Caution: The Lucid lynx-Change is here

Ubuntu 10.04 or Project Lucid lynx is out,and as I have already been updating on my 'social broadcast accounts' via Gwibber, it has undergone a metamorphosis-both technically and I'm afraid even philosophically!

Let me first jot down the glaring apprehensions about this metamorphosis:

• Canonical had been negotiating a deal of using Yahoo as the default search engine, instead of Mozilla Firefox in Ubuntu. Although, it has now released Lucid lynx with Firefox, in future releases it might well switch to Yahoo. This, in the Free Software community we realize to be a set-back, given the snow-balling popularity of Ubuntu. 

• The Release Candidate which i was testing is diverging from the open-standards struggle, by more inclined support and encouragement to proprietary media standards. Ubuntu with it's growing foothold could well be the mediator to enforce open media standards in a gradual manner. Here again, we are going reverse ways. 

• Previously default bundled tools like GIMP,are not available in the RC 10.04(will update this statement if it is bundled in the final candidate).Although, these can be added later by 'apt-get'ing them. 

These are the few important points, we as Free Software activists need to be aware of.

At the end of the day, I am still talking about a Uber Cool, Smart and Fast Operating system, which easily beats all its counterparts in the proprietary domain, which is also Free ( here in the context of price:)
I'm still a big fan of Ubuntu, and here's a list of go-go's in the latest avatar of Ubuntu:

• Faster than previous releases. 
• Love the default theme, and aesthetics ( pre-loaded wallpapers are some of the best pictures you would have seen)
• Comprehensive Ubuntu Software Center, cataloging all the tools in a comprehensive manner

• Newer tools like Gwibber(Social Broadcast messenger),Empathy ( The IM client) and more

• Ubuntu One account to float your data online (A step towards reaching out to 'the  cloud')
• The ususal sleek 3-D desktop effects, which have gotten better #compiz

• Openoffice.org 3.2, quicker and better [Had forgotten about the Sun take-over,Oracle splashes on the startup screen :(]
• There is more concerned approach towards Universal Accessiblity issues and Localization. Ubuntu Software center has good projects in this regard. 
• Also, after Hardy Heron (Ubuntu 8.04), we have the Long Term Stable release or the LTS with Lucid Lynx with support for three years. 

And, loads of other things to keep you stuck with the lynx.

I've been using Ubuntu since almost three years now, and I'm yet to feel complacent about it.

Lucid lynx is better, wrong at places, but never to be ignored :)

Happy Birthday Lucid lynx :)

Spirituality --> Know Thyself

Nothing exists without purpose. Sometimes, true purposes, with time get scrambled by ageing and lose their authentic context.

I can quote, and you might also be able to relate to lots of examples to substantiate this argument.
For instance,I have spoken about the misconception of the concept of 'God' previously.It could be one.
Transcending in similar lines,let me tackle another close conceptual associate of the idea of God -Spirituality. I should better be attributing Spirituality to be the source out of which the concept of God was churned out, but as a misinterpretation!

Spirituality, by today's definitions, is a quest of something that is essentially not in our humane realms. It is a not a subjective entity, but an elaborate process of attaining a certain state of mind, where the mind is supreme, or enlightened.

Essentially, Spirituality as I have understood, was a mechanism conceptualized to nurture the 'self' to realize one's own potentials. Simple.
In attempting this,and to give the mind a better picture of what it is aspiring to become, a slightly exaggerated idea of the 'objective' was depicted, to serve as a signpost, or like a vade mecum. But,this exaggerated idea, with growing senility of the society, has come to be known as today's 'God'.

With so much of misconception shrouding the true sense of Spirituality, it definitely had to become the lucrative business it is today, attracting hollow humans.

Spirituality simply is a tool / a process / a methodology, helping the mind to realize and perpetuate one's potency, while mitigating the flaws.

Until we try to 'Know Thyself', we will continue to be slaves to every big thing that has gone wrong in the society!

(Know thyself, Greek: γνῶθι σεαυτόν gnōthi seauton)

Rahman's Rustic Raavan

'Rustic' is the word which kept ringing in my head while listening to all the tracks offered by A R Rahman in Mani Ratnam's Raavan.

