In search of happiness

I sometimes wonder what is that makes us happy? I guess, happiness comes from doing things, small or big, that you enjoy; creating or doing things that will benefit others; being able to drive your life; facing challenges and at times even failures. We often measure success by educational degrees, packages, wealth etc. But do these things really make a person happy? Happiness comes from the satisfaction of doing creative things. Instead of facing challenges, we are often over-protective in guarding against failures. Then, we live in the sorrow of lost opportunity.

Living a capitalist markets of money for labor, we have socialist aspirations of security and surety in life. Creativity has lost is place in our society. We study for scoring in exams, give exams for getting jobs, do jobs for earning money, earn money for raising family, raise family for making our kids do the same. The 'common man' in India has attained nirvana in being emotionless and indifferent. The common man is not supposed to have any ambitions or aspirations in life. The only aim of his life is to be in the rat-race so that he can lead a secure life. He surrenders to the belief that what happens is already decided. Yet, he wanders from temple to temple to magically change things in his life. He travels in a crowded train feeling all alone. He sweats with fear that, not having chanted the mantra today, will surely bring him bad luck. Looking at a huge crowd, he feels with so many people, he has no chance of making to his dreams. Compromise is way of his life. He works mechanically throughout his life.

Can we empower ourselves to enjoy our education, sports, work? Can we have more human than a mere mechanical life?  Is it what will make us more happy? 

A match to watch

Tomorrow will be an interesting day to watch in politics. Will the youth of India  follow fast at Anna's Lokpal or enjoyment at Pawar's IPL ? Interestingly, many of the people whose names figure in scams, are running business at IPL and so also liquor and smoker barons.  Is the the youth of India really ready to take on the corrupt politicians ?  An exciting match to watch !

An academy that we need

I accidentally stumbled upon the work of Salman Khan and his team.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salman_Khan_%28educator%29

http://www.khanacademy.org/

What a fabulous work these guys are doing ! Be sure to check out. I am sure your reaction will be "had I got access to such education I would have been a genius by now !"

To improve the ever deteriorating education systems of countries like India, we have to ensure that good teachers reach the masses. Even the poorest should have access to quality education. Only then can we create equal opportunities, which a welfare state like ours, aims at.

The Khan academy is trying to tap the power of Internet and multimedia for making quality education available for everyone. Most of us would spend our lives criticizing and blaming the system and doing nothing to change it.

While throughout the day, through various forms of media we are bombarded with  artificial reality shows, saas-bahu's sinister plots,  sansani breaking news,  stupid wallpapers, ringtones SMSes , useless quizzes and tarot card readers and astrologers - all justified in the name of "this is what we want". But, I believe, that is not what we need. Along with other things, I believe, such academies is what we need, and that the societal forces controlling the media have to ensure that they are delivered.      

Republic Day

This republic day brought shame to the nation. What will this republic day be remembered for ? Firstly, an honest officer exposing corruption was burnt alive by the mafia. Secondly, the national flag is now no more a symbol of values and integrity it used to be -- hoisting it leads to hatred and violent outbursts in some communities and regions or atleast the liberal and secular intelligentsia believe so; perhaps, that is why they believe only in deploying more and more security forces to suppress rebellions and promising economic packages when stones are being pelted and situation goes out of control. :) The so called secular and saviours of the minorities cannot prevent them from getting alienated and influenced by separatists, then how can they allow the communal people to take the credit of national integration ? Samjha karo yaar! Thirdly, the nation which calls itself a rising superpower, that has leadership and governments that defy non-proliferation treaties, dares to be non-aligned, has independent foreign policy; is totally helpless in exposing the black money laundered in foreign banks ! (I heard someone say, now I don't care, I have Wikileaks )

Well, I might not be the only one, crores of Indians might have been disheartened by the dark picture. But we must remember that being disappointed by the events is only going to worsen this picture. What we really need is constructive action rather than laments. On this republic day, it looks like, we need a dose of Dr. J P Narayanan's optimism more than anything else. ( As usual, courtesy: YouTube )

Inspirational speech by an IPS officer

During the 26/11/2008 terror attacks in Mumbai a young IPS officer took the terrorists head on, at the Taj hotel, firing rounds at them, they were lucky to escape. The officer the wisely took charge of the operation, and led his team to engage the terrorists until the NSG arrived.

The same officer, who comes from a rural background, had earlier won accolades, fighting with the Naxals in Gadchiroli district, and also for his social welfare schemes.

The officer's name is Vishwas Nagre Patil.

I just stumbled across his lectures (circa 2006) which some kind person has shared on YouTube. He is surely an inspiration for most youngsters of this country ! I need not speak more, these videos will do the rest !!

Thesis homepage

M.Tech Thesis homepage:

Explorations on a neurologically plausible model of image object classification

http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/users/vision/sourabhd/

A soulful ghazal

Jis taraf jayiye ... hain khokle lafzo ka jor... (2)
Kaun samjhe yahaan awaaz ki gehraai ko ? .... (2)

Shehar dar shaher liye phirta hoon tanhai ko ....

A excellent ghazal by Hariharan and Ustad Zakir Hussain .... what an apt description of life !!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAkeM5hgMZk