There are many noble prizes winning for literature writings, which very interesting, informative, world view and high standard of catholicity of the scholarship. As many Malaysians can read in English that is the only languages leads us to read internationally renowned writings however many Malaysians English language competency is in the declining trend.
It is a great unfortunate that these internationally renowned writings are not translated to any of the indigenous languages of Malaysia. Malaysian writer let it be Malays, Chinese, Indians and even East Malaysians write in their own languages, with their own and/or their readers back ground. We do not even translate our very own literature from one language to another with in our own country.
Quality of Malay writings can be enhanced with wider circulations, at the same time internationalize our writers views. I am yet to see writings in Malay translated to other languages. May be no effort being made or our writers do not meet the required quality.
We should translate Malay stories, novels and other quality writings to Chinese, Tamil or to languages in East Malaysia and vice versa. Then the Malay language will grow to greater horizon. More non Malays will understand Malay way of life. These translated versions of Malay writings can make to appear in mass medias, in the Chinese speaking countries and in India. Later effort can be made to translate to other Asia and European languages.
We need to come out of coconut shells, have to compete internationally in this world, which is made smaller by knowledge and technology.
We should be very proud if any Malaysian wins a noble prize. Let him/her be a Malay, Chinese, Indian, East Malaysians or others. It is sad to say as some local newspapers writes, when a Malay wins anything, it is a Malay win and not Malaysian win, which irritates other loyal Malaysians.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Amartya Sen writings
Of late I read two books written by Nobel prize winner Dr. Amartya Sen.
I was amazed by his command of language . My English is not good but anyway when I compared him to other western writers whose mother tongue is English, Amarya is far too good.
Every line in his books is a fact. The summary of his books are the books itselves. In his writings, he never condenm anybody. Praise for all. Unites everybody. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhist and others.
He is an Indian from Bengal, now residing inUSA.
In the book "Argumentative Indians", a book that every Indian should read as he writen about past glories of India and Indians. India was the cradle of knowledge. Chinese, Arabs and many others came to India to equire knowledge.
In the book, " Identity and Violence", he wrote about Hindus and Muslims in India living together harmoniously. India with second largest muslim population in the world and with as many muslim scholars as the rest of the muslim world put together, Indian muslims had earn a respect as they do not indulge themselves, in any terrorism internationally.
In the book Identity and Violence he had written about civilisation confinement, globalisation, anti west and culture and captivity. This book really widens ones knowledge as well able to admire his command of English.
These books are really worth reading by every one.
I was amazed by his command of language . My English is not good but anyway when I compared him to other western writers whose mother tongue is English, Amarya is far too good.
Every line in his books is a fact. The summary of his books are the books itselves. In his writings, he never condenm anybody. Praise for all. Unites everybody. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhist and others.
He is an Indian from Bengal, now residing inUSA.
In the book "Argumentative Indians", a book that every Indian should read as he writen about past glories of India and Indians. India was the cradle of knowledge. Chinese, Arabs and many others came to India to equire knowledge.
In the book, " Identity and Violence", he wrote about Hindus and Muslims in India living together harmoniously. India with second largest muslim population in the world and with as many muslim scholars as the rest of the muslim world put together, Indian muslims had earn a respect as they do not indulge themselves, in any terrorism internationally.
In the book Identity and Violence he had written about civilisation confinement, globalisation, anti west and culture and captivity. This book really widens ones knowledge as well able to admire his command of English.
These books are really worth reading by every one.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Science and Mathematics in English
UPSR results were released recently (2008). The Tamil schools had done extremely well. An increase of 22 per cent in straight As.
Credit to the increase goes to the teachers and the parents. There was one school were extra classes were conducted in the afternoon and at night. All week ends and public holidays there were extra classes. The teachers received no extra monies from parent. There were no rests to the students. Parents have no time to teach their own children not because they were busy but all the time was taken by teachers. The students straight go to bed once they were at home due to their tiredness.
Malaysian government had done a good job by allowing science and mathematics to be taught in English. English language gives a world view. Knowledge can be accumulated by reading in English before it can be translated to students' mother tongue language as no discoveries have ever pineored in any of Malaysian languages. By learning in English we are not any way becoming less Malaysian or less of our own ethnicity.
USA,whether we like her or not, she is still the cradle of many discoveries. Their discoveries are written in English. If our students in Malaysia able to understand the discoveries at early stage then we will have an advantage over others.
There was several science v scholars. By the time we learn the discoveries several other inventions taking place. The lag time can be reduced by we learning the both subjects in English without waiting for translations.
As for Tamil schools there were not many exercise books available for both the subjects in Tamil because of the smaller market. This problem has been overcome by the change of language. Now they have more exercise books. Better command of English. There was one school I went; I noticed all students in the class were communicating in English Language without jeopardizing their command of the Tamil Language. Their commands of Malay Language were excellent. The students' command of English were better then their teachers.
Science and Mathematics if continuously used to teach in English, Tamil schools will be the most to benefit and more middle class Indians will send their children to Tamil schools.
Credit to the increase goes to the teachers and the parents. There was one school were extra classes were conducted in the afternoon and at night. All week ends and public holidays there were extra classes. The teachers received no extra monies from parent. There were no rests to the students. Parents have no time to teach their own children not because they were busy but all the time was taken by teachers. The students straight go to bed once they were at home due to their tiredness.
Malaysian government had done a good job by allowing science and mathematics to be taught in English. English language gives a world view. Knowledge can be accumulated by reading in English before it can be translated to students' mother tongue language as no discoveries have ever pineored in any of Malaysian languages. By learning in English we are not any way becoming less Malaysian or less of our own ethnicity.
USA,whether we like her or not, she is still the cradle of many discoveries. Their discoveries are written in English. If our students in Malaysia able to understand the discoveries at early stage then we will have an advantage over others.
There was several science v scholars. By the time we learn the discoveries several other inventions taking place. The lag time can be reduced by we learning the both subjects in English without waiting for translations.
As for Tamil schools there were not many exercise books available for both the subjects in Tamil because of the smaller market. This problem has been overcome by the change of language. Now they have more exercise books. Better command of English. There was one school I went; I noticed all students in the class were communicating in English Language without jeopardizing their command of the Tamil Language. Their commands of Malay Language were excellent. The students' command of English were better then their teachers.
Science and Mathematics if continuously used to teach in English, Tamil schools will be the most to benefit and more middle class Indians will send their children to Tamil schools.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Poverty and the poor.
In Malaysia the poverty level was very high in the 1950s till 1970s. The poor hardly met their income with the needs. In the house holds of the poor, they had pillows and mat made of straws to sleep, some utensils to cook and little cloth.
Male children would go to school and the female would go but stop schooling early to help their parent.
School uniform was limited and the numbers of buttons in shirt do not match with holes with which the buttons are fixed. The differences were met with hooks.
Students had nothing to spend in school canteen.
That was the scenario in the whole country but even with such situations there were several successful people who had climbed the social hierarchy. Their parents had managed well the little they earned and had the mantle strength to withstand the poverty and send their children to further education.
Now the poverty looks different. It is often said that the poor is getting poorer and the rich is getting richer. This is the relative term. The poor now is richer then the poor of thirty years ago. Now the poor have television, motorcycle, hand phone etc. but they would look for aid, for the purpose of children education. It looks like the can effort all necessities and some luxury goods but only could not spend for children education. The state should take care of their education expenditure.
Poor of this kind are not poor by income but poor to enrich their knowledge. They will spend for entertainment, extravagance expenditure during festivals and on many others, but children education never being in their list.
It is their attitudes towards their children education make them poor. No investment is better thanon education. If the poor realizes this the next generation will never be poor.
The other parameters for education are :
Concern toward their children education. For concern one need to be rich. Even a poor can be concern.
Discipline of family. Do not mix with those who are not in similar wavelength of thought.
Fund management of the family even though it is small.
And many more which varies with situation.
Male children would go to school and the female would go but stop schooling early to help their parent.
School uniform was limited and the numbers of buttons in shirt do not match with holes with which the buttons are fixed. The differences were met with hooks.
Students had nothing to spend in school canteen.
That was the scenario in the whole country but even with such situations there were several successful people who had climbed the social hierarchy. Their parents had managed well the little they earned and had the mantle strength to withstand the poverty and send their children to further education.
Now the poverty looks different. It is often said that the poor is getting poorer and the rich is getting richer. This is the relative term. The poor now is richer then the poor of thirty years ago. Now the poor have television, motorcycle, hand phone etc. but they would look for aid, for the purpose of children education. It looks like the can effort all necessities and some luxury goods but only could not spend for children education. The state should take care of their education expenditure.
Poor of this kind are not poor by income but poor to enrich their knowledge. They will spend for entertainment, extravagance expenditure during festivals and on many others, but children education never being in their list.
It is their attitudes towards their children education make them poor. No investment is better thanon education. If the poor realizes this the next generation will never be poor.
The other parameters for education are :
Concern toward their children education. For concern one need to be rich. Even a poor can be concern.
Discipline of family. Do not mix with those who are not in similar wavelength of thought.
Fund management of the family even though it is small.
And many more which varies with situation.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
INDIA that many INDIANS do not know
INDIA FACTS : The official Sanskrit name for India is Bharat.INDIA has been called Bharat even in Satya yuga ( Golden Age ).
The name `India' is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around which were the home of the early settlers. The Aryan worshippers referred to the river Indus as the Sindhu.The Persian invaders converted it into Hindu. The name `Hindustan' combines Sindhu and Hindu and thus refers to the land of the Hindus.
The number system was invented by India. Aryabhatta was the scientist who invented the digit zero.Sanskrit is considered as the mother of all higher languages. This is because it is the most precise, and therefore suitable language for computer software. ( a report in Forbes magazine, July 1987 ).
Chess was invented in India. Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus are studies which originated in India.The' place value system' and the 'decimal system' were developed in 100 BC in India.The first six Mogul Emperor's of India ruled in an unbroken succession from father to son for two hundred years, from 1526 to 1707.
The World's First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara temple at Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The shikhara is made from a single ' 80-tonne ' piece of granite. Also, this magnificient temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the reign of Rajaraja Chola.
India is.......the Largest democracy in the world, the 6th largest country in the world AND one of the most ancient and living civilizations (at least 10, 000 years old).
The game of snakes & ladders was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. It was originally called 'Mokshapat.' The ladders in the game represented virtues and the snakes indicated vices. The game was played with cowrie shells and dices. Later through time, the game underwent several modifications but the meaning is the same i.e good deeds take us to heaven and evil to a cycle of re-births.
The world's highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 1893 after levelling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters above sea level.India has the most post offices in the world !The largest employer in the world is the Indian railway system, employing over a million people !.
