Chair in the name of Prof. H.N. Mahabala at IIT Madras

Mr HR Mohan, President, Computer Society of India (CSI) has told a number of us that a Chair in the name of Prof. H.N. Mahabala is being instituted at IIT Madras, in the field of Computer Science and Technology.  This is an honour that is very well deserved, and all of Prof Mahabala's colleagues including CSI colleagues should rejoice on hearing this news. Congratulations, Prof!

But there is no harm in sharing a “joke” at Prof's expense at this moment, particularly when it is based on a true occurrence. Sometime, about 20 years ago, he and I were on a morning flight from Mumbai to Delhi.  We saw each other in the queue, and so got together to find two seats side by side. The take-off and the breakfast went on well; then came the coffee. Prof HNM took a look at the cup and pressed the "call staff" button. He showed the cup to the lady who turned up and asked "What is this?" Clearly marking the rim of the cup was a lipstick mark! 

The lady did a brilliant job of complaint handling, and asked him with a smile "What are you complaining about, Sir?" Many of us in that row and the next one burst out laughing! 

Srinivasan Ramani

Indian Innovation: “Masala Coke” and “Masala Sprite”

While traveling through the city (Bengaluru), I was surprised to read “Masala Coke” and “Masala Sprite” being advertised through a crudely lettered poster.  

I looked for any news item on the Web on this topic and saw this recipe:

http://www.rakskitchen.net/2014/06/masala-coke-recipe-masala-soda-drink.html

Doesn’t sound bad, does it? However, let me also mention that

https://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/coca-cola/coco-cola-classic-%2812-oz%29

tells me that you get 39 grams of sugar in a 12 oz drink! Garam Masala does not reduce sugar content in any way!

Srinivasan Ramani 

Blaming the developing world for climate change

During a show of the movie ‘Interstellar’, I sat up when there was a reference to an “Indian Air Force Drone”. The hero (Cooper) chases it with his car and shoots it down. He says that these drones carry excellent solar panels, as he proceeds to take out one from the shot-down drone. The whole reference to this drone is in the context of a dying earth facing the consequences of climate change, dramatically picturised through huge dust storms that ruin farming around the world. The only thing left for the human race, according to the script, is interstellar travel to a far-away planet. One of the characters in the movie refers to “six billion people who want everything!” I am quoting from memory, and so the words may be different; but the meaning of this comment was very clear to me. A lot of people in economically better off parts of the world worry about the developing world. With its large population, the developing world will need a lot of resources as its people improve their standards of life. Such large scale consumption, the worriers argue, may tip the world into irreversible climate change. The more developed countries expect the developing world to do with a lot less than what they themselves have and use, but the developing world will not take this lying down. The character making the comment was clearly echoing the sentiments of those who blame this phenomenon for climate change.

I am not going to discuss the merits of the worriers’ case here in this small blog post. I only wish to point the meaning and significance of the hero’s comment, as many participants in an online debate don’t seem to have taken note of this. Visit

http://www.quora.com/Why-did-Nolan-use-an-Indian-Air-Force-drone-in-Interstellar-Does-it-have-any-hidden-interpretation-like-reincarnation-or-something

Srinivasan Ramani 

Are punishments for the corrupt bigwigs adequate?

The way Indian society punishes the weak is remarkable. I have heard of an office where a canteen worker was frisked on his way out of the building and found to be carrying three chapattis in his lunch box. He was promptly removed from service! Today’s Times of India carries the story of a CISF constable who was found having Rs 500 on his person. The swiftness with which his case was decided and the big price he paid for his crime are worth discussion in the light of how corrupt netas and babus are treated. 

The CISF constable mentioned above was found to have Rs 500 on him while on duty on August 3, 2008; it was presumed that this 500 must have been earned illegally, since CISF rules require that their constables should not carry more than Rs 20 on them while on duty. On April 10, 2009, he was held guilty of taking illegal gratification and removed from service. Later, authorities took into account his unblemished service record of 16 years and changed the punishment to "compulsory retirement". Visit

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bombay-high-court-upholds-rule-that-CISF-staff-on-duty-can-carry-only-Rs-20/articleshow/45040955.cms

In comparison, what do higher level employees of the state get when found corrupt? Suspensions, transfers, or in rare cases stoppage of a few increments! What about corrupt netas? Government permission to prosecute can be denied or delayed. Witnesses can turn hostile or disappear. Those who get convicted despite all this can get bail for long periods. Appeals can keep them out of jail for a few decades. Then, if at all they get finally sentenced during their lifetime, they can get a lenient sentence because of old age. Then they can be let out on parole for some treatment in a five star hospital!  It seems logical to me that if a constable can be fired for Rs 500, bigwigs cheating the nation of a crore should get a minimum of seven years RI. A chain snatcher can get rigorous imprisonment, but netas having a few dozen crores of rupees of illegally acquired wealth seem to qualify for simple imprisonment. Where is justice? 

Mr Fadnavis, CM Maharashtra, saying that Government permission should not be a prerequisite to prosecute the corrupt is a great step forward. We will watch your governance, Mr Fadnavis, to see how you put your brave words into practice and will count how many convictions your government manages to get for those who perpetrated scams!

Srinivasan Ramani

 

Bullet trains in India: Reality or nightmare for govt?

Read more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/economy/bullet-trainsindia-reality-or-nightmare-for-govt_1122929.html?utm_source=ref_article

I have always hoped that with improved technology, railways could serve India far better than airlines for connecting cities within 500 KM of each other. The reduced fuel consumption, reduced emission of green-house gases, etc. could lead to a superior solution to our travel needs. 

However, now we have cost estimates like Rs 63,000 Crores for connecting Mumbai with Ahmadabad by bullet train. The article referred above raises reasonable questions about the logic of this bullet train proposal. It is necessary for railways to throw some light on the possible economics of what is envisaged. Otherwise, the credibility of the railways would be seriously damaged.

I invite readers to do their own calculation of the ticket price, making a few assumptions of their own: return to be expected on the investment, the number of passengers traveling between Ahmedabad and Mumbai in a year, etc. The results would be revealing.

Srinivasan Ramani

Tax Exemption for R & D in technology for electric and hybrid cars

An item in the times of India says that this subsidy of Rs 14,000 crores will save Rs 60,000 crores in fossil fuel over six years.
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-edit/rs-14000-crore-subsidy-proposed-for-hybrid-electric-cars/

Times of India’s own counter-view is that the subsidy amounting to Rs 1 lakh for a 32 Lakh car would mean nothing to the consumer.

Clearly, the Govt should not subsidize cars selling more than Rs 5 Lakhs. What we ought to do is to offer a tax exemption for electric and hybrid cars costing less than Rs 5 Lakhs. The focus should not be so much on direct savings, but on stimulating Indian automobile industry to do R & D to create new lines of low-cost vehicles that drastically cut into petrol and gas consumption.  The tax exemption should cover a significant portion of the R & D expenditure.

Srinivasan Ramani

Customer complaint to a Web Designer

Dear Sir/Madam, 

Thanks for your email, but I have a complaint. 

While I was still online and had the ticket displayed by the site nget.irctc.co.in 

I clicked on "print" on the page which showed the ticket I had bought for my sister Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx. The print out came out of the printer and I was amazed that the name was shown as blank.  So, clicked on "print" a second time and got the same result again. I have a suggestion. Please have your web designer look into the possibility that this occurs when one types a name longer than the website expects. It did not accept the typing of the last two letters of her name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx. The best solution would be to allow slightly longer names than the website accepts now. 

Thanks, 

Srinivasan Ramani  

Comment No 3 on HCI/Web Design