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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
Sunday, April 27, 2008
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
Saturday, March 22, 2008
The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
होली है! (It's Holi!)
To show you why Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, is by far my favorite. This time wasn't even as good as last time, but the memories captured by this camera will bring joy for years to come.
To show you why Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, is by far my favorite. This time wasn't even as good as last time, but the memories captured by this camera will bring joy for years to come.
Direct link to the whole album:
 |
| HoliInBaga |
Friday, March 21, 2008
Friday, March 07, 2008
Busy with Eye Camp...But Humour has its place
I had to write this down for posterity, more than anything else.
So, as part of the eye camp we're conducting in Bagar, we had a doctor come teach school teachers how to test small kids (primary school level) for eyesight problems. The kids who have problems will come to camp, get professionally tested and then get free eyeglases.
All the schools came back with 10 or 20, max 25 cases. One school comes back with 45. This, is obviously strange.
So Kim, the health intern who's leading this eye camp, goes back to test them yesterday. It turns out, that the teacher got students who had glasses to take off their glasses and then tested their vision.
Kim tried to point out the obvious problem. The teacher said, "oh yes, you know, you're right. Those kids with glasses are probably already aware of this stuff".
______________________________
बगड़ मे 11 साल बाद पहली बार पीरामल ई-स्वास्थ्य और पीरामल फाउंडेशन ला रहा है निःशुल्क नेत्र चिकित्सा शिविर एवं निःशुल्क मोतियाबिन्द का औपरेशन - इस रविवार 9 मार्च 2008 को। रजिस्ट्रेशन प्रातः 8 बजे से 12 बजे तक।
तत् पश्चात नेत्र जांच और रात में मोतियाबिन्द का औपरेशन किया जाएगा।
So, as part of the eye camp we're conducting in Bagar, we had a doctor come teach school teachers how to test small kids (primary school level) for eyesight problems. The kids who have problems will come to camp, get professionally tested and then get free eyeglases.
All the schools came back with 10 or 20, max 25 cases. One school comes back with 45. This, is obviously strange.
So Kim, the health intern who's leading this eye camp, goes back to test them yesterday. It turns out, that the teacher got students who had glasses to take off their glasses and then tested their vision.
Kim tried to point out the obvious problem. The teacher said, "oh yes, you know, you're right. Those kids with glasses are probably already aware of this stuff".
______________________________
बगड़ मे 11 साल बाद पहली बार पीरामल ई-स्वास्थ्य और पीरामल फाउंडेशन ला रहा है निःशुल्क नेत्र चिकित्सा शिविर एवं निःशुल्क मोतियाबिन्द का औपरेशन - इस रविवार 9 मार्च 2008 को। रजिस्ट्रेशन प्रातः 8 बजे से 12 बजे तक।
तत् पश्चात नेत्र जांच और रात में मोतियाबिन्द का औपरेशन किया जाएगा।
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