to experience that deep sense of unity with
the universe where there is no subject or the object,
just the one.
I do not want to speak about what that state might
bring about. I have a question about the ultimate
truth. Does it exist? And I want to present a
different point of view on this.
Human beings need to make sense of what they see.
They need to make abstractions in order to store
information and use. They need to make abstractions
of abstractions to simplify things. They tend to
seek invariant patterns in everything they see,
everything they do. It is perhaps necessitated
by how our brains work, tending to remember
patterns and attributes.
So humans are compelled to make a ladder of abstraction
chain. Perhaps the notion of the ultimate truth
which is the highest abstraction originates from
this tendency. It is the way we think, the way we
hypothesize that has created this hypothesis and
so it does not guarantee that such a concept exists.
It may be just a by-product thought generated
because of the way our brains work.
It does sound crazy but who cares !
- Onkar
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Of food etc !
I went to a supermarket (actually it was a general commodity store) this Sunday after many months. AndI just stood looking at the prices, totally stunned ! It must not be a news to many peoople. Tur-dal Rs 110/kg, Mung-dal Rs 90/kg, Udal-dal Rs 85/kg, Rice Rs 40/kg (standard and non-exotic), Sugar Rs 40/kg! What a menace. One of my friends recited the story about buying Tur-dal. Three times he went to buy Tur-dal in few weeks time, and he heard rates of Rs 55,75 and 100. Crazy stuff !
According a not-so-recent govt survey, on average, per capita Indian expenditure on food was Rs. 440, for the duration of 2006-07. For a four member family, it amounts to Rs. 1760. Considering the spiraling rates this year, it must have crossed Rs. 2000 per month. I really am stupefied how poor people manage to have four meals a day. Here most BCom people or even BA people, hardly get salaries above Rs. 8000-10000. Considering some of the major expenditure channels like food, rent, travel, telephone, healthcare; I really cannot imagine their plight making both ends meet.
Government cannot provide jobs to all. Thats OK, in my opinion, the government should only foster the growth of employment. But food? As a touted superpower-to-be, we should at least succeed in providing food to people. This is the least you should do as govt.
Not that I did not know of the rates, but going to the shop this Sunday made me acutely aware of these rates. Just a glimpse of reality shocked me to the core.
If we are depriving poor of the food, we are doing them no good by the fake austerity drive. Austerity is a virtue, not a showcase item. I am not really against the leaders but against this showcase politics. We lament Shashi Tharoor's comments without understanding the English meaning and connotations of "cattle-class". Not only demonstrate our lack of maturity by flogging Shashi Tharoor, we also show lack of sensitivity by transforming the real issue into a totally unrelated one. We attack Shashi Tharoor for the so-called-meaning of calling them cattle but do not try to improve the conditions of cattle. In fact, we want to make them stay as hungry cattle so that we can feed them at the time of elections and get votes, then forget about them till the next election.
I am aware that as Shashi Tharoor issue was a superficial one, so are possibly my comments too, as I do not know a lot about theoretical government efforts. Still, you can get a feeling from the local news, local mess rates and from speaking to common people like auto-drivers, bus-conductors, hawkers. I also believe that if a politician has enough will power, he can definitely do most of the things in his scope.
Anyway thats the end of gibberish about the inflating prices. A small story to add a positive note at the end : Few days back I went to a State Transport bus ticket reservation center. And they were using Linux for booking tickets online! Yes, we can ! :)
According a not-so-recent govt survey, on average, per capita Indian expenditure on food was Rs. 440, for the duration of 2006-07. For a four member family, it amounts to Rs. 1760. Considering the spiraling rates this year, it must have crossed Rs. 2000 per month. I really am stupefied how poor people manage to have four meals a day. Here most BCom people or even BA people, hardly get salaries above Rs. 8000-10000. Considering some of the major expenditure channels like food, rent, travel, telephone, healthcare; I really cannot imagine their plight making both ends meet.
Government cannot provide jobs to all. Thats OK, in my opinion, the government should only foster the growth of employment. But food? As a touted superpower-to-be, we should at least succeed in providing food to people. This is the least you should do as govt.
Not that I did not know of the rates, but going to the shop this Sunday made me acutely aware of these rates. Just a glimpse of reality shocked me to the core.
If we are depriving poor of the food, we are doing them no good by the fake austerity drive. Austerity is a virtue, not a showcase item. I am not really against the leaders but against this showcase politics. We lament Shashi Tharoor's comments without understanding the English meaning and connotations of "cattle-class". Not only demonstrate our lack of maturity by flogging Shashi Tharoor, we also show lack of sensitivity by transforming the real issue into a totally unrelated one. We attack Shashi Tharoor for the so-called-meaning of calling them cattle but do not try to improve the conditions of cattle. In fact, we want to make them stay as hungry cattle so that we can feed them at the time of elections and get votes, then forget about them till the next election.