The World's first university was established in Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. The father of medicine, Charaka, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago. Although modern images & descriptions of India often show poverty, India was one of the richest countries till the time of British in the early 17th Century.
The art of Navigation & Navigating was born in the river Sindh 6000 over years ago. The very word 'Navigation' is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from the Sanskrit word 'Nou'. Aryabattha rightly calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. His calculations was - Time taken by earth to orbit the sun: ( 5th century ) 365.258756484 days. The value of "pi" was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician.
Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century, which was long before the European mathematicians. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus also orignated from India. Quadratic equations were used by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10*53 ( i.e 10 to the power of 53 ) with specific names as early as 5000 B.C. during the Vedic period.
Even today, the largest used number is Tera: 10*12( 10 to the power of 12 ). Until 1896, India was the only source for diamonds to the world. ( Source . Gemological Institute of America ).
Sushruta is regarded as the father of surgery. Over 2600 years ago Sushrata & his team conducted complicated surgeries like cataract, artificial limbs, cesareans, fractures, urinary stones and also plastic surgery and brain surgeries. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India medicine. Detailed knowledge of anatomy, embryology, digestion, metabolism, physiology, etiology, genetics and immunity is also found in many ancient Indian texts. Did you know ?
India also celebrates the birthday of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, former President and Vice-President and great statesman, as "Teachers' Day". Born on September 5, 1888, at Tiruttani, 40 miles to the north-east of Madras, Radhakrishnan grew to become the most famous Indian teacher and philosopher of all times. In his honour, this day is celebrated as Teacher's Day. He was also the Vice-President of India from 1952-1962. He held the office of the Chancellor, University of Delhi, before taking over as the President of India in May 1962.
"What makes a nation, is the past, what justifies one nation against others is the past", says the noted historian Eric Hobsbawm.Hence, when talking of a nation, it becomes very imperative that the past should also be talked about. And the past of India is as fascinating and interesting as it is momentous.
The name `India' is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around which were the home of the early settlers. The Aryan worshippers referred to the river Indus as the Sindhu.The Persian invaders converted it into Hindu. The name `Hindustan' combines Sindhu and Hindu and thus refers to the land of the Hindus.
The number system was invented by India. Aryabhatta was the scientist who invented the digit zero.Sanskrit is considered as the mother of all higher languages. This is because it is the most precise, and therefore suitable language for computer software. ( a report in Forbes magazine, July 1987 ).
Chess was invented in India. Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus are studies which originated in India.The' place value system' and the 'decimal system' were developed in 100 BC in India.The first six Mogul Emperor's of India ruled in an unbroken succession from father to son for two hundred years, from 1526 to 1707.
The World's First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara temple at Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The shikhara is made from a single ' 80-tonne ' piece of granite. Also, this magnificient temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the reign of Rajaraja Chola.
India is.......the Largest democracy in the world, the 6th largest country in the world AND one of the most ancient and living civilizations (at least 10, 000 years old).
The game of snakes & ladders was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. It was originally called 'Mokshapat.' The ladders in the game represented virtues and the snakes indicated vices. The game was played with cowrie shells and dices. Later through time, the game underwent several modifications but the meaning is the same i.e good deeds take us to heaven and evil to a cycle of re-births.
The world's highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 1893 after levelling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters above sea level.India has the most post offices in the world !The largest employer in the world is the Indian railway system, employing over a million people !.
The World's first university was established in Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. The father of medicine, Charaka, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago. Although modern images & descriptions of India often show poverty, India was one of the richest countries till the time of British in the early 17th Century.
The art of Navigation & Navigating was born in the river Sindh 6000 over years ago. The very word 'Navigation' is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from the Sanskrit word 'Nou'. Aryabattha rightly calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. His calculations was - Time taken by earth to orbit the sun: ( 5th century ) 365.258756484 days. The value of "pi" was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician.
Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century, which was long before the European mathematicians. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus also orignated from India. Quadratic equations were used by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10*53 ( i.e 10 to the power of 53 ) with specific names as early as 5000 B.C. during the Vedic period.
Even today, the largest used number is Tera: 10*12( 10 to the power of 12 ). Until 1896, India was the only source for diamonds to the world. ( Source . Gemological Institute of America ).
Sushruta is regarded as the father of surgery. Over 2600 years ago Sushrata & his team conducted complicated surgeries like cataract, artificial limbs, cesareans, fractures, urinary stones and also plastic surgery and brain surgeries. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India medicine. Detailed knowledge of anatomy, embryology, digestion, metabolism, physiology, etiology, genetics and immunity is also found in many ancient Indian texts. Did you know ?
India also celebrates the birthday of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, former President and Vice-President and great statesman, as "Teachers' Day". Born on September 5, 1888, at Tiruttani, 40 miles to the north-east of Madras, Radhakrishnan grew to become the most famous Indian teacher and philosopher of all times. In his honour, this day is celebrated as Teacher's Day. He was also the Vice-President of India from 1952-1962. He held the office of the Chancellor, University of Delhi, before taking over as the President of India in May 1962.
"What makes a nation, is the past, what justifies one nation against others is the past", says the noted historian Eric Hobsbawm.Hence, when talking of a nation, it becomes very imperative that the past should also be talked about. And the past of India is as fascinating and interesting as it is momentous.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
The Jews
There are 15 million Jews in the world at present of whom 7 million in United States, 5 million in Asia, two million in Europe and 1 million in rest of he world.
They had country of their own for centuries. Many countries they migrated denied them the ownership of land. They did not indulge them selves with agriculture. As they are migratory people the one thing they can carry with them was knowledge. With this policy they eradicated illiteracy centuries ago.
This community have a practice by which when a child is born and attain an age of three, parents will write in Hebrew on material meaning "studying is sweet" and let the child lick that material. They believe, by doing so interest is created for the child to read and learn.
Of the 765 nobel prizes given away todate 176 (23 %)went to Jews community an achievement cannot be contested by any other communities.
Below are some of the famous contributors from this community.
Albert Einstein - Physics
Sigmon fruied - Psychology
Karl Marx - Economic Philosophy
Milton Fruiedman - Economy
Benjamin Rubin - Innoculation
Jonas Chalk - Polio
Kecrude Allion - Medicine
Faruk Pilamberk - Medicine
Paul Arilick - Medicine
Ally mednikoi - Medicine
Bernard Charles - Medicine
Arane Back - Medicine
Gericgeric Bincase - Medicine(Birth Control)
George Watts - Medicine (Eye)
Stanley Cohen - Medicine (Birth Control)
William Cope - Medicine (Kidney)
George Soros - Economy (currency trading)
Walter Annanbege - Philantropist
Stanley Mesor - Micro processor
Leo Sillent - Nuclear science
Peter Scheltz - Fibre Optics
Charles Aller - Road Lights
Ishaddore Kishy - Sound Film
Emlie Berliner - Micro phone
Charles Inspeck - Vedio Recorder
Ralph Lawrence - Polo brand attire
Levis Sirus - Levis jeans
Avert Charles - Starbuck
Serky Berrin - Google
Micheal Dell - Dell Computer
Larry Ellison - Oracle
Berkin Robin - Ice cream
Henry Kissinger - Politics
Joseph Liberman - Politics
Medellin Albright - Politics
Geiber Weinberger - Politics.
Other communities too can be successful as success is the common property of all people who work hard with right attitude.
They had country of their own for centuries. Many countries they migrated denied them the ownership of land. They did not indulge them selves with agriculture. As they are migratory people the one thing they can carry with them was knowledge. With this policy they eradicated illiteracy centuries ago.
This community have a practice by which when a child is born and attain an age of three, parents will write in Hebrew on material meaning "studying is sweet" and let the child lick that material. They believe, by doing so interest is created for the child to read and learn.
Of the 765 nobel prizes given away todate 176 (23 %)went to Jews community an achievement cannot be contested by any other communities.
Below are some of the famous contributors from this community.
Albert Einstein - Physics
Sigmon fruied - Psychology
Karl Marx - Economic Philosophy
Milton Fruiedman - Economy
Benjamin Rubin - Innoculation
Jonas Chalk - Polio
Kecrude Allion - Medicine
Faruk Pilamberk - Medicine
Paul Arilick - Medicine
Ally mednikoi - Medicine
Bernard Charles - Medicine
Arane Back - Medicine
Gericgeric Bincase - Medicine(Birth Control)
George Watts - Medicine (Eye)
Stanley Cohen - Medicine (Birth Control)
William Cope - Medicine (Kidney)
George Soros - Economy (currency trading)
Walter Annanbege - Philantropist
Stanley Mesor - Micro processor
Leo Sillent - Nuclear science
Peter Scheltz - Fibre Optics
Charles Aller - Road Lights
Ishaddore Kishy - Sound Film
Emlie Berliner - Micro phone
Charles Inspeck - Vedio Recorder
Ralph Lawrence - Polo brand attire
Levis Sirus - Levis jeans
Avert Charles - Starbuck
Serky Berrin - Google
Micheal Dell - Dell Computer
Larry Ellison - Oracle
Berkin Robin - Ice cream
Henry Kissinger - Politics
Joseph Liberman - Politics
Medellin Albright - Politics
Geiber Weinberger - Politics.
Other communities too can be successful as success is the common property of all people who work hard with right attitude.
Friday, September 26, 2008
As examination nears
I have asked many students, “Why are you going to school?” Many would not able to give proper answer immediately. May be the question is too simple that he/she wouldn’t have thought for an answer.
Many students feel that they studying for better future. True. For many, education is the only way they can improve their future earnings and elevate themselves from poverty level which was holding them for generations from advancing. In short investment on education, is the best investment. Good. Knowledgeable society is vital for future survival.
However, many students especially those who are children of parents with only primary and/or secondary education do not have much vision for the future. Vision is achieving what is not visible now but with much hard work achievable in the future.
Many wanted to achieve their vision without much effort. Studying 8 hours a day means something torturous, unimaginable, not at all in the family history.
These students wanted to achieve their ambitions if any, without much effort. They wanted to live in the comfort zone. Success has to find them. They pray hard for miracle to happen to them.
I have attended many motivation courses conducted for students, where age old philosophies were told. Many were pertaining to sages of the past. The philosophies would mention on the relevance of knowledge. They will also mention, the knowledge is not valued if one do not pray to god. No mention of anything about future.
Several information pertaining to the future planning, input of time, increase in the input of time with work load, allocation of time with the importance of subject (time management) will not be mentioned.
Motivators need to emphasize the comfort zone had to be relinquished if one had to enjoy success. . If one had to live comfortably in future, he/she have to move to a uncomfortable zone for at least a short period of time. Need to work hard. Convert time to relevant knowledge for examinations. No communications with anybody. No entertainment at all as examinations nears. Maintain it until the examination is over.
