Month: September 2019

Posted in History-Culture

The Sanctity and Pedigree Of The Hindu Gene Pool

Posted on by veeskitchen

“Gotra’ means clan (Kula) identification for Hindus. It means, an unbroken lineage of sons in the family tree (Y Chromosomes) from the Vedic times. Some say the practice of Gotra is for preservation of the Y chromosome with all its purity sans tampering/contamination in the Hindu society. Every family goes by a Kula-Gotra therefore among Hindus. Every family has a Kula Deivam (family deity). The Kula and Gotra are something that a Hindu inherits and/or acquires by birth (that alters with marriage in case of women).

Essentially all Hindus are supposed to have descended from the seven sages ‘Sapta Rishis’ (Brahma Maharishis) (direct disciples of Lord Shiva) (in the case of learned Brahmanas and north Indians), and their seers (in the case of south Indians and others). Every single family line traces back by ages and ages to one common ancestor, following the kula-gotra chart and map. Invasions unleashed a hell of disturbance but even through the foreign aggression, the Hindus continued the chain forward, may be at times, with missing links here and there. Those who mixed with invaders ceased to be Hindus, severely ostracized by the community. (The ex-communicated later became Muslims and Christians). (For instance, typically the Kashmiri Hindu pundits and baniyas wanted to return back to the Hindu fold someday after being force converted at the point of sword by Aurangzeb. Many surprisingly still retain their Hindu family names. However, they were refused re-admission to Dharma after the Moghul’s time).

Gotra and Kula Deivam therefore are our race and clan identities. They go back to our very roots and to the very beginnings of ancient Hindu/human civilization. No wonder India’s Hindu civilization is the only surviving, longest and continuous civilization in the world today. It is a mammoth, mammoth task keeping this ancient culture alive for over 10,000 years, most of it fairly in tact. How an entire landmass called Bharat Varsh adopted and practised such a grand scheme of things averting inbreeding without a legal enforcement is astonishing. We Hindus of this 21st century are the descendants of Bharatha, ancestor to Pandavas and Kauravas of Mahabhaarath. ‘Bhaarath’ is the true and original name of India. ‘Hindustan’ was the name given by Islamic invaders from the Persian Gulf. The British rechristened us ‘India’ in a blatant attempt to kill our very character and soul.

Of course there were some strict norms voluntarily adhered to be each clan or Kula. These were slightly varied in the south compared to north. However extreme care was taken never to marry in the same bloodline and procreate. Did our Hindu forefathers foresee/witness any harmful genetic mutation and disorder  when one married into the same kula-gotra.

Same Gotra marriages are frowned upon in Hinduism (entire north and in some sections of south) even today. First cousin marriage is strictly forbidden among Hindus, considered incestuous. But down south, if the gotras are different you can marry your (cross) cousin. For example, straight cousins cannot marry each other. Like the children of brothers. Children of sisters. But a brother’s son or daughter can marry his sister’s daughter or son. Cross cousin marriages are permitted because, the sister gets married and goes to another family/gotra. She assumes the gotra of her husband’s family tree. Her children born under new gotra in a strange family will be inheriting different gotra/Y chromosomes, not that of her parents. So the children can marry back into her parents’ family.

But north or south, not even the second cousin marriage is permissible between straight cousin (between children of brothers’ male cousins and children of sisters’ girl cousins). All straight cousins in north and (with cross cousin exemption) in south be it first cousins or second cousins or third cousins cannot marry.

My north Indian friends used to tease me relentlessly about this proven logic. They would be shocked by the south Indian custom that allowed cross cousin marriages. Generations of cross cousin marriages especially within a closed circle can be equally damaging as the Y chromosomes may return to the home family tree after a generation or two. But even these cross cousin marriages mostly stopped with the last or my generation. Not many of my parents generation had cross cousin marriages. One of my friends married her cross cousin. In my generation it was minimal, almost non existent. Now it is totally off. Full stop. Whether it is love marriage or arranged marriage in India, we can be more than certain that there is not the least chance of someone marrying from within the same gotra. We have outgrown that custom in south for our own sake. Awareness of genetic health issues made it possible for south Indians to put an end to cross cousin marriages as we have been a lot more literate for ages compared to north. We needed no written law.

https://www.quora.com/Why-do-some-people-oppose-marriages-within-the-same-%E2%80%9Cgothra%E2%80%9D

Science of Genetics behind the Hindu Gotra System – The Y Chromosome and the Male Lineage

Why were the same kula-gotra marriages prohibited in Hinduism. This is the scientific reason as researches have established in modern times: Straight cousin marriages will lead to harmful gene mutations and congenital birth defects thereby. For ‘vamsavridhi’ or for the family clan to grow, ancient Hindus wanted their offsprings to marry outside their home families into other blood lines so that the gene pools could get freshly recharged.

Cross cousin marriages where the gotra changes for daughters of the family after marriage were considered relatively safer which is why they were allowed down south. Even in south, straight first cousin marriages are considered taboo and incestuous. In north one hundred percent, first cousin marriages are prohibited even today. If you marry a woman of same gotra, it may imply you are marrying like your own sister because you and she may have descended from the same gene pool whose protagonist Alpha male originally could be the same ancestor. It is like blasphemy therefore for Hindus to marry cousins. Honour killings have been reported from states like Hariyana where the same gotra girl and boy married (in the case of love marriage).

Those who have lost track of their gotra (like for instance in Tamil Nadu), use broader terms like ‘Shiva’ gotra and ‘Vishnu’ gotra. Even in this case, marrying someone with the same Kula Deivam is considered taboo and incestuous and both the boy and the girl may be deemed to have been offspring of the same family tree – with a common ancestor. So this is carefully avoided. Where your gotra cannot distinguish you, your Kula Deivam can.

With the help of the Kula Deivam orientation therefore, one can still decipher one’s gothra if the kula history is studied carefully and in detail.

