Alright, it is time to restart my sporadic blogging effort again. Thoughts in my head seem to only crystallize when I'm in the shower and if I get the same thought multiple times there might be something interesting in it. The latest thoughts I had were on religion and its meaning. Sorry if this is too lofty a pretense, it is merely my 2c.
Religion seems at face value to be a most divisive element in our society. There are many of them and many different ones within each of them. No one seems to agree nor do they seem to agree to disagree. There is much skepticism about it.
However, the more I think about it the more that I think religion, just like other things linked to genetics and Darwin's theories is more about evolution than some concept of our mind. Every lineage of human being seems to have figured out religion just as they had figured out language, agriculture and so on. As human beings evolved, at some stage of their evolution they must have hit upon this concept of the Supernatural and laws that conform to it. So, just like how early human beings in different parts of the world figured out a way to live in society, do agriculture and move away from being a nomad, getting married and bringing up families, they figured out religion too.
I think an atheist maybe missing the point. It's not about whether God exists or not. The concept of God is an inherent part of man's evolution. Denying God is like saying don't evolve! Just like in human evolution where there were multiple paths of evolution (the pygmies didn't need the height given their tree dwelling nor did the Nordics need their skin pigmentation in the arctics) there were multiple religions. At the end of the day, they all, in the guise of theology only talk about the understanding gained in evolving the human being. Just the early leaders who made the breakthrough of stopping society from wandering and begin growing food, just like the early leaders who stopped humans from freely killing each other with basic laws on community, we had leaders who inspired people to evolve and saw their teachings as paths for humans to evolve.
Not that religion as evolution needed an endpoint but given humans need a goal, these religious leaders designed salvation, moksha or nirvana as a goal. The point here is the evolutionary path, not really the end goal.
I feel, if we understand that religion is simply an evolutionary path for humans from apes towards a very uplifted and evolved being that is able to see the inner meaning and the ultimate noble goal, we will understand to appreciate the diverse paths communities and religious leaders have taken to tread this path. And how, as long as we evolve in our path, we fully understand how others want to evolve in other paths. And how, it all leads to the highly evolved being that can understand the meaning behind it all.
Seeing religion as simply a doctrine that is the be all and end all that divides people is, in my view, missing the entire point. Being an atheist is fine as long as every one has an evolutionary path worked out for them to help them evolve. Being lost and out of one of these paths is sad. This is why i believe religion of one form or other and God will live in man as long as man exists. Conscience is simply the reflection of our need to evolve. Just the same way, man won't give up woman, wealth or wine -- things inbred in our genes, religion won't go away as well.
We just need to understand for what it exists and the diversity of evolutionary paths and I think we will have a better world for us all.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Diversity
It's been a while since I wrote my last entry. One topic that has been on my mind of late is the diversity we today in our lives, everything we do and how the peoples of the world interact. You may wonder what triggered this thought. Of late, I've been engrossed in two activities -- one is actively fulfilling a long standing desire of mine and that is to learn Hindi. Another is my growing interest in India's spiritual past (more on this in a later post).
I started wondering about how the world has, over the past few centuries when man started communicating intelligibly, developed a large number of rich languages. The question arose, "would a new language develop in today's world?". My interest in Hindi was triggered when I attended a recent ghazal concert. While I didn't understand a word, the audience simply was spellbound with "wah-wah"s periodically echoing. While I understand ghazals are probably more Urdu, a learning of Hindusthani should help somewhat? As I delve deeper into this language I am amazed by its depth, its well structured grammar and its rich vocabulary. I see its roots in Sanskrit, which as I learn is even more amazing as a language.
One theory I have developed is, languages as rich as Hindi and Sanskrit have developed within societies that have had their share of isolation that has given them a chance to develop it. Complete isolation could lead to aboriginal societies that may still be at a hunter-gatherer stage. Appropriate mix of sharing and isolation leads to a different way of thinking and evolving on matters such as culture. Derive from the past, evolve independently seems to have been the trick here. India's rich cultural medley is fascinating -- every few hundred kilometres and you get a different language, cultural habits, deities and practices. At the same time, there is a common underpinning of harmony that is apparent. What has allowed them to develop this? I presume it is an appropriate mix of isolation - travel from one village to the neighboring village used to be a day long ride on a bullock cart?