Then only one will able to enjoy the sweetness of success.
Many students feel that they studying for better future. True. For many, education is the only way they can improve their future earnings and elevate themselves from poverty level which was holding them for generations from advancing. In short investment on education, is the best investment. Good. Knowledgeable society is vital for future survival.
However, many students especially those who are children of parents with only primary and/or secondary education do not have much vision for the future. Vision is achieving what is not visible now but with much hard work achievable in the future.
Many wanted to achieve their vision without much effort. Studying 8 hours a day means something torturous, unimaginable, not at all in the family history.
These students wanted to achieve their ambitions if any, without much effort. They wanted to live in the comfort zone. Success has to find them. They pray hard for miracle to happen to them.
I have attended many motivation courses conducted for students, where age old philosophies were told. Many were pertaining to sages of the past. The philosophies would mention on the relevance of knowledge. They will also mention, the knowledge is not valued if one do not pray to god. No mention of anything about future.
Several information pertaining to the future planning, input of time, increase in the input of time with work load, allocation of time with the importance of subject (time management) will not be mentioned.
Motivators need to emphasize the comfort zone had to be relinquished if one had to enjoy success. . If one had to live comfortably in future, he/she have to move to a uncomfortable zone for at least a short period of time. Need to work hard. Convert time to relevant knowledge for examinations. No communications with anybody. No entertainment at all as examinations nears. Maintain it until the examination is over.
Then only one will able to enjoy the sweetness of success.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Technologies of the future
Man was letting nomadic life for a million years and then changed to settle farming about five thousand years ago along river banks which are called as beginning of civilization. However industrial revolution let by Britain started in eighteenth century.
Industrial revolution is simply mass production with the use of machines. Productions were beyond the out put of normal man. Science knowledge accelerated at accelerating scale. This revolution, not only widen the gap between the rich and the poor but also the knowledge level among communities.
During these new fields of studies like engineering, aeronautical science, automobile engineering emerged.
After the industrial revolution, the computer technology, emerge where storing of information, processing of information and retrieval of information was made easy. Digital technology made calculations more accurate.
At one time, universities only offered computer science, now offering courses on computer of various types like computer hard ware engineering, soft ware development, multi media, graphic etc.
Nanotechnology, robotics science, artificial intelligence, genetics, space technology and medical sciences are still the unexplored fields. They will be the technologies of the future.
Our fore fathers had either missed the industrialization or acquired the knowledge late as with westerners. We should not do the same mistake. Who ever first to acquire a technology the will earn an economic rent until others learn the technology. Why not we to be the first?
Do anyone want our future generation to blame us as what we blame our pass generation for missing industrialization or future historians to blame the present generation for the failure of the future generation.
We should encourage present students to take up sciences of the future. We should be the first to learn any technologies in the region and earn an economic rent.
Industrial revolution is simply mass production with the use of machines. Productions were beyond the out put of normal man. Science knowledge accelerated at accelerating scale. This revolution, not only widen the gap between the rich and the poor but also the knowledge level among communities.
During these new fields of studies like engineering, aeronautical science, automobile engineering emerged.
After the industrial revolution, the computer technology, emerge where storing of information, processing of information and retrieval of information was made easy. Digital technology made calculations more accurate.
At one time, universities only offered computer science, now offering courses on computer of various types like computer hard ware engineering, soft ware development, multi media, graphic etc.
Nanotechnology, robotics science, artificial intelligence, genetics, space technology and medical sciences are still the unexplored fields. They will be the technologies of the future.
Our fore fathers had either missed the industrialization or acquired the knowledge late as with westerners. We should not do the same mistake. Who ever first to acquire a technology the will earn an economic rent until others learn the technology. Why not we to be the first?
Do anyone want our future generation to blame us as what we blame our pass generation for missing industrialization or future historians to blame the present generation for the failure of the future generation.
We should encourage present students to take up sciences of the future. We should be the first to learn any technologies in the region and earn an economic rent.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Technology in the future
During the industrial revolution, the engineering field in general and mechanical engineering in particular developed faster then any other fields. Then there were developments in medicine, naval architecture, aviation, space and nuclear technology.
Now developments in health care industries, progress at rocket speed. Biology combines with physics and called bio-physics, with chemistry bio-chemistry, with medicine bio-medicine, with technology bio-technology.
Now there are more people obese than any other time in history and food reserve than any other time. Seedless fruits bigger in size, dwalf plants bearing fruits earlier than it suppose to be were products of bio-technology.
Genetics engineering (part of bio-technology) and food technology are other fields which also developes at unimaginable speed.
I suggest students should read for these courses for enhance their employability. These courses also provide wider chances for self employment.
The very mistake of many students is that they have the herd mentality. Very few have blue ocean thinking and usually they are successful. I do understand it is not easy to be different.
Now developments in health care industries, progress at rocket speed. Biology combines with physics and called bio-physics, with chemistry bio-chemistry, with medicine bio-medicine, with technology bio-technology.
Now there are more people obese than any other time in history and food reserve than any other time. Seedless fruits bigger in size, dwalf plants bearing fruits earlier than it suppose to be were products of bio-technology.
Genetics engineering (part of bio-technology) and food technology are other fields which also developes at unimaginable speed.
I suggest students should read for these courses for enhance their employability. These courses also provide wider chances for self employment.
The very mistake of many students is that they have the herd mentality. Very few have blue ocean thinking and usually they are successful. I do understand it is not easy to be different.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Indians past glory
Yesterday I read an article on global economic history written by a German, in which I came to know that in the first millenium Indians controlled 30% of world trade. Indians were the best traders. Indians were the largest ship builders until the year 1700 AD.
Indians traded with Japanese in the east and to with Romans in the west which no other countries or communities did at that time. India was the richest country in the world. The kings of India was the richest persons in the world.
Many more superlative were used to discribe India and Indians. The article further said that by the middle of this century India and China again will the super powers of the world.
The above informations were new to Indians. Many Indians do not know their own history and their own potential. There are communities just by convertion of religion claim they to had contributed to science discoveries, but their ancestors not even converted to the religion when the discoveries were made.
The greatness of the Indians can be used to build intelectual confidence among the present generation of Indians.
Indians traded with Japanese in the east and to with Romans in the west which no other countries or communities did at that time. India was the richest country in the world. The kings of India was the richest persons in the world.
Many more superlative were used to discribe India and Indians. The article further said that by the middle of this century India and China again will the super powers of the world.
The above informations were new to Indians. Many Indians do not know their own history and their own potential. There are communities just by convertion of religion claim they to had contributed to science discoveries, but their ancestors not even converted to the religion when the discoveries were made.
The greatness of the Indians can be used to build intelectual confidence among the present generation of Indians.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Indian Calenders and Mathematics
There are six main calenders in the world. They are as from east, Chinese, Indian, Persian, Arab Jews and the Roman which is know as Gregorian. Indian kaliyuga calender is 5108 years old as at 2008 and the calender works perfectly with modern science.Indian mathematician Varahamira perfected Indian calender as 365.25875 days in a year which is 365.2536 days in a year.
Tamilans celebrate Aadi 18( Aadi peruku) which fells on the 18th day aadi month is a day Kannagi burnt Madurai and on that day, in Cauvery Pum Pattinam, the highest tide of the year will occur.
Every thing works perfectly. So well calculated.
Aryabatha discovered "pi" which India's present to the world. Indians discovered sine formular in trigonometry which led to the discovery of cosine and tangent.
There are lot of contributions by Indians to science and mathematics which the present generation is ignorant.
In order to give intelectual confidence to our students these information must be brought to the knowledge of our Indian students.
Arab learnt the mathematics from Indians and passed the same to the Western world.
Monday, August 18, 2008
China in 2020
Japan was the first Asian nation to defeat an European nation in a war. South Korea paralleled Japan in Economic development in the 1980s. Chinaopened her door after the death of Chairman Moa by Deng.
China's vision is to be Master of Every thing in the world. They are having impressive economic growth for the last 30 years. Their goods have been flooding every country at affordable price.
Their superemacy had displayed in the 2008 Olympics. First Asia country to top the list as most number of gold medals collected in Olympics history.
China's vision is to master of everything, producing goods needed by every culture and religion in the world, mastering every art and sports and best in every thing possible.
Only if there is competition to sing "devaram" in Olympics I won't be suprise China winning a gold medal in that.
We Indians are not serious in doing any thing. Only if every one of us work with a common vision we can be the best. Indians have the intelligence and greater level of sense of survival with which we can be excellent.
China's vision is to be Master of Every thing in the world. They are having impressive economic growth for the last 30 years. Their goods have been flooding every country at affordable price.
Their superemacy had displayed in the 2008 Olympics. First Asia country to top the list as most number of gold medals collected in Olympics history.
China's vision is to master of everything, producing goods needed by every culture and religion in the world, mastering every art and sports and best in every thing possible.
Only if there is competition to sing "devaram" in Olympics I won't be suprise China winning a gold medal in that.
We Indians are not serious in doing any thing. Only if every one of us work with a common vision we can be the best. Indians have the intelligence and greater level of sense of survival with which we can be excellent.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Knowing ourselves
Recenly I read a book by Amirtha Sen, titled "Argumentative Indian". He wrote on history of India and about Indian contribution to science and mathematics. I recommend every Indian should read this book to know about ourselves. I will write about the content of the in te near future.
We should also read books by APJ. Abdul Kalam. He had written several books, and all are fine books. He wrote on future generations.
We should also read books by APJ. Abdul Kalam. He had written several books, and all are fine books. He wrote on future generations.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Dravidian Indians, Aryans and Malaysian Indians
It is believed that the Dravidian civilization began in the Indus Valley. Early Indus civilization showed high level of architectural talent, farming and religious believes.
They did not have many weapons but had many musical instruments and variety of dances. This was evidence to the historians that they were peace loving people.
There is no clear evidence on why and when this people migrated to the South India. Now the Dravidians are four major languages, they are Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
The Dravidians culture was bastardized by the invaded Aryans, and the former being god fearing people, Aryans penetration through religion was much easier.
These Aryans, were not good agriculturist. With the knowledge of religion and better origination skills they were able to convince the Dravidians kings and remained in the temples. They did not teach the religion to the Dravidians. Dravidians followed whatever the Brahmin priest said. Any questions rose on their practices, considered meant challenging the god. As they are not agriculturist they will receive uncooked food from the Dravidians for their religious services but considered sin to receive any cooked food.
Aryan (Brahmin) dances were allowed to be practiced and performed in temples but the Dravidian dances and musical instruments were allowed out side the temple building.
