Apart from our family and friends, the people who have a great impact on our lives are our teachers. They guide us and watch us grow, imparting both their knowledge and experience, much like our parents. Here, I recollect some of the teachers who have had a lasting impact on me and who knew me well. By no means is this comprehensive, and the order doesn't imply anything either; and also I'm writing it down, not because I might forget them but because I want to recollect the lessons they taught me and record it for posterity! They might have seen generations of students come and go, and I might have been erased from their memory, but they'll forever remain etched in mine.
Prof. Krishna Sivalingam (IIT Madras, CSE):
I was lucky to have him as my undergraduate advisor. He understood that I wasn't able to work on my project in the seventh semester due to placement work, and was kind enough to be flexible. His guidance and mentoring, introducing me to the world of research is something I'll cherish forever. I'm glad that he believed in me and let me do my work at my own pace, but also checkpointing in between to ensure I'm on the right track. And he always wore a smile, I've never seen him angry! I'm sure that for every student, college life is one of the sharpest points in their life learning curve, and mine was made all the more special thanks to him.
(Late) Prof. Dilip Veeraraghavan (IIT Madras, HSS):
Thinking of this great man brings tears to my eyes. He was one of the best human beings I've ever met. Even though he was visually challenged, his depth and breadth of knowledge as well as wisdom was unbelievable. We got to know each other through his course on constitutions, and we were like good friends. He was a source of philosophical guidance for many, and his own life was a source of inspiration for many. Cruelly, he was snatched away from this world, leaving an everlasting mark on many, including me.
Prof. Kalyana Krishnan (IIT Madras, CSE)
Though initially I feared him to be a tough taskmaster, he turned out to be a caring, grandfatherly figure! He was a very understanding and amiable prof, and cared about every student at the individual level. Asking us to write down progress on the webpage for the computer system design course, and conveying our difficulties and little lessons through that was a nice idea after all. The fact that even at such an old age (he must be way more than 60), he takes the pains to come to college, take classes and guide students shows his passion and commitment. I will forever admire him for these.
Prof. Hema Murthy (IIT Madras, CSE)
Our first interaction was through her course on communications, which I think is one of the best I've ever taken. I learnt a lot from her course, including the basics of linux, gnuplot, socket programming, etc. She emphasized that every student must compare one with one's self, rather than others. That was how she judged us, whether we are growing by actually learning. After that, she was also glad to recommend me for grad school, and gave valuable feedback on my project. Her passion for social causes and advocacy of developing education in India is something that I share and hope to emulate.
Muthulakshmi (KV IITM, Chemistry)
She was one really enthusiastic teacher who made sure that we covered all the concepts and did all the experiments thoroughly. Her soft strictness and ability to handle unruly students with suave was something I admired. Her teaching was one of the reasons why chemistry was my favorite subject in school! I used to have lots of doubts and questions in chemistry class, and it was fun when she struggled to address some of them! But her grasp of the subject was not questionable. And yes, I was her favorite student too! She even knew my brother well. I learnt from juniors that she used to mention about me in class even after I left school!
Prof.TR Subramaniam (Loyola/Satyamurthy classes, Math)
He is one of the most systematic and best teachers I've come across. His knowledge of the subject and his style of teaching were par excellence. I went for JEE coaching classes under him, and I couldn't have asked for a better teacher. He took a personal interest in every student and made sure he remembered everyone by name, as well as whether they attend and participate in class! He even consoled me after a personal loss in the middle of JEE preparations and guided me on focusing on my studies first. I will forever cherish those wonderful classes.
Anuradha (KV IITM, Math)
Like Muthu ma'am, she was also fond of me and I liked her for introducing me to the mathematics beyond textbooks. Her teaching style was quite unique and I used to discuss with her math questions out of portions as well. She also knew my brother well. She encouraged me to participate in math and other olympiads, and I am indebted to her for that. It was because of her that I started liking olympiads and quizzes. Unfortunately, she was transferred from the school after a couple of years. It was a pity that great teachers like her couldn't stay longer.
Vimala Naidu (KV IITM, SST)
She used to be an English teacher, but she took history and economics for us, and did an amazing job of it. It was because of her unique way of teaching that history became a very interesting subject for me at school. She encouraged me to collect extra information about the subject material and maintain a scrap book for it. That became a hobby, and by the end of a year, I had more than 4 full scape notebooks full of such stuff! She even encouraged me to participate in inter school exhibitions and so on, which was an interesting experience. She was also the one who asked me to write the NTS exam, which I eventually cleared!
Unnikrishnan (KV Madurai, Sanskrit)
Unni sir is again one of the best teachers I've ever seen. His passion for Sanskrit and his disciplined life is something that inspired me. Not only did he cover the subject well, he even conducted free spoken Sanskrit classes. Those were some very interesting classes, and I managed to pick up basic conversational Sanskrit, which I still remember! I also loved participating in Sanskrit events and skits because of him. He was the one of the reasons why I began to love and hold in high regard Sanskrit and Indian culture in general.
Smriti (KV Dum Dum Calcutta, English)
She was a very caring teacher who had a special consideration for me, since I was new south Indian in a mostly Bengali class. She encouraged me to go out and speak with people of other languages, including the Hindi and Bengali people in classes and form friendships with them. That laid the foundation for me being friendly with people, irrespective of any barriers. And I still remember how she taught me and a friend of mine a cute little trick for performing well in a speaking contest, which we ended up winning! Unfortunately, I spent less than a year in Calcutta, but it was worth it thanks to teachers like her.