Similarly many families also seem to have lost track of their ‘Kula Deivam’ – in which case their gotra may come to their help to get their bearings. To those who have ‘lost’ their Kula deivams, Lord Balaji of Tirupathi comes to rescue. Down south, anyone who cannot trace their Kula deivam can adopt Lord Venkatachapathi as their Kula deivam. Or Subramanya.

Ancient Hindus thus devised foolproof means to keep track of their pedigree genes, avoiding marrying into the same family tree. They double-checked and cross-checked the race and blood purity following the tabs such as Kula Deivam and Kula Gotra. Those families who have knowledge of both their gotra and Kula Deivam in the present times are indeed very fortunate. But even if you cannot track one of the two – the Kula Deivam or your gotra – it is still fine. Overlapping is averted at various levels of check.

To break it down to simple terms,

A boy and girl who intend to marry cannot be of the same Kula Gotra by birth

and/or

A boy and girl who intend to marry cannot be of the same Kula Deivam family by birth

Both cases are mutually exclusive. This is the secret and logic behind the Hindu genealogy that is in force for millennia from long since before words like DNA and Y Chromosome came into existence and became fashionable. Inbreeding eliminated maximum if not completely.

India’s population is one billion plus. It is amazing that we discovered and mastered and in fact excelled in a way our gene mapping technique, and our ancestors preserved the genetic chain in tact for millennia without a text book reference. Neither did they go for patenting their find. There was no terminology such as ‘Y’ chromosome or for that matter ‘X’ chromosome. How they had the clue yet to go to lengths to preserve the Y chromosome chain is unbelievable. How they worked it all out so perfectly is amazing. Even after millennia, in this 21st century, if you are a Hindu by birth, then you can safely claim that you are a pedigree with no mixed blood. Conversions to Hindu Dharma are happening for last 50-60 years only and now of course, the Dharma has a hearty worldwide following. The gene pool preservation of the Hindu race is matchless in history. No written laws were formulated. No code of conduct to abide by. This is just a brilliant network of our awesome Hindu ancestors trying to save their gene pool from any contamination. Think of the enormous discipline that this might have necessitated. The penalties were simple but rigorous: those who violated the kula-gotra norm were treated as outcasts never allowed into Hindu fold ever again. Looking back one wonders at the scientific precision of such a gene preservation strategy.

Same gotra marriages are tolerated these days, true. Hindu girls are pricey who the Indian Christians and Muslims chase. Mainly for the precious gene. Imagine the havoc this can wreck in the carefully constructed Hindu genealogy.

Today’s youngsters hardly understand the dynamics behind the Hindu Kula-Gotra science and set-up.

We don’t know what future has in store for us Hindus. It took millennia to build such a beautiful catacomb of a pedigree gene structure. It may take only a generation to break it all up to smithereens.

Hindus are not racists. It is however in our self-interest to preserve our pedigree gene pool for our very survival. If, for instance,you take the Indian muslims, they have been marrying first cousins and procreating for generations. A lot about their Y chromosomes may have altered getting mixed up, inbred at every generation. (You see Imran Khan’s Mongolian face (!) (from the Indian subcontinent)). No wonder they (our bhais) have rates (cash rewards) reportedly for bagging a Hindu girl as shocking media news have revealed. By marrying the Abrahamics and procreating, the Hindus will lose the most precious gift of all that has been passed over generations, over thousands of years, nurtured and harvested painstakingly by our forefathers.

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Would like to add a footnote on extremely conservative Senguntha Mudaliar community gene & family trees here.

This community’s gotra is mostly Markandeya (from the sage who gifted his descendants the art of (yarn) weaving). However, during Raja Raja Chola’s reign for instance, the Chola king did not favour this smug and rich community whose young men he deputed into armed services, which earned them a name ‘Kai Kolar’ (the weapon holding hand). The ancestors were thoroughly put off the by the king pressing them into military services taking them away from spinning wheels, but could do nothing about it in their powers. Raja Raja no wonder earned enemies in every quarter. Many (I personally believe) forefathers in the family tree could have lost their Markandeya gotra around this time (and hence go by Shiva gotra now). However, after the Raja Raja Chola period, the men dropped their weapons forced into their hands by the king and returned to weaving. This is also a part of history that is hardly recorded. I got intrigued why some Sengunthas referred to themselves as Kai Kolas. I got this explanation from someone who knew what he spoke about.

Posted in Food For Soul

Till Death Does Us Apart.

Posted on by veeskitchen

While on our way to weekend grocery shopping last evening, my hubby at the wheels asked me if I had come across even a single death procession in the Middle East in all these years. I said, ‘No.’ For that matter, I told him neither had we witnessed a death procession in Malaysia that was our place of residence for four years. How come I never thought of it for so long!

Death is a big matter in India. Processions for the dead are very common that may block traffic. It is a very macabre thing to write about I know, but I thought I have to write it down. Today happens to be Mahalaya Amavasya, which is special for Hindu ancestors. Millions around the country take a dip in our holy rivers and offer ‘tharpana’ in memory of their forefathers.

I was raised in a very shielded secure world until my mother passed away when I was still in school. Until then, I had only heard about death and had seen a few processions on my way back from school that would totally scare me. My mother would tell me, they were taking ‘kanmoodi swamy’  in procession. Means, God with closed eyes. To us Hindus, the dead immediately transform into God. We forget what kind of humans they were in their lifetimes. Once a person passes away, we celebrate the dead as God. We forgive their misdoings. Only the good things about them are to be highlighted and remembered. We also have annual rituals commemorating the dead in our families. Failing to honour the dead with appropriate religious rites may incur their wrath and we could get cursed with ‘pitru dosham.’  That is why we feed the crows everyday in our terraces, believing they are our ancestors waiting for our food!

