A dubious lineage

In Indian society, lineage can be traced to a particular sage/rishi, like, Bhardwaj, Kashyap, Gautam, et al. Even to this day, marriages are not solemnised within the same 'gotra'. But imagine the plight of someone who, upon intense search, comes to know that he is a direct descendant of Genghis Khan

"Tom Robinson, a Florida based accountant, had long wondered about his family tree. He knew that his great, great-grandfather had come to the United States from England, but beyond that his research drew a blank. So the fourty-eight-year old turned to the burgeoning field of "bioarchaeology" having his DNA tested to see what it revealed about his origins. He was in for a surprise. According to a British geneticist who pioneered the research, Robinson appears to be a direct descendant of Genghis Khan."














Can you see the similarity?? If, God forbid, Mr. Robinson commits forgery or homicide, you have to blame it on 'his genes'!


Researchers have identified a Y-chromosomal lineage present in about 8% of the men in a large region of Asia (about 0.5% of the men in the world). The study suggests that the pattern of variation within the lineage is consistent with a hypothesis that it originated in Mongolia about 1,000 years ago. The authors propose that the lineage is carried by likely male-line descendants of Genghis Khan, and that it has spread through social selection. In addition to the Khanates and other descendants, the Mughal royal family of India are also descended from Genghis Khan (Babur's mother was a descendant). No wonder the Mughals exhibited barbaric traits akin to their infamous ancestor.

Mohanlal: the Complete Actor

Read with interest an interview conducted by IBN-CNN journalist with the legendary, Mohanlal (Being Mohanlal: Kerala's pride). Born on May 21, 1960, Mohanlal Viswanathan Nair is known by the stage name Mohanlal, and had acted in about 300 films in a career spanning 26 years. His contribution to Malyalam cinema is phenomenal. He along with Mammooty are the superstars in 'God's own country'.

He has won critical acclaim for his work in off-beat but challenging roles. Who else could have done better justice to the role of a Kathakali dancer in Vanaprashnam? It is Mohanlal's genius that he could act in a two hour long Sanskrit play despite not knowing the language! In more than two decades of his cinematic life he has portrayed the entire gamut of human emotions in both mainstream as well as parallel cinema. A critic on Wikipedia notes, "His art [is] noted for its versatility, understated intensity, emotional depth, comedic timing, and the ability to portray characters that embodied the Malayali ethos.....Preferring the art of restraint, probably the most under appreciated quality in Indian cinema, he tries hard his to be just another character onscreen."

The Hindi movie fans got a flavour of Mohanlal's screen persona in Company as a Police Commisioner in hot pursuit of the dreaded D-gang. The role was short but Mohanlal did full justice to it and received the Best Supporting Actor award for it. But Kaala-paani, about the freedom struggle, received cold response from the Hindi cinema goers. Now he has agreed to essay the role of "Thakur" in a remake of Sholay. This role has been made memorable by the inimitable Sanjeev Kumar. Since RGV's Sholay also has Amitabh, who is donning Gabbar's role, therefore, expect some splendid 'acting fireworks' when the two Titans clash on screen. Let's wait and watch.

Crime and lemony?

You often read about men devising devious plans to lure someone of opposite gender in order to satisfy their carnal desires, but this one takes the cake. Lemony crime in the garb of exorcism

What surprises me more than the fiendish ingenuity of the accused is the stupid credulity of the victim. But then Manjaiah forgot that he was in Singapore where one cannot get away after commiting such crimes. "Manjaiah has been sentenced to nine months in jail and three strokes of the cane" by a court in S'pore on charges of molestation. I think it is not the prospect of spending 9 months in jail but the thought of getting 3 strokes of cane (kodde) that made him sob loudly when the sentence was read.

An existential dilemma

When I read a Wilde's poem on Sheru's blog and find Arun dabbling in free verse on his blog, how can I resist the temptation to share one of my poetic expressions. These days I hardly read & write poetry. Management is too 'dry' a subject and suffocates the tendency to appreciate the nuances of nature. While going through various management models & strategies, I long for the 'company' of Rilke, Shelley & Whitman.

Steps being watched covertly
by an enigmatic stare
a silent gaze
of an unseen face

Shocked

by the stoical expression
nothing moves
all is still
but dreams and clouds

Surrounded

in a hall of faces
prostrating before the dead
painful heart
empty stomach

Dreamed

of love unborn
and passion abundant
helpless intelligence
lifeless creativity

Laid

to rest in mangers
with sick and demented
tight lipped
defiantly conscious

Ossified

like an extinct volcano
a moss covered crater lake

Is Economics Hot?

