Fri Dec 11, 2:34 am ET
SYDNEY (AFP) – Australian authorities Friday issued a shipping alert over a gigantic iceberg that is gradually approaching the country's southwest coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the once-in-a-century cliff of ice, which dislodged from Antarctica about a decade ago before drifting north, was being monitored using satellites.
"Mariners are advised that at 1200 GMT on December 9, an iceberg approximately 1,700 kilometres (1,054 miles) south-southwest of the West Australian coast was observed," it said, giving the iceberg's coordinates.
"The iceberg is 140 square kilometres in area -- 19 kilometres long by eight kilometres wide."
Experts believe the iceberg -- known as B17B -- is likely to break up as it enters warmer waters nearer Australia, creating hundreds of smaller icebergs in a hazard to passing ships.
"It's still 1,700 kilometres away, so it's quite a long way away, it's not really on our doorstep yet but it's been heading steadily towards us," glaciologist Neal Young said Thursday.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
IISc is India's top ranking engg/tech institute
...Among the 67 engineering and technological institutes which have a publishing record.
Comparing this record between 1999 and 2008, Gangan Prathap and BM Gupta report in Aug 10 issue of Current Science that IISc ranks No. 1, followed by some IITs. (list below).
These institutes together have published 75,166 papers during this period, according to publication data downloaded from the SCOPUS International multidisciplinary bibliographical database. Put together, this is more than the output of the university sector (59,685 papers) and constitutes nearly 23% of the total cumulative research output from India during 1999-2008.
You can see the full report here.
(Report by Seema Singh - Sunday, August 09, 2009 11:52 AM on liveMint.com)
Comparing this record between 1999 and 2008, Gangan Prathap and BM Gupta report in Aug 10 issue of Current Science that IISc ranks No. 1, followed by some IITs. (list below).
These institutes together have published 75,166 papers during this period, according to publication data downloaded from the SCOPUS International multidisciplinary bibliographical database. Put together, this is more than the output of the university sector (59,685 papers) and constitutes nearly 23% of the total cumulative research output from India during 1999-2008.
You can see the full report here.
(Report by Seema Singh - Sunday, August 09, 2009 11:52 AM on liveMint.com)
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Bow down to your wives' diktat: SC
If you want to buy matrimonial peace just do whatever your wife says. This is not a piece of advice from a marriage counsellor, rather it is from the Supreme Court.A vacation bench of justices Markandeya Katju and Deepak Verma observed: “Bibi joh boltee hai woh sunno (listen to whatever your wife says), otherwise it could land you in trouble. Because if you do not listen to her, you will suffer the consequences. “Hum sab bhogi hai (we are all sufferers),” the bench said in a lighter vein. The bench further said a husband has to accept the suggestion of a wife irrespective of the fact whether it is sensible or not.This interesting suggestion from the Apex Court evolved on Tuesday during a matrimonial case involving an Air Force official Deepak Kumar who complained that his estranged wife Manisha had ruined him and his family by implicating them in false criminal cases, including sodomy. The couple got married 17 years ago but matrimonial disputes surfaced between the two soon after the marriage. A district court in Chandigarh dismissed Deepak’s plea for divorce as Manisha opposed it, but a single judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted decree of judicial separation.On an appeal from Manisha, a division bench granted the decree of divorce as the marriage “had irretrievably broken down” besides directing Rs 10 lakh maintenance amount from Deepak to her.Aggrieved by the High Court’s order Manisha filed an appeal in the Apex Court challenging the decree of divorce. Deepak’s counsel argued that Manisha even though had implicated her husband and his family in a host of criminal cases was yet opposing the divorce despite the marriage breaking down irretrievably.The vacation bench, however, posted the matter for further hearing to July last week as there was no urgency in dealing with the matter.PTI
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Follow 'Forum' discussion on the topic at the Orkut community 'Supreme Court of India'
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Follow 'Forum' discussion on the topic at the Orkut community 'Supreme Court of India'
Friday, May 08, 2009
YouTube helps man deliver baby
BBC, Friday, 1 May 2009
An engineer in Cornwall delivered his baby son after watching an instructional video on YouTube.
Marc Stephens watched the videos as a precaution when his wife Jo started to feel some discomfort.
Four hours later, his wife went into labour and started giving birth before an ambulance could arrive at their home in Redruth.
