Friday, November 22, 2013

Cubic Mile of Oil: Realities and Options for Averting the Global Energy Crisis

Dr. Ripudaman Malhotra at the UoH
Dr. Ripudaman Malhotra, Associate Director, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory, SRI International, San Francisco Bay Area, USA delivered a Guest Lecture titled “A Cubic Mile of Oil: Realities and Options for Averting the Global Energy Crisis” at Sir C. V. Raman Auditorium, University of Hyderabad on Nov. 05, 2013.

The talk aimed at exploring issues concerning energy and sustainability. The debate about energy supply has often been portrayed as a tension between the moral imperative of protecting the environment or preserving the economic interests of the energy industry. This simplistic view misses the larger challenge that we face in balancing the tension between protecting the environment and the moral imperative of improving the lives of people around the earth.

We had energy crisis in past such as the one in 1917 in US. Crisis brings with it precious opportunity to learn useful things but, unfortunately the humankind has wasted many such avenues that could have resulted in addressing some of the key energy questions effectively.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Account of My First Phase Stay (2006-11) at the University of Hyderabad

Receiving Achievers Award from Dr. Y. V. Reddy, the Former RBI Governor in presence of Prof. Seyed E. Hasnain, Former VC, UoH and Prof. V. Kannan, Former Pro-VC, UoH
I’m from Rosera town in Bihar. My stay at the University of Hyderabad while pursuing my Integrated Masters Programme has been a journey to discover myself. By the time my name was shortlisted for admission interview for the Integrated Masters Programme at the UoH, I was already admitted to an engineering college at Kolkata in IT stream and my visit to Hyderabad was more to see the city than to attend my interview.

But, when I interacted with the interview board at the UoH, I got highly impressed by the infrastructure, teachers, and the course plan itself. Everyone falls in love with the natural beauty of the campus and I was no exception too. When I finally got admission in Integrated Masters Programme in Mathematical Sciences here, many people didn’t find it rational on my part to leave an engineering course in IT and join the first batch of 5-year Integrated Masters Programme in Basic Sciences at the UoH. Although, I was also not completely sure in the beginning if it was a wise decision but, very soon I was able to substantiate and justify my decision.

In initial first two years, we had courses from various streams of basic sciences, humanities and social sciences with good level of flexibility to choose courses of choice with excellent supporting infrastructure and faculty support. The course has the flexibility to completely shift to other discipline after 2 years, subject to fulfilment of curtain criteria and it’s very unique in the country. I did some courses in Economics and discovered my high interest in that discipline. After 2 years, I was allowed to shift from Mathematical Sciences to Economics; I got my final masters degree in Economics.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

The Constitutional Vision of Education vs Neo-liberal Assault on India

Prof. Anil Sadgopal with Prof. Ramakrishna Ramaswamy (VC, UoH)
Prof. Anil Sadgopal delivered the Alladi Memorial Lecture at the University of Hyderabad on October 11, 2013. Prof. Sadgopal is a member of the All India Forum for Right to Education and Former Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Delhi. The topic of his talk was “The Constitutional Vision of Education vs Neo-liberal Assault on India”. The Alladi Memorial Lecture is organized in collaboration with the Alladi Memorial Trust and the Centre for Human Rights, University of Hyderabad.

Prof. G. Hargopal introduced the speaker as a very important personality in taking forward the movement to ensure quality education for all and described him as a person with very rare combination of philosophical disposition and conviction for great social change.

Prof. Sadgopal started his lecture with presenting his experience in his last engagement with the Govt. on preparing the Right to Education Bill. He submitted that the Govt. had not been willing to discuss about private schools on the ground that they don’t get any grants from the Govt. He rejects this proposition and argues that the Govt. does monitor liquor shops, taxi and auto-rikshaws and other many such entities even though they are not funded by the Govt as that is concerned with citizen’s welfare. He maintained that in his 10 months engagement during this period, the Govt. didn’t take any of his points. According to him, Right to Education (RTE) act in its current form doesn’t stand for enabling people to claim their constitutional entitlements but it is more to satisfy neo-liberal attacks on the country.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Mesmerising Hindustani Vocal concert by Su. Ranjani Ramachandran

Su. Ranjani Ramachandran at the UoH
The University of Hyderabad (UoH) witnessed a mesmerising Hindustani Vocal concert by Ranjani Ramachandran. The concert was organised on 23rd September 2013 under the aegis of the UoH Campus Concert Series in collaboration with the city based organisation “Riwaayat”.

Dr. D. Balasubramanian, Padma Shree awardee and Founder Trustee, Riwaayat gave a brief introduction of the objectives behind promoting Classical Music Traditions of India with the aim to create increased awareness and foster a generation of classical music aficionados and to nurture and nourish young musical talents.

Ranjani started the concert with Raga Shree (Vilambit Khayal in Jhoomra), Wari Jaun Re (Drut Khayal in Teentala), Chalo Re Mai Ramsiya (Drut Khayal in Ektala). This was followed by Raga Bihagada, Kabir Das Jee’s Bhajan (Ramaiya ki Dulhan) and Miya Malhar (Drut Khayal in Teentala) Gahar Aayo Re Badarva. She was accompanied by Shri Javed on Tabla and Shri Surendra Bharati on the Harmonium.

Friday, August 23, 2013

My Blog Posts at ISB website

I worked at the Indian School of Business (ISB) Hyderabad Campus for two years as Research Associate after my masters degree during 2011-13. Here is a list of my blog posts during my stay there:

Gender Diversity & Inclusion of Differently-abled
http://blogs.isb.edu/wced/2011/07/25/gender-diversity-inclusion-of-differently-abled/

Economic Development in India: Where it Goes?
http://blogs.isb.edu/wced/2011/08/25/economic-development-in-india-where-it-goes/

Diffusion 2011 (3rd – 4th Oct. ’11) @ Patna
http://blogs.isb.edu/wced/2011/09/05/diffusion-2011-2nd-4th-oct-11-patna/