Nuclear films (atozchallenge) – Vikram

So, Tossing it out really made me rack my memory for a regional movie under nuclear films  -  the atozchallenge is getting tougher!!

For whatever reason, only one movie came near this nuclear theme at all  (i did take help from one of my confidante to firm this movie up) Vikram(1986) is a regional movie where the plot is about the Indian intelligence officer going in search of a stolen nuclear capable Intercontinental Ballistic Missile  -  the movie was one of those sensational movies which introduced a different theme, new technology to the otherwise conservative south Indian movie world in 1980s.  The best part was that this movie’s story was coming every week in a tamil weekly magazine (kumudham) with nice movie stills. I still remember those days where I use to wait at the gate  for the paper vendor to come and deliver that week’s magazine and all the time acting as though I am seriously involved in my school text books 

Nuclear disaster became more of a reality when the recent fiasco happened in the Japan nuclear power plants after the Tsunami.  While that was still induced by nature, in the last couple of days I was really disturbed by the trend of bomb blasts across the globe.  Just on this monday late night IST, I was shocked to see the tweet on Boston blasts at the Boston marathon -  and today (Wednesday IST) there is the follow-up news of blasts in Bangalore.

While it is awful feeling to think of the bomb blasts and the innocent public getting targeted for someone’s criminal attitude, there is also that anger in me  -  what are our intelligence agencies doing?  how much does it take to make stern decisions against these mindless terrorism?  Be it Boston or Bangalore, the world around us need not only pure compassion, but that courageous decisions and actions from everyone!  Let the light lead us in the right path of global peace!

 

Pranav Mistry – making India proud!

Almost few years back, while we were stuck in a traffic jam, the little one was getting restless.  Reason - We will miss her favorite TV show.  To keep the cool, I was telling her that how nice it will be if we have some technology where we can get to just beam the TV rays on any surface and we can watch TV anywhere.  That idea kept the conversation interesting and saved the day.  It was long still I forgot about this -  and then, one of the days I saw the details of the project by Pranav Mistry  -  Sixth Sense. You can watch the video here.  I was amazed about his innovation and felt that what I discussed with my kid may become a reality sooner than I thought.    I was very impressed by this Indian researcher’s innovation quotient.

The last 2.5 years, I have been following randomly about Pranav Mistry’s projects.   They were very interesting.  The latest one was Sparsh which he presented in the Nasscom‘s India Leadership Forum last week.  As always, Sparsh was also equally impressive  -  a technology which conceptually transfer media from one digital device to your body and pass it to the other digital device by simple touch gestures.  Watch the video here.

But this post is just beyond Pranav Mistry’s innovation quotient  -  It is about his Social Awareness and his thought about giving back to the society.  Pranav is very open in sharing his ideas and even technologies for free.  In the current world of commercialism where every company plan to make money with every new version of their gadgets (ipad 2, 3 and so on of Apple is an example!), it was very unique that he is doing this.  I was very curious about this part of Pranav   -   how is he going to get his fundings for future research if he is going to give his ideas/technology for free.   I was more than convinced when I read his response to almost same question asked by a reporter……..this is what Pranav says

Yes, many people tell me that I can make lots of money if I sell the patented  technologies I have helped create. But my goal isn’t to be the richest person in  the world. And this also has to do with the way I grew up in Palanpur, my hometown. I realised early in life that no one  remembers you post death just because you were a rich person. Do YOU remember  such a person? We now know the richest when they are alive. But do you know the  top 10 richest of 18th century? But we all do know Albert Einstein, Mother  Teresa, so we do remember those who make a change in history. We always remember  those who contribute to society. And money shall come and go, I shall have  enough to be happy but not necessarily want so much that I don’t know what to do  with it.

Read more: http://forbesindia.com/blog/technology/touch-of-genius-pranav-mistry-introduces-sparsh/#ixzz1mjwwm9BU

I was amazed by this clarity!!   Here is one Indian in the new generation who not only is a great technical wiz kid, but the one who thinks of society…………makes us proud.

Congratulations and all the best, Pranav!!

Related Posts: 

• Passport Seva Kendra -  Proud to be an Indian

• Simply Super(star)! 

• An open letter to a real life hero

How to get from Rome to Rio

How to get from Rome to Rio  is an interesting site  -  try it as an alternate for google map and you will see multiple options for the mode of transport and it makes it very interesting……

Whenever I try to track the train track between Bangalore and Chennai in Google Maps, the option does not come up………Rome2Rio gives the train route also!!!

This site is established by a technology startup based out of Melbourne, Australia.  The current version searches worldwide flight schedules, European, North American, Indian and Chinese trains, North American inter-city buses, driving and ferry routes.  The public beta version was launched in April 2011.

TRY IT….