Rumi Nations

I put a long, somewhat rambling comment on a Newslaundry article . Enjoy! The 'anger' in this article may be well-founded but it perhaps mangled the economics in comparing India with Greece and in using debt-to-GDP ratio as a barometer of a nation's overall economic health. I don't know how Britain and Japan managed to have such high debt-to-GDP numbers but they are among the most developed and richest nations on Earth — both being members of the G8. How do or did Britain and Japan manage to become so extraordinarily wealthy? Well, the history aside, in the 20th century and after the Second World War, they have been at the cutting edge of various kinds of technological innovations. While Japan has been the center of the automobile revolution in many ways, Britain is home to British Aerospace, Rolls Royce, and many similar companies. I bet if we look at the data of per capita number of doctors or engineers in those countries, the ratio would be better than in Ind...

So what's making the news around the middle of August 2013? Here's a random summary. The staggering corruption being committed by the Gandhi family in general and Robert Vadra in particular is back in the news as Mr. Khemka's official response to the Haryana government has turned up in the media. Here's a news round-up of all articles related to Robert Vadra . Clearly, officers like Mr. Khemka deserve much appreciation from the Government for his extraordinary career of exceptional uprightness. What about a National Award such as a Padma Sri or Padma Bhusan? Clearly, if cricketers and other worthies can be so awarded, it'd not be out of place to confer honest officers with such awards.

Well, I think it's time for ISRO scientists to sing that song to keep themselves motivated. Or, the Hindi version of that song. ISRO has achieved many feats in the past. This failure of the first flight of the indigenous cryogenic stage is a failure. But, ISRO will do the necessary post-portem and learn the required lessons. A rocket going into the Bay of Bengal rather than into space can teach many important lessons. ISRO is essentially a success story to be proud of — I don't know what the internal work culture there might be. I don't know if it's like a typical Government of India operation. It clearly operates within a great many constraints. Some of these constraints are: Technically gifted youngsters in India do not necessarily wish to join organizations such as ISRO or any of the others. They look forward to migrating to the United States. That is of course an understandable decision. Perhaps, I would have chosen to do the same as well if I had the choice. So, IS...

One of those 'old' Indian technological/indigenous developments is at last reaching fruition/completion. It's the cryogenic stage of the 'indigenous' GSLV, India's 'answer' to the Ariane ... It has been about 15 years in the making ... long story ... how India wanted to buy the technology and the Russians and Americans were in the running. However, when GE lost the bid, America threatened Russia with sanctions and so Russia only decided to give India 7 engines to use instead of sharing the entire technology. And now ISRO has developed the engine on its own!!! Great work! This on the heels of other recent accomplishments such as the ATV — which is India's first 'indigenous' nuclear-propulsion submarine ... And India is also developing its own 'ingigenous' aircraft career ... Well, I hope too much indigenousness doesn't lead to indigestion ... oh, very bad joke, I guess ... Cheers Indian scientists!!!

So, NASA was finally able to launch the first flight of Ares 1X today! Spectacular!!! And to think that this two and a half minute flight cost about half a billion dollars! Of course, it's future is still uncertain ... Primarily because of financial constraints ... Underscoring how challenging it is going to be for countries like India to launch manned missions to the Moon. Which explains why I take ISRO's confident predictions to that effect with a pinch of salt

Dr. Radhakrishanan. Let me put the cat out of the bag right away! I would have loved to have been the Chairman!!! Oh well ... may be, in my next incarnation ... ISRO is of course doing quite well ... achieving laurels for the country. One looks forward to a successful completion of the GSLV launch with an indigenously built cryogenic stage. That will eventually be used to power a true ICBM of course ... Next, one looks forward to a manned space program ... all our own. I don't know about sending Indians to the Moon though ... At the height of the Cold War, NASA was able to achieve that feat only because National Pride was at stake. Even the mighty Soviet Union has never managed to achieve that feat!!! Quite extraordinary when you come to think of that!!! Let's us see if China and India are able to overtake Russia in that regard ...