I am aware that as Shashi Tharoor issue was a superficial one, so are possibly my comments too, as I do not know a lot about theoretical government efforts. Still, you can get a feeling from the local news, local mess rates and from speaking to common people like auto-drivers, bus-conductors, hawkers. I also believe that if a politician has enough will power, he can definitely do most of the things in his scope.
Anyway thats the end of gibberish about the inflating prices. A small story to add a positive note at the end : Few days back I went to a State Transport bus ticket reservation center. And they were using Linux for booking tickets online! Yes, we can ! :)
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
show me!
These are lyrics of "Show me" from my fair lady! Wow, the words rhyme, chime
and sing and resonate. I haven't listened to the song yet but the words
themselves are enough to produce magic!
========================================================================
Words! Words! Words! I'm so sick of words!
I get words all day through;
First from him, now from you!
Is that all you blighters can do?
Don't talk of stars burning above;
If you're in love, Show me!
Tell me no dreams filled with desire.
If you're on fire, Show me!
Here we are together in the middle of the night!
Don't talk of spring! Just hold me tight!
Anyone who's ever been in love'll tell you that
This is no time for a chat!
Haven't your lips longed for my touch?
Don't say how much, Show me! Show me!
Don't talk of love lasting through time.
Make me no undying vow. Show me now!
Sing me no song! Read me no rhyme!
Don't waste my time, Show me!
Don't talk of June, Don't talk of fall!
Don't talk at all! Show me!
Never do I ever want to hear another word.
There isn't one I haven't heard.
Here we are together in what ought to be a dream;
Say one more word and I'll scream!
Haven't your arms hungered for mine?
Please don't "expl'ine," Show me! Show me!
Don't wait until wrinkles and lines
Pop out all over my brow,
Show me now!
=========================================================================
and sing and resonate. I haven't listened to the song yet but the words
themselves are enough to produce magic!
========================================================================
Words! Words! Words! I'm so sick of words!
I get words all day through;
First from him, now from you!
Is that all you blighters can do?
Don't talk of stars burning above;
If you're in love, Show me!
Tell me no dreams filled with desire.
If you're on fire, Show me!
Here we are together in the middle of the night!
Don't talk of spring! Just hold me tight!
Anyone who's ever been in love'll tell you that
This is no time for a chat!
Haven't your lips longed for my touch?
Don't say how much, Show me! Show me!
Don't talk of love lasting through time.
Make me no undying vow. Show me now!
Sing me no song! Read me no rhyme!
Don't waste my time, Show me!
Don't talk of June, Don't talk of fall!
Don't talk at all! Show me!
Never do I ever want to hear another word.
There isn't one I haven't heard.
Here we are together in what ought to be a dream;
Say one more word and I'll scream!
Haven't your arms hungered for mine?
Please don't "expl'ine," Show me! Show me!
Don't wait until wrinkles and lines
Pop out all over my brow,
Show me now!
=========================================================================
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
religious riots
Recently there have been riots in southern Maharashtra. There
was some trouble with the scene depicting Shivaji killing Afzalkhan.
Somebody committed some mischief and then religious sentiments
took over. Then it was all riots, murders, damages to the property, attacks on religious places and so on.
One of my close friends messaged me on a social networking sites.
The message said things such as "Hindus, realize whats going on, if
you do not come together now then blah blah..."
We are so quick to draw conclusions. I just thought about alternate
hypotheses about how the mischief could have occured.
1. Some people thirsty of wicked social entertainment acted
as miscreants. Religion does not matter to them, only gore does.
2. BJP paid crooks to go for the mischief. After all this is
election time in Maharashtra and there is need to consolidate
Hindu vote bank.
3. Congress paid crooks. They wanted to malign BJP on the
verge of elections and consolidate their Muslim vote bank.
4. Possibly Shivsena/MNS paid the crooks.
5. It was all spontaneous. Perhaps hard to believe but there
was no political involvement.
Many other hypotheses can be formulated. But why should we wait?
We are quick to jump to conclusions. Yes, "X" religion was
guilty and "Y" religion must avenge it.
Someone once said to me that human beings in group are not much
different than a pack of dogs, let one begin barking and others
will follow. I do not know exactly but at least in religious
matters it looks to be true. Religion has such a blinding effect
on a person's mind. Perhaps this effect stems from the old maxim
of religion "don't question, just follow". When people listen to
some so-called authority speaking on religion, they just follow
it without raising even an eyebrow.
The makers of the game exploit this very fact. The real culprits
stay aside and watch the fun from outside the ring. Unfortunately
our government is such a weakling that it lacks the will to stomp
over the culprits. Perhaps the government too is one of the culprits.