Until the ’80s, the dead used to be carried on shoulders by minimum four men (relatives) for cremation. Whatever the distance (may be 3-4 km). Hindus do not have casket. Hindus lay their dead on coconut palm mat that is spun between two bamboo poles that the pallbearers have to carry. One can see this in Bollywood films. Even in modern times, this one ritual has not changed. The open procession could be a shocker to little children in those days.

Now no more it is so. Things changed by late ’80s. By then the black van had arrived on the scene. Plus the freezer facility. For even cremation now, we have only electric crematorium. No more wood burning.

The black vans get replaced by even more grander carriers in Chennai these days. With seating arrangement etc. Playing up to the gallery. Quite a show. Death is no more so raw as in my mother’s times. To a significant degree, the effect stands muted today.

Big send off to the dead. Ceremonial. Obstructing traffic. Drawing unnecessary public attention.

What irritates me most is how these processions hinder traffic in the metro. Many times when I would be on my way somewhere, the mourners also happened to throw rose petals etc., into the auto (rickshaw) i had hired. It is such a disturbance to our peace of mind. Mood spoiler. Especially if you are on way to temple, etc. There are some processions with even band !!! Can’t get gross than this!

I wonder why are we Indians like this. Why can’t we do anything quiet. The black vans and other death vans are prominent in the city roads almost every single day. Chennai’s population is 10 million approximately. You have to book for cremation immediately when death occurs, if you want it in time! And don’t forget to take the Aadhar card of the deceased to the crematorium!!! Nothing less is admissible!

There are many things we can learn from others. Out of which, we have to learn first how to behave at death. How to quietly mourn the passing away of a dear one. How to give some dignity to the dead. How to conduct ourselves with dignity.

In lower middle class Indian homes (labour class), the men take to the bottle after cremation . To relieve their pain. What about the ladies. Men can pee wherever they want, men can booze to relieve their stress, however women have to be that strong pillar to take in everything and remain standing, upholding the family tree and customs and traditions is it!

A 10 to 16 day ritual then follows in Hindu homes after someone’s passing. Highly religious. Then a monthly observance as per Hindu calendar. And then finally an annual remembrance – with all the spiritual significance.

I am told, our ancestors live in us. Right. My gene may be millennia old but I am essentially of the same stock that my ancestor was a 1000, 2000 years ago. I owe them that much. And especially if you are a follower of Dharma, it means your bloodline is pedigree and not corrupted for centuries, millennia. Conversion to Hindu Dharma is happening only since the last 100 years or so. Hindus are thoroughbred carefully for eons, generations which makes us unique and special. We have our ancestors to thank for such a thoughtful cultivation and preservation of the Hindu gene. Kula Deivam (family deity) for most Hindu families also may be some long lost ancestors. This is where remembering our forefathers has its relevance.

There are friends and relatives who have donated cows in memory of the dead to ensure heaven to their dear departed family members. I could only think of the calf the cow was separated from. There are those who went to Varanasi (Kashi) in the north and Rameshwaram in south Tamil Nadu to immerse the ashes in river Ganga and in the Indian Ocean. How much the dead were showered with love and respect in their own lifetimes is a million dollar question.

We Hindus also mourn for an year someone’s passing. We do not celebrate Diwali or observe any ‘vrath’ until the first year Devasham or Sraartham (annual religious commemoration). It is a must for us. We are not supposed to even wear new clothes in this one year period, but it is no more so for last many years. In digital age, a lot has changed in our society. Still, there is something that still needs a thinking-over.

Why is death so much observable in Indian roads. Why is that we have never seen death in other countries of our residence. And why do we Hindus have to appease our ancestors after they leave us, when we so much displease them when they are alive and kicking in our midst.

Don’t others have families too. Don’t they miss or mourn their beloveds. Are we Indians the only ones with emotions. Why are we overdoing even such a thing as close and intimate and personal and private like death in the family. How can we even make this a public affair by obstructing traffic. Why should others even know about our grief. Why should others suffer for our loss. Others totally unconnected to us.

I am proud of my Hindu roots, but there is  a lot we Hindus can learn from others about life and death. Why can’t we just GO quietly.  In peace. Om Shanthi!

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Daughters may be denied the last rites as sons, but daughters can still fulfill their longings by giving their beloved parents and forefathers the respects they deserve at Kashi and Rameshwaram and Gaya. These are the only shrines/holy places in India that allow Hindu women to belatedly offer ‘tharpanam’ to their ancestors with/without an intermediary. These places are in my bucket list. There is also the  Shraddha Perumal temple at Nenmeli, near Chennai that serves the same purpose.

Posted in Political

India Should Not Dignify Pak Anymore

Posted on by veeskitchen

Imran Khan, the Pak PM demonstrated at the UN why Pakistan is a failed state. He wasted the precious UN time alloted to his nation (the bill footed by his tax paying citizens) by hate-mongering and talking s**t about India that nobody around the world gives a damn about (was he stoned?). Given his/his nation’s credibility. Looks like he had to time-pass, that he did at the expense of India especially of Kashmir that is part and parcel of Indian union. Chiefly because, there is nothing substantial to talk about his terroristan, aka Pakistan. What should have been utilized for bringing forward nation building agenda in an international platform was squandered miserably by Khan which explains why Pakis are in such a frustrated and desolate state today.

But then had he been any better, Mr. Khan would not have gone for a third wife in his sixties, marrying (seducing) a grandmother and mother to 5. Thus drain his energies, if any. What is left over is what Pak probably deserves. This nonsense. Not a word about the growth and prosperity of his nation. Not a word on how he planned to tackle poverty or fight terrorism. Not a word as to how he would make every Pakistani proud someday. Most of them Pakis when they cross their borders feign even their nationality. Unabashedly in foreign soil, many Pakistanis lie they are Indians to gain respect and acceptability.

More deplorable is Pak media journalists. Shame on them for hailing Imran Khan’s speech. What do you stand to gain, buddy. If I were you, i would be shell-shocked that the global representative of my nation misused valuable productive time in UN gossiping about neighbour. I would rather have wanted to talk about my own growth story, my plans, my ways and means. Of course, it goes without saying, Imran Khan;s speech was scripted by his military and spy agency in whose hands he is a puppet.