"I Googled how to deliver a baby, watched a few videos and basically swotted up," Mr Stephens told the BBC.
Jo Stephens said they had planned a home birth, but not quite in this manner.
Honesty is the best policy for Argentine taxi driver
BBC, Thursday, 7 May 2009
Hundreds of Argentines have been donating to a taxi driver who found a bag with $32,500 (£21,600) in cash in his taxi and returned it to its owners.
The donations started after a website was set up in his honour calling for gestures of gratitude for what is seen as an extraordinary act of honesty.
So far the equivalent of $14,580 has been donated, according to the site.
Santiago Gori, a taxi driver in the coastal city of La Plata, found the money after driving an elderly couple.
They only went a short distance but when he dropped them off, they left a bag in the back of his taxi.
A few days later he managed to locate his passengers again and he returned the bag.
For Argentines used to corruption at all levels of society, this was an extraordinary story.
Hundreds of Argentines have been donating to a taxi driver who found a bag with $32,500 (£21,600) in cash in his taxi and returned it to its owners.
The donations started after a website was set up in his honour calling for gestures of gratitude for what is seen as an extraordinary act of honesty.
So far the equivalent of $14,580 has been donated, according to the site.
Santiago Gori, a taxi driver in the coastal city of La Plata, found the money after driving an elderly couple.
They only went a short distance but when he dropped them off, they left a bag in the back of his taxi.
A few days later he managed to locate his passengers again and he returned the bag.
For Argentines used to corruption at all levels of society, this was an extraordinary story.
Contrite US tourists confess to Rome theft 25 years on
BBC, 7 May 2009
Two US tourists who chipped off a piece of the Colosseum in Rome 25 years ago have returned it - along with an apology for taking it.
The fragment of stone, small enough to fit into a pocket, arrived in Italy in a package from California.
A note inside read: "We should have done this sooner."
Rome's archaeology officials have accepted the couple's apology and the local tourism officer has invited them to return to the city.
Two US tourists who chipped off a piece of the Colosseum in Rome 25 years ago have returned it - along with an apology for taking it.
The fragment of stone, small enough to fit into a pocket, arrived in Italy in a package from California.
A note inside read: "We should have done this sooner."
Rome's archaeology officials have accepted the couple's apology and the local tourism officer has invited them to return to the city.
Projected LS after phase III, May 8, 2009
NDTV opinion poll: projected LS after phase III, May 8, 2009
All India
Total Lok Sabha seats: 543
UPA: 205-215
NDA:160-170
Third Front: 120-130
Fourth Front: 30-35
Others: 6-10
All India
Total Lok Sabha seats: 543
UPA: 205-215
NDA:160-170
Third Front: 120-130
Fourth Front: 30-35
Others: 6-10
Toyota reports worst annual loss
BBC, 8 May 2009
Toyota, the world's biggest carmaker, has made its worst annual loss as the global economic downturn has hit demand for its vehicles.
The Japanese company said it made a net loss of 436.94bn yen ($4.4bn; £2.9bn) in the year to 31 March, compared with a record profit the year before.
... ...
Toyota last made a net loss in 1963, a spokeswoman said.
Toyota, the world's biggest carmaker, has made its worst annual loss as the global economic downturn has hit demand for its vehicles.
The Japanese company said it made a net loss of 436.94bn yen ($4.4bn; £2.9bn) in the year to 31 March, compared with a record profit the year before.
... ...
Toyota last made a net loss in 1963, a spokeswoman said.
Rape victim commits suicide in Haryana
NDTV, Friday May 8, 2009, Rohtak
A police officer's office has become the scene of yet another suicide by a rape victim in Haryana. On Wednesday, a young couple tried to kill themselves outside the Rohtak DGP's office in protest against his inaction after 25-year-old Alka was raped.
Alka is now dead and her husband is critical.
Now their relatives have taken up the fight. They are refusing to cremate Alka until the guilty are punished. Roop Singh, father-in-law of Alka, says: "This is not justice. We will not take the body until the police officers and the guilty are punished."
Last June, Alka had filed a case of gang rape against 5 men at a police station in Panipat. But evidence against them was not enough, so they are still free.