Yes, if you happen to be Joey Cheek. For the full story,"The real reason I went into economics".
I definitely agree with Joey. After all Economics is all about MICRO (I know what your mind is wondering....) & CURVES (stop your naughty thoughts....)

DV's fastpaced delivery

I was pleasantly surprised today when Mani showed me the latest issue of Business World's Mega B-School Guide. It contained an article "Creating Leaders in Asia Pacific" by Sandeep DV, a dear friend and co-participant in the MBA program at NBS.

The short essay about his experience at Nanyang will go a long way in increasing awareness about our school amongst Indian students and Businesses.

Kudos to DV!

In defense of Management Science

Matthew Stewart in his essay, ‘The Management Myth’, poses a polemical question: “Why does management education exist?” He then assiduously builds the argument to prove his point that having a degree in philosophy makes a person better equipped to handle the challenges of business than an MBA would. To accentuate the impact of his proposition, he uses two examples which I believe today are of only historical significance to the field of management.

Now I have little defense to offer in support of the management theories (I am myself a bit skeptical of the methods and techniques that go into making them) but I would certainly dispute Mr. Stewart’s outright denunciation of the discipline of management studies (MS). It is one thing to challenge the assumptions made and conclusions drawn by management gurus but quite another to disparage whatever goes into making of an MBA graduate. No doubt the information deluge thrust upon B-school students does not impart a deep understanding of any one topic; but to pooh-pooh MBA education as only providing a “generic framework for problem solving…..[that] can lead you to solutions, but cannot make you think” tantamount to alleging that MBAs are pedant in blinkers at best and herders at worst.

We all know that Philosophy is the fountainhead of every branch of human knowledge. Pythagoras, Newton, J.S. Mill and William James were first and foremost philosophers and only later were they labeled as a mathematician, a physicist, an economist and a psychologist respectively. Every branch of knowledge in its infancy grows under the wings of philosophy but once it learns to stand on its own, it breaks free. The problem with MS has been that in its overzealousness it attempted to become a science at its inception: trying to challenge the limits of its boundaries without even assessing properly the subject matter and the environment it was operating in. In a way, management science has become a Don Quixote----ambitious but without definitive purpose.

But not everything that goes in the name of MS is bunkum and irrelevant. The management thinkers do try to apply scientific rigor to test their hypothesis but the predictability and reproducibility of their inferences cannot be as accurate as an experiment in the field of natural science. What Mr. Stewart lampoons as an inadequacy of MS is equally true of any other social science like sociology, psychology, political science etc.

Again, why single out MS as “capable only of soaring platitudes” and plagued by fads which surface from time to time? If the management thinkers have been rehashing the stuff propounded earlier by their predecessors, then Mr. Stewart can kindly inform me as to how many philosophers have come out ‘original’ answers to centuries’ old philosophical questions? Any student of history of philosophy would easily point out that over the centuries philosophical debates have centered on a handful of propositions; but what have changed are the context and the argument. Similarly, the moot questions with which MS started haven’t changed over the past one century; but the methodology, the analysis of these issues have definitely become rigorous over a period of time.

Yes, a management graduate would be better equipped to handle the complexities of business if she gives proportionate amount of time reading the thinkers alluded to by the author. Such an endeavor would enrich her analytical skills besides giving a better perspective of ethical imperatives. I would say that such an exercise would prove salutary for the intellectual development of students from any stream. So, why not teach philosophy to engineers, arts students and scientists too?

To sum up, I do agree with the author that MS as a discipline needs a serious reexamination and revision. It is a young branch of knowledge but has tremendous impact on society. Since it attracts some of the finest talent therefore it should assist young minds “to think” and not merely provide heuristic framework to base their action upon. Academics associated with the field of management would do a great service to their discipline, the students and to the businesses worldwide by paying heed to Mr. Stewart’s pragmatic advice.

P.S.: I received Mr. Stewart's essay from Prof. Ashish Lall, who has honed my ability to think systematically and make arguments coherently.

Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself"

Walt Whitman, arguably America's most influential and innovative poet, was of the first generation of Americans who were born in the newly formed United States. He alongwith Poe, Hawthorne, Melville, Thoreau, and Emerson laid the foundations of American literature. His seminal work, "Leaves of Grass" was a conscious attempt to define the American experience; an attempt by the young Whitman to answer Emerson's essay, "The Poet," which called for a truly original national poet, one who would sing of the new country in a new voice.