Thangam (KV IITM, Hindi)
This was back when I was in primary school and I barely remember most of it. What I do remember was that she was an elderly, grandmotherly teacher who was very respected in the school and I used to like her way of teaching. One incident that I remember about her was when some of my classmates blamed me for something that I didn't do, she asked for my response. I didn't even know what my classmates were talking about, so I conveyed my innocence, and she was very appreciative of that, saying that I was being honest and innocent. That is a lesson that I always followed, to be honest and forthright in life.
As I see it, life is a dark street, and these people are the some of the brightest lamp posts that have lit my path and showed me the way. Of course, they could not walk with me, nor could I stay with them. But without them, I wouldn't be what I am or where I am. As my journey continues, I'm sure I'll come across more such lamps, and hopefully I'll come back one day to record that too!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
India, you too have blood on your hands!
Week after week, I have been hearing news about the humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding on the north eastern coast of Lanka. Initially, I didn't want to bother too much about what is happening in a foreign land. But recently, the UN described the fighting as a 'bloodbath' and the UNICEF has reported that hundreds of innocent children have been brutally killed by heavy weapon fire.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gVoaDFmbCYS-Usz9ACDRIengj21QD984BUQ80
My blood curdled when I went through the chilling accounts of the civilians who escaped this hell on Earth. It seems there is no limit to the war crimes being committed there. Why has this untold suffering of thousands of innocent civilians not been made a big international human rights issue? Why have world governments not condemned this inhuman massacre in unequivocal terms? How is it that the Lankan army blatantly disregards the civilian cost in their murderous zeal to finish the LTTE?
There is no doubt that a terrorist organization like the LTTE deserves no sympathy. In fact, reports show that they are using the civilians as human shields and are forcing children into fighting. The helpless people who are virtually being held hostage are caught between the devil that is the Lankan army and the deep sea that is the LTTE. Unfortunately, the sad plight of these innocent civilians caught in the crossfire is being politicized across the Palk Strait, here in India. Politicians of all hues are shamelessly milking this human tragedy for the sake of votes. I am distraught with the fact that while western countries like UK and France have been sending their foreign ministers to visit the relief camps, India has shown no action on this. Surely, the general elections cannot be an excuse. This latest battle has been raging for many months now. Cannot Mr. Mukherjee visit the Tamil civilians in the relief camps and reassure them of India's support? Doesn't India have even this little responsibility? Is our country so diplomatically weak that it cannot even exert mild pressure on a small neighbor like Lanka to halt the fighting and rescue the civilians. And we claim to be a future superpower! Who are we kidding here?!
This leads to the natural inference that one of the reasons why Lanka has been able to continue with its offensive non-stop is that it enjoys tacit support from the Indian government. This is a classic case of running with the rabbits and hunting with the hounds! New Delhi has been one of the biggest suppliers of heavy weapons to Colombo. These are the same weapons that are being used against the Tamils now. India, the country that once supported the LTTE, is now playing a dangerous double game in the Indian Ocean. New Delhi has its own economic and geo-political interests in Lanka. It wants to keep the Sinhalese government in good humor so that they don't go into the waiting arms of China. But it has sacrificed the innocent Tamil civilians in its strategic game. The only thing we can see is lip service from the central leaders, political slogans from the state leaders and token aid sent via ships from Chennai.
Surely, New Delhi has considerably more clout in the region than all these. Take the Mukti Bahini example of Bangladesh. India helped the oppressed Bengali people carve their own nation out of Pakistan. Here, the demand of a majority of Tamils is not for a separate Tamil Eelam to be carved out of Lanka. In the short term, it is to bring about an end to this bloodbath. In the long term, it is to ensure that Tamils in Lanka enjoy equal rights as the Sinhalese. One possible solution is a semi-federal set up, similar to India's. But that is a decision to be left to the people of Lanka itself, including the Tamils.
Shame on you India! As a respected democratic power, you were expected to take leadership in this region. Instead you have miserably failed in your responsibility. I am a patriotic Indian, but on this occasion, I feel ashamed that the land of Gandhi has lost its moral high ground. I have felt the same way once before, when India supported the military dictatorship in Myanmar against a popular uprising, which was brutally suppressed. But in Lanka, the problem is still on. Since India has failed in its moral duty to try to prevent the death of innocent civilians, it is tantamount to New Delhi being party to the war crimes being committed in Lanka. That is why I think India has the blood of innocent Lankan Tamils on its hands. To protest against the cheap politicking by all political parties over this crucial issue, I am going to choose Rule 49-O in tomorrow's polls here in my constituency. Anyways, it is not as if any of the major candidates are eminent.
PS: After a discussion with my friends, I realized that 49-O in its current form is toothless. Thus, instead of that, I voted against all the political parties out there who shamelessly sought to extract electoral mileage out of human suffering.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gVoaDFmbCYS-Usz9ACDRIengj21QD984BUQ80
My blood curdled when I went through the chilling accounts of the civilians who escaped this hell on Earth. It seems there is no limit to the war crimes being committed there. Why has this untold suffering of thousands of innocent civilians not been made a big international human rights issue? Why have world governments not condemned this inhuman massacre in unequivocal terms? How is it that the Lankan army blatantly disregards the civilian cost in their murderous zeal to finish the LTTE?