A police officer's office has become the scene of yet another suicide by a rape victim in Haryana. On Wednesday, a young couple tried to kill themselves outside the Rohtak DGP's office in protest against his inaction after 25-year-old Alka was raped.
Alka is now dead and her husband is critical.
Now their relatives have taken up the fight. They are refusing to cremate Alka until the guilty are punished. Roop Singh, father-in-law of Alka, says: "This is not justice. We will not take the body until the police officers and the guilty are punished."
Last June, Alka had filed a case of gang rape against 5 men at a police station in Panipat. But evidence against them was not enough, so they are still free.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Labourer's daughter made it to IAS
NDTV, Wednesday May 6, 2009
Twenty-three-year-old Priti Maithil, the daughter of a daily wage labourer in Sehore in Madhya Pradesh has ranked 92nd in the UPSC examinations and it is no surprise that her family is bursting with pride ..... Priti's father, a daily wage labourer who has no fixed income also has reason to feel proud. "It is commendable how our friend Santosh has been able to teach his daughter despite limited resources. She has made us all proud today," says a family friend.Priti gave tutions to fund her college education when the family barely had enough to live on. "Aaj hamara chayan huya hai tho sara shreya ma baap ko jata hai," says a grateful Priti. (I owe my success to my parents, my teachers and my friends.)
At the end of it all, Priti Maithil is not only her parents' pride but also an inspiration to us all.
Twenty-three-year-old Priti Maithil, the daughter of a daily wage labourer in Sehore in Madhya Pradesh has ranked 92nd in the UPSC examinations and it is no surprise that her family is bursting with pride ..... Priti's father, a daily wage labourer who has no fixed income also has reason to feel proud. "It is commendable how our friend Santosh has been able to teach his daughter despite limited resources. She has made us all proud today," says a family friend.Priti gave tutions to fund her college education when the family barely had enough to live on. "Aaj hamara chayan huya hai tho sara shreya ma baap ko jata hai," says a grateful Priti. (I owe my success to my parents, my teachers and my friends.)
At the end of it all, Priti Maithil is not only her parents' pride but also an inspiration to us all.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Former child soldier urges UN action
By EDITH M. LEDERER, The Associated Press Wednesday, April 29, 2009; 4:49 PM
UNITED NATIONS -- A young woman abducted and repeatedly raped by the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda told the Security Council on Wednesday how she became a rifle-toting child soldier. She urged the U.N.'s most powerful body to stop the suffering of children in wars.
"I still wait for some of my friends to return," Grace Akallo said, "and I hope that everyone here will be committed to bring people like my friends home."
Council members responded to the plea from the former child soldier _ now a graduate student in the United States _ with rare sustained applause. Many, including U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, assured her that her message had been heard.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly supported Akallo's appeal, telling the council: "You must respond to her courage and resilience with action."
UNITED NATIONS -- A young woman abducted and repeatedly raped by the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda told the Security Council on Wednesday how she became a rifle-toting child soldier. She urged the U.N.'s most powerful body to stop the suffering of children in wars.
"I still wait for some of my friends to return," Grace Akallo said, "and I hope that everyone here will be committed to bring people like my friends home."
Council members responded to the plea from the former child soldier _ now a graduate student in the United States _ with rare sustained applause. Many, including U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, assured her that her message had been heard.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly supported Akallo's appeal, telling the council: "You must respond to her courage and resilience with action."
Untold Stories of Partition
India's Survivors of Partition Begin to Break Long Silence
A news item by By Rama Lakshmi, Washington Post Foreign Service
March 12, 2008
ccording to conservative estimates, about half a million Hindus and Muslims were slaughtered and 14 million displaced, and about 70,000 women were abducted and raped, leaving both countries with deep psychological and political scars. Riots convulsed the newly independent nations for months as centuries-old communities split apart.
"Partition is the unwritten epic of our times," said Ashis Nandy, a social psychologist at India's Center for the Study of Developing Societies. "Now there is an urgency to capture the stories of a generation whose voices will fade away soon."
-----------------
Another literary link: http://www.hawaii.edu/mjournal/text/issues/descriptions/india-pakistan07.html (CROSSING OVER: PARTITION LITERATURE FROM INDIA, PAKISTAN, AND BANGLADESH)
A news item by By Rama Lakshmi, Washington Post Foreign Service
March 12, 2008
ccording to conservative estimates, about half a million Hindus and Muslims were slaughtered and 14 million displaced, and about 70,000 women were abducted and raped, leaving both countries with deep psychological and political scars. Riots convulsed the newly independent nations for months as centuries-old communities split apart.