Reportedly Imran Khan was sulking in desperation watching ‘Howdy Modi’ on his (tiny cubicle of) hotel room tv after receiving a doormat (red carpet) welcome from his minister Qureshi minus any foreign dignitary. Of course, he flew a charity flight sponsored by Saudi to go to America.

Successful people and nations do not air grudge or grouse in public. They are after solutions. If something does not work out, they are also quick to move on to other things.

In contrast PM Shri Narendra Modi used his US visit to capitalize maximum for India and Indians. His approach was 100% positive and his interactions at global level will stand India in good stead in the long run. Every single minute in the American soil counts.

India’s PM Shri Narendra Modi ji remarkably made zero mention of Pak at UNGA because Pakistan is not our standard reference. Pakistan is not our agenda or mission or our last stop. India is much larger than Kashmir or Pakistan or whatever. This is called ‘Cosntructivism.’ (my lingo!) India would rather use international fora for forwarding our own growth stories and benefit in exchange from others’ experiences.

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Just heard Pakistan PM Imran Khan admitting in UNGA that Pak trains terrorists. Official statement by Pak premier at the United Nations. Indians have this habit of looking back at Pak that we must desist from now on. We are not them – the only reason we do look back is that, we speak the same language somewhat and there is some shared history.

Looks like Imran Khan is justifying terrorism to me. To go a step further, looks like he is blackmailing the entire world with terrorism. He is trying to explain at the UN the desperate condition of the failed state called Pakistan.

India’s goal or target is not Pak. Should it be so, we wouldn’t be here today in world stage.

A BIG NO TO PAKISTAN AND BANGLADESH EVEN ON ‘BUY ONE GET ONE FREE’ OFFER !

India will not give up an inch of Jammu and Kashmir which is ours legally. We will take back POK some day and we will not stop short of that. But not an extra inch of Pakistan India is after – sorry, no thanks !

Pakistan may try any means to denounce India and Kashmir, but India will deal with it in its own way, reserving the right to choose the time and place to our convenience. After all they say, revenge is best served cold. Very recent example: Balakot.. India is that slow and steady but steadfast Elephant. The elephant memory is very sharp. The Indian elephant will never fail to watch over anything and everything. The  Indian elephant will neither forgive nor forget.

Pakistan and Bangladesh are a blessing in disguise for Indian nation. Past Karma? Pakistan came into force to serve as a buffer state-shock absorber saving us Bharatwasis from some mad dogs! India also can do without the Bangladeshi vermin! Well, that’s how I see things!

India will not misuse UN to air our private and personal or pet peeves. India will use UN only as a platform to reach various levels and as a window to connect to the rest of the world. UN to India is a serious international mission that must not be squandered and wasted the way Pakistan’s Imran Khan did with it in his session. Let us build a better world at the UN rather than dig up graves!

Posted in Pictures Foreign

Unbroken (English)

Posted on by veeskitchen

Watched this second world war picture ‘Unbroken’ based on real life story of American military man Louie Zamperini. No idea who the cast were.

Louie is an Olympic athlete representing America in the 1936 games. Later his flight with Phil, Mac and other military men crashes. The duo Louie and Phil survive a grueling and record 47 days baked and famished, adrift in the ocean before being saved (?) by the Japanese military.

The land is no better as the two men discover. ‘The bird’ as nicknamed by the POW American soldiers, is in charge of their garrison. The Japanese man exhibits a sadistic streak isolating Zamp and taking his wrath out on him repeatedly, trying to break his spirit. As the war is drawing to a close, the jail warden fails to break Zamp who undauntedly challenges the cruel Japanese in his own way. From getting battered and bruised for no reason to working the coal mines of Japan to lifting heavy iron bars, Louie’s mental strength is stretched maximum to break his spirit. His stamina, pretty impressive! Without such a stamina to match his unyielding willpower, our hero would have been lost. May be it got to do with his Olympic training. The one and a half month in the sea must also have hardened our man. When all ploys fail, Zamp is tempted with bribes that could change his plight overnight. Louie Zamperini refuses to bow down, remaining strong until the end.

Reminded me of our own national hero Abhinandan who with his MIG downed the F16 flewn by  Pak airforce man in the aftermath of Balakot. How proud he made India!

War is over and the the prisoners of war return to America after the ordeal. Louie and Phil get married and have families, remaining friends life long. Louie turns to god as he discovers peace in forgiveness over revenge. He realizes his dream of running in Tokyo Olympics in grand old age (his 80s). He makes peace with his former Japanese captors but Bird still refuses to see him. The film ends here.

War pictures are not my cup of tea. However this one was different. No explicit brutal war scenes that could make one flinch.

War is not rosy.

I only have this question to ask America. So you know war brutality. Still why do you force it on so many nations. How much more oil do you want. I can say this because I am an unbiased Hindu from neutral India. I am neither a muslim nor a christian both by race and/or religion. I belong everywhere and nowhere. I also know that, none can play games with my strong India. That gives me a sense of security.

Hollywood may make a war picture like this one, but Japan won’t. I have never seen a picture on Hiroshima Nagasaki bombings that wiped millions in a flash of a second. There have been Pearl Harbour, The Schindlers’ List etc., etc. They have been good. But nothing from Asian perspective. A coin has two sides.

They say all is fair in war and love.

Neither the First world war nor the Second world war concerned most other nations, especially Asian. As if India’s 1000 year siege under the islamic invaders and the British was inadequate, these wars were unnecessarily inflicted upon us. India was robbed totally by the Brits and left threadbare. And today these guys have the audacity to talk about immigrants. How about returning our stolen Kohinoor diamond Queen Elizabeth? Only UK can royally boast the loots from Asia and Africa with such a misplaced pride. And now a phony care for wildlife. After shooting to extinction nearly most of the world’s exotic species in African and Indian wilds. Natives have always lived with wildlife. Never hunted them down.