Spirituality is a mixed bag for Walt Whitman. Although he takes a great deal of material from Christianity but his conception of religion is much more complicated than the beliefs of one or two faiths mixed together. I find in his 'Song of Myself' the strains of sweet, soulful music that the seers of yore must have heard and later encapsulated in the form of the Upanishads for the posterity to savour. The flashes of metaphysical perspicacity juxtaposed with lyrical sensuality of his mystical verse remind me of Sufi poetry.

Here below are a few gems from Whitman’s ‘Song of Myself’, which I find as an abundant ocean of life’s wisdom. Reading them will give you an insight into the mind of America's venerated poet and humanist of 19th century.

Swiftly arose and spread around me the peace and joy and
----knowledge that pass all the art and argument of the earth;
And I know that the hand of God is the elderhand of my own,
And I know that the spirit of God is the eldest brother of my own,
***
There was never any more inception than there is now,
Nor any more youth or age than there is now,
And will never be any more perfection than there is now,
Nor any more heaven or hell than there is now.
***
Clear and sweet is my soul, and clear and sweet is all that is not my soul.
***
All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses,
And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier.
***
Have you heard that it was good to gain the day?
I also say it is good to fall, battles are won in the same spirit in which they are won.
***
In all people I see myself, none more and not one a barleycorn less,
And the good or bad I say of myself I say of them.
***
And whether I come to my own today or in ten thousand or ten million years,
I can cheerfully take it now, or with equal cheerfulness I can wait.
***
The pleasures of heaven are with me and the pains of hell are with me,
The first I graft and increase upon myself, the latter I translate into a new tongue.
***

Future of Computing

In the current issue of The Economist, under the Science & Technology section, there's an article about the latest research in the field of quantum computing ("One qubit at a time"). The scope of this avant-garde technology, though in its nascent stages of development, is awesome. For eg., "A quantum computer with two qubits could run four calculations in parallel.... A 1,000-qubit device could process more simultaneous calculations than there are particles in the observable universe." Now, this would be a tremendous help for scientists grappling with gargantuan data.

In the past few decades, computers have become more compact and considerably faster in performing their task, but the task remains the same: to manipulate and interpret an encoding of binary bits into a useful computational result. We all know, that a bit is a fundamental unit of information, classically represented as a 0 or 1 in a digital computer. Herein lies a key difference between a classical computer and a quantum computer. A quantum computer is a device that harnesses a qubit which can hold a one, or a zero, or a superposition of these.


Source: The Economist

Quantum computation is not a recent idea. It was explored for the first time during 70s by Richard Feynman among others physicists. He produced an abstract model in 1982 that showed how a quantum system could be used to do computations. He also explained how such a machine would be able to act as a simulator for quantum physics. Since then promising advancements have been made in this field but "...so far only small-scale devices have been demonstrated, and many of these need to be kept in strictly defined conditions. One reason for this sensitivity is that qubits can maintain their quantum superposition only if they do not interact with other objects. They must thus be isolated from their surroundings." Another challenge is to produce 'Quantum hardware': an enviornment that is conducive for quantum computing.

So far the research has been in the right direction and it's a matter of time before "quantum computers will emerge as the superior computational devices at the very least, and perhaps one day make today's modern computer obsolete." (The Quantum Computer by Jacob West). I am wondering how will the Intels, the Microsofts and the IBMs respond to this 'disruptive innovation'? What exciting uses will emerge from this new technology? Who will be the winners and who will be the laggards? Only time will answer these questions but I won't be surprised if my daughter uses a 'quantum computer' by the time she's in her college.

Lalu P. Yadav: From a Maverick Politician to a Mentor Minister

Just read the headlines at the IBN-CNN website: "Lalu's train on right track, chugs into IIM books". It's not a small feat to turnaround a loss-making PSU into one with Rs 13,000 crore worth internal resources as also surplus revenue of Rs 11,000 crore.

As per the 2006 budget, Indian Railways (IR) earned Rs. 54,600 crores. Freight earnings increased by 10% in the previous year. Passenger earnings, other coaching earnings and sundry other earnings increased by 7%, 19% and 56% respectively over previous year. Its year end fund balance is expected to stand at Rs. 11,280 cr. Compare it with IR's performance in 2001 when it had deferred dividend payment, its fund balances had reduced to just Rs. 350 cr and about which experts had started saying that it is enmeshed in a terminal debt trap.

