SAST Wingees

Want to understand Bayes’ Theorem ?

A brilliantly lucid explanation of the Bayes’ Theorem. I wish someone explained Schrodinger’s equation this well.

Rational or Impotent ?

The Net is full of articles, each one more strident than the other, on how Hinduism is in danger in India. How a treatment of this sort meted out to a Muslim Cleric or the Pope, would have caused mayhem by now. How this can happen only in a nation that has a Muslim President, a Sikh PM , a Christian leader of the ruling party and millions of spineless Hindus .

One cannot deny that there is a grain of truth in all this. There is however , more truth in the fact that among the spineless Hindus, the Tamil Brahmins occupy pride of place.

For , what else can explain this insipid behaviour ? Despite all that has happened in our backyard, there is hardly a protest of note in the 4 southern states of the country. Almost none in Tamil Nadu and Chennai. The DMK & AIDMK for the first time in history have united to ensure that not a whimper is heard. If we are going to be cowed down by Karunannidhi and his mobs, why blame a Muslim President and a Sikh PM?

If we do not know how to burn busses or self immolate , we need to think of other forms of protest that will be just as effective. If we pride our selves on being the Chanakyas of this world , we need to have the courage to behave like one.

Sometimes being rational is being impotent – and I believe this is one of those times. It is all very well for an Iyer “mama ” to sit on his couch, after a sumptuous meal of “thair sadham ” and say that “law will take it’s own course”. Or for Geeks like us, to scan the Net and forward articles to one another (including this one) on Hinduism. Or for “ vadhyars” to conduct innumerable token “homams” for peace and purity. Or for the Kannadigas, the Telugus and the Malayalees, to quickly shun association with Kanchi Mutt and speak of their own pious Gods and Godmen. The fact is that we are incapable of anything more.

It must be our upbringing, our food, our culture and our biological-make up that prompts us to shoot off letters to “ The Hindu” on Nelson Mandela’s arrest but lulls us into watching Sun TV when our very own is in despair. We are programmed to push files in a Tahsildar’s office not to fight when the chips are down. Sometimes I wonder , if we secretly delight in the misery of our brethern

Is there a Bihari amongst us? hai koi jis ne maa ka dudh piya ho? Alas, there is none.

So, while we sip our filter coffees in the comfort of our homes, let’s refrain from talking of what the Muslims and Christians would have done in a similar situation. They have done their bit . It is we who have failed.

Shame at Kanchi

The recent events in Kanchi Mutt have left me both bewildered and angry. Having seen the functioning of the Mutt from close quarters, it wasn’t a surprise to read about the financial irregularities and the corruption in the Mutt’s dealings. But what left me stunned were the allegations of mafia style murder and physical assault .

Any organization, (never mind Kanchi Mutt with assets worth Rs 10 Billion) is asking for trouble if 95% of it “employees” are made up of school dropouts, unemployed youth or retired middle level govt officials who are neither capable nor trained in managing affairs of this magnitude. (BCCI with a list of “honorary” office bearers is another volcano waiting to erupt). Corruption, petty mindedness, whimsical decisions are only to be expected. But what is astonishing are the allegation of gruesome murder and physical assault that have been levelled against the Mutt and it’s Head. “No smoke without fire” is an old cliché but one cannot but help but think that there is more than a grain of truth in this old adage.

I am particularly disillusioned with Jayendra Saraswati and his way of running the Mutt . While I cannot bring myself to believe that he would have had a direct hand in this sordid affair , one expects a lot more from a spiritual leader. Kanchi Mutt, which was renowned for preserving Hindu tradition , encouraging study of Vedanta and promoting the concept of high thinking and simple living among common folk is now famous for playing “ the failed middle man” in the Ayodhya affair. With murder , assault and corruption added to its growing reputation – I wonder if it can sink to lower depths. Jayendra Saraswati should take singular blame for reducing the Mutt to it’s current state..

I hope that he emerges clean from this episode but I also believe that it will be hard to cleanse the stigma associated with this affair. Harder still, will be the process of reviving faith and devotion among millions of followers , a number of whom would have turned away from him and the Mutt (hopefully not from Hinduism) forever..

Look forward to your views and comments .

IF – a nice poem by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head, when all about you Are losing theirs, and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting, too;

If you can wait, and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,

And yet, don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;

If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph, and disaster, And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the Truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up. with worn – out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch – and – toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings, And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your Heart, and Nerve, and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!” If you can talk with crowds, and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but not too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty – seconds worth of distance run – Yours is the World, and everything that’s in it!

And – which is more – you’ll be a MAN, my son!

Rural Sourcing – could be a viable alternative to offshoring ?

Check out this article on the company Rural Sourcing.