I do not know why then the Dravidian Kings allowed this privilege to the immigrated race and subordinated their own.
With the Kings support, the Aryan felt superior to the Dravidians and the later began to loss confidence, leadership and organizational skills, talent and discipline to accumulate knowledge.
This contributed to the high level of illiteracy among the Dravidians. The Dravidian culture was looked down not only by the Aryans but later by the Dravidians them selves, which probably can never be seen anywhere in the world.
However, some privileged Dravidians who practiced the Brahmins cultures were considered favoured group of the Aryans and the become the higher class of the Dravidians.
The above was history. Now the education is for all. The Dravidians had bounced back. In fact they have done it in the IT field in India as the giant IT parks are in the Dravidian dominated south. The four Dravidian dominated states show higher level of growth then the northern states. They contribution to accomplish India to become future superpower is higher then any other part of the country. Their economic growth is second fastest in the world.
In Malaysia the Dravidians Indians form 90% of the Malaysian Indians. We too had to bounce back. We have run to catch up the lost distance and time. If we run at the same speed of economic growth, then we will be running at the same place. We have to run faster. We have to acquire world class education and become world class entrepreneurs and brand creators. Our ancestor land is moving fast with the new mind set.
They did not have many weapons but had many musical instruments and variety of dances. This was evidence to the historians that they were peace loving people.
There is no clear evidence on why and when this people migrated to the South India. Now the Dravidians are four major languages, they are Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
The Dravidians culture was bastardized by the invaded Aryans, and the former being god fearing people, Aryans penetration through religion was much easier.
These Aryans, were not good agriculturist. With the knowledge of religion and better origination skills they were able to convince the Dravidians kings and remained in the temples. They did not teach the religion to the Dravidians. Dravidians followed whatever the Brahmin priest said. Any questions rose on their practices, considered meant challenging the god. As they are not agriculturist they will receive uncooked food from the Dravidians for their religious services but considered sin to receive any cooked food.
Aryan (Brahmin) dances were allowed to be practiced and performed in temples but the Dravidian dances and musical instruments were allowed out side the temple building.
I do not know why then the Dravidian Kings allowed this privilege to the immigrated race and subordinated their own.
With the Kings support, the Aryan felt superior to the Dravidians and the later began to loss confidence, leadership and organizational skills, talent and discipline to accumulate knowledge.
This contributed to the high level of illiteracy among the Dravidians. The Dravidian culture was looked down not only by the Aryans but later by the Dravidians them selves, which probably can never be seen anywhere in the world.
However, some privileged Dravidians who practiced the Brahmins cultures were considered favoured group of the Aryans and the become the higher class of the Dravidians.
The above was history. Now the education is for all. The Dravidians had bounced back. In fact they have done it in the IT field in India as the giant IT parks are in the Dravidian dominated south. The four Dravidian dominated states show higher level of growth then the northern states. They contribution to accomplish India to become future superpower is higher then any other part of the country. Their economic growth is second fastest in the world.
In Malaysia the Dravidians Indians form 90% of the Malaysian Indians. We too had to bounce back. We have run to catch up the lost distance and time. If we run at the same speed of economic growth, then we will be running at the same place. We have to run faster. We have to acquire world class education and become world class entrepreneurs and brand creators. Our ancestor land is moving fast with the new mind set.
Friday, July 11, 2008
60 - 40 (Part 2)
The science revolution started in Europe 500 years ago, Peter the Great made science important in Russia to which he himself was a learner 300 years ago, Meiji did in Japan 150 years ago, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew did in Singapore 40 years ago, but we still see many Indian teachers in secondary schools have negative attitude towards science and science and science related subjects.
Many feel that they are doing a service to the community by telling the students to go to arts even if a student is capable to be in science and to pursue engineering . Will they do the same to their own children? To their child they will advice them to remain in science and work hard but to other children the advice seems to be different.
Human history is largely a history of progress; Human beings can be improved through education and the development of their rational facilities to which science, mathematics and technology are inevitable. To transform any traditional society to modern, developed and competitive community, they have to equip themselves with science, technology and trade talents.
There is an ever increasing demand for skill workers in the modern and global environment. Earning power of the technology based skilled workers is higher and increasing. His employability is much higher. A person, say with qualification of Diploma in Mechanical engineering can earn more then a arts graduate with a degree.Further more, the chances a person with engineering qualification to be self employed is also much higher.
Indian teachers in the secondary schools must realize this. It is very sad to say, many of the secondary school Indian teachers don’t even know details about certain engineering courses like say Machatronics. This group would have last up dated their knowledge in the last semester of their degree course. Many of them only know Tamil and Malay languages and both the languages does not give sufficient information pertaining to global economic changes speedily as English language.
With insufficient knowledge, but with information acquired through ear says, and their own bitter experience of being poor in mathematics and science, they will advice students not to take the engineering courses even in diploma level.
The trend should change. Teachers must change their attitude first, then change the students. Work of a teacher not just teaching, it’s about empowering students to be an integral part of smart net generation.
Many feel that they are doing a service to the community by telling the students to go to arts even if a student is capable to be in science and to pursue engineering . Will they do the same to their own children? To their child they will advice them to remain in science and work hard but to other children the advice seems to be different.
Human history is largely a history of progress; Human beings can be improved through education and the development of their rational facilities to which science, mathematics and technology are inevitable. To transform any traditional society to modern, developed and competitive community, they have to equip themselves with science, technology and trade talents.
There is an ever increasing demand for skill workers in the modern and global environment. Earning power of the technology based skilled workers is higher and increasing. His employability is much higher. A person, say with qualification of Diploma in Mechanical engineering can earn more then a arts graduate with a degree.Further more, the chances a person with engineering qualification to be self employed is also much higher.
Indian teachers in the secondary schools must realize this. It is very sad to say, many of the secondary school Indian teachers don’t even know details about certain engineering courses like say Machatronics. This group would have last up dated their knowledge in the last semester of their degree course. Many of them only know Tamil and Malay languages and both the languages does not give sufficient information pertaining to global economic changes speedily as English language.
With insufficient knowledge, but with information acquired through ear says, and their own bitter experience of being poor in mathematics and science, they will advice students not to take the engineering courses even in diploma level.
The trend should change. Teachers must change their attitude first, then change the students. Work of a teacher not just teaching, it’s about empowering students to be an integral part of smart net generation.
Friday, July 4, 2008
60 - 40 (Part 1)
60 -40 ( Part One)
Malaysian Education Ministry introduced a formula 60 – 40 which means 60 percent of students who pass out from secondary schools in the country must be from science or technical streams.
This policy was introduced based on the relevance of the both streams for national development.
If Indian teachers who are teaching languages (Tamil, English and Malay) and counseling teachers are removed from secondary schools the left over could be hardly ten per cent. Of the ninety per cent teachers, many would advice Indian students not to enroll to science classless but would not do the same for their own children. Why? Are they selfish?
Before I go further on this I would like to write on epistemological transformation taken place in other parts of the world.
Scientific revolution started in Europe in the sixteen century with Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolaus Copernicus: Copernicus (1473-1543) was the first major astronomer to challenge the Ptolemaic universe.
The Scientific Revolution was not marked by any single change. The following new ideas contributed to what is called the Scientific Revolution:
• The replacement of the Earth by the Sun as the center of the universe
• The replacement of the Aristotelian theory that matter was continuous and made up of the elements Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Aether by rival ideas that matter was atomistic or corpuscular or that its chemical composition was even more complex.
• The replacement of the Aristotelian idea that by their nature, heavy bodies moved straight down toward their natural places; that by their nature, light bodies moved naturally straight up toward their natural place; and that by their nature, aethereal bodies moved in unchanging circular motions by the idea that all bodies are heavy and move according to the same physical laws
• The replacement of the Aristotelian concept that all motions require the continued action of a cause by the inertial concept that motion is a state that, once started, continues indefinitely without further cause.
• The replacement of Galen’s treatment of the venous and arterial systems as two separate systems with William Harvey’s concept that blood circulated from the arteries to the veins "impelled in a circle, and is in a state of ceaseless motion".
In the seventeenth century there was changes European thought which is known as “Seventeenth Century Enlightenment Thought.
So in the spirit of not dating the Enlightenment, we will simply refer to the changes in European thought in the seventeenth century as "Seventeenth Century Enlightenment Thought," with the understanding that our use of the term may invite criticism.
The main components of Enlightenment thought are as follows:
1. The universe is fundamentally rational, that is, it can be understood through the use of reason alone;
2. Truth can be arrived at through empirical observation, the use of reason, and systematic doubt;
3. Human experience is the foundation of human understanding of truth; authority is not to be preferred over experience;
4. All human life, both social and individual, can be understood in the same way the natural world can be understood; once understood, human life, both social and individual, can be manipulated or engineered in the same way the natural world can be manipulated or engineered;
5. Human history is largely a history of progress;
6. Human beings can be improved through education by and the development of their rational facilities to which knowledge of science is vital;
7. Religious doctrines have no place in the understanding of the physical and human worlds.
Even though there were much criticism towards this thought but it has brought much changes. Then, followed by the Industrial revolution in the 18th century. The development of industrial revolution owe much credit to the development of science, mathematics and technology.
The most far-reaching, influential transformation of human culture since the advent of agriculture eight or ten thousand years ago, was the industrial revolution of eighteenth century Europe. The consequences of this revolution would change irrevocably human labor, consumption, family structure, social structure, and even the very soul and thoughts of the individual. This revolution involved more than technology; to be sure, there had been industrial "revolutions" throughout European history and non-European history. In Europe, for instance, the twelfth and thirteenth centuries saw an explosion of technological knowledge and a consequent change in production and labor. However, the industrial revolution was more than technology—impressive as this technology was. What drove the industrial revolution were profound social changes, as Europe moved from a primarily agricultural and rural economy to a capitalist and urban economy, from a household, family-based economy to an industry-based economy. This required rethinking social obligations and the structure of the family; the abandonment of the family economy, for instance, was the most dramatic change to the structure of the family that Europe had ever undergone.
Similar change was brought to Russia by Peter the Great.
Peter the Great is credited with dragging Russia out of the medieval times to such an extent that by his death in 1725, Russia was considered a leading eastern European state. He centralized government, modernized the army, created a navy and increased the subjugation and subjection of the peasants.
He made Russians learn navigation from Britain, ship building from Holland. He built St Petersburg. He made Russia a military power of Europe. He himself learnt many skills.
He achieved all this by forming an strong foundation of science and mathematics among his people.
This list can be elongated by transformation of Japan to Modern Japan by Meiji and the presently the living example our neighbour Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew who transformed from a small port to developed Island state.