Some of us were discussing few days before. A question was raised,
did we gain more or lose more because of religion. The fact that
one has to think for the answer evinces the fact that the concept
has not been entirely beneficial.
Perhaps religion helped human beings in the beginning of civlization
by giving them a set of rules. Perhaps religion will also help
humans with the end of the civilization.
(note: Of course the problems run deeper than discussed and are
more philosophical in nature)
was some trouble with the scene depicting Shivaji killing Afzalkhan.
Somebody committed some mischief and then religious sentiments
took over. Then it was all riots, murders, damages to the property, attacks on religious places and so on.
One of my close friends messaged me on a social networking sites.
The message said things such as "Hindus, realize whats going on, if
you do not come together now then blah blah..."
We are so quick to draw conclusions. I just thought about alternate
hypotheses about how the mischief could have occured.
1. Some people thirsty of wicked social entertainment acted
as miscreants. Religion does not matter to them, only gore does.
2. BJP paid crooks to go for the mischief. After all this is
election time in Maharashtra and there is need to consolidate
Hindu vote bank.
3. Congress paid crooks. They wanted to malign BJP on the
verge of elections and consolidate their Muslim vote bank.
4. Possibly Shivsena/MNS paid the crooks.
5. It was all spontaneous. Perhaps hard to believe but there
was no political involvement.
Many other hypotheses can be formulated. But why should we wait?
We are quick to jump to conclusions. Yes, "X" religion was
guilty and "Y" religion must avenge it.
Someone once said to me that human beings in group are not much
different than a pack of dogs, let one begin barking and others
will follow. I do not know exactly but at least in religious
matters it looks to be true. Religion has such a blinding effect
on a person's mind. Perhaps this effect stems from the old maxim
of religion "don't question, just follow". When people listen to
some so-called authority speaking on religion, they just follow
it without raising even an eyebrow.
The makers of the game exploit this very fact. The real culprits
stay aside and watch the fun from outside the ring. Unfortunately
our government is such a weakling that it lacks the will to stomp
over the culprits. Perhaps the government too is one of the culprits.
Some of us were discussing few days before. A question was raised,
did we gain more or lose more because of religion. The fact that
one has to think for the answer evinces the fact that the concept
has not been entirely beneficial.
Perhaps religion helped human beings in the beginning of civlization
by giving them a set of rules. Perhaps religion will also help
humans with the end of the civilization.
(note: Of course the problems run deeper than discussed and are
more philosophical in nature)
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Point
Why ?
What ?
What is life ?
Why do we live ?
Why do we breathe ?
Why do we think ?
What is the point ?
Why should there be not limits to what we think ?
Why should always be there something "higher" ?
What am I doing here ?
These are the usual topics of discussion with few of my friends.
Usually there is no outcome. Usually everything is just gibberish.
Staying alone, it gets over you. These questions will either be
your best friends or sworn enemies.
What is the point ?
Why should there be any point ?
You begin thinking that everything is pointless. You lose interest.
I found that every important question I face is ultimately connected
to "why am i here". For example, when I think of whether I should
go for a PhD, the actual question is different.
Probably it is like an axiomatic system. You may not be able to
question the axioms from within the aximoatic system. Perhaps there
may not be any point to life unless you give it. Different views
from different frames of reference.
I am just sick of it. There may not be something "higher". It may be
simply a consequence of biological needs of improving our skills
translated into the domain of thoughts. Perhaps life is just life.
Perhaps it is just like soil in a potter's hand. If he keeps thinking
about what is soil, nothing comes out of it but instead if he shapes
the soil, there comes the meaning.
I'm leaving it at that. Let us live.
What ?
What is life ?
Why do we live ?
Why do we breathe ?
Why do we think ?
What is the point ?
Why should there be not limits to what we think ?
Why should always be there something "higher" ?
What am I doing here ?
These are the usual topics of discussion with few of my friends.
Usually there is no outcome. Usually everything is just gibberish.
Staying alone, it gets over you. These questions will either be
your best friends or sworn enemies.
What is the point ?
Why should there be any point ?
You begin thinking that everything is pointless. You lose interest.
I found that every important question I face is ultimately connected
to "why am i here". For example, when I think of whether I should
go for a PhD, the actual question is different.
Probably it is like an axiomatic system. You may not be able to
question the axioms from within the aximoatic system. Perhaps there
may not be any point to life unless you give it. Different views
from different frames of reference.
I am just sick of it. There may not be something "higher". It may be
simply a consequence of biological needs of improving our skills
translated into the domain of thoughts. Perhaps life is just life.
Perhaps it is just like soil in a potter's hand. If he keeps thinking
about what is soil, nothing comes out of it but instead if he shapes
the soil, there comes the meaning.
I'm leaving it at that. Let us live.
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