As for America, I wonder how many Americans ponder over the Indians wiped out entirely – ethnic cleansed to some ninety nine percent. Who will make films on the Red Indians. Or Aborigines of Australia. Or the Maoris of New Zealand.

Sorry, such pictures still fail to move me. Pretty much like Louie Zamperini, I remain untouched! But I respect the fierce individual spirit of Zamp. This is what captivated me most about the picture. What he endured, how he endured. First of all there was no self-pity. There was no question of giving up on life. His survival was a constant factor. You knew that from his attitude. Revenge lay in mere staying alive, a fellow American POW in Tokyo tells Zamp in their camp.  How true. Living well is the ultimate tit-for-tat.

In a nation that is re-discovering our lost identity since Independence from the British, after a terror reign of nearly 800 years under the Moghuls etc., India is only now picking up pieces and trying to move on. War movies therefore have least effect on me.

Sometimes I feel even a sense of anger when I watch such pictures. The goodness of it all, I appreciate. But not having the courage or honesty to tell the whole or entire story comes as a big disappointment.  But then after all, history is scripted by winner with additions and deletions replete. Although Zamp impressed me with his physical stamina and mental strength, Bird earned my respect as well, refusing to see Zamp on reconciliation. Japan had much, much to lose.

Posted in Extras

Indian Universities with Global Ranks

Posted on by veeskitchen

Arriving at Global ranking of universities is a complex issue.

Subjects and Faculties and the wide array of Degree and Diplomas offered are the chief determining factors. Universities with all-round disciplines make it to top 100 (overall rating). Subjectwise ranking is a different approach.

IITs and IIMs are creamiest and best from India, under top 200 globally very easily subjectwise. As far as Engineering & Technology is concerned.

Global overall ranking requires multi-disciplines of study in various subjects with a wide scope and range covering extensive areas of specialization and research. IITs do not offer arts, sciences and literature. Humanities have been added to in recent years only. No medical sciences either for which there are full fledged medical universities. No management studies in IITs for which in India we have IIMs and a second tier of management schools like the XLRI, ISB, etc.

Few universities in India have this all round qualification and facilities.  Annamalai University is a rare one that boasts of both Engineering and Medical disciplines in the township in Chidambaram. Annamalai University (ironically founded by P Chidambaram’s grandfather Annamalai Chettiar) is a top ranking Indian university even if standards have slipped miserably these days. It is a rare one of its class in India to boast of heat treatment boilers for Mechanical engineering lab and a full fledged civil engineering workshop.

This is quite like University of Florida housing multi disciplines in the same campus such as medical, engineering, architecture and language schools. While this is norm in the case of public universities in the US, it is not so in India.

A friend’s IITian son analyzed deeply the scope of his masters degree in US. A bachelor’s degree in IITs of India seemed better according to this very bright boy who later joined Stanford. Only the top 10 US universities could match the IIT standards.

IISC (Indian Institute of Science) and Indian Institute of Physics are equally highly rated globally.

Irrespective of their ranking if any, they are acclaimed to be among the best by global standards.

IITs have to be rated under global engineering schools and IIMs for global management schools. Clubbing horses with donkeys and asses in the same league is just not right!

From Google:

IIT Delhi was the highest-ranked IIT internationally, ranking 172nd in the QS World University Rankings of 2018, followed by IIT Bombay (179th), while 3 other IITs (IIT Madras at 264, IIT Kanpur at 293 and IIT Kharagpur at 308) make the top 310.

IIT Bombay and Delhi and IISC Bangalore have a good ranking:

https://www.livemint.com/education/news/iit-bombay-iit-delhi-iisc-bangalore-among-top-200-in-prestigious-qs-global-rankings-1560974326313.html

IIT Bombay holds the 152nd spot in global subject ranking.

https://www.business-standard.com/article/education/iit-bombay-best-ranked-indian-institute-globally-at-152nd-position-119061901240_1.html

In yet another ranking system, IIT Bombay is under top 100 ranks. 53rd to be precise. This is rank for Engineering and Technology.

https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2019/engineering-technology

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/iit-bombay-among-global-top-100-in-engineering-technology-art-and-design/articleshow/68211961.cms

  • IIM Ahmedabad is top 48th among global business management schools. 

Top 10 Engineering & Tech schools in India with global ranks:

https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/top-10-indian-universities-ranked-in-world-university-rankings-2020-1598492-2019-09-12

No Indian medical school in top few hundreds but believe me, 30% of medicos in America and UK are still we Indians! We may not be having the best medical institutions here in India but we still produce the best physicians in the world! We have top of the line, state of art hospitals and medical equipment. We are also a top medical tourist destination. Sometimes, we can not always go by statistics. Who devises these global ranking systems. What are the exact parameters. Are they reliable. How far are they standardized.

India ranks 5th on Medical Tourism Index globally; 2nd in Asia

 

In India, Engineering universities/colleges have 3 tiers: All have separate entrances to clear. For instance, IITs have IIT-JEE to clear.

First: IITs, IISC, IIP

Second: NIITs

Third: BITS Pilani, Anna University, Annamalai University, VIT, SRM, Manipal, etc for instance. Private Engineering colleges may be affiliated with State Engineering Universities like Anna University in Tamil Nadu for instance.

Fourth tier: Too many of private engineering colleges mushrooming through out the nation without upkeeping standards.

Management schools also have 3 tiers in India. After bachelor degree in engineering (a majority cases) or commerce or CA, one has to clear CAT to get into one of these.

First: IIMs

Second: XLRI, ISB, BIM, SP Jain

Third: Great Lakes, Symbiosis

Fourth tier: Every other university may have an MBA program though without much of market value. Where you come from matters.