The album as a whole, I should say Raavan has a typical Mani Ratnam-Rahman sound to it. Six excellent tracks emanating from this combination for Raavan are more towards being script-dependent, than making the album self-sufficient by itself . Like in every album by ARR, all the tracks have something to brag about, with some ingenious lyrics by Gulzar :-)

1.Beera: Almost has a tribal sound to it, as if it were composed in an attempt to emulate the tribes of Eastern India. The lyrics are full of praises to the protagonist, with a feel of vanity to it.
2.Behene de: Another excellent collaboration between ARR and Karthik in this song. This is that one song of every AR album which would keep resonating in your head. You actually feel the 'flow' this song is about.
3.Thok di Killi: This is the most interesting song with a good tempo all along, with some intriguing lyric in it. I am yet to decipher the entire context and implication of these radical lines in the song. Sukhwinder sing takes the song effortlessly through it's phases, making it another good track in the album.
4.Ranjha Ranjha: Surprise track of the album. Superb vocals by Rekha Bharadwaj complimented well by Javed Ali.Every time she sings 'Ranjha Ranjha', the song penetrates deeper and deeper into you.
5.Khilli re: Slow and soothing track of the likes of 'Saanwariya saanwariya' from Swades. Will catch on in the later stages of my album-listening routines.
6.Katta katta: Cheeky track with funny lyric. Genre of vocals used in this track are real good, and it culminates into a new kind of a song from the house of AR :)

One major disappointment for a die-hard fan of AR like me, is that AR hasn't sung any of the tracks. Remember 'Tere Bina' from Guru? :)
Nevetheless, second album of AR for the year after VTV will stand out as a good one as well:) Still waiting for the Tamil version-Expecting some crackling lyric by Vairamuthu.

Inherent inadequacy of words

Sometimes, when I have an idea,or a thought, or some 'neural noise' which I need to dissipate out, words flow out easily conveying the same to the rest of you. Although, in a less effective manner than the authentic source. There are also times, when I might have to force the words out to imply even the quite obvious.

This, I believe is a result of two things: One being my own mental state i.e., the synchronism between the various sectors of my gray matter. Second, about which this post is about-the inherent inadequacy of words, in expressing the quintessential in an effectively wholesome manner. This inadequacy is manifested at various levels in different individuals, not dependent only on the diversity of their vocabulary, but also on the extent of interlinking between their 'neural sparks' (thoughts) and 'archived neural blocks'(words embedded in memory).

Now, if you are thinking of raising the point of 'Creativity'in this forum -Yes, it does play an important role.

Expressing intricately obscure neural sparks is facilitated by Creativity either by providing a different frame of reference in articulation (metaphors, similes and the other kinds of exaggerations), or by gifting people with other 'flowing' skills in the form of art and music.

The extent of inherent constraints in art and music is lesser than that of literature; One reason being that they can be uncontrolled, and can reach a 'sublime' chaos, which is tougher to accomplish in literature.

But again, the power of Literature lies in it's residual levels of abstraction when compared to Art or Music, which in their sense can be as abstract as the Universe itself!

Capitalism: A Love Story

"Capitalism: A Love Story" is Michael Moore's documentary dissecting the 2008 US economy meltdown, which had adverse affects worldwide. In this documentary he rightly attributes this collapse to the failure of Capitalism.

While watching this documentary few of my own questions were answered, and also gave rise to many more important questions.

At a personal level, I happened to approach the idea of "Free Market, Free Enterprise" from the views of Ayn Rand - The one influential philosopher of Individualism. Although, I used to endorse her portrayal of the system, I have begun to realize that 'it isn't as it was supposed to be'.

Growing disparity in any society can never do good to the society. Like in today's scenario, India is polarizing in an accelerated manner. I still might have not understood the economic or the political systems comprehensively to criticize it authoritatively, but I can very well see the flashing mistakes being made.

I, at a personal level am in quest for an answer to this flawed system which is impaired and ineffective.

Michael Moore ends the documentary suggesting a people's rebellion against the
demon of disparity and exploitation.
Again, I am still unsure of its effectiveness.

I do not want to conclude the post with my opinion, while it is still in the making. But, a line from the documentary could end it well.

This is capitalism. A system of taking and giving...mostly taking!

ಮಾತೃ ಭಾಷೆ ಹಾಗು ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಕಲಿಕೆ : 'ತಂತ್ರಾಂಶಗಳ ಸ್ಥಳೀಕರಣ'

ಇಂದಿನ ದಿನ, ಸ್ವತಂತ್ರ ತಂತ್ರಾಂಶ ಆಂದೋಲನ-  ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಮುಖಾಂತರ ಒಂದು ಮುಖ್ಯವಾದ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ - 'ತಂತ್ರಾಂಶಗಳ ಸ್ಥಳೀಕರಣ'ವನ್ನು ಮೈಸೂರಿನ  ಶ್ರೀ ಜಯಚಾಮರಾಜೇಂದ್ರ ತಾಂತ್ರಿಕ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನ ಉತ್ಸಾಹಿ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳೊಡನೆ ಆಯೋಜಿಸಿದ್ದೆವು .

'ತಂತ್ರಾಂಶಗಳ ಸ್ಥಳೀಕರಣ'  ಅಂದರೆ ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಿಗೆ ತಂತ್ರಾಂಶಗಳನ್ನು ಭಾಷಾಂತರಿಸಿ, ಅಲ್ಲಿಯ ಜನತೆಗೆ ಗಣಕಗಳು ಉಪಯುಕ್ತವಾಗುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡುವ ಒಂದು ಯತ್ನ.  ಈ ನಿಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದಿನ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಪರಿಣಾಮಗಳನ್ನು ತಂದದಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಭಾವಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.