Now, if we fast forward to today's society, with technological advancement, the concept of "news" and of course media and the Internet, there isn't that much isolation, even for remote villages. Common lingua franca (English for e.g.) flatten the world even further. The world clearly is becoming flatter by the day. While this clearly has benefits - arguably, advances reach societies faster, scale is achieved and intervention on difficulties is easier. However, my argument is, we could potentially lose diversity as a result -- why be different when there are so many influences to satisfy one's needs? Why develop a new language when it is simply convenient to use the one around you? Why think of a new way of doing things when there already is one that is accessible?
Now, fast forward to today's world of online communities and open source. Two paradigms that came up as a result of the Internet and are widely popular today. My argument is, open source, while taking advantage of online communities is able to come up with solutions that everyone wants (maybe because everyone participates in creating it), I would argue that this could flatten thinking. I am an open source developer and I see the plethora of solutions available today. I am able to use them to advantage to build new things -- stand on the shoulder of giants. However, I could also be heavily influenced by the way of thinking that is out there and lose the ability to think differently. Could this hurt the evolution of software in the long term?
Coming back to the consumer world, in a world filled with Coca Cola and Pepsi, there's not much initiative to go develop the next amazing drink (doesn't have to be a Cola, could be the next Tea or Coffee). Would there be another drink to rival the Tea and the Coffee in today's world? Fashion does evolve but given the rate at which fashion spreads will there be sufficiently different thinking? The Indian saree could not have developed in today's world and achieve popularity the way it has, could it?
How do we build a world where societies can have the isolation they need to develop independent ideas but at the same time share the ideas at the world's stage for everyone's benefit? Asia is probably most concerned about this and best set to answer this given the long history of diversity under reasonable isolation.
Thoughts?
I started wondering about how the world has, over the past few centuries when man started communicating intelligibly, developed a large number of rich languages. The question arose, "would a new language develop in today's world?". My interest in Hindi was triggered when I attended a recent ghazal concert. While I didn't understand a word, the audience simply was spellbound with "wah-wah"s periodically echoing. While I understand ghazals are probably more Urdu, a learning of Hindusthani should help somewhat? As I delve deeper into this language I am amazed by its depth, its well structured grammar and its rich vocabulary. I see its roots in Sanskrit, which as I learn is even more amazing as a language.
One theory I have developed is, languages as rich as Hindi and Sanskrit have developed within societies that have had their share of isolation that has given them a chance to develop it. Complete isolation could lead to aboriginal societies that may still be at a hunter-gatherer stage. Appropriate mix of sharing and isolation leads to a different way of thinking and evolving on matters such as culture. Derive from the past, evolve independently seems to have been the trick here. India's rich cultural medley is fascinating -- every few hundred kilometres and you get a different language, cultural habits, deities and practices. At the same time, there is a common underpinning of harmony that is apparent. What has allowed them to develop this? I presume it is an appropriate mix of isolation - travel from one village to the neighboring village used to be a day long ride on a bullock cart?
Now, if we fast forward to today's society, with technological advancement, the concept of "news" and of course media and the Internet, there isn't that much isolation, even for remote villages. Common lingua franca (English for e.g.) flatten the world even further. The world clearly is becoming flatter by the day. While this clearly has benefits - arguably, advances reach societies faster, scale is achieved and intervention on difficulties is easier. However, my argument is, we could potentially lose diversity as a result -- why be different when there are so many influences to satisfy one's needs? Why develop a new language when it is simply convenient to use the one around you? Why think of a new way of doing things when there already is one that is accessible?
Now, fast forward to today's world of online communities and open source. Two paradigms that came up as a result of the Internet and are widely popular today. My argument is, open source, while taking advantage of online communities is able to come up with solutions that everyone wants (maybe because everyone participates in creating it), I would argue that this could flatten thinking. I am an open source developer and I see the plethora of solutions available today. I am able to use them to advantage to build new things -- stand on the shoulder of giants. However, I could also be heavily influenced by the way of thinking that is out there and lose the ability to think differently. Could this hurt the evolution of software in the long term?
Coming back to the consumer world, in a world filled with Coca Cola and Pepsi, there's not much initiative to go develop the next amazing drink (doesn't have to be a Cola, could be the next Tea or Coffee). Would there be another drink to rival the Tea and the Coffee in today's world? Fashion does evolve but given the rate at which fashion spreads will there be sufficiently different thinking? The Indian saree could not have developed in today's world and achieve popularity the way it has, could it?