"Partition is the unwritten epic of our times," said Ashis Nandy, a social psychologist at India's Center for the Study of Developing Societies. "Now there is an urgency to capture the stories of a generation whose voices will fade away soon."
-----------------
Another literary link: http://www.hawaii.edu/mjournal/text/issues/descriptions/india-pakistan07.html (CROSSING OVER: PARTITION LITERATURE FROM INDIA, PAKISTAN, AND BANGLADESH)
Friday, April 03, 2009
Blind man bowls a perfect game
On the evening of May 3, 2008, A 78-year-old man nicknamed “The Hammer” has bowled a perfect game. Dale Davis of Alta, Iowa, nailed 12 consecutive strikes and reached 300 on Saturday night during league play. What's more astonishing is that Davis is also legally blind! Davis has suffered from macular degeneration, a chronic eye disease, for the past decade. He can’t see out of his left eye and has limited peripheral vision in his right eye.
Top 27 unbelievable facts that people don't know
Top 27 unbelievable facts that people don't know - July 10th, 2006
27. The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.
26. The average chocolate bar has 8 insect legs in it.
25. Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people do.
24. Its impossible to smoke oneself to death with weed. You won't be able to retain enough motor control and consciousness to do so after such a large amount. (Common Sense)
23. Uncle Phil, from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, did the voice of Shredder in the TMNT cartoon.
22. Every drop of seawater contains approximately 1 billion gold atoms.
21. The US national anthem actually has three verses, but everyone just knows the first one.
20. During World War II, IBM built the computers the Nazis used to manage their death/concentration camps.
19. The total combined weight of the worlds ant population is heavier than the weight of the human population.
18. The deadliest war in history excluding World War II was a civil war in China in the 1850s in which the rebels were led by a man who thought he was the brother of Jesus Christ.
17. Just about 3 people are born every second, and about 1.3333 people die every second. The result is about a 2 and 2/3 net increase of people every second. Almost 10 people more live on this Earth now, than before you finished reading this.
16. Happy Birthday (the song) is copyrighted.
15. The number of people alive on earth right now is higher than the number of all the people that have died. Ever.
14. The average American consumes 1.2 pounds of spider eggs a year and eat 2.5 pounds of insect parts a year.
13. The Kamp Krusty episode of the Simpson's was originally meant to be made as the Simpsons movie.
12. Men can breastfeed babies.
11. There is a rare condition called Exploding Head Syndrome which you've probably never heard of.
10. Scientists have determined that fungi are more closely related to human beings and animals than to other plants.
9. In some (maybe all) Asian countries, the family name is written first and the individual name written second (opposite of the America method). That's why Asian athletes like Yao Ming and Ichiro Suzuki have Yao and Ichiro written on their jerseys. Those are their family names and in America their names are written Ming Yao and Suzuki Ichiro.
8. Abe Lincoln bought 50 cents worth of cocaine in 1860
7. A German World War II submarine was sunk due to malfunction of the toilet.
6. Washington State has the longest single beach in the United States. Long Beach, WA.
5. The largest living thing on the face of the Earth is a mushroom underground in Oregon, it measures three and a half miles in diameter.
4. The town of Los Angeles, California, was originally named El Pueblo la Nuestra Senora de Reina de los Angeles de la Porciuncula.
3. 9 out of 10 people believe Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. This isn't true; Joseph Swan did.
2. Honey is the only food that does not spoil. Honey found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs has been tasted by archaeologists and found edible.
1. The Population of the world can live within the state boundaries of Texas.
27. The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.
26. The average chocolate bar has 8 insect legs in it.
25. Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people do.
24. Its impossible to smoke oneself to death with weed. You won't be able to retain enough motor control and consciousness to do so after such a large amount. (Common Sense)
23. Uncle Phil, from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, did the voice of Shredder in the TMNT cartoon.
