Book Review: Unbound India by Gurcharan Das

''How a rich country became poor and will be rich again.'' This is what this book is all about.
It reflects the Indian society post independence, appreciates that of the early nineties and lays out the trajectory for new millenium from an politico-economic perspective.
It starts from the era of independence , talks about ambitious plans post independence, shortfalls of the government, attitude of Indians, the era of free market and ends with the extrapolation of the current growth.
Let me copy the excerpts of someone else's here rather than writing myself.

Das tells the stories of the major players in a period of rapid and profound change -- from schoolchildren inspired by Nehru's speeches in the early days of Independence to the current software impresarios -- and makes comprehensible and compelling the economic and political development responsible for these changes. He weaves his personal story into the larger context of contemporary history: his family's move to America in the mid-1950s, his education at Harvard, his years in India as a young marketing executive wrestling with a socialist system he feared would undermine the country's vast potential. He also shows us the reasons behind his optimism for his nation's future, among which is the exciting landscape of information technology today.

Das argues that the changes of the past fifty years have, at last, amounted to a revolution -- and it is one that has not been chronicled before. With India Unbound, he gives us a book that is at once vigorously analytical and vividly written -- an essential insider's road map to India, then and now.

The reason why I like this book is:
- It gives a good overview of the economic stand of India post independence unknown to many of my generation
- It enlists the shortfalls of Indian economy from political standpoint
- It is interesting with many stories to share like that of a child inspired by Nehru, or of Birlas, Ambanis, Bajajs, Tatas and so on..
- It is not only a critique but an overall bibliograph of Indian economy in a plain language.
- And also as said by Narayana Murthy- "I do not know of any book that describes the impact of India's economic policies on her growth during the post-independent India as analytically, logically and vividly as this one"

For more excerpts refer
http://www.ccsindia.org/people_gd_reviews.asp

Book Review : Digital Fortress

1 more science fiction by Dan Brown , which I thought of reading with my brains aside and thinking as If I am Science freshman and Dan, a professor.

Cryptography, when was in my engineering fascinated me as it is such a vast field full of challenges. You design one code and the moment later someone breaks it. It is all about permutation n combination and there is never an attempt short not to break one. However, I also believed that if the code is dynamic, it will be difficult to break and the same is emphasized in this sci-fi fiction. However, up to the expectation, Brown has tried to exaggerate to make his point clear, but it is fair to do so in a fiction. So let me give you a glimpse of this book, and by the way I liked it.

This time I am not going to write a book review of the story here with the exact characters and the plot, However will let you know a brief gist of the same.

NSA, the National Security wing of American Govt, possess a very big deciphering machine called TRANSLTR which can possibly encrypt any code by going through multiple iterations ( a value large enough per second) to get a result in considerable time. However when a code comes which is convoluted and dynamic and keeps the giant m/c busy for hours together and puts everyone of the great minds on alarm. Who has written that code, What is that suppose to serve, How can one write such a code which cannot be cracked even by TRANSLTR, all these questions come in mind of NSA director and her gorgeously described cryptographic whiz. Also somewhere in Europe is a death scene of some Asian named Ensei Tankando believed to had a fatal stroke in a public park runs parallel. The Asian is none but a key part of NSA who resigned and later on came to be known as the master mind behind the unbreakable code called Digital Fortress. A professor, who supposedly the boy friend of the whiz lady at NSA is sent to get the passcode for digital fortress from any clue or belongings left in Spain post death of the Japanese mastermind.
There are many people behind the code from multinationals to govt, but NSA has everything at stake to possess it or destroy it. Is that really Ensei who wanted to revenge on NSA who created this with destructive aim or is there someone else involved.

This pseudo sci-fi tale leads into a political trail to a bloody trail. There are good twists, some unrealistic but exciting. Enjoy the story with a touch of humor and fiction and a non science mindset. You will like it if you like the genre of mystery trail.

That's it from my end on Dan brown for this time. I have now read every one of his famous books and waiting for the next release - ' The Solomon Key'

Till then,
adios

Some thoughts

When I was in a state of toiling hard for myself, in a proces to understand myself, I learnt few things from the time I was passing in, and penned down them.
Sharing the same now, when I realize its importance even more

-> When life seems a tough job, add some excitement to it by adding some anticipation; This would go a long way in making it worth living.

-> My today is so good, I fear what the tomorrow would be like !!

-> Don't crave for anybody or anything, it makes you a slave of circumstances, rather make others crave for you, it will make you a master of your destiny.

-> Feel proud for accompilshing your duties but never let other sense your dedication for them as it may lose your self respect.

-> Silence should be practiced more as it makes you feel others in a better way.

-> When you feel that nobody cares for you, then understand that time has come that you care for yourself quitting the job of doing for others.

-> People will love you only if you love yourself.

-> Practice flattery often, that is the best way to attract people towards you and find your way out of the troubles else criticism will kill you.

-> Love and keep on loving amidst all the circumstances, it will give you good results some later than sooner.

Every time passes by

Everything in life is temporary,
Darkness of the night or brightness of the day
Even sunrise is temporary so is the sunset.

Time when going good should be enjoyed, it won't last forever.
Time when going bad should not be worried, it won't last forever either.

Every time passes by !!

यह ज़िंदगी !!

Zindagee tere gam ne hamein,
Rishtey naye samjhaaye;
Miley jo hamein Dhoop mein mile,
Chaaon ke thande saaye.

Is Zindagee ki raah mein,
Kaarwein anek bane;
Kuch ne sath diya,
Kuch ko hami ne alvida keh diya;
Har us kaarwaan se jise hamne choda,
Sikha bahut kuch, Paaya bhi aur khoya bhi bahut kuch;
Par kaarwein chalte rahe, log bichadte rahe,
Kabhi koi mila, jisey hamnein chaha, jisne hamein...
Fir bhi zindagi ab tak mazdhar mein hi hai,
Duniya ka yeh bhi ek naya pehloo hai.
Yunhi kabhi kahin meri zindagi bhi ek mod pe aa jaaegi,
par kaarwaein fir bhi chalte rahenge, log milte bichadte rahenge..
Yeh sadak hi seedhi hai .....zindagi ki


Now, when I have rached a big benchmark of my life, I feel the importance of this attempt of mine when I was a bachelor written back in 2006.
This still holds true for some who are still turmoiled by life's uncertainties.
May God grant all what they deserve.
Love for all,
Vikas