How do we build a world where societies can have the isolation they need to develop independent ideas but at the same time share the ideas at the world's stage for everyone's benefit? Asia is probably most concerned about this and best set to answer this given the long history of diversity under reasonable isolation.
Thoughts?
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Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Bangalore for IT (BFIT)
I wanted to write about an organization that I have been part of for the last 4 years. Bangalore for IT (BFIT) is an informal group of CEOs of multi-national (MNC) software companies that are based in Bangalore. Members include TI, HP, Motorola, Sun Microsystems, Philips Software and others. BFIT's agenda is quite informal and focused on sharing information and expertise that is locally relevant and help create a thriving and successful software product ecosystem here in Bangalore. As a new leader in Bangalore back in 2002 I found membership in this organization very useful to keep upto date on the happenings in the industry and government as well as policies that could have a potential impact on the company and what to do about it.
BFIT was also active in promoting active government-industry partnerships and raising awareness with the government on key issues affecting our industry. Members of BFIT are in committees sponsored by the local government to help drive improvements to local infrastructure. One action that was covered in the press -- after the apathy shown by the government in the last 2 years to Bangalore's infrastructure, BFIT proposed a boycott of Bangalore IT.in last year (termed in the press as "IT.out"). This made the government react and attempt to resolve some of the pending issues on infrastructure. But more needs to be done.
BFIT has recently been active in promoting corporate social responsibility. Recently, a community kickoff event was held on July 29 at the Ramakrishna Mission school in Shivannahalli, Anekal Taluk. Many BFIT member organizations attended the event that included a tour of the school, a program by the school children and distribution of uniforms and provisions by BFIT members to the school. More such events are being planned. Sun Microsystems for example has an active volunteering effort going that provides employees with a mechanism to give something back to the community.
There's certainly more that BFIT can do for Bangalore. A concerted effort by the industry to drive a higher level of ethics and values among our employees and candidates is a popular topic. Here is an article on this topic. Some of the suggestions here include publishing a compilation of articles written by industry luminaries on the importance of setting high standards on ethics and values; getting these industry leaders to go talk at University campuses and developer forums on this topic etc. Productivity is another interesting topic. As our wage standards rise, are we raising our value correspondingly by driving higher output and results. How can we collectively ensure that the IT industry in India stays ahead on the value curve while costs continue to escalate? These are tough but important topics and there is a vibrant discussion going in within BFIT that will come out in the form of actions that you all are soon to participate in.
I have enjoyed my association with BFIT and learned a lot. I'm confident this informal group will contribute to Bangalore's growth in the future. I welcome suggestions and comments on what else BFIT can do for Bangalore.
BFIT was also active in promoting active government-industry partnerships and raising awareness with the government on key issues affecting our industry. Members of BFIT are in committees sponsored by the local government to help drive improvements to local infrastructure. One action that was covered in the press -- after the apathy shown by the government in the last 2 years to Bangalore's infrastructure, BFIT proposed a boycott of Bangalore IT.in last year (termed in the press as "IT.out"). This made the government react and attempt to resolve some of the pending issues on infrastructure. But more needs to be done.
BFIT has recently been active in promoting corporate social responsibility. Recently, a community kickoff event was held on July 29 at the Ramakrishna Mission school in Shivannahalli, Anekal Taluk. Many BFIT member organizations attended the event that included a tour of the school, a program by the school children and distribution of uniforms and provisions by BFIT members to the school. More such events are being planned. Sun Microsystems for example has an active volunteering effort going that provides employees with a mechanism to give something back to the community.
There's certainly more that BFIT can do for Bangalore. A concerted effort by the industry to drive a higher level of ethics and values among our employees and candidates is a popular topic. Here is an article on this topic. Some of the suggestions here include publishing a compilation of articles written by industry luminaries on the importance of setting high standards on ethics and values; getting these industry leaders to go talk at University campuses and developer forums on this topic etc. Productivity is another interesting topic. As our wage standards rise, are we raising our value correspondingly by driving higher output and results. How can we collectively ensure that the IT industry in India stays ahead on the value curve while costs continue to escalate? These are tough but important topics and there is a vibrant discussion going in within BFIT that will come out in the form of actions that you all are soon to participate in.
I have enjoyed my association with BFIT and learned a lot. I'm confident this informal group will contribute to Bangalore's growth in the future. I welcome suggestions and comments on what else BFIT can do for Bangalore.