Medical Universities ranking in India: Entry after clearing NEET. Seats could be anywhere through length and breadth of India. A good rank in NEET entrance may procure a candidate medical seat of his/her choice and place.

Tier 1: AIIMS, AFMC

Tier 2: JIPMER, PGIMER, CMC Vellore

Tier 3: State Medical college hospitals.

Tier 4: Private medical universities (Those who pay for management seat of these private medical universities will never clear NEET for PG as well and will have to pay through their nose to get a PG seat)

Tiers 1 and 2 in India are real good whether it is Engineering or Medicine or Management.

Similarly Schools of architecture and Law schools and School for Journalism etc., privately managed (deemed/autonomous) universities from India too have a good and respectable ranking:

These may include

Symbiosis

Manipal

Amity

JJ college of architecture

ICAI and ICWAI take care of aspiring chartered and cost accountants.  ICAI is the second largest professional Accounting & Finance body in the world. 

From Catering & Hotel management to Fashion technology and other skilled and semi-skilled professional education and human resources, India is chartbuster! One of the most sought-after talent pool in the world today.

If Indian Education is not good enough we might not be having Sundar Pichchai today as CEO of Google. Pichchai did his schooling at Jawahar Vidyalaya and Vana Vani, not PSBB popular with IIT hopefuls and one of top 10 Chennai schools. Elitist. Graduated from IIT though. Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft from Andhra Pradesh did not even attend an IIT. Ex Pepsico CEO Indira Nooyi attended an arts & science college in Madras (Chennai) before joining IIM. Citibank has had an Indian CEO. Almost every big global corporate brand has had an Indian CEO or other top level executive in the past. That means, we must be good. Good enough. Irrespective of the fact how we are ranked.

Missile man of India and the ex-President of India Dr Abdul Kalam never attended a foreign university. He was a 100% local product. The first question the Americans asked themselves about him on learning of his acumen and expertise is, “which US university did he go to?’ They were in for shock that Kalam was an agmark desi engineering & science graduate whose interest lay in space tech. Similarly the ISRO chairman of the present Dr K Sivan, who attended a Tamil school that he walked to bare-footed without slippers, helping his farmer father in the agricultural field to earn a few extra rupees, is a desi product. He turned down NASA offer to continue to work for India.

Other Indian global standings that may not have anything to do with university rankings:

India is a world’s leading software exporter and IT hub. India also belongs in the elite Space club having a successful Mars Mission and two Lunar missions as feathers in ISRO’s caps. India launched a record 104 satellites at one go in a world record. What rank from which university here.

How many of top 100-200 ranked universities outside USA and China have been able to achieve India’s feat given our very limited resources and greater constraints.

There is room for great improvement. A thorough overhaul of our professional course syllabus is the need of the hour. The scope of the subjects taught is dismal. There has to be a holistic approach to the learning process in India.

Believe me or not, I have lived/interacted with dozen nationalities in last 20 years. Lived in Malaysia for 4 years. I have always felt that the IQ of Indians is much more than most Asians at least. Only Chinese/Korean/Japanese are similar to/better than us. India’s weakness is our spirituality quotient and high level of emotion being a family oriented society. Individual aspirations take a second place. We live for the community. Our priorities are not the same as Chinese for instance. How many chinese do you expect to go to cinemas, learn classical music not to perform but to soothe one’s soul, or still visit temples and/or go on pilgrimage. Even in Swiss, you can see them shop for watches to sell back for a neat profit at home. India is backward because living life well matters to us more than financial rewards or economic gratification.

Posted in Political

Who killed Subhasri.

Posted on by veeskitchen

Extremely saddened :

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/anger-and-anguish-social-media-over-chennai-techie-subhasri-subhasree-death-108815

The bubbly young techie who was riding a two wheeler lost her balance and came under a passing tanker, crushed to death (was she wearing a helmet – what a dumb question to ask). Reason: An illegal (political party) hoarding (flex banner) fell on her throwing her off her Scooty. All my weekend enthusiasm seems to have deflated in a single stroke. The irresponsibility and callousness of those in authority is shocking. No word for the angel’s grieving parents. She happened to be my husband’s friend’s kid’s college mate and best friend. A very bright, cheerful kid full of life, reportedly: donning many hats: Software engineer working in the city’s IT corridor, Zumba trainer, linguist and a few more. It is at times like these I completely lose faith in God. Whoever’s kid is that… how can life go on after this… Her parents’ only child…

Lost my appetite totally. 23. Like my daughter. Her parents must be like us…

Posted in Political

Rs 60,00,000 Crore Thorium Scam In Congress-led UPA Regime

Posted on by veeskitchen

Dates back to UPA govt. Ironically a continuing saga till today.

https://rs6000000crorethoriumscam.wordpress.com/

I have received Whatsapp forwards on this to no avail. No political debate on any tv news channel. Silence from Arnab Goswami. I am blank here. No knowledge. Hoping for Republic tv to pick it up sooner or later.

Awaiting more information and investigation on this. No word from even Dr Subramanyam Swami???

Very painful watching this knowing (or rather learning) what is going on in India and how the nation is losing heavily while the common man is fleeced mercilessly. As I do not know much about this scandal, I rest my case. My only counter is a fervent prayer to set right things that are gone awfully wrong.

Posted in Lateral Thinking

Dear VIPs & Media, Please Allow ISRO To Do Their Job

Posted on by veeskitchen

If you think I was happy to see Sadhguru or our PM at ISRO Control room at the zero hour of this 7th September, you are wrong.

As much as I appreciate our PM’s thoughtfulness as to be there when ISRO was about to make history (without a wink of sleep right from the Russia tour), I wish he had rather missed the event (even in the rare case of being invited). I wish the Sadhguru had stayed away as well. The media presence was a menace, a nightmare. True, I was carried over by the hype myself.

My heart goes out to the scientists, technicians and engineers, especially the unassuming ISRO chairman Dr K Sivan who were distracted to maximum degree the D Day with the fuss that must have been generated around the VIP presence. Was it a space agency or circus?