Malaysian Education Ministry introduced a formula 60 – 40 which means 60 percent of students who pass out from secondary schools in the country must be from science or technical streams.
This policy was introduced based on the relevance of the both streams for national development.
If Indian teachers who are teaching languages (Tamil, English and Malay) and counseling teachers are removed from secondary schools the left over could be hardly ten per cent. Of the ninety per cent teachers, many would advice Indian students not to enroll to science classless but would not do the same for their own children. Why? Are they selfish?
Before I go further on this I would like to write on epistemological transformation taken place in other parts of the world.
Scientific revolution started in Europe in the sixteen century with Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolaus Copernicus: Copernicus (1473-1543) was the first major astronomer to challenge the Ptolemaic universe.
The Scientific Revolution was not marked by any single change. The following new ideas contributed to what is called the Scientific Revolution:
• The replacement of the Earth by the Sun as the center of the universe
• The replacement of the Aristotelian theory that matter was continuous and made up of the elements Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Aether by rival ideas that matter was atomistic or corpuscular or that its chemical composition was even more complex.
• The replacement of the Aristotelian idea that by their nature, heavy bodies moved straight down toward their natural places; that by their nature, light bodies moved naturally straight up toward their natural place; and that by their nature, aethereal bodies moved in unchanging circular motions by the idea that all bodies are heavy and move according to the same physical laws
• The replacement of the Aristotelian concept that all motions require the continued action of a cause by the inertial concept that motion is a state that, once started, continues indefinitely without further cause.
• The replacement of Galen’s treatment of the venous and arterial systems as two separate systems with William Harvey’s concept that blood circulated from the arteries to the veins "impelled in a circle, and is in a state of ceaseless motion".
In the seventeenth century there was changes European thought which is known as “Seventeenth Century Enlightenment Thought.
So in the spirit of not dating the Enlightenment, we will simply refer to the changes in European thought in the seventeenth century as "Seventeenth Century Enlightenment Thought," with the understanding that our use of the term may invite criticism.
The main components of Enlightenment thought are as follows:
1. The universe is fundamentally rational, that is, it can be understood through the use of reason alone;
2. Truth can be arrived at through empirical observation, the use of reason, and systematic doubt;
3. Human experience is the foundation of human understanding of truth; authority is not to be preferred over experience;
4. All human life, both social and individual, can be understood in the same way the natural world can be understood; once understood, human life, both social and individual, can be manipulated or engineered in the same way the natural world can be manipulated or engineered;
5. Human history is largely a history of progress;
6. Human beings can be improved through education by and the development of their rational facilities to which knowledge of science is vital;
7. Religious doctrines have no place in the understanding of the physical and human worlds.
Even though there were much criticism towards this thought but it has brought much changes. Then, followed by the Industrial revolution in the 18th century. The development of industrial revolution owe much credit to the development of science, mathematics and technology.
The most far-reaching, influential transformation of human culture since the advent of agriculture eight or ten thousand years ago, was the industrial revolution of eighteenth century Europe. The consequences of this revolution would change irrevocably human labor, consumption, family structure, social structure, and even the very soul and thoughts of the individual. This revolution involved more than technology; to be sure, there had been industrial "revolutions" throughout European history and non-European history. In Europe, for instance, the twelfth and thirteenth centuries saw an explosion of technological knowledge and a consequent change in production and labor. However, the industrial revolution was more than technology—impressive as this technology was. What drove the industrial revolution were profound social changes, as Europe moved from a primarily agricultural and rural economy to a capitalist and urban economy, from a household, family-based economy to an industry-based economy. This required rethinking social obligations and the structure of the family; the abandonment of the family economy, for instance, was the most dramatic change to the structure of the family that Europe had ever undergone.
Similar change was brought to Russia by Peter the Great.
Peter the Great is credited with dragging Russia out of the medieval times to such an extent that by his death in 1725, Russia was considered a leading eastern European state. He centralized government, modernized the army, created a navy and increased the subjugation and subjection of the peasants.
He made Russians learn navigation from Britain, ship building from Holland. He built St Petersburg. He made Russia a military power of Europe. He himself learnt many skills.
He achieved all this by forming an strong foundation of science and mathematics among his people.
This list can be elongated by transformation of Japan to Modern Japan by Meiji and the presently the living example our neighbour Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew who transformed from a small port to developed Island state.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Enroll for whatever courses in universities
Many Indian motivators motivate students to work hard, produce good results and enter a university irrespective of any courses. All being motivated is to enter a university but choice of courses, prospect of courses and employment opportunity often not being told. Students of lower middle income group, look only to the teachers for all the advices, being also being advised in the similar trend because the teachers also came from the same ecosystem while they were young.
It has being glamour to enroll as a student in universities. Parents are proud their children are in universities.
This trend shows the students do not have particular ambition; all they know is to enroll as a student and be graduated.
This trend needs to be changed. The students should be motivated to prepare for what they wanted to be. Enrolling in to public universities should not be the only ambition. Ambition should be what they want to be in future and prepare students with mind set to enroll for the course they wanted irrespective of whether public universities or any other institutions.
Teachers should guide the students to set quality ambitions. Quality ambitions means student not only enters universities for quality courses of their choice, but give the students global out look. Prepare them to equip themselves with knowledge of globalization. Tell them to be global players and set global brand names.
Implant the mind set of winning and to put their active energies into productive force for social changes. Stand tall in whatever they do. Build mental strength to unearth treasure of opportunity globally.
Motivation courses to be designed to intellectually invigorate and equip the students with the latest thinking and best practices.
It has being glamour to enroll as a student in universities. Parents are proud their children are in universities.
This trend shows the students do not have particular ambition; all they know is to enroll as a student and be graduated.
This trend needs to be changed. The students should be motivated to prepare for what they wanted to be. Enrolling in to public universities should not be the only ambition. Ambition should be what they want to be in future and prepare students with mind set to enroll for the course they wanted irrespective of whether public universities or any other institutions.
Teachers should guide the students to set quality ambitions. Quality ambitions means student not only enters universities for quality courses of their choice, but give the students global out look. Prepare them to equip themselves with knowledge of globalization. Tell them to be global players and set global brand names.
Implant the mind set of winning and to put their active energies into productive force for social changes. Stand tall in whatever they do. Build mental strength to unearth treasure of opportunity globally.
Motivation courses to be designed to intellectually invigorate and equip the students with the latest thinking and best practices.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Love affairs and Maturity
Teens of today have greater gravity of freedom then the previous generation. Education system, working parents, better communication systems could be the contributing factors.
Freedom is not like a bird flying in the sky, but like a tree rooted to the ground. Freedom too must have limits. Culture is a way of life in which there are many unwritten rules. These unwritten rules curb our freedom.
To enjoy, benefit and to sustain freedom we must have maturity. Many teens, obtain their freedom from their parents at early age but they are not matured to value their freedom.
Many of them know facts of live at early age, of what their parents know at later age. With the help of cellular phones, their catchments area to find new friend widens. What is more of opposite sex friends?
Many of teens find a boy friends or girl friends at early age. It is a fashion to have one. Usually if one has a boy/girl friend then there is a demand for them. It makes them feel proud.
With the acquired freedom they move about together. They will practice anything the culture says wrong and they will say wrong anything the culture says right. Then after sometimes with a smallest ever misunderstanding they will end their friendship and they will find a new partner at soonest.
This trend continues even after the teens leave school. Maturity and patience to find a permanent live partner is lacking.
This could be a reason the divorce cases among Indians Malaysian are the highest. About a generation ago Indians had the lowest divorce level in the country.
High divorce rate will lead to the problem of single mothers. This is one of a main social problem among Malaysian Indians.
Studies show that persons who have high mobility nature of work will have multiple sex partners. They also likely to have more then one wife.
Many say love has no eyes but it has brain. So, show patience, use the brain with high level of maturity to find a good live partner to avoid problems later..
Freedom is not like a bird flying in the sky, but like a tree rooted to the ground. Freedom too must have limits. Culture is a way of life in which there are many unwritten rules. These unwritten rules curb our freedom.
To enjoy, benefit and to sustain freedom we must have maturity. Many teens, obtain their freedom from their parents at early age but they are not matured to value their freedom.
Many of them know facts of live at early age, of what their parents know at later age. With the help of cellular phones, their catchments area to find new friend widens. What is more of opposite sex friends?
Many of teens find a boy friends or girl friends at early age. It is a fashion to have one. Usually if one has a boy/girl friend then there is a demand for them. It makes them feel proud.
With the acquired freedom they move about together. They will practice anything the culture says wrong and they will say wrong anything the culture says right. Then after sometimes with a smallest ever misunderstanding they will end their friendship and they will find a new partner at soonest.
This trend continues even after the teens leave school. Maturity and patience to find a permanent live partner is lacking.
This could be a reason the divorce cases among Indians Malaysian are the highest. About a generation ago Indians had the lowest divorce level in the country.
High divorce rate will lead to the problem of single mothers. This is one of a main social problem among Malaysian Indians.
Studies show that persons who have high mobility nature of work will have multiple sex partners. They also likely to have more then one wife.
Many say love has no eyes but it has brain. So, show patience, use the brain with high level of maturity to find a good live partner to avoid problems later..
Monday, June 23, 2008
Good Parenting and Concern for Children Education
Good parenting is vital for building good character among children. Good parenting is in fact is more important then even religious teaching in building character of children.
Many think for children’s success in education, parent income and their education level is a main contributing factor.
When a child from a poor family perform well in education and another from the same area but from a well of family does other wise, praise will go to the child of less well of family.
One must take note that, performance in education by any child does not depends on the affluence of the family the child come from or the education level of the child’s parents but rather it depends on the concern of the parents towards the child education.
Even if a child comes from an affluence family with parents of good tertiary education but does not show concern for children education, then the child could not do well in education but another child comes from a poor family but parents show concern for the child’s education, the child can do well in education.
Concern for child’s education means the parents must take care of the nutrient of the child; provide conducive study room, checking the child’s daily work on the curriculum side and on the co-curriculum, the parents must ensure to what the child is interested and engage the child in that field. If possible the parents must participate with the child for greater enhancement of family cohesiveness.
More time spent with children in a fruitful manner means, building harmonious and peaceful family. This will definitely reduce discipline problem and improve children performance in education
Many think for children’s success in education, parent income and their education level is a main contributing factor.
When a child from a poor family perform well in education and another from the same area but from a well of family does other wise, praise will go to the child of less well of family.
One must take note that, performance in education by any child does not depends on the affluence of the family the child come from or the education level of the child’s parents but rather it depends on the concern of the parents towards the child education.
Even if a child comes from an affluence family with parents of good tertiary education but does not show concern for children education, then the child could not do well in education but another child comes from a poor family but parents show concern for the child’s education, the child can do well in education.