There is no doubt that a terrorist organization like the LTTE deserves no sympathy. In fact, reports show that they are using the civilians as human shields and are forcing children into fighting. The helpless people who are virtually being held hostage are caught between the devil that is the Lankan army and the deep sea that is the LTTE. Unfortunately, the sad plight of these innocent civilians caught in the crossfire is being politicized across the Palk Strait, here in India. Politicians of all hues are shamelessly milking this human tragedy for the sake of votes. I am distraught with the fact that while western countries like UK and France have been sending their foreign ministers to visit the relief camps, India has shown no action on this. Surely, the general elections cannot be an excuse. This latest battle has been raging for many months now. Cannot Mr. Mukherjee visit the Tamil civilians in the relief camps and reassure them of India's support? Doesn't India have even this little responsibility? Is our country so diplomatically weak that it cannot even exert mild pressure on a small neighbor like Lanka to halt the fighting and rescue the civilians. And we claim to be a future superpower! Who are we kidding here?!
This leads to the natural inference that one of the reasons why Lanka has been able to continue with its offensive non-stop is that it enjoys tacit support from the Indian government. This is a classic case of running with the rabbits and hunting with the hounds! New Delhi has been one of the biggest suppliers of heavy weapons to Colombo. These are the same weapons that are being used against the Tamils now. India, the country that once supported the LTTE, is now playing a dangerous double game in the Indian Ocean. New Delhi has its own economic and geo-political interests in Lanka. It wants to keep the Sinhalese government in good humor so that they don't go into the waiting arms of China. But it has sacrificed the innocent Tamil civilians in its strategic game. The only thing we can see is lip service from the central leaders, political slogans from the state leaders and token aid sent via ships from Chennai.
Surely, New Delhi has considerably more clout in the region than all these. Take the Mukti Bahini example of Bangladesh. India helped the oppressed Bengali people carve their own nation out of Pakistan. Here, the demand of a majority of Tamils is not for a separate Tamil Eelam to be carved out of Lanka. In the short term, it is to bring about an end to this bloodbath. In the long term, it is to ensure that Tamils in Lanka enjoy equal rights as the Sinhalese. One possible solution is a semi-federal set up, similar to India's. But that is a decision to be left to the people of Lanka itself, including the Tamils.
Shame on you India! As a respected democratic power, you were expected to take leadership in this region. Instead you have miserably failed in your responsibility. I am a patriotic Indian, but on this occasion, I feel ashamed that the land of Gandhi has lost its moral high ground. I have felt the same way once before, when India supported the military dictatorship in Myanmar against a popular uprising, which was brutally suppressed. But in Lanka, the problem is still on. Since India has failed in its moral duty to try to prevent the death of innocent civilians, it is tantamount to New Delhi being party to the war crimes being committed in Lanka. That is why I think India has the blood of innocent Lankan Tamils on its hands. To protest against the cheap politicking by all political parties over this crucial issue, I am going to choose Rule 49-O in tomorrow's polls here in my constituency. Anyways, it is not as if any of the major candidates are eminent.
PS: After a discussion with my friends, I realized that 49-O in its current form is toothless. Thus, instead of that, I voted against all the political parties out there who shamelessly sought to extract electoral mileage out of human suffering.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Classic, yet contemporary
Recently, in an awe-inspiring short series on the BBC, the historian Michael Wood presented the 'Story of India'. That journey brought him to Madurai, in southern Tamil Nadu. In his episode, he describes Tamil Nadu as the 'last surviving classical civilization on Earth'. Madurai, he says, 'is like ancient Athens existing in the modern world with her deity presiding over her people even today'.
http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/gallery/photos/5.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/india/gal_india_south_03.shtml
Though I am generally skeptical of such assertions about Oriental cultures by Western historians, I was so moved on hearing his statements that I started contemplating on the real greatness of the ancient Tamil civilization and how it fits into this modern world.
With an unbroken heritage of nearly 2500 years, the antiquity of Tamil culture far exceeds any other in present day India, and is comparable to ancient Rome and Greece. Indeed, traders from both the west and the east have been coming to the Tamil land for so many centuries. As Wood points out, Marco Polo described it as the 'most splendid' province on Earth. Though I have basic knowledge of Tamil history, the depth and impact of this ancient civilization had eluded me, until now. So what is this ancient Tamil culture? Am I also an inheritor of the legacy of this 'last surviving classical civilization'? This set me thinking about Tamil Nadu today, the way of life of its people and the changes it has undergone over the ages.
Having been brought up in a big city like Chennai, I always felt that I was out of touch with my cultural roots. But now I realize that this 'ancient culture' doesn't exist in some remote temple town, but in my very own house. I realized that I have to look no further than my own grandmother to get a glimpse of the classical merging with the contemporary! I understood something very important through her. What I found out was not something new; only my perception of it had changed. It is nothing but the way of life of the people themselves and how they fit into this culture.
Let us start with one of the greatest strengths of the Tamil civilization - its literature. The vastness and beauty of Tamil literature can be matched only by fellow classical languages like Sanskrit. From the stunningly succinct couplets of Thirukural, that are filled with universal wisdom, to the amazingly elaborate works of the Tamil Sangam of yore and the famous quasi-devotional lines of Avvaiyar. How are these relevant now? Well, the universality of these works is such that my grandma quotes them even for everyday situations! Surprisingly, even the youngsters use some memorable couplets from these works, only that they are given a modern filmy 'twist' to suit the modern times.