ಇಂದಿನ ಸಭೆಯ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಮಾತುಗಾರರು 'ಮಾತೃಭಾಷೆ  ಹಾಗು ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುವ ಕಲಿಕೆ'ಯ ಮಹತ್ವದ ಅಂಶಗಳನ್ನು ಬಹಳ ಆಳವಾಗಿ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಿಸಿ , ನಾವೂ ಅದರ  ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚಿಂತಿಸುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡಿದರು.   ಈ ದಿಕ್ಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಮಗಿರುವ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿಗಳನ್ನೂ  ಮನವರಿಕೆಗೊಳಿಸಿದರು .

ನಮ್ಮ ಮೆದುಳು ಯಾವ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತನ್ನ ಕಲ್ಪನೆ ಹಾಗು ಯೋಚನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆಯೋ , ಆ ಭಾಷೆಯು ನಮ್ಮ  ಮಾತೃಭಾಷೆಯಾಗಿಬಿಡುತ್ತದೆ   .

ಹೀಗಿದ್ದಲ್ಲಿ , ನಮ್ಮ ದೇಶದ  ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯು, ಆಯಾ ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲದೆ  ಆಂಗ್ಲದಲ್ಲಿರುವುದರಿಂದ, ನಮ್ಮ ಮಾತೃಭಾಷೆಯ ಮೇಲಿರಬೇಕಾದ  ಅಭಿಮಾನ ಹಾಗು ಆಸಕ್ತಿ ಕುಂದಿಹೋಗುವ ಸಾಧ್ಯತೆಗಳು ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.
ಈನಡುವೆ, ಎಲೆಲ್ಲೂ ಗಣಕೀಕರಣ ವೇಗವಾಗಿ ವ್ಯಾಪಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವಾಗ ನಮ್ಮ ಮಾತೃಭಾಷೆಗಳು ಗಣಕಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಹೊಂದಿಕೊಂಡು , ಅಳವಡಿಸದೆ ಹೋದಲ್ಲಿ ಇನ್ನೂ ಕೆಲವೇ ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಿಗೂ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತ ಭಾಷೆಗೆ ಬಂದಿರುವ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ ತಪ್ಪಿದಲ್ಲ.

ಆದುದರಿಂದ, ನಾವೆಲ್ಲರೂ 'ತಂತ್ರಾಂಶಗಳ ಸ್ಥಳೀಕರಣ' ವನ್ನು ಮೊದಲನೆಯ  ಹೆಜ್ಜೆಯಾಗಿ ಆರಂಭಿಸಿ, ಮುಂದಿನ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆಯಾಗಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಪೂರೈಕೆಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಬೇಕಾದಂತಹ ತಂತ್ರಾಂಶಗಳನ್ನು ಬರೆದು ಬಳಸಬಹುದು.

ಈ ಮೊದಲನೆಯ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆಯ ಮೊದಲ ಯತ್ನವಾಗಿ  ನಡೆದ ಇಂದಿನ ನಮ್ಮ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ, ಸುಮಾರು ೩೦ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು, ಹಲವಾರು ಪ್ರಾಧ್ಯಾಪಕರು, ಮತ್ತು ನಮ್ಮ ಉತ್ಸಾಹಿಗಳು ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಕೂಡಿ  ಆಂಗ್ಲದಲ್ಲಿದ ಡೆಬಿಯನ್ ಓ ಎಸ್ ಅಥವ ಕಾರ್ಯ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯ ಕೆಲವು ಮುಖ್ಯ ಭಾಗಗಳನ್ನು ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ ಅನುವಾದ ಮಾಡಿದರು. ಈ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆಯು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಸಮಯದ ನಂತರ ಬಹಳ ಮನೋರಂಜಕವಾಗಿ ಕಾಣಲಾರಂಭಿಸಿತು. ಏಕೆಂದರೆ, .ಆಂಗ್ಲದಲ್ಲಿರುವ  ಹಲವಾರು  ತಾಂತ್ರಿಕ ಪದಗಳನ್ನು ಹುಡುಕುತ್ತ , ಅವುಗಳನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸುತ್ತ  ನಡೆದ ಈ ಪ್ರಕ್ರಿಯೆ ಒಂದು ಸಣ್ಣದಾದ  ಪದಗಳ ಹಬ್ಬವಾಗಿಹೋಯಿತು .

