The Varied Names and Colors of Terrorism

I invite you to read this article: Germanwings Flight 9525 - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The wikipedia article above describes the deliberate crashing of an aircraft by Andreas Lubitz, a German Copilot.

This article classifies the act as a murder-suicide. I have read other articles that let us know that Andreas Lubitz was suffering from some psychiatric problem (but still had a license to fly).

Now just imagine if this guy's last name was Khan or Hussain or some other Muslim name.

What would the conclusion then be, how long would this crash have stayed in the news, and what would be the repercussions?

As far as I'm concerned I classify Andreas Lubitz as a terrorist. Ditto for gunmen who open fire on innocent folks in classrooms, shopping malls, and anywhere else. If you kill unarmed people who pose no threat to you, you are a terrorist.

I'm guessing he was White Caucasian Christian - but do not believe these are important details. A terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist.

Flight Safety and Cell Phones

To this date, fliers have to be cajoled and reminded into switching off their cell phones in Indian skies. Just a couple of weeks ago I had to snap at a fellow passenger who was on his phone even when the aircraft was already in final position for take-off.

We need a mechanism to detect active cell phones and have them switched off before push back from the boarding gate. Anyone who doesn't comply: de-board them and suspend them from the skies for a few months.

Likewise, a check during the flight for any cell phones that might not be in Aeroplane Mode and a check for all phones switched off before descent starts. Suspend defaulters from the skies for a few months.

Safety first, then cell phones, gizmos and gadgets.

Baseball vs Cricket

Some 20 something years ago when I was a grad student in the US I used to insist in my arguments with my American friends that cricket is a better game than baseball.

I stand corrected.

Baseball is more interesting! And safer! (the penalty for a pitcher trying to hit the batter on the head is immediate ejection from the game - as it should be)

[Although I do still maintain that American Football is a no-good, over aggressive, hyper macho sport that is incorrectly named. Soccer is the real football.]

Information Technology vs Computer Science

For students wondering about the difference between doing a B. Tech. in Information Technology vs B. Tech. in Computer Science:

Information Technology is just one subdiscipline of Computer Science. If you do a B. Tech.. in Computer Science, IT jobs are always available to you.

On the other hand, if you do a B. Tech. in Information Technology, many jobs in Computer Science may be beyond your training level.

B. Tech. in Computer Science is the better option - any day.

This is why even IIITs offer Computer Science programs, not Information Technology.

Don't just go by whatever buzzword is in vogue at any given time. Go for what will train you for a broader range of jobs in your overall area of interest.

Computational Sciences at IIITs

Here's a suggestion that might be helpful for information technology institutes:

Start Masters and PhD programs in Computational Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology). This will (a) open up computer applications in a variety of research topics at your institutes and (b) bring in faculty members who can offer a range of electives for your undergraduate students and make their academic programs more interesting.

Computer programming applications stretch far far beyond developing apps - and its in our best interests to not lose sight of this!

Web Series Review: Maharani

Saw the web series Maharani recently. My comments:

The purpose of cinema and TV/web series isn't just to reflect society's reality as it stands today. It is partly that, but also to set higher benchmarks of aspirations in society.

We need politics based movies and series that show the public demanding, and politicians delivering, on opening schools, colleges and universities, opening hospitals, setting up industries and factories so that people get more employment, cracking down on corrupt policemen and policewomen, setting up more courts and increasing the number of judges so that trials end sooner.

Politics can't be just about religion and caste. Well made movies and series can start bringing about this change. This series not only completely fails on this count but further fuels the caste-religion political mess we've been embroiled in for the last few decades. Two thumbs down 👎 👎.

Note: My views on combatting backwardness are here: A Four Point Algorithm to Combat Backwardness

Gurugram: Unwarranted Hindi-ization of Gurgaon

The name Gurgaon comes from Gurgaanwa in Haryanavi. It is the correct name to keep in Haryana.

Gurugram is a forced Hindi-ization that is both unnecessary and ought to be unwelcome anywhere outside the Hindi belt.

The way forward in a multi-lingual, multi-cultural, country such as ours is being open to learning a bit of each other's languages. For example, we've lived in Bengal and Maharashtra for extended periods of time. And although I can't speak either language fluently, I've picked up a bit that makes it possible for a Bengali or Marathi who doesn't know Hindi or English fluently to still communicate with me. A bit of effort from my side, a bit theirs, and we shake hands - as friends 👍.