Next, we'll take one of the most famous symbols of Tamil culture - Bharatanatyam. Known as the dance of the Gods, this dance form has become renowned worldwide for its grace and beauty. Following the tenets of the Natyashastra, Bharatanatyam at its best evokes awe from admirers. True, one needs some knowledge about the complicated steps involved to appreciate it fully. My grandma always watches such shows on TV but I used to prefer a BBC or MTV over that. But one day, when I sat with her to see a Bharatanatyam competition, I was impressed with the depth of this dance form. The fact that even today, many little kids and adults worldwide show huge enthusiasm to learn this dance is a testimony to one of the most profound influences of Tamil culture. Not to mention the influence of Bharatanatyam in film choreography!
Then of course, music and song has always been an important part of the Tamil civilization. Amazing instruments like the Veena, with which the Goddess of knowledge, Saraswati is always depicted, and the Mridangam, considered to be Lord Ganesha's instrument, were invented here.
Home to the classical Carnatic music tradition, Tamil Nadu has always been musically rich. Nowadays, the appeal of Carnatic music seems to be back on the increase. Tamil Nadu has produced exponents like M.S. Subbulakshmi, the first musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna and the only Indian musician to have performed at the United Nations. My grandma doesn't fail to listen to her 'suprabhatham' every morning after waking up, just like millions of other Tamils. Though I have also heard it many times before, seen in this new light, it amazed me. However, I am still yet to grasp the nuances of Carnatic music to fully appreciate it. I would love to do it one day. It should be noted that Tamil music is much more than Carnatic music. And in this modern age, the composers of Chennai are also doing a pretty good job, producing some wonderful music. No wonder then that one Mr. A.R.R won two Oscars, a feat never achieved by any Indian before. Though my grandma still prefers to listen to MS's songs, she doesn't mind listening to these 'less divines' as well.
Any visitor to Tamil Nadu cannot miss the majestic temples of this land. From the soaring gopurams of Madurai to the vast courtyards of Srirangam, from the long corridors of Rameshwaram to the impressive Thanjavur big temple. And not to forget the mysterious monuments of Mahabalipuram. Tamil Nadu is dotted with masterpieces of Dravidian architecture. For a long time, these have been the centers of knowledge and culture and they continue to thrive even today. No matter how modern the Tamils become, they always bow their heads before the Gods, fold their hands and wear vibuthi on their foreheads every morning. Though I stopped wearing such marks on my forehead years ago, my grandma continues to insist that I should do so. And she doesn't miss a single religious occasion on the calendar. This piety will continue to be an integral part of every Tamil, no matter if he is in Beijing or Bangalore, Chicago or Chennai.
Coming to the economics of things, the Tamil land has always been a land of riches. Under the Cholas, international trade and commerce was at its peak with traders coming from as far as Europe and China. All the ancient Tamil kingdoms had sound economic policies that ensured the prosperity of its people. We can see this prosperity continuing even today. Tamil Nadu is the third largest state economy in India and is a top destination for FDI. Not only is it one of the most developed and urbanized states in India, it also has low unemployment and peaceful labor conditions. Unlike many other Indian states, the wealth here is spread out more evenly and is not concentrated in the capital alone. Indeed, even an agricultural town like Pollachi in the west has many millionaires. Moreover, the economy is not dependent on any one sector and is diversified among services, manufacturing and agriculture.
Another aspect that is integral to the Tamil way of life is the emphasis on learning and knowledge. This land has been an intellectual powerhouse of India and has among the highest literacy rates. No wonder then that Jawaharlal Nehru described Mylapore in Chennai as the 'master brain of India'. Tamil Nadu has two Nobel laureates, both being extraordinary physicists. In addition to that distinction, Tamil Nadu has 8 out of 41 Bharat Ratnas, the highest for any state. That is a whopping 20% for a state, which has less than 6% of India's population. It includes academics and scientists par excellence like Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and Dr. Abdul Kalam. Interestingly, when the Bharat Ratna was instituted by the Indian government in 1954, the 3 recipients that year were all Tamils! This tradition of intellectual excellence continues to this today, with Tamils holding various leadership roles in research, academia and industry in India and around the world. Moreover, Tamil Nadu has 3 colleges in the top 10 in engineering - the IIT Madras, the NIT Trichy and the Anna University. Once again, that is the highest for any state. But how does my grandma fit in all these? Once when I told her that I had scored 99% in science in my CBSE exams, her reaction was, "You should not have missed that 1 mark!" Little wonder then that Chennai almost always tops the CBSE and ICSE results!
There are so many such aspects of this ancient culture that I can keep talking about. Just like Wood, I too am really amazed at how all these blend well into this modern world. Tamils are very unassuming and humble people. Despite the depth of culture behind them, they only look ahead. They merge the ancient and the modern in their own unique way. Outsiders mistakenly assume this for conservatism or hypocrisy. It may or may not be true, but what is true is that, compared to most other cities in India, Chennai retains its classical charm while continuing on the path of becoming a modern cosmopolitan city. It does have the global IT fairs and also the Margazhi cultural festivals. Most Tamils, including my beloved grandma, are at ease equally in both these worlds. After all, this 'last classical civilization' continues to evolve and acquire more contemporary colors to add to its long and glorious heritage.
http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/gallery/photos/5.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/india/gal_india_south_03.shtml
Though I am generally skeptical of such assertions about Oriental cultures by Western historians, I was so moved on hearing his statements that I started contemplating on the real greatness of the ancient Tamil civilization and how it fits into this modern world.
