Kamal-da,
In other words you have no solutions.
Descartes said " I think therefore I am" -- but perhaps you think if you think
you are a dreamer only.
I wonder how IIT- Guwahati is surviving all these floods --are the students
studying in boats floating in the flood seasons - as per your view of future of
engineering college students in Assam.
How about those of Assam Institute of Management and of Assam Engg College?
Umesh
kamal deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: No,I suggest that we act like ostriches,
bury our heads in the sand and keep on dreaming of big dreams!!!!!!!
KJD
On 7/6/07, umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: Kamal-da,
So what do you suggest? Is it that since floods are a "grim reality" --so
stop living and start worrying?
Umesh
kamal deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: The tea gardens of Assam are located
in the hills !!!?
Floods are everywhere,even in America.Does that mean that we can compare Assam
with any state of the USA ? You did not seem to understand my point.The
scenario of flood was used metaphorically.If you build a castle where there are
no pathways to reach there,what good is it have one at the first place ? I gave
the following example in one of my earlier mails and let me repeat that
again.What would you think about a child,who wants to run before being able to
walk ?
The recurrence of flood in Assam is a grim reality.It has never been an excuse.
KJD
On 7/5/07, umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: Kamal-da,
MyMumbai roommate has to wade thru neck deep water at times -as he told me ---
there are floods in Mumbai also ---so why is Guwahati not like Mumbai.
Why do all the engineering colleges have to be in areas where there are floods
-- why not near tea gardens in hill regions?? Why always the excuse of floods?
at
Umesh
kamal deka < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Umesh,
You need not worry about my faith in the Assamese youth.Rest assured--it's
intact.However,I am more concerned about their having to wade through
waist-deep flood water,trying to reach to these engineering colleges that you
are dreaming of !!!
It is a case of Mary Antoinette saying " give them cake",when the masses were
shouting in hunger for bread.Who is having Utopian dream here,I wonder ?
One can't draw parallel between Bangalore and Assam.Had that been the
case,Bangalore would not have been the hub of IT or Silicon valley of India.One
has to live in Assam for few years to realize the shortcomings of the
government for which the state has been lagging behind so much as far as basic
infrastructure is concerned.
By the way,I would have refused to become the ' mouth organ ' or ' mouth piece
' of a community about whom I have scant knowledge.
Regards,
KJD
On 7/5/07, umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: Kamal-da,
It is utopian to think that only after ALL infrastructure is in place the
engineering colleges should be built. Even now in Bangalore there is utter
disregard for transporttation issues - etc -- traffic jams etc -but ......you
get the point I am sure. Ofcourse you need infrastructure for the colleges -- I
am sure local high schools can rise to the occasion.
A Boro from remote Kokrajhar district of Assam (as he told me) Utpal-da Brahma
(IIT, IIM , NDA select) was a graduate of Kokrajhar Govt High School and
studied for IIT entrance from correspondence/distance education Agrawal clases
and Brilliant Tutorials. Have faith in Assamese youth Kamal-da!!
Umesh
kamal deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: That's exactly what I wanted to say.One
can't do away with the problem of flood,but one can alleviate the sufferings of
affected ones to the minimum by taking timely and appropriate measures.
As I wrote earlier,setting up of engineering colleges in round numbers is
okay,but building up of infrastructure is a sine-qua-non of economic
development.By infrastructure,I mean to refer to the social overhead
facilities,relating to
power,roads,railways,banking,communication,education,health etc. WITHOUT THESE
FACILITIES ON HAND,TO INSIST ON BUILDING BUNCH OF ENGINEERING COLLEGES IS
ANALOGOUS TO A CHILD WHO WANTS TO RUN BEFORE BEING ABLE TO WALK !!!!!
Allow me to furnish an example.Out of some 22 thousand villages,more than 8000
villages ( I may be little off in citing these figures ) have still remain
unconnected with all-weather roads.How costly are their production,consumption
and trade can be easily imagined. The bottom line is this---one can build new
engineering colleges as many as he or she wants to,but that is not going to
cast a magic spell in the economic development of Assam unless sincere efforts
are made to put those basic facilities into proper place.
