» Roots

Google’s tribute to Alexander Calder

Pushkar Sane — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 03:03:26 +0000

Today’s Google Doodle pays tribute to Alexander Calder who invented Mobile (not the mobile phone) almost 80 years back. All parents should thank this man as this simple invention has kept most infants engaged and it still fascinates them.

I love some of his quotes:

Out of different masses, tight, heavy, middling—indicated by variations of size or color—directional line—vectors which represent speeds, velocities, accelerations, forces, etc. . . .—these directions making between them meaningful angles, and senses, together defining one big conclusion or many.

Nothing at all of this is fixed.

Each element able to move, to stir, to oscillate, to come and go in its relationships with the other elements in its universe.

It must not be just a fleeting moment but a physical bond between the varying events in life.

Indus Languages

Pushkar Sane — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:31:32 +0000

Recently I came across a very interesting TED presentation by Rajesh Rao on how to decipher the 4000 year old indus script. He presented his point of view at TED 2011 and explained how he is using modern computational techniques to read Indus language. While his presentation was certainly interesting it made certain assumptions that were primarily driven by the history written by the British during rule in India. He made a reference to Indo-European and Dravidian languages in his hypothesis. I don’t how he arrived at a conclusion that the British classification was true 4000 years back. There is no evidence to prove the Aryan theory and in my opinion there was division between so called aryan and dravidian languages. The entire aryan and dravidian theory was created to cause internal rifts in the Indian sub-continent and unfortunately we still suffer from the same division.

While I commend his effort of finding meaning from the stone inscriptions but to me it looks half-baked. Because he neither knows the context nor he has the complete information. So while a computer can form patterns based on the information available we don’t know how much of information is missing. Additionally the only available source of context are ancient Indian scriptures which are ignored while studying archeology.

Here is the TED video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

TOI disrespect for Lord Ganesh

Pushkar Sane — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:08:31 +0000

Today is Ganesh Chaturthi and I was shocked to see an ad released by The Times of India Bangalore edition. It distorted the image of Lord Ganesh with different objects including building, buses, trucks etc. I was shocked to see that and my feelings were hurt. Being a secular country does not mean that you show disrespect to Hindu Gods.

I’m sure pseudo-secularist will argue that it is ‘modern art’ and ‘freedom of expression’ but would the Times dare to do the same with Jesus or Mohammed? Then why Ganesh? I wonder how would editors/publishers of The Times of India react if we were to portray their family members in a distorted fashion. Show some garbage coming out of their mouth, their hair made of wires, their legs made up on tubes etc. I’m very sure that they won’t take it nicely.

My religious sentiments are hurt and I’m for sure thinking ways to make The Times of India responsible.

Here is the image that hurt my feelings.