Was talking to Manoj(my brother) the other day and came to know that in France, salary of 5k Euro per month is a luxury. Where as in India, a guy who earns even its equivalent converted amount, vouch for more salary. Why is it so? Are we Indians so much greedy ? The answer lies in how French (and many other developed) society work. The state takes care of your health and children education. Your income will continue almost the same way, even after you retire ! Essentially you needn't worry for future. Once you are in that state of mind, you do not need more money to survive. Your salary is mainly to feed your pocket money. Just imagine, when you were kid or college going young -- all your expenses taken care by your parents and additionally you used to get some pocket money (mainly for entertainment or fun with your friends). How nice it will be if some one do the same for us for lifelong !!!! This will make young ones to choose a profession of passion rather than a money chaser. ...

Unlike last year, have made more solid, reasonably achievable and fresh/interesting resolutions for this year 2011. These are on health, wealth and hobby -- not in any order though. 1. Health : Keep my weight same as 2010 or preferably reduce by 1 kg -- not heavy target. Should continue diet practice and exercise, including Yoga as did last year. Pretty much well on target last time. Control blood sugar level, cholesterol and BP. Last year should be a good inspiration. Additionally, start cycling (with my/Suki's new FF Cosmic Bike). Target 2 days in a week to office and 40 km per week. Get ready for more serious biking next year. 2. Hobby : Write a blog atleast once in month. Preferred -- 20 blogs during this year. Started some what blogging last year. Target an exam on flute or history (history of sciences preferably). 3. Wealth : Health and Hobby can take care of wealth (?!). Reduce debt as much as possible. Atleast by 20% and preferably by 30%. More leaner economy. Hindu r...

Cup and Coffee Narrating an incident with a hope that, this will be bring atleast a small change in you. If not, forget this as a normal incidence. Once old students of a college decided to meet their professor. All those students occupy good positions in various big MNCs. When the meeting started, they were all describing what kind of high pressure situation they undergo and how much stress they face in their work, etc. In between the professor got up and went to kitchen to prepare coffee for all his students. He brought coffee pot and cups and kept them on the table. Some of the coffee cups were expensive and rest were very ordinary. Professor requested his students serve themselves. All of them picked up expensive cups and no one selected normal, worn-out kind of cups. " When I said serve yourself, all of you selected only expensive/good-looking cups. None of you picked up normal ones. All your attention was on expensive and high quality cups; none of you seems to be enthusia...

Attended a workshop on " Career in Planetary Science " organized by Bangalore Astronomical Society. Even though number of enthusiastic attendees was very less, but the speaker himself and insight I got into US PhD/Research Program was of great interest. Main speaker was Dr.Vishnu Reddy , who is Research Professor in North Dakota University. His life story (so far) from Bollywood association to journalist in Asian Age to a Research Professor in Planetary Science is amazing. Looks like a Bollywood film story itself. He gave insight into different fields of Planetary sciences, interdisciplinary concept, etc. I was a little bit damped after hearing path to get PhD in US and struggle involved during post doc period. Routine work involved writing as much as paper for publication and do more of networking, etc didnot hit me well. But nothing is bed of roses. You can do what you want once you pass that hurdle, that's too in the field of your interest. No one else will decide y...

When I was in ISRO, I thought making satellites was greatest thing and no one in India was doing as great work as I was. When moved away of ISRO, came to know there was whole lot of world out there, doing small or big -- contributing to the country and taking pride in that achievement. I was humbled. I was elated to see the picture of earth from Satellite camera, whose electronics I had designed (apparently after 3-4 years of work). Eventhough I take pride to see the output of my first work at ISRO -- it is more of souvenir now. When I look back the work/process, I feel -- o sh**, it could have been done so smartly, without spending so much money and effort and more importantly could have done better end product considering the whole eco system in place. The Camera I designed had resolution of 1km (for Geosyn. sat) and was done to beat then existing camera with 2km resolution (designed by another group), where as end user had capacity to handle only 8 km resolution !!! It was just a dr...

Entering Malleshwaram from Majestic side has become horrible during week-end afternoon, mainly due to newly opened Mantri Square Mall. The biggest mall in India created the biggest mess in Malleswaram. The planning and approval of such a mall on such a road is highly questionable. I hope the mall collapse itself, after initial euphoria, due to lack of clean entry and exit points and car parking space.

Beard, I feel is a natural gift to the “unfair sex”(read men) on this earth. It does not require any of nourishment nor investment. But unfortunately very few people cultivate this priced crop. One day I decided to grow beard. The decision did not have any obsession., nor any spiritual, financial, logical, emotional, physiological or intellectual reasons. A coupe of days after my resolution, beard sprouted around and across my chin and cheek, forcing me to pass a few traumatic nights: felt as if sleeping on a thorny pillow. This experience taught me sense of tolerance. Neither beard per se nor change in my look, amused as much as the observations, suggestions and critical reviews poured in from all corners around me. The comments were with all hues- candid, sarcastic, impudent, nostalgic etc. The first remark was from Girish, a pessimist, who called me as “Modern Devdas” asked me “Who is that unfortunate Paru that rejected or dejected you and brought you to this state?” Rahul passed a ...