With an unbroken heritage of nearly 2500 years, the antiquity of Tamil culture far exceeds any other in present day India, and is comparable to ancient Rome and Greece. Indeed, traders from both the west and the east have been coming to the Tamil land for so many centuries. As Wood points out, Marco Polo described it as the 'most splendid' province on Earth. Though I have basic knowledge of Tamil history, the depth and impact of this ancient civilization had eluded me, until now. So what is this ancient Tamil culture? Am I also an inheritor of the legacy of this 'last surviving classical civilization'? This set me thinking about Tamil Nadu today, the way of life of its people and the changes it has undergone over the ages.
Having been brought up in a big city like Chennai, I always felt that I was out of touch with my cultural roots. But now I realize that this 'ancient culture' doesn't exist in some remote temple town, but in my very own house. I realized that I have to look no further than my own grandmother to get a glimpse of the classical merging with the contemporary! I understood something very important through her. What I found out was not something new; only my perception of it had changed. It is nothing but the way of life of the people themselves and how they fit into this culture.
Let us start with one of the greatest strengths of the Tamil civilization - its literature. The vastness and beauty of Tamil literature can be matched only by fellow classical languages like Sanskrit. From the stunningly succinct couplets of Thirukural, that are filled with universal wisdom, to the amazingly elaborate works of the Tamil Sangam of yore and the famous quasi-devotional lines of Avvaiyar. How are these relevant now? Well, the universality of these works is such that my grandma quotes them even for everyday situations! Surprisingly, even the youngsters use some memorable couplets from these works, only that they are given a modern filmy 'twist' to suit the modern times.
Next, we'll take one of the most famous symbols of Tamil culture - Bharatanatyam. Known as the dance of the Gods, this dance form has become renowned worldwide for its grace and beauty. Following the tenets of the Natyashastra, Bharatanatyam at its best evokes awe from admirers. True, one needs some knowledge about the complicated steps involved to appreciate it fully. My grandma always watches such shows on TV but I used to prefer a BBC or MTV over that. But one day, when I sat with her to see a Bharatanatyam competition, I was impressed with the depth of this dance form. The fact that even today, many little kids and adults worldwide show huge enthusiasm to learn this dance is a testimony to one of the most profound influences of Tamil culture. Not to mention the influence of Bharatanatyam in film choreography!
Then of course, music and song has always been an important part of the Tamil civilization. Amazing instruments like the Veena, with which the Goddess of knowledge, Saraswati is always depicted, and the Mridangam, considered to be Lord Ganesha's instrument, were invented here.
Home to the classical Carnatic music tradition, Tamil Nadu has always been musically rich. Nowadays, the appeal of Carnatic music seems to be back on the increase. Tamil Nadu has produced exponents like M.S. Subbulakshmi, the first musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna and the only Indian musician to have performed at the United Nations. My grandma doesn't fail to listen to her 'suprabhatham' every morning after waking up, just like millions of other Tamils. Though I have also heard it many times before, seen in this new light, it amazed me. However, I am still yet to grasp the nuances of Carnatic music to fully appreciate it. I would love to do it one day. It should be noted that Tamil music is much more than Carnatic music. And in this modern age, the composers of Chennai are also doing a pretty good job, producing some wonderful music. No wonder then that one Mr. A.R.R won two Oscars, a feat never achieved by any Indian before. Though my grandma still prefers to listen to MS's songs, she doesn't mind listening to these 'less divines' as well.
Any visitor to Tamil Nadu cannot miss the majestic temples of this land. From the soaring gopurams of Madurai to the vast courtyards of Srirangam, from the long corridors of Rameshwaram to the impressive Thanjavur big temple. And not to forget the mysterious monuments of Mahabalipuram. Tamil Nadu is dotted with masterpieces of Dravidian architecture. For a long time, these have been the centers of knowledge and culture and they continue to thrive even today. No matter how modern the Tamils become, they always bow their heads before the Gods, fold their hands and wear vibuthi on their foreheads every morning. Though I stopped wearing such marks on my forehead years ago, my grandma continues to insist that I should do so. And she doesn't miss a single religious occasion on the calendar. This piety will continue to be an integral part of every Tamil, no matter if he is in Beijing or Bangalore, Chicago or Chennai.
Coming to the economics of things, the Tamil land has always been a land of riches. Under the Cholas, international trade and commerce was at its peak with traders coming from as far as Europe and China. All the ancient Tamil kingdoms had sound economic policies that ensured the prosperity of its people. We can see this prosperity continuing even today. Tamil Nadu is the third largest state economy in India and is a top destination for FDI. Not only is it one of the most developed and urbanized states in India, it also has low unemployment and peaceful labor conditions. Unlike many other Indian states, the wealth here is spread out more evenly and is not concentrated in the capital alone. Indeed, even an agricultural town like Pollachi in the west has many millionaires. Moreover, the economy is not dependent on any one sector and is diversified among services, manufacturing and agriculture.