22. Every drop of seawater contains approximately 1 billion gold atoms.
21. The US national anthem actually has three verses, but everyone just knows the first one.
20. During World War II, IBM built the computers the Nazis used to manage their death/concentration camps.
19. The total combined weight of the worlds ant population is heavier than the weight of the human population.
18. The deadliest war in history excluding World War II was a civil war in China in the 1850s in which the rebels were led by a man who thought he was the brother of Jesus Christ.
17. Just about 3 people are born every second, and about 1.3333 people die every second. The result is about a 2 and 2/3 net increase of people every second. Almost 10 people more live on this Earth now, than before you finished reading this.
16. Happy Birthday (the song) is copyrighted.
15. The number of people alive on earth right now is higher than the number of all the people that have died. Ever.
14. The average American consumes 1.2 pounds of spider eggs a year and eat 2.5 pounds of insect parts a year.
13. The Kamp Krusty episode of the Simpson's was originally meant to be made as the Simpsons movie.
12. Men can breastfeed babies.
11. There is a rare condition called Exploding Head Syndrome which you've probably never heard of.
10. Scientists have determined that fungi are more closely related to human beings and animals than to other plants.
9. In some (maybe all) Asian countries, the family name is written first and the individual name written second (opposite of the America method). That's why Asian athletes like Yao Ming and Ichiro Suzuki have Yao and Ichiro written on their jerseys. Those are their family names and in America their names are written Ming Yao and Suzuki Ichiro.
8. Abe Lincoln bought 50 cents worth of cocaine in 1860
7. A German World War II submarine was sunk due to malfunction of the toilet.
6. Washington State has the longest single beach in the United States. Long Beach, WA.
5. The largest living thing on the face of the Earth is a mushroom underground in Oregon, it measures three and a half miles in diameter.
4. The town of Los Angeles, California, was originally named El Pueblo la Nuestra Senora de Reina de los Angeles de la Porciuncula.
3. 9 out of 10 people believe Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. This isn't true; Joseph Swan did.
2. Honey is the only food that does not spoil. Honey found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs has been tasted by archaeologists and found edible.
1. The Population of the world can live within the state boundaries of Texas.
Capt. Negi, Netaji's Azad Hind compatriot passes away
Here's a report from samaylive, April01, 2009
Nataji's close aid passes away
Dehra Dun: Captain Narayan Singh Negi, a close associate of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, died of a heart attack at his residence here.He was 85, family sources said today.The mortal remains of Negi, who breathed his last yesterday, were consigned to flames with full state honour at Lakkhibagh area here in the presence of a large number of politicians and state government officials, they said.Expressing grief over the demise of Capt Negi, Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri described him as a great soldier.Chairman of the state media advisory committee Devendra Bhasin also laid a wreath on the body of Capt Negi on behalf of the ailing Chief Minister.Capt Negi came in contact with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in 1943 when he joined his Azad Hind Fauj. Later Netaji appointed him as his body guard commander.
Nataji's close aid passes away
Dehra Dun: Captain Narayan Singh Negi, a close associate of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, died of a heart attack at his residence here.He was 85, family sources said today.The mortal remains of Negi, who breathed his last yesterday, were consigned to flames with full state honour at Lakkhibagh area here in the presence of a large number of politicians and state government officials, they said.Expressing grief over the demise of Capt Negi, Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri described him as a great soldier.Chairman of the state media advisory committee Devendra Bhasin also laid a wreath on the body of Capt Negi on behalf of the ailing Chief Minister.Capt Negi came in contact with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in 1943 when he joined his Azad Hind Fauj. Later Netaji appointed him as his body guard commander.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Text of conversation between judge and Kasab
23 Mar 2009, 1354 hrs IST, PTI
Judge Tahilyani: Tumhara naam kya hai? (What's your name)
Kasab : Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab.
Judge : Kahan ke rehne wale ho? (Where are you from)
Kasab : Pakistan main Faridkot. (Faridkot in Pakistan)
Judge : Kya tumhe charge-sheet ki copy mili? (Did you receive a copy of the chargesheet) Kasab : Haan. (Yes)
Judge : Vakil hai kya? (Do you have a lawyer)
Kasab : Filhal toh nahi. (As of now.. no)
Judge : Vakil appoint karna chahte ho? (Do you want to appoint a lawyer)
Kasab : Jee sir. Jo November 27 ko mere liye khade hue the.. unhi ko bulalo." (Yes sir, you can call the lawyer who appeared on my behalf on November 27..)
