RSS Feed (xml)
posted on my blog. Thanks!
http://vivekspace.com/2008/04/01/democratizing-healthcare-and-development-in-india/
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Someone's reading out there
Thanks for the encouragement! I think it might be the same Vivek who
posted on my blog. Thanks!
posted on my blog. Thanks!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Sankrant in the Gaanv (गांव में संक्रांत)
Long overdue pictures. As you all know, Sankrant comes on Jan 14 every year (actually, this year it somehow fell on Jan 15). Naman and I went to my गांव (gaanv = native village = birthplace of my father/forefathers), and Naman's fancy digital SLR camera helped take some GREAT photos
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
 |
| Sankrant Pictures |
Celebrating the advent of the summer with a new skin
Hope this works. I thought the onset of summer here made it time for a new skin. Misery loves company, so y'all be sure to visit me in a month or two (it's not so bad right now - only gets upto 40/41C).
- Ashish
- Ashish
A Hindi site for drivers
I know the subject is very misleading.
It's not a site for the मुश्टन्डा (?), truck-hauling kind. Though I wish there was - imagine an India where these truck drivers could pitstop and find the nearest kiosk and check-in with their logistical company, provide an update to the customer and/or destination, and send a quick email to their loved ones. Plus, access entertainment to refresh themselves after the long hard bone-jarring not-for-the-faint-hearted drive on Indian roads (as Bryan would say, "India - Balls Out")
It's something altogether practical. It's a website for finding drivers for computer equipment. In Hindi. Given that the tech world remains strictly a domain for the English-speaking elite of India (and believe me, once you step out of Bombay, you realize it's an elite), this is a great start. I personally have problems with my current Teaching Assistant and other instructors I've had in learning how to maintain computers simply because of the communication barrier. What people would pay for hardware and software maintenance guides in Hindi. The market is actually close to phenomenal.
Without further ado: here's the site
www.nodevice.com
Let me know what you think.
_______________________________________________
On an unrelated note, this incident reminded me of the origin of Bryan's quote about how India is balls out. When he came to visit me in Bagar in Oct 2007, we actually decided to go to Zayka (a restaurant in Jhunjhunu) to celebrate something or the other. Jhunjhunu is 15 km away, and there's usually buses every 10 minutes throughout the day. Somehow, we managed to pick the quietest hour of the day (around 8:15p), and no bus came till 9pm. Getting antsy (and promising myself I'd have me some delicious naan that night), I flagged the next vehicle, which happened to be a tractor laden with bricks. Well, the guy said yes, and 7 of us hopped on top of a tractor and took a good rickety hour to get to Jhunjhunu. It was a full moon's night (and the brightest moon of the YEAR on top of that), and there was the cool night wind of the fall - it was a surreal and unforgettable experience.
Bryan, however, was sitting right at the back of the tractor (where things shake more). He wasn't quite amused. In his own words, "I'd rather jump off a plane without a parachute then do that again".
In Preeti's words, "Bryan shat a brick"
It's not a site for the मुश्टन्डा (?), truck-hauling kind. Though I wish there was - imagine an India where these truck drivers could pitstop and find the nearest kiosk and check-in with their logistical company, provide an update to the customer and/or destination, and send a quick email to their loved ones. Plus, access entertainment to refresh themselves after the long hard bone-jarring not-for-the-faint-hearted drive on Indian roads (as Bryan would say, "India - Balls Out")
It's something altogether practical. It's a website for finding drivers for computer equipment. In Hindi. Given that the tech world remains strictly a domain for the English-speaking elite of India (and believe me, once you step out of Bombay, you realize it's an elite), this is a great start. I personally have problems with my current Teaching Assistant and other instructors I've had in learning how to maintain computers simply because of the communication barrier. What people would pay for hardware and software maintenance guides in Hindi. The market is actually close to phenomenal.
Without further ado: here's the site
www.nodevice.com
Let me know what you think.
_______________________________________________
On an unrelated note, this incident reminded me of the origin of Bryan's quote about how India is balls out. When he came to visit me in Bagar in Oct 2007, we actually decided to go to Zayka (a restaurant in Jhunjhunu) to celebrate something or the other. Jhunjhunu is 15 km away, and there's usually buses every 10 minutes throughout the day. Somehow, we managed to pick the quietest hour of the day (around 8:15p), and no bus came till 9pm. Getting antsy (and promising myself I'd have me some delicious naan that night), I flagged the next vehicle, which happened to be a tractor laden with bricks. Well, the guy said yes, and 7 of us hopped on top of a tractor and took a good rickety hour to get to Jhunjhunu. It was a full moon's night (and the brightest moon of the YEAR on top of that), and there was the cool night wind of the fall - it was a surreal and unforgettable experience.
Bryan, however, was sitting right at the back of the tractor (where things shake more). He wasn't quite amused. In his own words, "I'd rather jump off a plane without a parachute then do that again".
In Preeti's words, "Bryan shat a brick"
 |
| To Jhunjhunu on a Full Moon's Night |
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Of Running, And Life
http://niara.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/big-things-start-small/#
To anyone who has run, these learnings are SO well put. The memories of the marathon that this brought back sent a chill down my spine.
Thanks to Rachit for sending this.
- Ashish
To anyone who has run, these learnings are SO well put. The memories of the marathon that this brought back sent a chill down my spine.
Thanks to Rachit for sending this.
- Ashish
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Fwd: Good work!
What keeps us going.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Vivek Kumar
Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Subject: Good work!
To: ashishgupta7@gmail.com
Hi Ashish,
I am an Indian diplomat (Indian Foreign Service), currently posted in
Vladivostok, Russia.
Jhunjhunu is my hometown, and I have quite a few relatives in the
district. Recently, I spoke to one of them (my Mamaji - Rajkumar
Bhamboo, a govt. teacher) who lives in Bagar and he spoke very highly
about the work and you and your colleagues are doing.
Just wanted to let you know that your work is being appreciated by
people even when your back is turned :)
I am very impressed as well. Not sure if you would still be in Bagar
when I visit next time (end of 2008 or so), but it would be great to
meet you then, if possible.
Best regards.. and best wishes,
Vivek Kumar
From: Vivek Kumar
Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Subject: Good work!
To: ashishgupta7@gmail.com
Hi Ashish,
I am an Indian diplomat (Indian Foreign Service), currently posted in
Vladivostok, Russia.
Jhunjhunu is my hometown, and I have quite a few relatives in the
district. Recently, I spoke to one of them (my Mamaji - Rajkumar
Bhamboo, a govt. teacher) who lives in Bagar and he spoke very highly
about the work and you and your colleagues are doing.
Just wanted to let you know that your work is being appreciated by
people even when your back is turned :)
I am very impressed as well. Not sure if you would still be in Bagar
when I visit next time (end of 2008 or so), but it would be great to
meet you then, if possible.
Best regards.. and best wishes,
Vivek Kumar
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)