IR has come a long way since 16th April 1853, when the first passenger train service was inaugurated between Bori Bunder, Bombay and Thana covering a distance of 34 km. Today it is world's largest and busiest rail networks in the world, transporting ~ 5 billion passengers and almost 350 million tonnes of freight annually. IR is the world's largest commercial or utility employer, with more than 1.6 million employees. Not a mean achievement!



Let's compare IR with its Chinese counterpart. Goods hauled by Railways (Tons-km billions in 2002) for China was 1508.7 and for India 333.2. According to the IR’s own figures, moving one passenger one kilometre made a loss of 15 paise. Shifting a tonne of freight made a profit of 16 paise. As a result, the ratio of passenger fares per person-kilometre to freight rates per tonne-kilometre is among the lowest in the world: about 0.3, compared with 2.2 in Japan. China (between 1994 and 1998)raised passenger fares by 75%, lifting the passenger fare to freight-tariff ratio from 0.9 to 1.2.

IR still has a long way to go to be the world leader in rail transport. It needs to address the safety issue, both in terms of accidents as well as attacks by naxalites/dacoits on moving trains & railway property. There is the humungous task of track, signalling mechanism and engine modernisation. With increasing competition from road network & Low-cost airlines, IR has to act fast to set its house in order lest it loses its loyal clientele.



I would ask dear Mr. Yadav to take a long term strategic view for IR even if it entails forgoing petty political gains in short-term. Now, that's an acid test for Lalu the Maverick Politician before he can be labelled a Mentor Minister! He needs to live upto his own words [quoted from L.P.Yadav's 2006-07 Railways Budget speech]

“Hum bhi dariyaa hain, apnaa hunar hume maloom hai,

jis taraf bhi chal padenge, rastaa ban jayega.”

Problem of Self

Ever since my childhood I have heard my father play a harmonium, an old piece which was bought by my grandfather in 1940s. My father had a strong sentimental value attached to the instrument and used to handle it very carefully. Due to decades of use, its keys had worn down. When I was in teens, I accompanied him to a harmonium maker in Old Delhi to get its keys replaced. He was advised by the shopkeeper to sell it off but my father could not bear such a thought. So, the old harmonium now had brand new keys, providing a contrast similar to shining dentures in a withered body! Years passed and the harmonium was still in use. Then one fateful day, someone dropped the harmonium while placing it on a stool. And the dear old harmonium was broken. My father was very sad on that day. We tried to join the broken outer wooden case by using fevicol, but it didn’t work. Ultimately, my father and I took the broken harmonium to the same shopkeeper who had replaced the keys. This guy announced with an air of finality that nothing could be done to fix it; so we better purchase a new one. He, in fact, showed a few good pieces. But my father’s heart was still fixated on his old instrument. So, I asked the shopkeeper if the reeds in the broken harmonium could be put in a new case. The shopkeeper said it was possible but it would cost us nearly the same as a brand new harmonium. My father was happy with my suggestion, so we told him to do exactly what we asked. Next week we collected the “new” harmonium from the shop.

I’ll stop here. The purpose of narrating the above incidence is not to take a walk down memory lane; but to ask a fundamental question: Is the “new” harmonium different from the previous one? Again I’m sure the shopkeeper would have used the keys and other material to build a different harmonium. You know how smart these fellows are. So, if he did make another instrument using broken harmonium’s material except the reeds, then which of the two is the “original” one? Are there now two new identities from a single harmonium?

If the above example can be used as a metaphor for human beings then one is left wondering as to what is the real “us”? Is it the physical attributes, which constantly undergo change, or the ego/self, which again undergoes metamorphosis as one undergoes varied experiences? (This debate some other time)

But we all notice that in the entire episode of one’s life, there is continuity, which is beyond the physical or intellectual attributes. John Locke, the 17th century British philosopher, called this continuity as self-awareness. He was of the opinion that this unique ability of human beings provides a ‘psychological thread through one’s lifetime’. That’s why we remember our past as well as the present, though the former does not exist. Memory grows and then atrophies with passage of time but we still maintain our self-identity with ease.

What if there is disconnect in our self-awareness? Say, in case of schizophrenics, or those suffering from Alzheimer’s. Do they still remain what they were before the ‘psychological thread’ broke or are they now different personalities?

I’ll try to explore the ethical dimensions posed by these metaphysical conundrums in my subsequent posting. Till then, keep mulling.