Judge : Meri jaankari main toh aapke liye koi lawyer nahi tha. Aap chahte ho toh aapko sarkari vakil appoint karke de sakte hain. (As per my knowledge, there was no lawyer for you on that day. If you wish we can appoint a defence lawyer from the government)
Kasab : Theek hai sir. (Alright sir)
Judge : Kya aap jaante ho main kaun hoon? (Do you know who I am)
Kasab : I don't
Judge : Main Judge hoon jo tumhara case chalane wala hoon. (I am the Judge, who is going to conduct the trial in your case)"
Kasab (smiling): Namaste!
Judge : Agli date case ka.. main court mein order paas karunga jo aapko jail ki superintendent bata degi. (I will pass the order regarding the next date in the case in the court, which the jail superintendent will let you know)
Kasab : Bilkul theek sir. (Alright sir)
Judge Tahilyani: Tumhara naam kya hai? (What's your name)
Kasab : Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab.
Judge : Kahan ke rehne wale ho? (Where are you from)
Kasab : Pakistan main Faridkot. (Faridkot in Pakistan)
Judge : Kya tumhe charge-sheet ki copy mili? (Did you receive a copy of the chargesheet) Kasab : Haan. (Yes)
Judge : Vakil hai kya? (Do you have a lawyer)
Kasab : Filhal toh nahi. (As of now.. no)
Judge : Vakil appoint karna chahte ho? (Do you want to appoint a lawyer)
Kasab : Jee sir. Jo November 27 ko mere liye khade hue the.. unhi ko bulalo." (Yes sir, you can call the lawyer who appeared on my behalf on November 27..)
Judge : Meri jaankari main toh aapke liye koi lawyer nahi tha. Aap chahte ho toh aapko sarkari vakil appoint karke de sakte hain. (As per my knowledge, there was no lawyer for you on that day. If you wish we can appoint a defence lawyer from the government)
Kasab : Theek hai sir. (Alright sir)
Judge : Kya aap jaante ho main kaun hoon? (Do you know who I am)
Kasab : I don't
Judge : Main Judge hoon jo tumhara case chalane wala hoon. (I am the Judge, who is going to conduct the trial in your case)"
Kasab (smiling): Namaste!
Judge : Agli date case ka.. main court mein order paas karunga jo aapko jail ki superintendent bata degi. (I will pass the order regarding the next date in the case in the court, which the jail superintendent will let you know)
Kasab : Bilkul theek sir. (Alright sir)
Soon, IITs may be turning out doctors too
20 Nov 2008, 0304 hrs IST, Hemali Chhapia, TNN
MUMBAI: Graduation day at the Indian Institutes of Technology may soon see more than just engineering whizkids stepping out of their portals.
In the coming years, the IIT palette will have on offer a range of shades beyond the cut-and-dry coding courses. A bunch of doctors, historians, perhaps policy makers too, could boast of IIT degrees. ( Watch ) The IITs may be currently stretched to the limit, but the XIth five-year committee for higher education is working with these centres of excellence to expand their charts. The committee, headed by educationist Yash Pal, that is meeting IIT heads on Friday will discuss how the tech schools can change their character and, like American universities, enlarge their menu. ... ...
MUMBAI: Graduation day at the Indian Institutes of Technology may soon see more than just engineering whizkids stepping out of their portals.
In the coming years, the IIT palette will have on offer a range of shades beyond the cut-and-dry coding courses. A bunch of doctors, historians, perhaps policy makers too, could boast of IIT degrees. ( Watch ) The IITs may be currently stretched to the limit, but the XIth five-year committee for higher education is working with these centres of excellence to expand their charts. The committee, headed by educationist Yash Pal, that is meeting IIT heads on Friday will discuss how the tech schools can change their character and, like American universities, enlarge their menu. ... ...
IIT student dies, chief quits after backlash
Kharagpur, March 22: A 21-year-old student of IIT Kharagpur died after he fell off a rickshaw today, prompting charges of medical negligence at the ill-equipped campus hospital and triggering a students’ protest that forced the director of the institute to resign.
Rohit Kumar, a third-year electrical engineering student, was playing basketball outside his Lala Lajpat Rai hostel in the morning.
