As if anybody cares !
• Read everyday.
• Spend time with nature.
• Ask questions.
• Never stop learning.
• Don’t pay attention to what others think of you.
• Do what interests you the most.
• Study hard.
• Teach others what you know.
• Make mistakes and learn.
• It’s Okay to not know things!
Source: Prof Feynman
Every minute someone leaves this world behind, remember we are all “in the line” without knowing it.
We never know how many people are before us.
We can not move to the back of the line.
We can not step out of the line.
We can not avoid the line.
So while we wait in line –
Make moments count.
Make priorities.
Make the time.
Make your gifts known.
Make a nobody feel like a somebody.
Make your voice heard.
Make the small things big.
Make someone smile.
Make the change.
Make love.
Make up.
Make peace.
Make sure to tell your people they are loved.
Make sure to have no regrets.
Make sure you are ready.”
Source: Unknown
See: Memento mori and remember Rene DAVID
I have many things to remember about my friend and guru Rene DAVID. I learnt a lot about Petri nets and Grafcet from him. My PhD work used Petri nets. 
I also managed to get him to India, Hyderabad, to deliver a one-week course on Petri Nets and Grafcet (along with Hassane Alla), in Dec. 1991. This course was conducted on behalf of IEEE Hyderabad, and was sponsored by the French Embassy in India.
He also gifted me 
his book on this subject (which was originaly written in French. I helped him in its translation to English). I cherish this book, till today.
He visited my home, celebrated Christmas with us, inspected and approved the accessible house I had built with the inspiration he had given me in Grenoble, France. It was a memorable experience for my children and me.
Rene might have left us, but his books and his memories will always be with us.
See also : Rene DAVID (RIP)
It is a sad duty for me to announce the death of my long-time friend and guru René DAVID (1939–2022). I met him first in 1977 when I went to Grenoble for my Doctorate. I had a lot of close interactions with him during my stay there. He was a remarkable scientist, sportsperson, and above all, a highly-cultured gentleman. He inspired me to think and act seriously about accessibility for disabled. He introduced me to a whole lot of friends, each with some remarkable qualities. I built my house, keeping him in mind, and was fortunate to have him here and endorse/approve my design. I have some of the books he wrote.I helped him in its translation. 
And I have a lot of literature (some translated by me) on IRIS, the device to help blind persons practice archery.
Rene, I will miss you. May you rest in peace.
Rene might have left us, but his memories will stay with us forever.
See also : Remembering Rene DAVID
Prime Minister of India inaugurates 216-foot “statue of equality” in Hyderabad !
Time to rejoice ! Devotees of Saint Ramanujacharya, and residents of Hyderabad, should be happy and proud of this colossal monument.
But why has no one thought about the other Ramanujan ? Will we have to wait for another 1000 years, to appreciate how mathematics brings in equality and lasting peace, or how Ramanujan brought pride to India, or how shamefully ignorant we are ?
Read this shameful story about the Missing museum mystery
Beware of ::
Spread the word. Together, we can stop such irresponsible and unethical swindlers.
Two historical events, connected by a common theme, changed my life for good. My real-life experience of 19 Dec. 1978 motivated and inspired me to complete and publish my magnum-opus on 1 Feb. 1980. Maybe it was because I was just lucky enough, or because I was in the right place at the right time. Luck often plays an important role in our achievements.
I cast the same pearls again, in 2021. And I discovered some more swines to add to my list:
These schools were chosen due to their proximity from where I live. The announcement and reminders were sent about two weeks ago. My sympathies and apologies to students who missed an opportunity to discover the joy of mathematics and an inspiring intellectual giant.
They say, 2 can take the horse to the water, but ….. In fact, even 200 cannot take the animal to the water, if it is a stubborn and unwilling swine. I am happy that I tried. Never mind, I failed once again. I will try again next year, Insha-Allah. I do not give up so easily. I owe this experience to the great Ramanujan and to the mathematics he gave us.
Amen.
QUOTE
Sirs,
You have not yet reacted or responded to an important announcement I made about the forthcoming National Mathematics Day (quoted below). I infer that you are either not interested or deserve this opportunity. Ignoring communications from a well-intentioned and senior person, of international repute, is a rude,
uncivilised and impolite act. I take this a personal insult. Your behaviour reminds me of an old saying about “Casting pearls before …”. See:
https://drpartha.org.in/wp/2018/12/20/6-2018-casting-pearls-before-swines/ ,
to understand what I mean.
This conversation is closed now.
partha
UNQUOTE
Don’t look before you leap #2
It was sometime in 1998. India had still not entered the Internet like we see today, or rather the Internet had not entered India like we see it today. There was still no public or private enterprise giving access to the Internet. The communication infrastructure was in an unbelievably pathetic state. Not every house had a phone connection. We were still living in a world of fixed landline phones and snail mail technology.
IEEE started activities vigorously in Hyderabad, at about the same epoch. It was necessary to reach out to as many people as possible. The w-w-web was found to be an inexpensive but effective option. I proposed voluntarily to create a presence for IEEE (India Council) and IEEE Hyderabad Section on the w-w-web. As usual, I did not look or hesitate before I decided to take the leap. There were of course many unseen and unknown hurdles which could have ruined my dream.
I recall some of the major obstacles which came my way:
0. I knew I was developing a high-visibility, long-lasting product for an audience of highly competent professionals. So I had to be extra careful at ever step. All the work had to be done by myself, single-handed, without any help from anybody. Web technology itself was not known to many people at that time.
1. Internet access was through remote terminals connected to the server via shell access. Familiarity with command line tools was a very helpful skill. Dial-up modems using slow, unreliable phone lines were the only choice we had.
2. Web technology itself was in HTML 3.x age. The browser I had to use was a purely text-oriented one : Lynx. The browser had many limitations, it could not even parse tables (or frames). No graphics, no colours and none of the fancy features commonly used today by everyone.
3. We had to be contended with dial up modems (over pulse-based telephone lines using ATDP commands). The mail client available was only mutt. Only serial-line protocols e.g. kermit were available (at least to me) for downloads/uploads.
4. Very little scope for browsing and obtaining online help. No way to Google for answers you didnt know.
5. Content for populating the website had to be collected and organised from scratch, almost all alone.
In spite of all the above obstacles, I managed to create fairly exhaustive websites for IEEE India Council and IEEE Hyderabad Section. This achievement received appreciation from all users, and also recognition by IEEE Headquarters in the form of an international award presented at Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). The citation said “for providing excellent websites for IEEE India Council and other Indian Sections”. I am proud to note that IEEE Hyderabad led IEEE India to find a place on the web. This was further confirmed by another award from IEEE for outstanding achievements and contributions
The seed I sowed on 1998, has grown to be a lovely tree and is now helping many activities of IEEE in India.
This is one more evidence of the power of positive thinking, and taking the leap without hesitation.
partha
Anti-climax :: I had to discontinue my 35 year old relationship with IEEE, because of a humiliating/insulting gesture by the Chairman of IEEE Hyderabad Section. They say “the axe may forget, but the tree cannot”.
*****
