Author: veeskitchen

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.

Posted in Political History

What An August For India!

Posted on by veeskitchen

How August 1947 was, we never knew. Down south, hardly any ripple about the partition was felt. From what I learned from stories told and retold in my younger years, from the only transistor (public property) in Luz, Mylapore, the All India Radio broadcast Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous speech ‘when the whole world sleeps….’ – of the oft-quoted ‘Freedom At Midnight.’ Hundreds of men had gathered there waiting for hours to listen to this historic speech that was tuned to maximum volume. ‘National flag hoisting in schools and offices next day which was declared government holiday (August 15th) followed by sweets distribution, then all went home. Next day business as usual with schools reopening!!!’ is the exact way the Independence Day August 15, 1947 was described to me. As uninteresting as that!

72 years later, August 2019 is being a different one. Our Independence Day this year was a buoyant one, no doubt. What a journey this has been for India. A short recap of this whirlwind month of August’19:

CENTRE SCRAPPED ARTICLE 370 AND ARTICLE 35A GIVING SPECIAL STATUS TO JAMMU & KASHMIR ON AUGUST 5TH, 2019. LADAKH BECAME A DISTINCT UNION TERRITORY. FOR THE PRESENT, JAMMU & KASHMIR TO CONTINUE TO BE A UNION TERRITORY, TO BE RESTORED WITH STATEHOOD IN TIME. WITH THIS, THE NEHRU BLUNDER WAS RECTIFIED BY BJP PRIME MINISTER SHRI NARENDRA MODI’S GOVERNMENT IN A SINGLE STROKE. HISTROY REWRITTEN, HISTORY MADE! AFTER 72 LONG YEARS, JAMMU & KASHMIR WAS INTEGRATED WITH THE UNION OF INDIA.

CHANDRAYAAN 2, INDIA’S SECOND LUNAR MISSION, LAUNCHED JULY 22ND, CONTINUED ITS VOYAGE TO THE MOON, BEAMING THE FIRST SET OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF EARTH & MOON THIS AUGUST. AT LEAST TWO INDIAN SCIENTISTS HAVE THEIR NAMES ETCHED IN THE MOON NOW: SISIR MITRA AND VIKRAM SARABHAI, FOUNDER OF ISRO, WITH LUNAR CRATERS NAMED AFTER THEM.

Who is Sisir Mitra? The Scientist That ISRO Just Named a Lunar Crater After

INDIA’S PV SINDHU CREATED HISTORY BECOMING THE FIRST INDIAN TO WIN THE WORLD BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS (BWF) ON AUGUST 25H, 2019

INDIA AT G7 ON AUGUST 26, 2019 ON INDIA’S TERMS.

Earlier, our Prime Minister was also presented with highest order of awards by the UAE and Bahrain- two of them in a single day. This takes the count to 6 – the number of islamic nations that have honoured Shri Narendra Modi with their highest civilian awards.

Wonderful!

The other side:

INDIA LOST SMT SUSHMA SWARAJ, EX HOME MINISTER – INVALUABLE ASSET TO THE NATION, ON AUGUST 6TH 2019

INDIA LOST ARUN JAITLEY, EX FINANCE MINISTER ON AUGUST 24TH, 2019. JAITLEY WAS THE MAN BEHIND GST.

Two gems lost in a single month from the crown. This is not just BJP’s loss, this is national loss. With them, BJP and the nation have lost three precious sons and daughter of India including Manohar Parikkar who was our ex- Defence Minister. Irreparable loss.

What an August this has been for us. In between, there was the telecast of ‘Man Vs Wild’ featuring PM Modi with Bear Grylls in the Discovery channel. It came as a breather. None of us anticipated August 2019 to unfold this way. It has been one roller coaster ride for us Indians.

Neither is Rupee doing great. Once again after over an year or two, INR breached the 70 rupee mark against dollar, thanks to China-US trade spat. Markets are not good. Manufacturing slowing down. Registering Production losses and lay-offs. Monsoon mayhem everywhere in India except for in Chennai where it’s raining for a month now to no avail. Some gains and some losses.

We in India cannot say that the Amazon fires do not concern us. The enormous impact the fires will leave on our very existence in future is worth making the issue our top priority.  My humble request to everyone who cannot directly do anything in his/her/their lone capacity to put off the raging fires: say a small prayer for Bhooma Devi, Mother Earth. Pray for quick extinguishing of fires. The array of flora and fauna lost to the fires is unimaginable! The loss of habitat for the wildlife and the native tribes is worse. There is every reason to believe this is corporate managed which makes this whole tragic affair a sordid one.  Still, in whichever forum you can, please put in a word about the Amazon – Brazil and Bolivia fires. The fires now encompass nine Latin American nations. Wherever you are, write/add/speak a word about wildlife, environment, water resources, pollution. Thank you! You won’t be making a penny out of this probably, but neither will you be losing one!

Now what does September have in store, I wonder.

Posted in Extras

Political Memes

Posted on by veeskitchen

Compiled from Google Images. Reproduced here without prejudice. None of this is mine. Will keep updating. These memes got me ROFL !!! So sharing here in this space even if most may be already doing rounds in social media. By descending order. From latest to oldest.