Another aspect that is integral to the Tamil way of life is the emphasis on learning and knowledge. This land has been an intellectual powerhouse of India and has among the highest literacy rates. No wonder then that Jawaharlal Nehru described Mylapore in Chennai as the 'master brain of India'. Tamil Nadu has two Nobel laureates, both being extraordinary physicists. In addition to that distinction, Tamil Nadu has 8 out of 41 Bharat Ratnas, the highest for any state. That is a whopping 20% for a state, which has less than 6% of India's population. It includes academics and scientists par excellence like Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and Dr. Abdul Kalam. Interestingly, when the Bharat Ratna was instituted by the Indian government in 1954, the 3 recipients that year were all Tamils! This tradition of intellectual excellence continues to this today, with Tamils holding various leadership roles in research, academia and industry in India and around the world. Moreover, Tamil Nadu has 3 colleges in the top 10 in engineering - the IIT Madras, the NIT Trichy and the Anna University. Once again, that is the highest for any state. But how does my grandma fit in all these? Once when I told her that I had scored 99% in science in my CBSE exams, her reaction was, "You should not have missed that 1 mark!" Little wonder then that Chennai almost always tops the CBSE and ICSE results!
There are so many such aspects of this ancient culture that I can keep talking about. Just like Wood, I too am really amazed at how all these blend well into this modern world. Tamils are very unassuming and humble people. Despite the depth of culture behind them, they only look ahead. They merge the ancient and the modern in their own unique way. Outsiders mistakenly assume this for conservatism or hypocrisy. It may or may not be true, but what is true is that, compared to most other cities in India, Chennai retains its classical charm while continuing on the path of becoming a modern cosmopolitan city. It does have the global IT fairs and also the Margazhi cultural festivals. Most Tamils, including my beloved grandma, are at ease equally in both these worlds. After all, this 'last classical civilization' continues to evolve and acquire more contemporary colors to add to its long and glorious heritage.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Thank you Prof. Murali
A few days after I wrote the letter to (Late) Prof. Veeraraghavan and was wondering how to deliver it to him, Prof. Muraleedharan called me up and asked me to speak at the condolence meeting of Prof. Veeraraghavan. In a way, I felt it was a godsend, since by reading out this letter at a meeting of so many good people who have known and liked him, I felt that I have delivered the letter to the late professor himself. In that meeting, when many people spoke about his life's various aspects, I got to know so much more about him and my respect and admiration for him grew even more. Rather than mourn his death, we should remember his illustrious life. I hope this institute keeps alive the memory of this exceptional soul in some form. It is said that people die young because God loves them so much and wants them back. In this case, I think God was jealous of leaving such a person as Prof. Veeraraghavan in our midst, that he took him back early.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Somebody please deliver this to him!
Arun Kumar
BTech Final Year
Dept of CSE, IITM
(Late) Prof. D. Veeraraghavan
Dept of HSS, IIT Madras
Dear Sir,
At the outset I would like to express my heart-felt gratitude for the affection and wonderful guidance you had given me in the two years for which I have known you. It is difficult for me to think of a class in my life that was as enjoyable and as educational as yours on constitution. I still remember how in every class, you used to provoke discussions and healthy arguments on governmental and constitutional issues. Your depth and breadth of knowledge, including current affairs, used to amaze me. Not to mention your ability to immediately recognize a student, with just one utterance of a word. Your classes were on a different plane from any other I have had here. For the term presentation, you listened to each and every statement of the speakers and even correct them instantly, when most of the class wouldn't even have had an idea of what was going on! I still remember how you appreciated the performance of our team, Sharath, Vivek an I, onthe topic of reservations. We even used to have wonderful discussions on this and many other topics when I came to meet you in your room, including the then developments of anti-reservation violence. You are the only teacher I know, who involved the students themselves in their evaluation. I still vividly remember that evening, when we collected everyone's marks and opinions on the presentations and you asked us to give our suggestions on the marks given. I have never come across such an open, fair and democratic evaluation scheme. Of course, you were more than just a class instructor for me. You got to know about me as a person, my family, my interests and so on. Your valuable advice and guidance changed my outlook towards life. I am sure it has profoundly influenced many of my peers as well. We used to visit you sometimes to discuss about various things, including the landmark Supreme Court verdict regarding the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. I still remember that visit, when I gave you some chocolates that my brother had brought from the US! Speaking of which, I am reminded of Prof. Muraleedharan, who was like a brother to you; I admired the camaraderie you two enjoyed. Many times, he even dropped by during your classes to catch the sleepyheads red-handed!
As time flied by, I heard one day that you had fallen ill with stomach ulcer or something similar. I tried to visit you, but your room was locked. I was concerned for your health but I didn't know whom to ask. Unfortunately, things became extremely busy in my third year. I thought you would be back this semester, fully recovered and healthy. I wanted to visit your house at least once, before leaving this institute. Sadly, fate had something else in store on that Thursday morning. I was shocked when my friend, Mahitha told me about your demise and the fact that you had cancer. I couldn't believe that you had such a serious health problem. If only I had known earlier, I would have at least had a chance to visit you, at the hospital or wherever you were. As Vivek and I came down to your house, I saw so many students and professors, all united in grief. It is a pity that I had to meet you in this situation. As you lay down on the floor, sleeping peacefully, the crowds circled around you to pay their respects. Your family was inconsolable; so were your friends. After the ceremonial rituals, they had taken you to the Kannammapet crematorium, the same place where we cremated my grandpa. I felt guilty for not having known about your condition, for not having met you, for not having spoken to you for so many months. I could only compensate by putting a fistful of rice on your mouth as you lay in your deathbed, Sir. As the ceremonial duties were being performed by your bereaved father, I prayed to God to give him and your family the strength to overcome your loss and that no parents should ever undergo the trauma of having to lose their child. As we watched, you were pushed into the electrical furnace and your body was ablaze. Amidst dignified tears, I returned, recollecting the times I had spent with you and the impact you had on me as a person. I will forever remember you as one of the best teachers I have had in this institute, indeed one of the best I have ever met. The fact that despite your physical limitations and all odds, you have managed to achieve so much and rise to this level, will continue to serve as an inspiration for me and countless others throughout our lives. Though life will have to go on for everyone you have left behind, you will continue to persist in the thoughts and hopes of many, for whom you are a symbol of courage, determination and achievement.