Not that the critical manoeuvre of the Lander Vikram was a last minute job. Chandrayaan 2 has been an ongoing project since July 22nd. Everything was set. Only buttons needed to be pressed for the lander to separate from the orbiter and make it to the moon’s surface. Yet, one cannot underestimate the high level of significance attached to this grand finale. The ultimate climax.

None of us especially those from scientific community were enraged or disappointed. We only became sad. I am married to an engineer and I am mother of an engineer. I know what it takes to execute something with scientific precision. I know the stress levels. I know the men’s sense of responsibility. I know that success could still be all elusive, despite doing everything textbook-correct.

Only if you have a sound academic background can you ever think the way I do.

I read a funny comment on this in social media. It is good that many people share my views, especially working professionals.

A man had posted in Tamil that, ‘beloved parents of a girl may give away their darling daughter in a lavish wedding but that does not mean they have to insist to be present in her suhaag raath!’ It came as a bolt really.

How will a surgeon feel if the kith and kin of a patient insist on being in the operation theater when his cardiac bypass surgery could be underway.

Comparatively, Chandrayaan 1 launch was a low keyed affair drawing minimum media attention. We knew about facts after they were presented by ISRO to the media.

I hear Sadhguru lectures. In one of them, he says how he sought to be alone on his own for a number of days/weeks/years to gain inner consciousness. Or a higher level of consciousness. Solitude seems to be very important to this well known spiritual guru famous for lecturing everyone. Sadhguru ji, can’t you still realize what harm you were doing to ISRO with your unwarranted presence. I have respects for you, but i am not a blind follower. I have contributed to your Cauvery Calling in my permissible individual capacity, but neither will I forget the elephant corridor you took over for Isha. I have been there myself. I have seen it with my own eyes.  My heart did not stop because of the Isha. But it stopped thinking, ‘where will the elephants go.  I do not care about what the Karunya Christian group of institutions is doing. I only know this is not the way of Shiva. I may not be enlightened like you, but I am enlightened enough to have my heart dominate my mind.

Suppose the contractor company MD has to come and sit with the construction worker working on a temporary steel platform erected in the air for a 100 storey building. Dear Prime Minister, what do you think will happen to the poor worker. Civil engineering dare devils. In our culture we don’t even eat well in others’ presence fearing ‘nazar.’

ISRO can do without the glam cheer boys seriously! For them, this is just one more photo-op what else!

I wondered whether I must bare my heart and blog this. Then I told myself, who must I be scared of. I have to be scared of only my Manasakshi. My conscience. I am answerable only to my conscience. Who else must I fear or be answerable to. There are people who all fear and respect. Then there are those who are loved most. I would rather belong to the second kind.

Media too had a very damaging role to play in all this, trying to make a scientific feat into a third rate Bollywood tamasha – all for what? For stupid TRP ratings my foot! Shame on these guys!

DEAR VIPS AND MEDIA, PLEASE LEAVE ISRO ALONE TO DO THEIR JOB!

This minute by minute scrutiny will only make them feel acutely self-conscious and guilty at heart for no reason. These guys have done nothing wrong. They are doing their duty to their best. ISRO is not your fancy fast food restaurant to serve your ego at your whim and fancy.

The success of ISRO must not be allowed to be hijacked by any VIP whoever it may be. ISRO must not share credit for their milestones with anyone – the pride is India’s.

One of these days, who knows Vikram lander might communicate after all. Of the 14 solar days of it’s life, an estimated 11 remain as of today. Anything is possible.

Wishing ISRO all the success in future! One step at a time. I know the pain of hardwork, patience and failure. Nothing is possible overnight. But success will be around the corner soon.

 

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My blog post on Chandrayaan I, India’s first Moon mission way back in 2008 . Chandrayaan 1 incidentally found water on the moon. India discovered water on lunar surface. (with no edit)

Indian Tricolour flies high in the Moon

November 15, 2008

THIS MORNING I WOKE UP TO A BEAUTIFUL HEADLINE NEWS IN ‘THE HINDU’ FRONTPAGE WITH AN EXCELLENT PRECISION PHOTOGRAPH OF THE SURFACE OF THE MOON & WHOLE OF TODAY I SAW TIME AND AGAIN THE MOON IMPACT PROBE (MIP) FROM CHANDRAYAAN IN THE MOON’S SURFACE  IN TV WITH THE FAMILIAR INDIAN TRICOLOR FLAG PAINTED ON ITS SIDES – INDIA HAS ARRIVED ON THE MOON!   AND INDIANS ARE DEFINITELY OVER THE MOON RIGHT NOW TOO!
www.hindu.com/2008/11/15/stories/200811155841010054.htm

November 14th 2008 saw MIP landing in the Moon from Chandrayaan – 1 AND THE INDIAN TRICOLOR FLAG NOW FLUTTERS HIGH IN THE MOON!   Only USA, Russia and European Union flags have so far fluttered in the lunar surface.   Indian National Flag is the 4th national flag to fly high in Chand – the Moon.   “The Hindu” editorial proclaimed that this is 100% an indigenous effort.  It has made us all proud – and ISRO CHAIRMAN MADHAVAN NAIR SAID, IT IS A GIFT TO THE CHILDREN OF INDIA.   For the date of the MIP landing was 14th Nov which  is celebrated as ‘Children’s Day’ by Indian schools – after Jawarharlal Nehru’s birthday.  Nehru, the first PM of independent India luved children.  Nehru ruled from 1947 to 1964 when he died.  Incidentally it was during this period, ISRO was started.   It was, believe me or not, Nehru’s vision that one day Indian tricolor flag should flutter on the Moon.    It was the period when interest in Space began in India.   What a grand coincidence that the Indian MIP should land in the Moon on Nehru’s birthday?