Concern for child’s education means the parents must take care of the nutrient of the child; provide conducive study room, checking the child’s daily work on the curriculum side and on the co-curriculum, the parents must ensure to what the child is interested and engage the child in that field. If possible the parents must participate with the child for greater enhancement of family cohesiveness.
More time spent with children in a fruitful manner means, building harmonious and peaceful family. This will definitely reduce discipline problem and improve children performance in education
Friday, June 20, 2008
Sports and Indians
In 1960s and 1970s Indians dominated in athletes and hockey. National hockey team consist and up to 9 Indian players out 11 players. In athletics, all events were from 100metres to Marathon run represented by Indians.
In school sport whether primary or secondary school, sports Indian students dominated.
Not to say the school cross country day.
Now the situation is different. Indians were hardly seen in any events. Hockey, Indians are almost out. In cross country here and there, one or two.
Where are the Indians? If you ask any Indian students for reason of non participation, the immediate answer is the “the Malay teachers are taking us in”. Is the answer acceptable?
So are in schools? If take in to accounts the Indian participation in the organized run like AM bank run, Adidas run the situation is the same. Only in the senior veteran we can see many Indians. Among younger group runners, we hardly see any Indians.
Why the young Indians are not interested in sports? The Chinese still dominating in all games that they dominated before like badminton basketball and swimming.
The Indian teens will watch EURO 2008, English premier league and many others but they only watch but do not want to play. No ambition to achieve any thing in sports.
Non participation in sports leads them to spend their time else where. Time spend else where may not be spend in the fruitful manner.
Sports build up discipline, perseverance and determination to achieve. Sports increases better physical health, fighting sprit and stamina.
I do not know why the present generation Indians are not interested in sports. I asked an Indian student on why he doesn’t play badminton. He said he could not afford to pay for the court. A teacher present with us supported him. I asked him back how can he afford to buy and maintain and hand phone. He remained silent.
In school sport whether primary or secondary school, sports Indian students dominated.
Not to say the school cross country day.
Now the situation is different. Indians were hardly seen in any events. Hockey, Indians are almost out. In cross country here and there, one or two.
Where are the Indians? If you ask any Indian students for reason of non participation, the immediate answer is the “the Malay teachers are taking us in”. Is the answer acceptable?
So are in schools? If take in to accounts the Indian participation in the organized run like AM bank run, Adidas run the situation is the same. Only in the senior veteran we can see many Indians. Among younger group runners, we hardly see any Indians.
Why the young Indians are not interested in sports? The Chinese still dominating in all games that they dominated before like badminton basketball and swimming.
The Indian teens will watch EURO 2008, English premier league and many others but they only watch but do not want to play. No ambition to achieve any thing in sports.
Non participation in sports leads them to spend their time else where. Time spend else where may not be spend in the fruitful manner.
Sports build up discipline, perseverance and determination to achieve. Sports increases better physical health, fighting sprit and stamina.
I do not know why the present generation Indians are not interested in sports. I asked an Indian student on why he doesn’t play badminton. He said he could not afford to pay for the court. A teacher present with us supported him. I asked him back how can he afford to buy and maintain and hand phone. He remained silent.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Japanese and the Indians
Admiral Pareii (hope the spelling is right) was the first American to visit Japan in the year 1867. His armada, consist of steamers was coughing smoke which then the Japanese though the smoke was exhale from the dragons.
However, within thirty years, the Japanese built their own steam ships. They built armada of equal strength to the west. In the year 1903 they fought a war with Russia, which is known as battle of Trushima. The battle was fought in the sea of Trushima. Japanese won the war because, their canons had longer firing power. Japan was credited as the first Asian country to win a war against a European country.
To add to the Japanese success, Wright brothers found the first airplane at the beginning of the century but by the second world war, they made zero fighters which crossed pacific ocean and attacked Pearl Harbour. They also made aircraft carrier and several other engineering goods to match the west.
We Indians, did not learn the engineering skills of the west but rather their religion and language. Both did not elevate any way our standard of living but rather we become the slaves of the west. Indians aped their way of living.
While Japanese are super rich, we are still talking of poverty and still exist problems with education and unable to compete with others in almost anything good. What is wrong with us?
I believe we are not emphasizing on self respect. If we expect some body to respect us we have to be better in something someway. We must have skills to add value to anything, which can only be done, if we are entrepreneurs. As long as our community works for others we will be making others rich. We can only become rich if we make others to work for us.
However, within thirty years, the Japanese built their own steam ships. They built armada of equal strength to the west. In the year 1903 they fought a war with Russia, which is known as battle of Trushima. The battle was fought in the sea of Trushima. Japanese won the war because, their canons had longer firing power. Japan was credited as the first Asian country to win a war against a European country.
To add to the Japanese success, Wright brothers found the first airplane at the beginning of the century but by the second world war, they made zero fighters which crossed pacific ocean and attacked Pearl Harbour. They also made aircraft carrier and several other engineering goods to match the west.
We Indians, did not learn the engineering skills of the west but rather their religion and language. Both did not elevate any way our standard of living but rather we become the slaves of the west. Indians aped their way of living.
While Japanese are super rich, we are still talking of poverty and still exist problems with education and unable to compete with others in almost anything good. What is wrong with us?
I believe we are not emphasizing on self respect. If we expect some body to respect us we have to be better in something someway. We must have skills to add value to anything, which can only be done, if we are entrepreneurs. As long as our community works for others we will be making others rich. We can only become rich if we make others to work for us.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
English Language and Savings Toward Education.
I read an article on Times of India today (15th June 2008). The extract of the article is as follows.
CHENNAI: The students with Tamil as their mother tongue manage to score better in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). According to British Council, which organises IELTS world wide, the Tamil students outperformed all others in the country and managed to get marks better than the national average in IElTS for academics.
"IELTS is taken by students who want to pursue higher studies in foreign countries which has English as first language. In India, 1,60,000 students write IELTS annually. More than 10,000 students appear for the test from TN.
The Tamil students managed to score an overall average of 6.21 in IELTS, which is more than the national average of 5.97. The IELTS allows the student to score a maximum mark of 9 in streams like listening, re writing and speaking. Hindi speaking students have come second to Tamils in the overall average score followed by Keraliites.
"Tamils have proved their mettle in reading all sections of the tests, reading and speaking, Tamils proved better," Anish said.
The number of Tamil students taking IELTS has also gone up considerably over the past few years, following an upsurge in the number of students seeking admission in Western and American Universities in recent years. According to sources, the education fairs held by foreign universities in Chennai has attracted a lot more students to apply for higher studies abroad.
The above extract shows the keenness shown by Tamilians on studying English Language. English language gives wider knowledge. Broaden our views.
The many Malaysian Tamils do not have good command of English Language. Many knows Tamil and Malay Languages only. It is an unfortunate that the two known languages do not give sufficient worldly knowledge.
Secondly, the above article do inform the keenness shown by Tamils of Tamil Nadu to send their children to study overseas.
In Malaysia, only if there is no PTPTN loan there may be many Tamilians, cannot even go to Kuala Lumpur for studies. Just imagine how backward we Tamilians in Malaysian.
Our savings towards education is low. May be, low income can be a contributing factor but lack of emphasis for education can be another factor because many will spend lavishly for Deepavali in October or November but will how unwillingness in January for children education.
Investment on human resources is the most important investment to remain competetitive.
CHENNAI: The students with Tamil as their mother tongue manage to score better in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). According to British Council, which organises IELTS world wide, the Tamil students outperformed all others in the country and managed to get marks better than the national average in IElTS for academics.
"IELTS is taken by students who want to pursue higher studies in foreign countries which has English as first language. In India, 1,60,000 students write IELTS annually. More than 10,000 students appear for the test from TN.
The Tamil students managed to score an overall average of 6.21 in IELTS, which is more than the national average of 5.97. The IELTS allows the student to score a maximum mark of 9 in streams like listening, re writing and speaking. Hindi speaking students have come second to Tamils in the overall average score followed by Keraliites.
"Tamils have proved their mettle in reading all sections of the tests, reading and speaking, Tamils proved better," Anish said.
The number of Tamil students taking IELTS has also gone up considerably over the past few years, following an upsurge in the number of students seeking admission in Western and American Universities in recent years. According to sources, the education fairs held by foreign universities in Chennai has attracted a lot more students to apply for higher studies abroad.
The above extract shows the keenness shown by Tamilians on studying English Language. English language gives wider knowledge. Broaden our views.
The many Malaysian Tamils do not have good command of English Language. Many knows Tamil and Malay Languages only. It is an unfortunate that the two known languages do not give sufficient worldly knowledge.
Secondly, the above article do inform the keenness shown by Tamils of Tamil Nadu to send their children to study overseas.
In Malaysia, only if there is no PTPTN loan there may be many Tamilians, cannot even go to Kuala Lumpur for studies. Just imagine how backward we Tamilians in Malaysian.
Our savings towards education is low. May be, low income can be a contributing factor but lack of emphasis for education can be another factor because many will spend lavishly for Deepavali in October or November but will how unwillingness in January for children education.
Investment on human resources is the most important investment to remain competetitive.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Indian Students, Teachers, and Stream of Studies in Upper Secondary (part 2)
Europe during the time of renaissance between 14th and 16th centuries developed their art and culture. Then followed by scientific developments, which gave rise to building of large ships to cross oceans. Crossing large oceans rewarded them with finding of new land which made new imbalance in the world economics.
Asia in general and China and India in particular reduced to no where in world economics. Asia minus Japan hasn't made any new discoveries after the European started colonization.
The changes were indication that continuous progress in the field of science and technology is vital for progress and domination of any community. Finland a small country in Europe is popular with the world famous product "Nokia". Denmark with "Dancall".
We Indians especially the Tamils, show very little interest toward science subjects. Some think they must offer Tamil for the public examinations because they studied Tamil in Primary schools for six years and they continue to offer. Some think the Tamil Language increases their employment opportunity especially as Tamil Teachers.
If a science student offers Tamil in public examinations and qualifies as engineers or technocrats their contribution can be even higher. An Example, SMS in Tamil. Who could have found it? Must be, by the same type of persons, who studied soft ware engineering and Tamil Language. Who would have found the Tamil word processing soft ware. The same types of people are who found Tamil SMS.
Their contribution towards modernisation of language and culture could be higher.
With that I always encourage Tamil medium students to qualify for science stream and offer Tamil at public examinations. Then go for highly skill industries like nanotechnology, there use their mother tongue.
Persons from South Asia those who won their Noble prize wrote their scientific discoveries in English but the Germans and the Japanese wrote their reports in their own mother tongue.