KJD
On 7/4/07, Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: >Yes,yes--we have to
live with it ( I mean,flood ),but can we live with >it using some intelligence
?
KJD,
We really DO NOT have to live with it Or 'learn to live and dance with floods'
like Sarat Singha (I think) said.
While it is inevitable, the Stafected oneste Govt. can play a major role in
minimizing the affects, loss of life and destruction of crops/cattle.
About also thinking about engg. colleges, C'da is correct. This state Govt.
does not have to be flood control centric.
The govt. ought to be able to cope and prepare for floods (on an annual
basis), think also about lessening the blow (floods) for the long term, but
also of other things like education, engg. colleges, and general development of
areas not developed.
The people should expect the Govt. (their elected representatives) to be able
to handle all this and more - that is the test the govt. ought to able to pass.
(IMHO)
--Ram
On 7/4/07, kamal deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: Yes,yes--we have to live
with it ( I mean,flood ),but can we live with it using some intelligence ?
Consider this---here is a state,where flood control department ( flood that
brings misery to the people ) is considered a prize posting, while education
department (education, which is concerned with the upliftment of a society ) is
seen as a punishment posting !!!! And this tells you the chunk of the story.
I can write an scholarly essay as to why one should lay stress on the
improvement of other areas instead of emphasizing on setting up new engineering
colleges at this time.Chandanda has already touched on those points and I am in
total agreement with him.
KJD
On 7/4/07, Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: Hi KJD,
>In my considered opinion,the problem of flood is the most >menacing natural
>calamity,experienced by the state every year >particularly since the great
>earthquake of 1950
I agree, this is a much bigger and affecting more people than Engg. colleges.
And this is a problem that happens every year.
Yes, Umesh did report "after the negative reception he received at Boston
conference ". Don't know exactly what that means - but will just leave it at
that,
Regarding the annual floods: Here are thoughts (and I could be totally off
base in my assumptions)
IMHO, the annual floods are are going to happen every year. I don't think we
can increase/or decrease floods by human action.
The river will find the weakest embankments to crest, and will do so.
So, what exactly can the state do?
It can be ready for it every year by taking evasive actions.
Can be ready with large scale evacuvation plans including livestock
Can identify Highly flood prone areas, and advice settlers of the dangers.
Be prepared with medical facilities
Rescue operation readiness
Help farmers get back on their feet with seed/fertilizer supplies etc.
Help farmers acquire flood insurance - the state can mandate insurance
companies that they must offer reduced rates for farmers. The state govt. can
help farmers with the bulk of the premiums.
The list can go on.
--Ram
On 7/4/07, kamal deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: Hi RS,
My attention was drawn to the following remark,made by Umesh Sarma.He wrote
and I quote " after the negative reception he received at Boston conference
where he was only questioned about annual flooding "
In my considered opinion,the problem of flood is the most menacing natural
calamity,experienced by the state every year particularly since the great
earthquake of 1950.The stagnancy of economy of the state owes much to this
recurrent menace.For example,in the course of last ten years,the total damage
caused by floods to crops,habitation of people and lives of cattle is estimated
at over Rs.1000 crores.
The dream of setting up of 111 engineering colleges in Assam is okay ( how
many medical colleges will be needed to look after the ailments of these
folks,I wonder ?).But then,one must remember that 76% of Assam's population is
rural-based,who eke out a living from their poor surroundings and where
facilities in the area of power,basic education ,health care
benefits,roads/communication/transport etc.are non-existent.Unless these areas
are taken care of by the government,economic prosperity is impossible,even if
you build thousands of engineering colleges.
KJD
On 7/4/07, Ram Sarangapani < [EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote: Thank you, Umesh
for providing an exhaustive account of Assam 2007.
any mecal colleges
--Ram da
On 7/3/07, umesh sharma < [EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote:
Hi,
In the Day 2 of the meeting (on Sunday July 1st, 2007) we arrived just in time
to have the lunch (got value for money - the $110 we had paid each for the
Assam 2007) - I was able to identify the dish with the shrimp (and avoided a
painful alergy outbreak ) .
At the same time meeting of Assam Society was going on - I could make out the
sentences in English which were focused on non-profit work and fund-raising (of
about $2,500 only) and projects been sponsored and monitored in Assam.