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Wednesday, August 09, 2006
A Better Business Bureau in India for registering consumer complaints
Recently when using the new Yahoo Mail I noticed a free credit report service. I had read somewhere that every US citizen is entitled to a free credit report from the 3 bureaus each year and decided to check where my credit rating was. FreeCreditReport.com advertised a free service and offered to give me a free credit report but I didn't read the fine print properly that promptly entered me into a paid monthly subscription with credit report updates each month. After I saw the charges on my credit card I decided to call the company for a cancelation and a refund. The company refused the refund the amount. I entered a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in the US and they promptly took up the case with the company. And I got my refund! I have heard about the BBB in the many years I lived in the US but this was my first experience with it. And it was positive.
Now I am in Bangalore and I wondered if we have a similar forum here in India to report business complaints. Ensuring the consumer is protected and fair business practices are conducted is key as the economy here expands. I noticed that there is a BBB registered in Kolkata but I'm unaware of any such facility here in India. Does anyone know? If there isn't one, how can we go forward and create such an organization?
Now I am in Bangalore and I wondered if we have a similar forum here in India to report business complaints. Ensuring the consumer is protected and fair business practices are conducted is key as the economy here expands. I noticed that there is a BBB registered in Kolkata but I'm unaware of any such facility here in India. Does anyone know? If there isn't one, how can we go forward and create such an organization?
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Bike routes in Bangalore
It took a wonderful Le Tour '06 to kick me back to the habit of riding my bike. The streets of Bangalore aren't what you would call good for the peleton. The roads are quite hazardous, smoke filled and you rarely get to see a bicycle these days in the city roads -- quite a change from the photos I've seen of Bangalore from 20-30 years ago when it would be routine for sometime to ride their bicycle from to the City Market and back.
I take the route from Malleswaram's 18th Cross, go through the IISc gate on Mariamman circle, down the underpass under CV Raman Road and into the IISc campus. The campus is great for bike rides, pleasant and free of traffic (other than bicycles!). Out through the side gate and onto new BEL road and all the way to the Ring Road. I then take a right and go along the Ring Road for as long as I can go. Sundays at 6am is great -- traffic isn't heavy and the ring road is good for some speed riding -- there's traffic lights on this road and the intersection circles could be challenging. I try and find a partner to ride with.
I've heard of bicycle riding experiences further north of the city around Nandi Hills. It will be great to connect with others who would like to ride their bicycles, particularly towards the north of the city. If you are interested send me a note to vjanand@yahoo.com.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
My musings from Bangalore
It's been many a time when I've wondered about how thoughts appear in your mind and seem to all fade away equally fast. Doesn't that initial thought always seem so original and pure -- and then you come back and think through it more and you find it no so refreshing.
This blog is an attempt to record my thoughts as they occur as I live in this city of Bangalore, India. I will try to cover everything I see -- from life in India, the people around me and my passion around technology and culture (and the play between the two). I welcome your feedback on my humble start. Here we go...
Today's papers are filled with an interesting debate on the role of a Lok Ayukta. The meaning of the term Lok Ayukta from the Cologne Sanskrit Lexicon is "people's agent".
The Lok Ayukta is focused on anti-corruption and is a parallel institution to the state government legislature and the judiciary. Many states in India have enacted laws to create this role (there's even a upa Lok Ayukta at the district level). Justice N. Venkatachala, a former Indian Supreme Court Justice has been the Lok Ayukta for the state of Karnataka since 2001 until his retirement last Saturday. Karnataka has been classified as one of the most corrupt states in India in certain polls and is also derisively called the "Bihar of the south", Bihar being a state in Northern India that is generally regarded as one of the most corrupt states in India. Justice Venkatachala has been in the news regularly "arresting" corrupt government officials with sufficient evidence, particularly around amassing wealth beyond their means that is unexplained. The culprits range from Police Officers to Government and City body officials, usually from in and around Bangalore.
This makes front page news and there is much angst among the population about how blatantly corruption goes on. However, the Lok Ayukta has not been given the powers to criminally prosecute them and typically the folks "apprehended" continue on their jobs and presumably their behavior as well. Given that Venkatachala has now ended his term the public opinion has been in general to given him another 5 year term or ensure another person takes over promptly and continues the good work that Venkatachala has been doing. The State Government, being the receiving end of this vigilance has not been enthusiastic on renewing Venkatachala's term or placing another person promptly in this role.