Asia in general and China and India in particular reduced to no where in world economics. Asia minus Japan hasn't made any new discoveries after the European started colonization.
The changes were indication that continuous progress in the field of science and technology is vital for progress and domination of any community. Finland a small country in Europe is popular with the world famous product "Nokia". Denmark with "Dancall".
We Indians especially the Tamils, show very little interest toward science subjects. Some think they must offer Tamil for the public examinations because they studied Tamil in Primary schools for six years and they continue to offer. Some think the Tamil Language increases their employment opportunity especially as Tamil Teachers.
If a science student offers Tamil in public examinations and qualifies as engineers or technocrats their contribution can be even higher. An Example, SMS in Tamil. Who could have found it? Must be, by the same type of persons, who studied soft ware engineering and Tamil Language. Who would have found the Tamil word processing soft ware. The same types of people are who found Tamil SMS.
Their contribution towards modernisation of language and culture could be higher.
With that I always encourage Tamil medium students to qualify for science stream and offer Tamil at public examinations. Then go for highly skill industries like nanotechnology, there use their mother tongue.
Persons from South Asia those who won their Noble prize wrote their scientific discoveries in English but the Germans and the Japanese wrote their reports in their own mother tongue.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Indian Students, Teachers, and Stream of Studies in Upper Secondary (part 1)
Albert Einstein credited India for her contribution to Mathematics. Arya Batta, an Indian mathematician, was one of those invented 'pi'. Indians were first to discover steel, to solidify sugarcane juice many others.
The first Asian to win a noble prize for physics was an Indian from Tamil Nadu.
While our ancestors had contributed extensively to Science and Mathematics the situation is diffrent in Malaysia.
Many Indian students have negative attitude towards Mathematics. Many have impression that mathematics is a difficult subject, then worst still when comes to additional mathematics at form four and five and mathematics at form six. The situation is worsen by many Indian teachers in the secondary schools. They enhance the phobia towards mathematics telling the students not to go to science stream as it is difficult. Many of the secondary school Indian teachers are arts graduates whom I believe they themselves were not good in mathematics while they were in schools. They pass on the phobia to this present generation.
Many average students think mathematics is a reading subject, where memory is tested but mathematics not only test ones memory but also intelligence. Many Indian students do not practise mathematics at home at all. They do not do home work more then what the teachers had given them.
Practice of Mathematics increases thinking skills, which not only increases a students problem solving ability later in his or her live but also builds higher order thinking skill and patience.
In my observation, I found out that many successful Indians who were with lower level of formal education but were good at mathematics at at least in addition, substraction , multiplication and division. They do not use calculators.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Employment Creation
Indian students upon passing out from schools or upon graduation from colleges or universities they seek employment either in public or in private sector. There are very few or almost no Indian companies can employ Indian graduates. The problems like promotion, dinial of information etc crops up.
Not only in public sector, even in private sector we meet lots of discrimination based on race. How we have to over come this?
We have to change our mind set to seek marketable knowledge like various technical skills, and business skills rather then literary knowledge.
There are some Indians who are doing business based on technical skill but these Indians most of them they learnt their skills by working with Chinese bosses on informal basis before, then later they opened up their own, this is a good news however, people of this mind set if they have some formal education at least a diploma they can enhance in their business and create more employment.
Rather then seeking employment, with the right knowledge and skill the future Indian generations must become employment creators, so that in future Indians students once passed out they are able to work in Indian owned firms. Our dependency on public sector and non Indian owned companies can be reduced.
We may think we are minorities here and that limites our market but Gujaratis and Punjabis are far less then South Indians but they are doing well.
We need to change to change our future generation.
Not only in public sector, even in private sector we meet lots of discrimination based on race. How we have to over come this?
We have to change our mind set to seek marketable knowledge like various technical skills, and business skills rather then literary knowledge.
There are some Indians who are doing business based on technical skill but these Indians most of them they learnt their skills by working with Chinese bosses on informal basis before, then later they opened up their own, this is a good news however, people of this mind set if they have some formal education at least a diploma they can enhance in their business and create more employment.
Rather then seeking employment, with the right knowledge and skill the future Indian generations must become employment creators, so that in future Indians students once passed out they are able to work in Indian owned firms. Our dependency on public sector and non Indian owned companies can be reduced.
We may think we are minorities here and that limites our market but Gujaratis and Punjabis are far less then South Indians but they are doing well.
We need to change to change our future generation.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Business venturing at early age.
Please read the article below which appeared in the Ngee Ann Polythechnic web page.
I appreciate the boldness of Rakesh. His difference in thinking with his fellow friends of his age.
This is what I like to see among our Indian Students. Seek information and venture early.
The rise & rise of Rakesh Gupta
Not many people can say they’ve watched their business rise and fall before they were out of university. Even less would be able to say that they went on to build a bigger success afterwards. CEO Rakesh Gupta tells us how he managed that (and a whole lot more) – all before hitting the age of 30.
Graduating from Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) with a Diploma in Computer Studies in 1997, Rakesh Gupta has his eyes set on one thing – owning his own software company. Tapping the dotcom boom of the late ’90s, Rakesh and fellow NP graduate, Lim Soon Jinn, founded their first company. Working part-time while completing their undergraduate degrees at the National University of Singapore (NUS), they found some measure of success.
Within three years, however, the dream was over. The dotcom bubble burst and Rakesh found himself at a crossroads. He had to choose between a secure future as an MNC employee, or to carry on pursuing his dream.
He didn’t hesitate to choose the latter. “I wasn’t demoralised at all. In fact, we felt encouraged by the fact that we had come so far and learnt so much, in such a short time,” Rakesh recounted.
With plenty of passion, Rakesh and Soon Jinn approached the Economic Development Board (EDB) with a business plan. Under the Startup Enterprise Development Scheme (SEEDS), the duo got funding to start their company, Heulab.
“To be honest, we had absolutely no business experience,” says Rakesh. “So we were quite surprised when we got funding. And sure enough, a few years later, when we’d become closer to the folks at EDB…, they told us that it was our passion which won them over.”
With the funding from EDB and the $250,000 they’d raised themselves, their company, which specialises in learning software development, was born in 2002. Despite frequent pitfalls, the fledgling company soon developed a reputation for their speed of execution and well-developed products.
The year 2004 proved to be a watershed one for them, with the first of their major successes. They were approached to develop an application that together with tablet PCs, will replace pen-and-paper classroom learning at Crescent Girls’ School.
The project was part of an initiative by the Infocomm Development Authority and Microsoft Singapore. It proved so successful that, within a year, Microsoft had named Heulab its “Best Independent Software Vendor” and recognised it as a certified partner. Hardly one to sit on his laurels, Rakesh set out to further develop Heulab’s global presence. The company, a Small-to-Medium Enterprise (SME), now counts over 100 educational institutions among its clients in Singapore, in addition to boasting overseas offices in the US and Australia. Heulab also receives tenders for its products from countries ranging from Brunei to Japan.
With major industry players like Microsoft and Fijitsu helping it to market products to new regions, Heulab now enjoys an annual revenue of over $2 million.
The success of Heulab has not gone unnoticed. In 2007, within the short space of a week, they were selected as a launch partner of Microsoft’s Windows Vista Programme as well as mentioned in the Singapore Budget Speech 2007.
The then Second Minister of Finance, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, described Heulab as, “part of a new generation of local firms, fleet-footed, unafraid to venture out to the world early, and at the leading edge of technology.”
Rakesh Gupta was also awarded the Singapore Indian Young Entrepreneur Award last year by the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and DBS Bank. Presented by President S R Nathan, the award took Rakesh by surprise.
“I had looked at the list of nominees before the dinner and all of them, without a doubt, were larger than Heulab. So I had just gone along for a nice dinner and was quite taken aback when I was called up!” Rakesh said with a laugh.
CEO. Young entrepreneur. When asked about being a role model for the Indian community as well as for budding entrepreneurs, Rakesh grimaced. “I hate that label,” he said. “I’m always worried that I might fail and let people down.”
Yet, his never-say-die attitude serves as an inspiration to anyone who has ever dreamed of setting out on his or her own.
Rakesh also encourages young entrepreneurs to go out and seek funding for their ideas – whether it’s from their schools, government agencies and bodies, or private investors. “Explore your potential and the potential of your business idea by seeking funding yourself,” he said. “The hands-on experience you get pitching your products to investors is incalculable.”
I appreciate the boldness of Rakesh. His difference in thinking with his fellow friends of his age.
This is what I like to see among our Indian Students. Seek information and venture early.
The rise & rise of Rakesh Gupta
Not many people can say they’ve watched their business rise and fall before they were out of university. Even less would be able to say that they went on to build a bigger success afterwards. CEO Rakesh Gupta tells us how he managed that (and a whole lot more) – all before hitting the age of 30.
Graduating from Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) with a Diploma in Computer Studies in 1997, Rakesh Gupta has his eyes set on one thing – owning his own software company. Tapping the dotcom boom of the late ’90s, Rakesh and fellow NP graduate, Lim Soon Jinn, founded their first company. Working part-time while completing their undergraduate degrees at the National University of Singapore (NUS), they found some measure of success.
Within three years, however, the dream was over. The dotcom bubble burst and Rakesh found himself at a crossroads. He had to choose between a secure future as an MNC employee, or to carry on pursuing his dream.
He didn’t hesitate to choose the latter. “I wasn’t demoralised at all. In fact, we felt encouraged by the fact that we had come so far and learnt so much, in such a short time,” Rakesh recounted.
With plenty of passion, Rakesh and Soon Jinn approached the Economic Development Board (EDB) with a business plan. Under the Startup Enterprise Development Scheme (SEEDS), the duo got funding to start their company, Heulab.
“To be honest, we had absolutely no business experience,” says Rakesh. “So we were quite surprised when we got funding. And sure enough, a few years later, when we’d become closer to the folks at EDB…, they told us that it was our passion which won them over.”
With the funding from EDB and the $250,000 they’d raised themselves, their company, which specialises in learning software development, was born in 2002. Despite frequent pitfalls, the fledgling company soon developed a reputation for their speed of execution and well-developed products.
The year 2004 proved to be a watershed one for them, with the first of their major successes. They were approached to develop an application that together with tablet PCs, will replace pen-and-paper classroom learning at Crescent Girls’ School.
The project was part of an initiative by the Infocomm Development Authority and Microsoft Singapore. It proved so successful that, within a year, Microsoft had named Heulab its “Best Independent Software Vendor” and recognised it as a certified partner. Hardly one to sit on his laurels, Rakesh set out to further develop Heulab’s global presence. The company, a Small-to-Medium Enterprise (SME), now counts over 100 educational institutions among its clients in Singapore, in addition to boasting overseas offices in the US and Australia. Heulab also receives tenders for its products from countries ranging from Brunei to Japan.