His death a few hours later stunned the campus, and shock soon snowballed into outrage. A violent protest engulfed the residence of director Damodar Acharya who resigned this evening, and the medical officer of the hospital was suspended. The students also forced the dean, D.K. Tripathy, to promise to resign.
“Rohit suddenly felt unwell and complained of a headache. He took a cycle-rickshaw to BC Roy Technology Hospital, located about 500 meters away. He was examined by a doctor, given painkillers and sent back within 15 minutes of entering the hospital,” said an IIT student.
.... ....
The students blamed the director for the death, alleging that even after several complaints to the authorities, the hospital had not been upgraded.
The IIT Kharagpur community — around 7,000 students, 700 faculty members and 1,500 non-teaching staff — are dependent on BC Roy Technology Hospital that has 25 beds and seven doctors. Three months ago, the students had sent a proposal to the director to upgrade the hospital, but they said no action was taken.
“At a meeting held three days ago, it was unanimously agreed that it was merely a health care centre. We cannot handle serious cases and emergencies. We had appea-led to the authorities to upgrade facilities,” said D.D. Karmakar, a member of the hospital management committee.
Around 3.30pm today, students came out of the hostel and around 2,000 marched towards the bungalow of the director. A huge police contingent rushed to campus.
“The authorities even snapped Internet connection to prevent us from getting united,” said a student, standing outside the director’s bungalow.
A part of the director’s bungalow was ransacked and a car smashed by the students between 4pm and 6pm.
As the students kept gathering outside the house, Acharya came out. “I have resigned from my post, taking moral responsibility,” he said. ... ...
Rohit Kumar, a third-year electrical engineering student, was playing basketball outside his Lala Lajpat Rai hostel in the morning.
His death a few hours later stunned the campus, and shock soon snowballed into outrage. A violent protest engulfed the residence of director Damodar Acharya who resigned this evening, and the medical officer of the hospital was suspended. The students also forced the dean, D.K. Tripathy, to promise to resign.
“Rohit suddenly felt unwell and complained of a headache. He took a cycle-rickshaw to BC Roy Technology Hospital, located about 500 meters away. He was examined by a doctor, given painkillers and sent back within 15 minutes of entering the hospital,” said an IIT student.
.... ....
The students blamed the director for the death, alleging that even after several complaints to the authorities, the hospital had not been upgraded.
The IIT Kharagpur community — around 7,000 students, 700 faculty members and 1,500 non-teaching staff — are dependent on BC Roy Technology Hospital that has 25 beds and seven doctors. Three months ago, the students had sent a proposal to the director to upgrade the hospital, but they said no action was taken.
“At a meeting held three days ago, it was unanimously agreed that it was merely a health care centre. We cannot handle serious cases and emergencies. We had appea-led to the authorities to upgrade facilities,” said D.D. Karmakar, a member of the hospital management committee.
Around 3.30pm today, students came out of the hostel and around 2,000 marched towards the bungalow of the director. A huge police contingent rushed to campus.
“The authorities even snapped Internet connection to prevent us from getting united,” said a student, standing outside the director’s bungalow.
A part of the director’s bungalow was ransacked and a car smashed by the students between 4pm and 6pm.
As the students kept gathering outside the house, Acharya came out. “I have resigned from my post, taking moral responsibility,” he said. ... ...
In India, even Presidential documents can be tampered with
Signs don’t match - Discrepancy in letters on IIT director (28.12.08)
New Delhi, Dec. 28: The presidential approval for M.S. Ananth’s reappointment as IIT Madras director appears to have been tampered with before being released under the Right to Information Act, casting fresh doubts on an appointment already under legal scrutiny.
Copies of the approval letters, provided by the human resource development (HRD) ministry and the President’s secretariat, carry different signatures, indicating that only one of the two can be authentic (see graphic in the link). Ananth’s reappointment for a second term as IIT director last year was set aside by Madras High Court last week on the ground that the appointment process violated the IIT Act. This was the first time a court had set aside the appointment of an IIT director.
A review petition against the order is expected to be filed this week on behalf of the ministry.
But discrepancies between the approval letters provided by the ministry and the President’s secretariat suggest foul play, said the appellant before the court, E. Muralidharan.
Both approval letters carry the same text and are signed over the name of Barun Mitra, joint secretary in the secretariat. But the signatures differ.