Yours sincerely,
Arun Kumar
BTech Final Year
Dept of CSE, IITM
(Late) Prof. D. Veeraraghavan
Dept of HSS, IIT Madras
Dear Sir,
At the outset I would like to express my heart-felt gratitude for the affection and wonderful guidance you had given me in the two years for which I have known you. It is difficult for me to think of a class in my life that was as enjoyable and as educational as yours on constitution. I still remember how in every class, you used to provoke discussions and healthy arguments on governmental and constitutional issues. Your depth and breadth of knowledge, including current affairs, used to amaze me. Not to mention your ability to immediately recognize a student, with just one utterance of a word. Your classes were on a different plane from any other I have had here. For the term presentation, you listened to each and every statement of the speakers and even correct them instantly, when most of the class wouldn't even have had an idea of what was going on! I still remember how you appreciated the performance of our team, Sharath, Vivek an I, onthe topic of reservations. We even used to have wonderful discussions on this and many other topics when I came to meet you in your room, including the then developments of anti-reservation violence. You are the only teacher I know, who involved the students themselves in their evaluation. I still vividly remember that evening, when we collected everyone's marks and opinions on the presentations and you asked us to give our suggestions on the marks given. I have never come across such an open, fair and democratic evaluation scheme. Of course, you were more than just a class instructor for me. You got to know about me as a person, my family, my interests and so on. Your valuable advice and guidance changed my outlook towards life. I am sure it has profoundly influenced many of my peers as well. We used to visit you sometimes to discuss about various things, including the landmark Supreme Court verdict regarding the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. I still remember that visit, when I gave you some chocolates that my brother had brought from the US! Speaking of which, I am reminded of Prof. Muraleedharan, who was like a brother to you; I admired the camaraderie you two enjoyed. Many times, he even dropped by during your classes to catch the sleepyheads red-handed!
As time flied by, I heard one day that you had fallen ill with stomach ulcer or something similar. I tried to visit you, but your room was locked. I was concerned for your health but I didn't know whom to ask. Unfortunately, things became extremely busy in my third year. I thought you would be back this semester, fully recovered and healthy. I wanted to visit your house at least once, before leaving this institute. Sadly, fate had something else in store on that Thursday morning. I was shocked when my friend, Mahitha told me about your demise and the fact that you had cancer. I couldn't believe that you had such a serious health problem. If only I had known earlier, I would have at least had a chance to visit you, at the hospital or wherever you were. As Vivek and I came down to your house, I saw so many students and professors, all united in grief. It is a pity that I had to meet you in this situation. As you lay down on the floor, sleeping peacefully, the crowds circled around you to pay their respects. Your family was inconsolable; so were your friends. After the ceremonial rituals, they had taken you to the Kannammapet crematorium, the same place where we cremated my grandpa. I felt guilty for not having known about your condition, for not having met you, for not having spoken to you for so many months. I could only compensate by putting a fistful of rice on your mouth as you lay in your deathbed, Sir. As the ceremonial duties were being performed by your bereaved father, I prayed to God to give him and your family the strength to overcome your loss and that no parents should ever undergo the trauma of having to lose their child. As we watched, you were pushed into the electrical furnace and your body was ablaze. Amidst dignified tears, I returned, recollecting the times I had spent with you and the impact you had on me as a person. I will forever remember you as one of the best teachers I have had in this institute, indeed one of the best I have ever met. The fact that despite your physical limitations and all odds, you have managed to achieve so much and rise to this level, will continue to serve as an inspiration for me and countless others throughout our lives. Though life will have to go on for everyone you have left behind, you will continue to persist in the thoughts and hopes of many, for whom you are a symbol of courage, determination and achievement.
Yours sincerely,
Arun Kumar
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Dilemmas of Morality
Have you ever faced a moral dilemma? A situation wherein you had to choose between that which is in your interest and that which is more than just about you? A situation where you had to choose between selfishness and common good? I have faced quite a few in my two decades of existence and here I share with honesty, two of the more recent and impactful ones.
It was the end of my first year at IITM and I had just completed my stint as an NSS Teaching volunteer. Noticing my enthusiasm, the chief student coordinator of NSS, Jayaraj, asked me if I was willing to coordinate a new group within NSS in my second year. This is the Science Activities group, whose aim is to change the way science is being taught at secondary schools from rote learning to activity and experimentation based learning. I grasped the importance of this mission and readily agreed to do so. But as the semester started and the load of the courses began, I started feeling that I might have made a mistake by choosing to become the coordinator. Sometimes I used to feel that devoting time to such activities is a waste since it doesn't help me in any way and I see most others just going about their academic activities, which I might miss out on. This was the thread of selfish interest that was running in my mind. However I also used to think about the good things I can do as the head of Science Activities and the nobility of service, epitomized by great selfless people like Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa. This was a classic dilemma of my self versus my society. Which is more important? Why should I be in this situation? As I grappled with all these questions into the semester, I ended up not doing much for the NSS work, which was mostly taken care of by Jayaraj for the first few weeks. But the turning point was when I met Prof. Giridhar. On one fine evening, he called for a meeting of all NSS coordinators to discuss the plan for the rest of the semester and the December holidays. It was then that he explained about the kind of work that people have done at NSS and the impact it had on society. It was in that session that I got the answer to my dilemma.