With major industry players like Microsoft and Fijitsu helping it to market products to new regions, Heulab now enjoys an annual revenue of over $2 million.
The success of Heulab has not gone unnoticed. In 2007, within the short space of a week, they were selected as a launch partner of Microsoft’s Windows Vista Programme as well as mentioned in the Singapore Budget Speech 2007.
The then Second Minister of Finance, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, described Heulab as, “part of a new generation of local firms, fleet-footed, unafraid to venture out to the world early, and at the leading edge of technology.”
Rakesh Gupta was also awarded the Singapore Indian Young Entrepreneur Award last year by the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and DBS Bank. Presented by President S R Nathan, the award took Rakesh by surprise.
“I had looked at the list of nominees before the dinner and all of them, without a doubt, were larger than Heulab. So I had just gone along for a nice dinner and was quite taken aback when I was called up!” Rakesh said with a laugh.
CEO. Young entrepreneur. When asked about being a role model for the Indian community as well as for budding entrepreneurs, Rakesh grimaced. “I hate that label,” he said. “I’m always worried that I might fail and let people down.”
Yet, his never-say-die attitude serves as an inspiration to anyone who has ever dreamed of setting out on his or her own.
Rakesh also encourages young entrepreneurs to go out and seek funding for their ideas – whether it’s from their schools, government agencies and bodies, or private investors. “Explore your potential and the potential of your business idea by seeking funding yourself,” he said. “The hands-on experience you get pitching your products to investors is incalculable.”
Monday, May 26, 2008
INDIAN STUDENTS AND AMBIITON
A survey was done with 112 Indian students from form 4 and 5. The results of the survey shows there is a strong co-relation with the parents academic level and parents income with students ambition.
Students who come from families with family income of RM800 to RM 1500 has ambition to be in middle level skill or similar level management with desire to earn between RM1500and 2000 a figure of only 20 to 30 per cent premium to what their parents earn. Of the total, 91.07% of them do not know the earning power of certain skills if they successfully accomplish their ambition.
Of the total respondent, 91.07% do not have clear information toward accomplish their ambition, like basic requirement needed to acquire the skill and institutions offering the knowledge of the skill.
Most of them show little interest on self employment. Surprisingly 47% believe if self employed with skills like welding and wiring their earnings actually drops. This believes off sets the tendency to be self employed.
It was noted from the survey that most respondents have ambitions, which need high level of academic performance which is beyond their current achievement. Like failing almost all subjects but wanted to be a medical doctor. However it was also noted students of higher ability having lower level of ambition like 6A 1B achiever wanted to be a technician.
It was noted there was a strong correlation between performance of student in Bahasa Malaysia and with other subjects. If one is poor in Bahasa Malaysia he/she is also poor in other subjects.
The survey also indicated 96.32% students surveyed spend 2hours a day for studies at home. This time allocation had been the same ever since they were in primary schools and this time allocation did not increase while they were in secondary schools. This can be a contributing factor for their poor performance in examinations in secondary schools.
Here a mental climate had to be created among these students that higher level of time investment is necessary to remain excellent in secondary school as they were in primary school.
Students who come from families with family income of RM800 to RM 1500 has ambition to be in middle level skill or similar level management with desire to earn between RM1500and 2000 a figure of only 20 to 30 per cent premium to what their parents earn. Of the total, 91.07% of them do not know the earning power of certain skills if they successfully accomplish their ambition.
Of the total respondent, 91.07% do not have clear information toward accomplish their ambition, like basic requirement needed to acquire the skill and institutions offering the knowledge of the skill.
Most of them show little interest on self employment. Surprisingly 47% believe if self employed with skills like welding and wiring their earnings actually drops. This believes off sets the tendency to be self employed.
It was noted from the survey that most respondents have ambitions, which need high level of academic performance which is beyond their current achievement. Like failing almost all subjects but wanted to be a medical doctor. However it was also noted students of higher ability having lower level of ambition like 6A 1B achiever wanted to be a technician.
It was noted there was a strong correlation between performance of student in Bahasa Malaysia and with other subjects. If one is poor in Bahasa Malaysia he/she is also poor in other subjects.
The survey also indicated 96.32% students surveyed spend 2hours a day for studies at home. This time allocation had been the same ever since they were in primary schools and this time allocation did not increase while they were in secondary schools. This can be a contributing factor for their poor performance in examinations in secondary schools.
Here a mental climate had to be created among these students that higher level of time investment is necessary to remain excellent in secondary school as they were in primary school.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Indians and Capital Market
Malaysian Indians with 8% population, have only 1.2% ownership on the overall equity market but Hong Kong 1% Indians have 8% equity ownership .
There were much talk to increse the same in Malaysia but no favourable results were seen till todate. No affirmative action were taken by government despite many times concern was high lighted in the media.
Indians majority are wage earners and their earning is pretty low. Many could not even able to support their children in institute of higher learnings. They do not have extra savings to invest other then buying a house to stay and a car to travel.
The children of these labour class Indians who have tertiary education and now earning enough to save but sad to say they too do not invest their savings in the capital market. Even graduates in Economics and business management too do not seek knowlegde on capital market voluntarily but they talk about increasing the Indian equity.
This is because these children of labour class Indians still have the same mind set like their parent, even with their high level of exposition and education.
The trend is different among the Chinese. Even an illiterate Chinese knows about investment and to invest and control companies. Their mass media inform them well and their coffee shop talks mostly pertaining to capital markat.
Indians to catch up with others in Malaysia and to compete internationally have to work in the right direction several times more then others.
There were much talk to increse the same in Malaysia but no favourable results were seen till todate. No affirmative action were taken by government despite many times concern was high lighted in the media.
Indians majority are wage earners and their earning is pretty low. Many could not even able to support their children in institute of higher learnings. They do not have extra savings to invest other then buying a house to stay and a car to travel.
The children of these labour class Indians who have tertiary education and now earning enough to save but sad to say they too do not invest their savings in the capital market. Even graduates in Economics and business management too do not seek knowlegde on capital market voluntarily but they talk about increasing the Indian equity.
This is because these children of labour class Indians still have the same mind set like their parent, even with their high level of exposition and education.
The trend is different among the Chinese. Even an illiterate Chinese knows about investment and to invest and control companies. Their mass media inform them well and their coffee shop talks mostly pertaining to capital markat.
Indians to catch up with others in Malaysia and to compete internationally have to work in the right direction several times more then others.
Friday, May 23, 2008
SELF EMLOYMENT 2
Self employment 2
In Malaysia there are many Chinese independent schools in which high fees are collected montly. These schools are not found in every town and most of these schools have their own hostels.However there are students pay exorbitant bus fare to travel to these schools almost on all school days.
The government rule says the examination results of these schools does qualifies these students to enroll in public unversities or for government employment. However tens of thousands of students enroll annually. For tertiary education the go to Taiwan or China. They learn and acquire technical knowledge.
These students, the very first day the enroll to these schools they do not think to work for government. The build the self confidence to be self employed or work for a Chinese bosses.
For Indians the situation is diffrent. You ask any Indian parents who send their children to non vanacular schools, their immediate reason is 'employmen prospect" is better there. A natural self imposed modern slavery thinking. These parents who able to speak good English and very proud of their command of English is no better than early tamil coolies. These early tamil coolies are illeterate but the English speaking tamils are literate coolies.
To change the scenario more tamils should acquire technical knowledge and self employed and widen our knowledge.Technical skills like knowledge on wiring, agriculture etc. can be acquired in any language and anywhere. After all it is the know how of doing is important.
If more Tamils become self employed, and successful entrepreneur a new status for our mother tongue and race can be achieved.
In Malaysia there are many Chinese independent schools in which high fees are collected montly. These schools are not found in every town and most of these schools have their own hostels.However there are students pay exorbitant bus fare to travel to these schools almost on all school days.
The government rule says the examination results of these schools does qualifies these students to enroll in public unversities or for government employment. However tens of thousands of students enroll annually. For tertiary education the go to Taiwan or China. They learn and acquire technical knowledge.
These students, the very first day the enroll to these schools they do not think to work for government. The build the self confidence to be self employed or work for a Chinese bosses.
For Indians the situation is diffrent. You ask any Indian parents who send their children to non vanacular schools, their immediate reason is 'employmen prospect" is better there. A natural self imposed modern slavery thinking. These parents who able to speak good English and very proud of their command of English is no better than early tamil coolies. These early tamil coolies are illeterate but the English speaking tamils are literate coolies.
To change the scenario more tamils should acquire technical knowledge and self employed and widen our knowledge.Technical skills like knowledge on wiring, agriculture etc. can be acquired in any language and anywhere. After all it is the know how of doing is important.
If more Tamils become self employed, and successful entrepreneur a new status for our mother tongue and race can be achieved.
Self employment
The British first brought the Tamils to work in Penang by Francis Light. Later to the Malay peninsular to work in pepper and coffee plantations. In 1874 the British brought the Tamils to work in rubber plantations.
They were illiterate. They were managed by non Tamil Indians in the middle management. The tamils were known as "coolies", a term used for daily paid workers, however the term non commonly used for non Tamil workers daily paid workers.
The present Tamils who form 80% of Malaysian Indians are still with the same level of thinking even though times have changed from the early migrant. Many of present Tamils are with tertiary education but unwilling to move from salaried job toward self employment.
The mind set to work for somebody is planted while they are in primary school. This goes on until they are out from university. Upon graduation then look for an employment.
These tamils should change their mind set. Aquire active and marketable knowledge after completion of secondary education. Level ofa ctive and marketable knowldge to be aquired must be as per their ability. Then upon graduation work for an experienced person or company then they should start a business of their own.
The tamil youths are very energetic but their energy and intelligence must be guided towards acheiving excellence.
They were illiterate. They were managed by non Tamil Indians in the middle management. The tamils were known as "coolies", a term used for daily paid workers, however the term non commonly used for non Tamil workers daily paid workers.
The present Tamils who form 80% of Malaysian Indians are still with the same level of thinking even though times have changed from the early migrant. Many of present Tamils are with tertiary education but unwilling to move from salaried job toward self employment.
The mind set to work for somebody is planted while they are in primary school. This goes on until they are out from university. Upon graduation then look for an employment.
These tamils should change their mind set. Aquire active and marketable knowledge after completion of secondary education. Level ofa ctive and marketable knowldge to be aquired must be as per their ability. Then upon graduation work for an experienced person or company then they should start a business of their own.
The tamil youths are very energetic but their energy and intelligence must be guided towards acheiving excellence.
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