U have no idea what this does to the present GenNext of India – those of my son’s schoolmates who used to talk about working for NASA are now talking about working for ISRO and those govt depts like Atomic Energy Commission of India.   Nodoubt these depts pay worst – but what a pride, what a career satisfaction?   Even i am asking my son whether he is interested in Space sciences.    Catch all Chandrayaan-1 pix at www.isro.org/

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PS: Just learned via Social media, due to precious fuel saving without corrections, the life expectancy of the orbiter has been revised from 1 year to 7 years. Kudos! That is an awesome news indeed but needs further verification.

 

Posted in Lateral Thinking

It’s Okay ISRO, You Are Still The Best And We Are Proud Of You!

Posted on by veeskitchen

Last night was Shiv Rathri for us Indians across the globe. Not only did the resident Indians stay awake, but also NRIs and PIOs spread across continents. The entire Indian diaspora if I may say so. Chandrayaan 2 launched July 22nd from Sriharikota, almost created history. The Lander Vikram separated from Rover Pragyan from the Chandrayaan 2 (the mother satellite in good shape orbiting the Moon) stage by stage in text book precision absolutely following the trajectory of projection. The Rough Break phase was torturous wait for even those of us with not much of astrophysics knowledge. Stage 1 of clearance success, stage 2, success, stage 3, overwhelming success… only stage 4 remained of the tension filled 15 seconds that was more like one hour when we waited with our bated breath for a signal from Vikram … but then followed a lengthy silence from the ISRO Control Room at Bangalore as the radio communication from Vikram snapped… (the landing time was calculated at 1.53 am September 7th)… a billion hearts broke as the nation plunged into despair. The grief was writ large in the faces of ISRO scientists and engineers. Chairman Dr. K Sivan who was in tears was embraced by an emotional Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji. What a moment to live for.  The final crowing glory that was denied, no more mattered.

So is Chandrayaan 2 a failure? No way! Only 5% of the Mission was lost with losing contact with the Lander Vikram. Chandrayaan 2 will be orbiting the Moon for the next one year, its estimated life. The orbiter has already beamed pictures of space, Earth and Moon back to ISRO center. India was attempting in this second Moon Mission of ours to soft land on the polar end of the Moon where so far no other nation (of the four to five countries that have their flags on the moon already) had dared to venture. It was risky and the probability of failure was very high. It is almost the dark side of the moon. India’s first Moon mission Chandrayaan 1 landed its probe near the equator of the moon, favourite landing spot for astronauts and other landers.

Chandrayaan 2’s lander Vikram was as close as 2.1 km from the surface of the moon where it should have landed. Whether it crashed or what happened to it will be revealed only through the scientific data. It is impressive that our scientists, technicians and engineers have given us such a precision in landing. Down there lies mystery that so far mankind has not known of. Unexplored space. Simply anything is possible.

 

Anyway, all is not lost yet guys!

https://www.livemint.com/science/news/-95-of-chandrayaan-2-intact-as-orbiter-flying-around-moon/amp-1567808505257.html?fbclid=IwAR04oc2ARHhIYW4mA8mX0-H8G1kUi8zPCjTcWPYaQMOl2_ak373zk8yS-Vg

But I can feel the heaviness at heart. Bravo ISRO team! You are the best and you will be back with a bounce sooner than we can expect!

Posted in Environment

Say A Big ‘NO’ To Birth Control For Indian Elephants

Posted on by veeskitchen

Govt of India authorized the Environment Ministry to carry out family planning on Indian Elephants ?

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/environment-ministry-plans-to-use-immunocontraceptives-for-wildlife-population-management/article28307106.ece

I do not know how to stop this in my limited individual capacity. I am recording simply my unhappiness and disbelief and frustration here because of my inability to do anything about this.

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/india-elephants-immunocontraceptives-environment-ministry_in_5d6685dbe4b022fbceb43051

Already the Congress govt introduced birth control TO ONLY HINDUS and reduced our population systematically, limiting our family sizes to 1 or 2 kids maximum. Hindu population has plunged since the independence from 90% to 70% today whereas the minorities have more than doubled, trebled. Now is BJP trying to reduce even our Elephant (God’)s population? This is madness.

Mindless encroachment on wildlife habitat and especially on natural elephant corridors linking valleys and underpasses and mountains the way Mother Nature created it, is happening because of hectic industrialization. Can’t we find other ways to avoid human-wildlife conflict. India is home to wildlife especially Indian elephants, single horned rhinos, monkeys, Bengal tigers, Asiatic lions, cheetahs, first and foremost among other flora and fauna, and then finally to homo sapiens. Because even if we humans perish, nature will continue to have its way.  This wildlife is God given gift to India – and this beautiful nature. Are we even worthy of such a precious gift.

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Connected Read: https://vijiravindran.com/2017/02/12/stop-cruelty-to-elephants-in-the-name-of-religion-now/

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I request PM Shri Narendra Modi ji to immediately look into this affair and stop any such horrific plan on its tracks to introduce family planning to the jumbo family. Modi ji,on this Ganesh Chaturthi day, I submit to you this humble plea. Save the Indian Elephant. Please do not enforce birth control on any form on our wild life especially our elephants. Cannot imagine India without our elephants. Can you imagine India without Ganpati Bappa?

Elephants are endangered species already. While wildlife lovers are worried about their dwindling population, it comes as a rude shock that our government is actually planning to control our elephant population. Elephants have none to argue their case or champion their cause. Already domesticated (temple)/captive elephants are denied their right to mating. Forced to feed on imbalanced diet such as too much sweet (sugarcane and jaggery) for instance, leading to their ill-health. Their spirit broken and crushed, chained and enclosed in claustrophobic small spaces. Separated as calves from their herds. Is this not cruel enough. In the wild, every single day, an Indian elephant dies a torturous death either stepping on an animal trap or brushing against an electric fence of a farmer or hit by a speeding train along the railway crossing. Is there none to listen to their anguish. What a heartless society we have become.

I will watch out for any roll back on the government order.