The next situation was in my third year. I had volunteered to be an Internship/Placement Representative (IR/PR) for my computer science batch since it entailed staying back in the institute in December for the Placements when most pre-final year students would go back home. I being a day-scholar would be around and thus offered to be an IR/PR. After the internship season, the time came for deciding who the next Branch Councilor (BC) would be. Though many were happy with my work as an IR, many weren't. I was not averse to the idea of being the BC though I believed that some of my co-IRs, who were interested in the job, could also handle it. One fine evening, Sameer, who was the outgoing BC called me up and said that I would be the best candidate for the job and if I was seriously interested, I should contest the election for BC. It is a tradition in the computer science batch that the BC will be decided unanimously. I for one was uneasy about the prospect of contesting an election! My mind kept on wavering over whether I should stand for BC. In the end, I did manage to become the BC by unanimity. But that is where the dilemma started. Having become the BC, in order to do a good job, some sacrifices were called for. The choice of my BTech project guide changed because of this. My academic life did get affected though not as badly as some had warned me. But I still was slightly dithering about the whole thing. Why should I sacrifice these for the sake of others' placements? Why should I let my academic life be affected without any direct gain for me from this? Then again, I asked myself why not? It was after all for the class that I was doing this. It was for my friends and classmates who stood to benefit if I put in the efforts with sincerity that the post of BC deserved. This was for the common good of the batch and the department since most people were interested in taking up a job after the degree. As I grappled with this dilemma, the newly elected Academic Affairs Secretary, Amit had called for the maiden meeting of the new placement team. He explained our tasks ahead as well as the commitment and sacrifices required by each and every one, including him, to make the placements a success. As before, it was in a meeting that I got the answer to my dilemma.
As you must have noticed, I have stopped narrating the story of my dilemmas the moment I got my answers since what happened after that is in public domain. What happened before that is what I got to express here. As life continues, I am sure I would face more such situations in the future, which would test me and my convictions. If I'm lucky, I'd be able to write about them here again.
It was the end of my first year at IITM and I had just completed my stint as an NSS Teaching volunteer. Noticing my enthusiasm, the chief student coordinator of NSS, Jayaraj, asked me if I was willing to coordinate a new group within NSS in my second year. This is the Science Activities group, whose aim is to change the way science is being taught at secondary schools from rote learning to activity and experimentation based learning. I grasped the importance of this mission and readily agreed to do so. But as the semester started and the load of the courses began, I started feeling that I might have made a mistake by choosing to become the coordinator. Sometimes I used to feel that devoting time to such activities is a waste since it doesn't help me in any way and I see most others just going about their academic activities, which I might miss out on. This was the thread of selfish interest that was running in my mind. However I also used to think about the good things I can do as the head of Science Activities and the nobility of service, epitomized by great selfless people like Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa. This was a classic dilemma of my self versus my society. Which is more important? Why should I be in this situation? As I grappled with all these questions into the semester, I ended up not doing much for the NSS work, which was mostly taken care of by Jayaraj for the first few weeks. But the turning point was when I met Prof. Giridhar. On one fine evening, he called for a meeting of all NSS coordinators to discuss the plan for the rest of the semester and the December holidays. It was then that he explained about the kind of work that people have done at NSS and the impact it had on society. It was in that session that I got the answer to my dilemma.
The next situation was in my third year. I had volunteered to be an Internship/Placement Representative (IR/PR) for my computer science batch since it entailed staying back in the institute in December for the Placements when most pre-final year students would go back home. I being a day-scholar would be around and thus offered to be an IR/PR. After the internship season, the time came for deciding who the next Branch Councilor (BC) would be. Though many were happy with my work as an IR, many weren't. I was not averse to the idea of being the BC though I believed that some of my co-IRs, who were interested in the job, could also handle it. One fine evening, Sameer, who was the outgoing BC called me up and said that I would be the best candidate for the job and if I was seriously interested, I should contest the election for BC. It is a tradition in the computer science batch that the BC will be decided unanimously. I for one was uneasy about the prospect of contesting an election! My mind kept on wavering over whether I should stand for BC. In the end, I did manage to become the BC by unanimity. But that is where the dilemma started. Having become the BC, in order to do a good job, some sacrifices were called for. The choice of my BTech project guide changed because of this. My academic life did get affected though not as badly as some had warned me. But I still was slightly dithering about the whole thing. Why should I sacrifice these for the sake of others' placements? Why should I let my academic life be affected without any direct gain for me from this? Then again, I asked myself why not? It was after all for the class that I was doing this. It was for my friends and classmates who stood to benefit if I put in the efforts with sincerity that the post of BC deserved. This was for the common good of the batch and the department since most people were interested in taking up a job after the degree. As I grappled with this dilemma, the newly elected Academic Affairs Secretary, Amit had called for the maiden meeting of the new placement team. He explained our tasks ahead as well as the commitment and sacrifices required by each and every one, including him, to make the placements a success. As before, it was in a meeting that I got the answer to my dilemma.
As you must have noticed, I have stopped narrating the story of my dilemmas the moment I got my answers since what happened after that is in public domain. What happened before that is what I got to express here. As life continues, I am sure I would face more such situations in the future, which would test me and my convictions. If I'm lucky, I'd be able to write about them here again.
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