ಇಂತಹ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆಗಳು ಆಗೊಮ್ಮೆ- ಈಗೊಮ್ಮೆ  ಅಲ್ಲದೆ ನಿರಂತರವಾಗಿ ನಡೆದರೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ನಮ್ಮ ಗುರಿಯಾದ- ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಪೂರ್ಣ ಗಣಕ   ವಿಜ್ಞ್ಯಾನ ಹಾಗು ಇದರಿಂದ ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರಿಗೆ ಅನುಕೂಲ- ಈ ನಿಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊಗಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯ.

ನಿಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿ ಬರಿಯ ಮಾತುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸೀಮಿತವಾಗಿರದೆ, ಇಂತಹ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ನೀವು ಸಂಬಂಧಪಟ್ಟ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹಮ್ಮಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವಿರಿ ಎಂದು ಆಶಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ .

ಹಿನ್ನುಡಿ :  ಸಭೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ತೀಕ್ಷ್ಣವಾದ ಸರಳ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಲು  ನನಗೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಕಷ್ಟಕರವಾಗಿರುವುದರಿಂದ  ನಾನು ವೇದಿಕೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಲು  ಹಿಂಜರಿಯುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಇದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನನ್ನನ್ನು  ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ

'Beauty' of Small things

Little small things in life are the small little sources of super big happinesses. 

A simple,but effective secret of life preached by a sweet friend,who practices it thoroughly.


Little things like the days, dates, messages, expressions, attire, colours, words, utterances, silly faux pas, and other nuances of daily interaction if treasured,can in due course of time grow in their value, to give us sweet joyous moments of sharing and heart warming reminiscence.

Today,I was engaged in one such lovely interaction, although it was unidirectional, for, I have grown to ignore such meticulous observations.

This has well convinced me to assimilate the influence of this 'Beauty' of Small things into me, to feel more attached to the moments when spent in a special manner.

Constant worrying and cribbing about mega things shouldn't make one grow numb to the micro and nano moments of joy.

Handing over of STUDSAT to ISRO :)

After being conceived before about two and a half years by a bunch of students, and with actual work starting just before an year and half only, today, India's first Pico-Satellite, which also happens to be the first small satellite( weighs less than a kilogram),made indigenously by undergraduate students with support from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been handed over to ISRO. This will be followed by the launch, to put the satellite into the orbit,carried by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from Sriharikota.

Today was a day, which was one of the dreams the team had dreamt of, and brings great joy to all involved.

The ceremony was presided over by, His Excellency Dr. Hans Raj Bharadwaj, Governor of Karnataka and eminent scientists including Prof. U.R.Rao,and others.

It was a proud moment to all the team members of Team Studsat. All the hardships the team has undergone to reach the current state should be a source of inspiration to all students,who, in the words of Prof.U.R.Rao would
 "Dare to dream,and dream to dare".

Also, quoting Dr.T.K.Alex, Director ISAC," The next PSLV will carry two extremes: a 700kg satellite and an 850gms Satellite (STUDSAT)", he also added " STUDSAT is a cute satellite".

There will be more elaborate chronicling of all the ups and downs of the team soon,when the satellite has been put into it's orbit.
For now,

Hats Off to all the team members of Team Studsat...

"Our heads are held high,
Not gazing at the sky,
But, beyond it!"

http://teamstudsat.com/

The Vent!

Is it that hard to say what you think, and, to do what you say!
I have grown tired of such anomalous behavior.

I do agree that, sometimes, my expectations from people is slightly towards being idealistic, nevertheless, it ain't Utopian or unattainable! It is plainly appropriate.

I had vowed before a few months that I wouldn't waste my efforts in trying to change people. Now, after witnessing the vicissitudes mostly centered around me, I'm afraid it would culminate into a state where, I'd stop expecting 'anything' from people.

'Living a Life' is about doing things 'one' really wants to do. The worst thing to do in one's life is- To do what others would have wanted you to!

This,contrarily is against the logic of the code programmed into us, rather, it is a bit-flipped execution of the same!
(And,don't bother about little of the coding jargon I've used. I thought, if i'm not using them technically,I'd use them here;)

Coming back to 'the' point, I have only two two-worded phrases to say:
Either Grow UP or Shut UP!

PS: Don't take it personally, if anyone of you have realized that I was precisely targeting at you:)

Are we heading towards the end?

Last year, the dogma of apocalypse in 2012, which is supposed to undo life on earth had grabbed the attention of everyone, including that of small kids; Very much helped by the wildly imagined movie by the same name '2012'. While this dogma was catching up people, most believers were of the notion that it would be like the movie, wherein exactly on a specific date the catastrophe would unfold.


On the other hand, the skeptics, including myself were busy dispelling this dogma. I still disapprove of any such 'sudden catastrophe culminating into THE END'.