Later Partha-da Gogoi presented a passionate presentation for the self-help
groups and business initiative and mentoring for engineering students etc
http://www.nepif.weblet.in/ North East Professional Institutes Forum
under the leadership of Assam Institute of Management
http://www.aimguwahati.com/ -- which was later shown in front of the Chief
Minister --
alongwith a presentation slideshow of http://www.pearllifeline.com/ funded and
spearheaded by an NRI/NRA http://www.assamtribune.com/may0507/Photo4.html who
advised US President George Bush on medical stuff.
http://www.posoowa.org/2007/06/30/a-need-for-expanding-engineering-education-facilities-in-assam-for-economic-growth-and-human-development/
After that was the persuasive presentation for promoting engineering college by
Jugal-da Kalita based on research by Jugal-da (IIT , Phd UPenn - Ivy League
Univ, Prof Computer Science, Colorado) , Umesh-da Tabildar (IIT , NASA, USA ),
Jukti-da Kalita (IIT, IIM, PhD Columbia) , Mantu-da Bhaishya ( BITS, Pilani ) ,
Ganesh-a Bora (PhD Kansas - Agriculture engineering) , Durba-da Bhattacharya
(Prof Computer science - Tejpur Univ, Assam)
--- with comments on it by Gautom Barua (Director IIT- Guwahati Computer
Science) and other IIT profs and Dipankar-da Medhi (Prof Computer Science at
Kansas and AssamNet Co-founder)
The Chief Minster was in a state of bliss --- especially after the negative
reception he received at Boston conference where he was only questioned about
the annual flooding of Guwahati (he later spoke of Global Warming which might
lead initail floods by melting of glaciers followed by drought - when no more
glaciers). He said that he is so pleased with these presentation which have a
positive note and aim to improve the situation of Assam.
Main Points of the engineering college presentation -- Orissa has 13,000
employed by Infosys for computer work -- even though has much worse travel
connection than Assam. Gautam Barua (IIT - G director) was told by Infosys
Chief (Nilekani is IIT batchmate of Gautam-da ) that Assam only produces 750
engg grads compared to 13,000 by Orissa - and Infosys wants 80% of its
employees to be local -atleast.
Second, Assam has 2.5% of India's population but only 0.2% of its engineering
colleges and only 0.17% of its engineering graduates. I agreed with Jugal-da
that engineering education might act as a "pull" in improving basic education
(at school level) .
Later during lunch Jugal-da, Partha-da and others were having lively
discussion with the CM. The CM had declared that his govt had declared already
that the year 2007 was the Year of Education and passed a Bill (confirmed by
his ADC later to me) to open privately run engineering colleges etc. Jugal-da
however, told me that he was not able to lay hands on any such Bill being
passed by Assam govt - but may have been introduced.
I was within one feet of the CM and even made eye contact but I conceded to
the stalwarts waiting to talk to him - who could have more immediate impact or
synergy.
Partha-da in his very professional approach showed that it was possible to
have business outreach delegations to US -- since backward states like
Jharkhand and Uttranchal have been making waves in US. Utpal-da Brahma (IIT,
IIM and National Defense Academy selected ) was of the opinion that first
local Indian companies need to be invited to Assam and based on their
performance MNCs would get attracted to invest (FDI) in Assam.
There are more than one way to skin a cat , however!!!!
Jugal-da and Partha-da rightly noted that NRAs have yet to get involved with
entrepreneurial ventures and thus, professional education is the key to
economic development of Assam -- a fact whole heartedly agreed to by Assam
Chief Minister.
He did say the Assam's economy was growing at 3% before his tenure and now is
at 6% and want it to go up to 8-9% to catch up with rest of India - and
negated my question (anonymous) that corruption was on the rise otherwise how
could current growth be possible.
(My comment - Indian embassy in DC has now opened doors for anyone seeking
corroption of any other info - under RTI - Right To Info Act)
Any comments?
Umesh
Umesh Sharma
Washington D.C.
1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005
http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
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1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005
http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
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Washington D.C.
1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005
http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
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Washington D.C.
1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005
http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
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Washington D.C.
1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005
http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)
www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )
http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
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