All this activity brings out a few thoughts:
- India's constitution has clearly demarcated the role for the legislative and judiciary offices and also delineated the role of the central/federal and the state authority. However, I wonder why the framers of the constitution left out detailing the vigilance and checks 'n balances aspect for these lines of government.
- There are precendents to it -- the central vigilance commission (CVC), the central election commision and so on that have the ability to question government. However, corruption continues to rage on without abatement. Why?
- The combination of a strong and independent judiciary, a free and active press and offices of vigilance that have free reign to bring criminal prosecution to the courts for proper resolution, should, in theory, keep the government in check and responsible and ensure reduced levels of corruption. However, this doesn't seem to be the case -- the Lok Ayukta has little power to prosecute, the judiciary is slow and corrupt in certain cases itself and the government seems to want to focus power and control at higher levels (centre, state) rather than down to the people.
What is the root cause for this? The people's apathy? Lack of a widespread education to raise questions? More transparency of public records? A more active press corp? Is it because of the disproportionately low income that people who work for the government get that forces them to do this? Is it a lack of core ethical beliefs?
What could the tipping point be to bring down corruption in India? Create more centers of power within government to act as checks and balances? Push through more delegation of power to lower levels (panchayats, municipal corporations, wards)? If so, how does one check corruption at these levels?
My theory is, reducing government corruption at the various levels should add 5% to the GDP growth all by itself! If we reduce the amount of red tape and government corruption, we all could theoretically get more richer (including the folks in government). Are we stuck in our age old behavior of bypassing queues and getting to the destination ahead of the others?
How can we get a wider movement to rein in corruption in India? I welcome your thoughts.
This blog is an attempt to record my thoughts as they occur as I live in this city of Bangalore, India. I will try to cover everything I see -- from life in India, the people around me and my passion around technology and culture (and the play between the two). I welcome your feedback on my humble start. Here we go...
Today's papers are filled with an interesting debate on the role of a Lok Ayukta. The meaning of the term Lok Ayukta from the Cologne Sanskrit Lexicon is "people's agent".
| 2 | Ayukta | mfn. joined with , united , applied to ; appointed , charged with L. ; burdened with , slightly joined L. ; m. a minister , an agent or deputy. |
This makes front page news and there is much angst among the population about how blatantly corruption goes on. However, the Lok Ayukta has not been given the powers to criminally prosecute them and typically the folks "apprehended" continue on their jobs and presumably their behavior as well. Given that Venkatachala has now ended his term the public opinion has been in general to given him another 5 year term or ensure another person takes over promptly and continues the good work that Venkatachala has been doing. The State Government, being the receiving end of this vigilance has not been enthusiastic on renewing Venkatachala's term or placing another person promptly in this role.
All this activity brings out a few thoughts:
- India's constitution has clearly demarcated the role for the legislative and judiciary offices and also delineated the role of the central/federal and the state authority. However, I wonder why the framers of the constitution left out detailing the vigilance and checks 'n balances aspect for these lines of government.
- There are precendents to it -- the central vigilance commission (CVC), the central election commision and so on that have the ability to question government. However, corruption continues to rage on without abatement. Why?
- The combination of a strong and independent judiciary, a free and active press and offices of vigilance that have free reign to bring criminal prosecution to the courts for proper resolution, should, in theory, keep the government in check and responsible and ensure reduced levels of corruption. However, this doesn't seem to be the case -- the Lok Ayukta has little power to prosecute, the judiciary is slow and corrupt in certain cases itself and the government seems to want to focus power and control at higher levels (centre, state) rather than down to the people.
What is the root cause for this? The people's apathy? Lack of a widespread education to raise questions? More transparency of public records? A more active press corp? Is it because of the disproportionately low income that people who work for the government get that forces them to do this? Is it a lack of core ethical beliefs?
What could the tipping point be to bring down corruption in India? Create more centers of power within government to act as checks and balances? Push through more delegation of power to lower levels (panchayats, municipal corporations, wards)? If so, how does one check corruption at these levels?
My theory is, reducing government corruption at the various levels should add 5% to the GDP growth all by itself! If we reduce the amount of red tape and government corruption, we all could theoretically get more richer (including the folks in government). Are we stuck in our age old behavior of bypassing queues and getting to the destination ahead of the others?
How can we get a wider movement to rein in corruption in India? I welcome your thoughts.
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