A closer analysis of the climate trend and widespread natural calamities is disturbing. Massive earthquakes in Haiti, Taiwan, now Tibet and China; Last year's stormy rains in drought-ridden regions of Karnataka;The soaring temperatures (India is 7-8 °C above the usual temperature); Yesterday's tornado in India has already taken 120 lives;


Now, these symptoms are the gradual convergence of the disasters in store for us. Any number of futile summits of politicians will do no good to the betterment of the environment, unless we people take proactive initiatives to at least stop further deterioration of Mother Nature. 


You don't need a prediction of a particular date substantiated by a prophecy to see where we are heading towards. The current natural cataclysms are clear symptoms of the destination we are heading towards. 


Take up initiatives and bear the responsibility... Here's one such important move we can all be engaged in... 


http://www.treesforfree.org/

My arguments against Violence

Of late, if there is one thing that we humans have made perilously ubiquitous and perpetuating, it would be violence against each other!

Wars, terror attacks, murders, crime and all the negativities are now at a high rise.

The recent Naxal attacks,killings by maoists, the terror attacks in Pune,and at a personal level the kidnapping and killing of my physician! It is atrocious, and no matter who gives whatsoever reason-Violence can never be justified as a means to accomplishing anything even remotely positive.

I am deeply anguished, like the many of you, by the growing terrorist activities,including those of the Naxals and Maoists in India . I still haven't been able to comprehend the real purpose of these attacks. If it is only for the sake of creating havoc, then these miscreants aren't fit to be called as humans. All these killings, when analyzed even from their point of view would be never be convincing.

I have openly expressed my admiration towards Che and Hitler in numerous posts and conversations. But, never will I approve the methods of violence which they individually practiced in the form of  guerrilla warfare and anti-semitism, respectively. Violence against fellow humans for the sake of accomplishing something 'supposedly noble' is never worth it! This actually weakens their entire ideology, but, nevertheless there's much more to learn from them excluding violence.

Aggression is supposed to be a natural but subdued instinct of us, but these days we seem to trying to quench this libido for the worse of the world!

Freudche (Add it your vocabulary :-)

freudche [froy-shay]
-noun
    1. incessant urge to excel intellectually, by means of passionate pursuance of new ideas and ideologies.
-verb (freudched, freudcheying)
      2. to freudche i.e., to be engaged in intellectual transcendence.

'Freudche' is a new word, coined by me, in tribute to two of the greatest minds the human history has ever seen- Sigmund Freud and Che Guevara. The definition of the word is a one line biography of these two minds. 

The admiration towards Freud and Che has been continually growing in me, as I read and learn more of the two mavericks. 

And also,I have always been fascinated by the origin of words and script (see my previous post). When I felt that, I needed a word to attribute a quality which now 'freudche' stands for, I had this radical brainstorm happening :)

Feel free to use 'freudche' and encourage others to use it in the right context of its meaning, and pronunciation [say froy-shay]. 

Let's freudche people :)

Language,Script and Dialects: Allegory to the Human journey

One of the most fascinating things we humans have unconsciously formulated and actualized, whose origin and development keeps us even now intrigued is 'Language, Script and Dialects'.

Hypothesizing about the origin of, let alone Languages, but of individual words itself is deeply engrossing. Imagine how the words which each of us have been using generously have come to be!
It makes one wonder about the this marvelous  journey we humans have tread,to have come this far together.

There is more amazement to impact us when we start analyzing the origin and perpetuation of scripts with letters, fonts and grammar!
These are the insignia of our instincts pushing us towards collective progress.

Dialects throw insight into the individuality of every small section of us, by attributing a tinge of the local culture to the language itself, and making it a pleasant variation of the basic language.
In India especially, the dialects are numerous and add value to the diverse culture India has inherited from ages.

As I have mentioned in the post caption - Language, Script and Dialects are the best storytellers, who have inescapably preserved the most preciously assimilated proofs of the extraordinary odyssey of our evolution into complex social beings.

PS: View the List of languages by number of native speakers

(source: wikipedia)

'Mall'ware ;)

Oh yeah, I visited the current talk of the town-The Mantri Square, although reluctantly. To be honest and, at the risk of stereotyping myself I confess that I  feel hostile in 'big crowded' places,the only exception being when I'm on the dais!

Talking about the Mall-trend,inherently all the malls in Bengaluru are either big or crowded, with extra toppings of over-pricing and a hypocritical emulation of the 'West'. I'm not against the emulation part, but of the hypocrisy :)

The best reason I have been able to give myself,to visit 'Shopping Malls' and shell out extra bucks is 'All brands-One place' and more importantly 'No weird stares when accompanied by intimate company'. Okay, these might sound silly, but these convince me the most.

Now that I have opened up this issue here, I know that a few of you must be thinking
'Wat da hell? Go and hav funn!' or
'Watta knurd he is'

Again,let me reiterate, I don't enjoy big crowded places, and especially when there is conditioned air saturating me with room sprays!
You know my best hang out place- IISc, nothing in Bengaluru can beat it (I can happily compromise on the aspect of shopping!)

