Love Increases With Value

Love increases with value (read money). Do you agree? This old adage was proven again recently, at least to me. After Jan Koum's $19b I started using WhatsApp and found that this is really a very cool app. In fact WhatsApp was with me for long but I hardly used it. 19b made the trick.

Do you have something similar to share?

This was amazing : Ubiquitous Software

Software is ubiquitous. Here is another example.

10 days back, our 2 months old Hyundai Grand refused to start. We realized that  car battery has bleed completely. Obviously, we were upset and called road side assistance. Assistance was prompt. They charged the battery as it was drained and advised us send the car to the dealer for further rectification. 

Yesterday, we showed up in the dealer's service center and narrated the problem. Within no time, the technician told me that no problem sir give me 10 - 15 mins, I will fix the problem. Out of inquisitiveness I asked the technician, what will you do? I thought he will replace the battery. He responded promptly - will upgrade the software.

One more accolade for Gandhi

Dhruba (Jyoti Phukan), popularly known as Gandhi, got GiMA (Global Indian Music Award)  2014 in best Music Arranger and Programmer category for Badtameez Dil.

Bandhu, you make us proud again! Keep doing!

It's Weekend Here Again!

It's weekend for me. If it is for you you as well, i would urge that you start your weekend with these 2 video. Let me know what you feel.

Tribute to Dr Bhupen Hazarika by Rabin Goswami

Bondhu Robin Goswami's tribute to Dr Hazarika. I am sure you will like it. Encourage him to sing more.

Photostream

Sunset at Kumarakom with iPhone

Developmental Conflicts in North East India

• Assam Bangalore Coordination (ABC) forum organised an interactive session on "Developmental Conflicts in NE Region : Assam in focus" facilitated by Prof. Sanjoy Hazarika‏ at The Energy Research Institute, Domlur, Bangalore on October 5th.
  
  Prof. Hazarika is Director, Centre for North East Studies and Centre for North East Studies (C-NES), Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and in addition, holds the Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew Chair in Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Author of three major books on the North East Region – Stranger of the Mist, Rites of Passage and Writing on the Wall, he was a reporter for the New York Times, Consulting Editor of The Statesman and is a widely published columnist. 
  
  

  

  Prof Hazarika was in Bangalore to deliver a talk on Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) at Azim Premji University. In conjunction with this, ABC forum organized this discussion on Developmental Conflicts in NE Region with focus on Assam. While the short discussion didn't yield anything concrete per se (which was not intended also) but fact that 80 odd people, not just Assamese, joined the session indicates that there is deep concerns for the region and its current state of affairs. Events like this sensitize people, allows them to express their concerns,  think and put forward their thoughts on what can be done, and thereby create a greater social awareness which is fundamental to any social development. Organizations like ABC and associated people can play meaningful catalysts role on such social transformation journey in their circle of influence, however small it may be. Think tanks like C-NES can provide a bigger platform at National level to deliberate and come up with specific recommendations/ actions plan on what social & political organization and academia should do to come out of the current state of affairs. 
  

  
  

  One concerned participant rightly pointed out the ill effects of celebrated "BANDH" culture in Assam, but there is hardly any instances where social organizations or academia took steps to educate people, create social awareness and declare a social ban on such culture. Is it because of depleting intellectia or leadership vacuum?