Catching up on programming

Most schools mainly teach desk top pogramming. It is time for main stream to catch up with internet and mobile pogramming.

The dastardly mob and the individual

Mobs easily harass the individual. Mobs might have formed for the very reason under various guises.

The embarassing dalit question

When I was in Ghana, Africa, I was faced with the question of whether there were dalits (untouchables) in India. I said what I know that is that Gandhiji abolished untouchability way back and it is illegal to treat any one like a dalit. Technically dalits do not exist in India any more since independence.

But the reality is all Indians know what dalit means. To make repairs to the dalit community for being treated badly forever, the Indian government follows reservation policies which make room for dalits for jobs without the expected levels of merit required for those jobs. Thus, Indians understand what dalits are. I am ashamed to know about this shameful concept but cannot ignore the fact that I know it. Reservations has helped change fate of the dalits to some extend but Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian constitution did not require reservation to become who he was. A lot of dalits have changed their fates by migrating etc etc.

Gandhiji was a noble soul. When he got treated as a second class citizen by the British, he decided to make sure dalits were treated better. This is not necessarily the reaction for all. Most people when they get treated badly treat their subordinates even worse. But dalits got their freedom without fully fighting for it. The dalits never got a chance to demand equality. On the other hand civil rights movements in America and South Africa reflects clearly without a doubt the common man's desire to be treated equally and with dignity. Hence these are better evolved societies.

Rahul Gandhi and the Kisan Mahapanchayat

Rahul Gandhi is farmer friendly and that is a good thing. But he has never farmed so he cannot understand the issues that plague Indian farmers. Farming is a noble profession with many perks. But very little is done to educate farmers. Education does not mean read and write and become clerks or whatever but to explore how farming can progress. More timber and organic farming will do magic for Indian farmers. And why not have farm machinery too? After all labor is getting scarce. The small farmer cannot afford labor charges these days. Being farmer friendly does not mean giving loans or free money. Farmer friendly leadership implies making farming easier. Instead of Padayatras and Panchayats, I seriously recommend Rahul Gandhi to be there on a farm and help with farming for some days. It will do Indian farmers a lot of good if leaders understand who the farmer really is. Half the time the politicians are surrounded by people who call themselves farmers are not. A lot of govt schemes of sending farmers abroad etc are misused.

South Sudan

South Sudan became a nation but should have chosen a new name. Is it going to be Sudan and South Sudan in the map? I see no reason why Sudan will call itself North Sudan just because it got divided. Independence is good. South Sudan has suffered. May tomorrow be brighter.

Academic shocks

I just read an article about a Professor's shock at being denied tenure at a university. For some people this is a minor thing. There are bigger problems like people dying and going hungry etc. How does the problem of tenure denial compare to such problems?

But I can relate to this professor because I reacted similarly when I was unable to find employment after a PhD in math. This happens to people who have had their way all their lives. We work hard, create beautiful things, and expect the world to appreciate it. Denying academic opportunity to deserving candidates is going beyond denying appreciation. It is destructive. It took me a few years to trust the world again.

I am in a way happy that I went through that turbulence. Made me stronger and not so naive. Qualities necessary to defend the valuable goods I deliver. Cheers. Now would I wish this experience for other people? I am not sure. You enter academics because you were treated real gentle by hundreds of people. Before the shock you did live in an unreal world of books. It is a rather charming life to always get what you want.

Slipping positions

So is America the number one country? In many ways no. The dollar is no longer at the top of the chart. The middle class American traveling feels a pinch on his purse way more than the locals. This is true in Asia, Africa, and else where. A country's global position is decided by the spending power of the middle class. Not the rich and not the poor, for nothing changes for the poor and rich. But in many ways America is still number one. Hard working people who take pride in their work is America's biggest strength. A lot of people who were willing to work hard gathered on American shores from many parts of the world. Now many have dispersed. Yet, I see no contender for the top post apart from America. China has to get rid of many chains and India has to get rid of many divisions before it can even contest for the number one spot. Canada, Australia, etc are too conservative to become global number one. In other words, America is still number one because there is no other contestant.