If shopping malls are good in a business perspective(which they really are), I'm ready to maybe - invest sometime soon in one of the stalls. But, I can't take being a victim there ;)

So, my friends and acquaintances I won't directly be yelling this at you,but, please have it in mind. Even if you see me enjoying with you in the Malls, I would have only acquired a trait from there -Hypocrisy! So, let me be me :)

PS: I like the post caption personally, for, I contemplated the post and the caption as soon as I entered the mall today :)

Right to (quality) Education...

"Right to Education" is late, nevertheless, it has arrived!

A good initiative by the Govt. This is by far the most significant and genuine hint of long term social welfare the Govt has shown. The italicization of the two words conveys the status of this move. But, will this hint at an initiative be adequate to cater to the nation's requirements?

Personally, I have had a strong conviction in this regard: "Only quality education of the masses can empower them, making them the fuel for India's future run. Without uniform reach of quality education to every citizen, living in each and every corner of India, the current trend of suicidal polarization of India will take its toll on us, yielding a lopsided country filled with disparity and frustration."

(Students in a Govt.School in Bengaluru)

Implementing the "Right to Education" is going to be an arduous task which will take decades for fulfillment. Considering that this will somehow be implemented in due course of time, although no guarantees, we already have to start analyzing the quality of such a system when in place.

Now, we might want to turn a blind eye towards the current Govt. schools in India, but, in the first place if this system of Govt. schools had been efficient, yielding better education to pupils, at least basic education would not have become a hot commodity in the society, which is accessible only to the what I call 'circumstantially favored'.


I am apprehensive about the feasibility of implementation of the 25% quota to the 'weaker sections' in private schools. 'Weaker sections' are determined by a few documents, and the weaker sections who really are in need would not either have the awareness or be in a position to acquire these documents. This is the problem at the ground level, which cannot be tackled only by passing amendments and bills!

As a result, this would be misused, and a living manifestation of perils of this sort is the 'reservations for the backward classes' in India.

"Right to Education" sounds good and will be good if it reaches the needy. Now, this right must be bulwarked by other measures necessary to ensure the successful implementation . Each of us do have a role to play in this- just by being responsible and ensuring that our fellow citizens get what they really deserve.

PS: More pictures from a Government school in Bengaluru, adjoined to the Institution where I pursued my Bachelor's degree. An initiative from a fellow classmate, drove a few of us used to visit this school, trying to enhance the English and Computer skills of these enthusiastic kids. We did the little from our side. Such proactive initiatives have to be widespread for the Govt. schools to get better. 

As a permanent solution the system itself has to be renewed, so that it can match up to the quality of private education in India. The current system is nothing but a formality!

More pictures of the school activity here Avalahalli Government School, Bengaluru

I don't like it, If it's not my way!

Does it sound arrogant, or is this how you feel too?

Whatever it might seem like, this is how I feel when things aren't going my way. As a consequence of this friction, firstly, it gives rise to disliking, if further pushed -there is repulsion,and ultimately I ignore the causing instance by turning blind eye towards it.

By saying 'My Way', I don't mean that it is a hardcore individualistic path that I tread on. It is just a pattern of doing things affiliated to some basic principles I endorse, and ideally speaking these affiliations should be found more ubiquitously.

Now,if you are wondering what 'extraordinary' affiliations I'm talking about-they're nothing: Just simple ideologies.
THINK-FEEL FREE-DO IT!

Although these seem simply trivial, in reality, witnessing the manifestations of synchronized synergy between these three is a rarity. Even if one would want to do it this way, the influences trying to convince you do it otherwise are more, and consistent.

Nevertheless, a strong conviction towards one's principles,substantiated by self-convincing logic and reasoning would be more than adequate to get things done in one's own way.

Mave-rick-shaw driver :)

On the first day of the National Conference on Free Software,i.e., on the 20th of March,by the end of the evening I was assigned with a task. I was asked to drop the Press Note of the day's proceedings to all media centres. I was told that an autorickshaw would be arranged for the purpose and that the driver knew most of the newspaper centres and TV broadcasters.

So,I hopped into the rickshaw, and the driver-T.N. Manjunath briefed me about the places we would be going and warned me that it would take a long time.

Once we started visiting the media centres, I was taken aback, firstly, by his cognizance in this regard- he told me that if we had started early we could have reached out to about 70 centres(that's full attendance!). Nevertheless, in a span of two and a half hours, we visited not less than 40 newspaper and TV centres in the peak hours of Bengaluru traffic.

Out of curiosity I asked him as to how he was acquainted with the MEDIA map of the city. This initiated him to mention about his endeavors apart from being a rickshaw driver.

He is a proactive volunteer and activist of various social concern groups. He is also an active member in a political party and other forums. He and his buddies bring out a weekly newspaper-Janashakti in Kannada and he also lends support to another Malayalam daily. He narrated to me the legend of a Union leader of theirs-his hardships,sacrifices and accomplishments. He spoke about the Women's day celebrations one of the groups he endorsed had organized and the success of it.