Mitra, asked which was the original document, refused to explain the discrepancy. “I do not need to explain anything to you. These are official documents and I will only respond if I am asked officially,” he said.
Once official documents are released under the RTI Act, however, they become public documents.
In both letters, the presidential approval is dated June 28, 2007, when A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was President. The President’s approval to all director appointments in the IITs is mandatory since, as Visitor to the institutes, he is their highest authority.
“The question is not merely about identifying the original document. The larger question is: who tampered with a presidential approval and why,” Muralidharan said.
New Delhi, Dec. 28: The presidential approval for M.S. Ananth’s reappointment as IIT Madras director appears to have been tampered with before being released under the Right to Information Act, casting fresh doubts on an appointment already under legal scrutiny.
Copies of the approval letters, provided by the human resource development (HRD) ministry and the President’s secretariat, carry different signatures, indicating that only one of the two can be authentic (see graphic in the link). Ananth’s reappointment for a second term as IIT director last year was set aside by Madras High Court last week on the ground that the appointment process violated the IIT Act. This was the first time a court had set aside the appointment of an IIT director.
A review petition against the order is expected to be filed this week on behalf of the ministry.
But discrepancies between the approval letters provided by the ministry and the President’s secretariat suggest foul play, said the appellant before the court, E. Muralidharan.
Both approval letters carry the same text and are signed over the name of Barun Mitra, joint secretary in the secretariat. But the signatures differ.
Mitra, asked which was the original document, refused to explain the discrepancy. “I do not need to explain anything to you. These are official documents and I will only respond if I am asked officially,” he said.
Once official documents are released under the RTI Act, however, they become public documents.
In both letters, the presidential approval is dated June 28, 2007, when A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was President. The President’s approval to all director appointments in the IITs is mandatory since, as Visitor to the institutes, he is their highest authority.
“The question is not merely about identifying the original document. The larger question is: who tampered with a presidential approval and why,” Muralidharan said.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
IIEST: Unborn Giants
The following is what wikipedia says about IIEST:
Indian Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology [1](IIEST) are institutes proposed by the Government of India to meet the growing demand for engineering and scientific manpower to meet our country’s increased industrialization. The proposed IIESTs would be created by an act of the Parliament of India. They would be given the status of Institutes of National Importance, on the lines of IITs and NITs by the Indian government.
Initially, a group of seven elite universities had been selected for upgradation to the status of IITs by the S.K.Joshi committee. Since these colleges were controlled by the respective state governments and which couldn't be given IIT status due to political, administrative or technical reasons the MHRD appointed another Committee, called the Anandakrishnan Committee. The Committee recommended setting up a new family of institutes by upgrading the selected group of colleges and to be called IIESTs (Indian Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology). Later, the Government of India shortlisted it to five institutions for the upgradation.
The five institutions have been short-listed based on the final Anandakrishnan report are as follows:
IIEST Kochi Cochin University of Science and Technology
IIEST Kolkata Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur
IIEST Hyderabad Osmania University College of Technology
IIEST Visakhapatanam Andhra University College of Engineering
IT-BHU which was shortlisted to be an IIEST in now on the path of being upgraded to an IIT.
Indian Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology [1](IIEST) are institutes proposed by the Government of India to meet the growing demand for engineering and scientific manpower to meet our country’s increased industrialization. The proposed IIESTs would be created by an act of the Parliament of India. They would be given the status of Institutes of National Importance, on the lines of IITs and NITs by the Indian government.
Initially, a group of seven elite universities had been selected for upgradation to the status of IITs by the S.K.Joshi committee. Since these colleges were controlled by the respective state governments and which couldn't be given IIT status due to political, administrative or technical reasons the MHRD appointed another Committee, called the Anandakrishnan Committee. The Committee recommended setting up a new family of institutes by upgrading the selected group of colleges and to be called IIESTs (Indian Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology). Later, the Government of India shortlisted it to five institutions for the upgradation.
The five institutions have been short-listed based on the final Anandakrishnan report are as follows:
IIEST Kochi Cochin University of Science and Technology
IIEST Kolkata Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur
IIEST Hyderabad Osmania University College of Technology
IIEST Visakhapatanam Andhra University College of Engineering
IT-BHU which was shortlisted to be an IIEST in now on the path of being upgraded to an IIT.
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