There were a many other inspiring activities he was engaged in, which I might have missed out. But, one thing for sure,if each of us try to emulate a bit of T N Manjunath, trying to do a little towards the betterment of the society 'proactively' in our own ways, a lot of the reasons we crib about in the world would evanesce into oblivion.

I am deeply inspired to have met a 'common man' showing uncommon concerns towards the society,bundled with tremendous energy and strong conviction.

Now here's a real Maverick -:)

Civilization and Its Discontents

If civilization imposes such great sacrifices not only on man's sexuality, but also on his aggressivity, we are in a better position to understand why it is so hard for him to feel happy in it - Sigmund Freud


I think the above statement summarizes the context of the arguments presented in Sigmund Freud's book Civilization and Its Discontents. 


This pioneer in Psychoanalysis elucidates the intricate interactions between an individual and the civilization. He convincingly conveys the bamboozling civilization  has perverted to the individuals.

Concept of religion, beauty and love, their roles and implications in subduing individuals' 'libido' are explained using general observations, which Freud calls common sense!


The striving of an individual towards happiness in pursuit of quenching his drives of sexuality and aggression, against a system made of entities like himself - wanting to do the same - has been analysed to bare facts, comprehensively, using Freud's own creations of id, ego and super-ego.


Personally,I appreciatively enjoyed Freud's analysis of the connection between conscience -->sense of guilt, and super-ego --> remorse, in the context of unsatisfied drives. It was amusing as to how he takes us along to meet the ego, super-ego and to witness the birth of conscience, and their competing efforts to bring joy and sorrow to the id, facilitated by the friction with civilization.

Although, another read would help me digest all the facts more comprehensively, this was an enjoyably revealing read,with a touch of cynicism and constant skepticism.

The Revolutionary Think Tank: Bhagat Singh

Today being the 80th anniversary of the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, I am here expressing my admiration towards Bhagat Singh.

Bhagat Singh in jail at the age of 20 

The radicalism which he manifested starting when he was a teenager until his early death have immortalized him to be one of the greatest thinkers and revolutionaries to have lived.

His uninfluenced ideals, radical ideas, strong conviction, his strategy for the freedom struggle and the fore-thinking about independent India's future definitely makes it hard for me to believe that he was only 23 when he was executed. But,not before he had implanted an everlasting source of inspiration and laid a path for the youth of the country to follow in decades to come.

Even today, while reading his manuscripts one can truly feel his powerful ideas seeping into the mind and questioning our roles as citizens of India and the world.


Power of an individual and his ideas are best expressed in Bhagat's own words:


"It is easy to kill individuals but you cannot kill the ideas. Great empires crumbled while the ideas survived."

Bhagat Singh was a revolutionary who will always be called the "Think Tank of Indian Freedom Struggle". He sacrificed his life not just for the freedom struggle of India, but to become a source of inspiration to all the young minds who would rise in the free India he dreamt of, in the decades to come.

PS: All the manuscripts written by Bhagat can be found at this link

Archival of Bhagat Singh's ideas and ideals

nc2010-Day 2 and the "Free Software Movement of India"

All good things come to an end, so has the National Conference on Free Software-2010, but not without overwhelming everyone involved with its results and by itself.

The crux for organizing the conference on this scale of grandeur was basically to spread the word of Free Software, and another crucial reason was to try and bring a National identity to the regional movements. As mentioned in my previous post, "Free Software Movement of India(FSMI)" has been formed to channelize the regional efforts without losing the regional foothold of the individual movements. Sixteen different activist groups from all across India now will be networked to each other through the platform provided by FSMI, mainly to substantiate our efforts while addressing issues of national importance and regional interests. This is the most important result which has emanated from the Conference, and will become an epochal event in the history of Free Software Movement in India. This result is also important for the manner it was arrived at: A unanimous decision with full endorsement from all the groups :)

Time for a bit of self appraisal now: About the sessions and other activities, I might have to dedicate individual posts for just briefing about individual sessions and the speakers. These sessions were of such high intellectual content and of social importance that, I now regret that we shouldn't have had any parallel tracks, and that every session should have been given individual slots!(although it is highly impossible with numerous constraints in play)

Also, I who was personally responsible for conducting few sessions was slightly worried about the delays and small confusions because of technical glitches and multiple venues, which I also understand are unavoidable. But, there's always scope for improvement.

Nevertheless, at the end of the day, when the impact of the conference is felt like an embracing wave of warmth,with appreciation pouring in ubiquitously, all the small errors get trivial, fatigue vanishes and we feel rejuvenated to buckle up and do something more. In this regard, the valedictory session was touching, wherein all the efforts by every activist were recognized and appreciated.

This conference has been the richest experience to each of us involved: in organizing, volunteering and participating in it. The conference has been successful in propelling the standards and extending the boundaries of every individual in all facets of him/her in being a Free Software enthusiast.

With more responsibilities and a broader vision now, FSMK along with all the peer groups from across India in the form of FSMI will try to do everything in our power to turn the 'unfreedom' into 'freedom'.

PS: More sections of the event

AC3 Photography Exhibition

AC3 GIMP artist Mani's graphical paintings

Books :) Great content

National Conference on Free Software : Day 1

"Free Software, Free Society" was the mantra which echoed from every perspective of its applicability in the first day of the National Conference on Free Software-2010, Bengaluru.

With voices of eminent people inclined to, and affiliated to the Free Software Movement and its ideology reverberating in the auditorium, while they were substantiating each and every nuance pertaining to Swatantra Software, the inauguration couldn't be any better.

The response to the conference was overwhelming,with about 1000 participants on a single day, of which about 300 were from states other than Karnataka,i.e., from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi,Maharashtra,West Bengal and Tripura.

The Conference was declared Open by Prof. Baraguru Ramachandrappa, with a riveting speech subsequently. Speaking in Kannada, he threw some necessary light on the IT policy of the Governments(both state and Central) and its fallibilities, which have been advantageous for the shrewed, so called MNC's. He questioned the nationalism of the Indian origin MNC's in IT who have been encouraging 'unfreedom' in the technology domain, and also about these companies not contributing to the local needs of people. He also justified the waiver of copyrights and patents on Software, as it is being wrongly marketed as a product instead of knowledge in digital form. He went on to talk about the "IT untouchability" which has perpetuated into the society since the supposedly 'IT Revolution' began in India.

The context of the conference was laid before the audience by Prof.Gopinath, IISc in an elaborate and comprehensive manner, emphasizing on important issues staring at us from near future like technology to deal with Climate Change, Free Software on Mobile phones etc...

The presidential address was delivered by Dr. N. Prabhu Dev, Vice Chancellor of Bangalore University. He gave an account of the Free Software Movement and its ideology.

Mr. Umashankar, IAS, held the audience awe-inspired with his facts and sheer exciting facts about Free Software and its implementation in the government projects in Tamil Nadu. He did inspire a lot many of us by his Inspirational Talk.

Apart from this, Free Software representatives from Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal also showcased their regional activities.

With lunch being served to all the participants, full strength of the audience was on the floor in the food court enjoying simple authentic Karnataka food.

Post lunch, the general participants were to attend talk on e-governance, followed by Python workshop and a session on Free Software migration, which later I was told went on well.

While these sessions were happening, we the delegates had assembled in Shikshakara Sadana, to churn up ideas and, to try and float a National body of Free Software, which would be a 'Network of Organisations functioning at regional levels'. After debating about this issue for 4 hours, all the delegates unanimously have endorsed this idea of a National Entity to which each regional body would be affiliated. This had been the motive behind the Delegate conference, and each one of us is really happy that we could arrive at this: Free Software Movement of India :)

By the time the Delegate conference was over, I was assigned with another responsibility which became an adventure on its own. I shall dedicate a post talking about this soon.

(BMSIT team)

On the ground,the bubbling energy of volunteers and organizers were appreciated by all the participants and delegates. Mixed with fun moments, hectic engagements and responsible activities we're glad to have successfully completed Day 1 of the conference. Now, time to buckle up for the second day :) See you all there.

25 personal favorite post captions as my 250th post :)

Had this thing in mind for long, to recollect some of my personal favorite 'post-captions' on my blog. I like these captions for, I was happy when I came up with these, while a couple of these are reflected from elsewhere which had influenced me. 


(Arranged in the form of links to the posts in decreasing chronology)

When memories seep through the carapace of oblivion....

de l'amour à faire l'amour 

From being un'Comfortably numb' to now having 'High Hopes'!

My Activ(a) propaganda :)

Grudge of the unaccomplished !

Death isn't a loss....It is a treasure of incomplete bittersweet memories ....

Remember Remember the 2nd of September :)

A beautiful symphony of delicate intricacies

The Strong are the strongest when alone...

Cornered in a circle !!!

Parasite of nostalgia crawling into my head.....

Save the planet .... Kill Yourself !!!

I Raghavendra S, do solemnly swear......

Memories flowing down,and the dam of my mind unable to barricade them

Honesty in toatlity could be lethal....

Take yourself lightly,but your work seriously...

No "Love All" policy;"Hate none" is my choice

With love.....Maverick

If electricity is caused by electrons,then is Moral policing caused by morons?

"Our heads are held high,not gazing at the sky,but beyond it"

~^~^~^~^~^~Small tribe of Mavericks~^~^~^~^~^~

I didn't know my mind was being read !!!!

Dishum dishum..Bang bang....

I'm the only one of my kind :)

The hurdle is in our heads !!!!