Sunday, May 30, 2004
PERPETUATING A MYTH
"Rural India asserts itself","NDA disconnected with the masses"...
These are some of the headlines that have been splashed across the front-pages of a number of newspapers and magazines over the last fortnight!As per the informed
opinion of many of these self-styled analysts,the disgruntled masses of the countryside
were solely responsible for the defeat of the ruling coalition.But it matters very little to these hacks that the facts are very much to the contrary!
Let us sit back and analyse this election in terms of hard numbers:
The Congress has won 6 out of the 7 seats in Delhi,the national capital.
The NDA has been able to salvage just 1 seat in Mumbai,the commercial capital.
The NDA has fared abysmally in the 2 other metropolises,Chennai and Kolkata.
Two of the states where the BJP bucked the national trend were M.P and
Rajasthan,both of which are predominantly rural.
Thus,it is evident that any attempt to interpret the results as a veto of the alleged urban-centric policies of the previous govt is nothing short of plain propaganda.But yet,day in and day out,one keeps reading experienced reporters,who ought to know better,leaving no stone unturned in perpetuating the myth about the 'rural vote'!And the worst part is that there is not much that we can do about it except to watch these egregious and blatantly false pieces of journalism being inflicted upon unsuspecting readers.Don't we,as discerning readers,have a right to demand better fare from the media ?
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"Rural India asserts itself","NDA disconnected with the masses"...
These are some of the headlines that have been splashed across the front-pages of a number of newspapers and magazines over the last fortnight!As per the informed
opinion of many of these self-styled analysts,the disgruntled masses of the countryside
were solely responsible for the defeat of the ruling coalition.But it matters very little to these hacks that the facts are very much to the contrary!
Let us sit back and analyse this election in terms of hard numbers:
The Congress has won 6 out of the 7 seats in Delhi,the national capital.
The NDA has been able to salvage just 1 seat in Mumbai,the commercial capital.
The NDA has fared abysmally in the 2 other metropolises,Chennai and Kolkata.
Two of the states where the BJP bucked the national trend were M.P and
Rajasthan,both of which are predominantly rural.
Thus,it is evident that any attempt to interpret the results as a veto of the alleged urban-centric policies of the previous govt is nothing short of plain propaganda.But yet,day in and day out,one keeps reading experienced reporters,who ought to know better,leaving no stone unturned in perpetuating the myth about the 'rural vote'!And the worst part is that there is not much that we can do about it except to watch these egregious and blatantly false pieces of journalism being inflicted upon unsuspecting readers.Don't we,as discerning readers,have a right to demand better fare from the media ?
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Have you ever wondered as to what would happen if we were to run out of oil? Here's an article suggesting that such an eventuality is remote!
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Wednesday, May 19, 2004
A link to the transcript of an interview with Manmohan Singh(our new PM).Worth reading,albeit an old one(held in 2001)
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A DIFFERENT VIEWPOINT
The dust has settled on the election outcome,and most of us have reconciled to the fact that we are going to have a left-of-centre dispensation in Delhi.The capital markets
have reacted adversely as one would have expected them to.All in all,a week that the investing community would want to forget.
But at times,one wonders whether the criticism is overdone.In an epoch,when it has
become fashionable to berate the left,we don't always get to hear a different perspective with an empathy for the left.Here's an article penned by 2 left-inclined economists
attempting to present a different viewpoint.
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The dust has settled on the election outcome,and most of us have reconciled to the fact that we are going to have a left-of-centre dispensation in Delhi.The capital markets
have reacted adversely as one would have expected them to.All in all,a week that the investing community would want to forget.
But at times,one wonders whether the criticism is overdone.In an epoch,when it has
become fashionable to berate the left,we don't always get to hear a different perspective with an empathy for the left.Here's an article penned by 2 left-inclined economists
attempting to present a different viewpoint.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
A HUNG PARLIAMENT?
Elections have concluded ,speculations galore and if exit polls are anything to go by,no pre-poll alliance will get anywhere near a majority. The resounding defeat of TDP in the
Andhra assembly elections have added credence to the exit polls and the NDA spin-doctors are increasingly finding it difficult to gainsay the inevitability of a hung parliament.
A fractured mandate was inconceivable 4 months ago when the house was dissolved ,but it was always on the cards after the NDA bungled its gameplan in TN and to a lesser extent,in Maharashtra.Snapping up ties with the DMK was the worst bloomer that they could have possibly committed , and it's a shame that they did not foresee the disastrous consequences of their action.
There's another school of thought that the DMK was keen to leave the NDA anyway to tie up with the Congress with an eye on the 2006 assembly election, and the NDA was in fact presented with a fait accompli i.e it was compelled to forge an alliance with Jayalalitha!Anyway,the bottomline is that the TN debacle might cost the BJP the majority that it so desperately needs.
Another miscalculation was in Maharashtra where a few months ago,the BJP and the NCP came within a whisker of forming an alliance,but their efforts were thwarted by Bal Thackerey who put his foot down owing to his personal antagonism with the NCP's Sharad Pawar.If that alliance had materialized,the Congress would have been wiped off in the state.
So much for my post-mortem!Now,all eyes are on our president!Will he invite Vajpayee as the leader of the largest pre-poll alliance,or will he resort to the expedient of calling upon any leader who can produce letters of support from 272 newly elected MP's?
Your guess is as good as mine!
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Elections have concluded ,speculations galore and if exit polls are anything to go by,no pre-poll alliance will get anywhere near a majority. The resounding defeat of TDP in the
Andhra assembly elections have added credence to the exit polls and the NDA spin-doctors are increasingly finding it difficult to gainsay the inevitability of a hung parliament.
A fractured mandate was inconceivable 4 months ago when the house was dissolved ,but it was always on the cards after the NDA bungled its gameplan in TN and to a lesser extent,in Maharashtra.Snapping up ties with the DMK was the worst bloomer that they could have possibly committed , and it's a shame that they did not foresee the disastrous consequences of their action.
There's another school of thought that the DMK was keen to leave the NDA anyway to tie up with the Congress with an eye on the 2006 assembly election, and the NDA was in fact presented with a fait accompli i.e it was compelled to forge an alliance with Jayalalitha!Anyway,the bottomline is that the TN debacle might cost the BJP the majority that it so desperately needs.
Another miscalculation was in Maharashtra where a few months ago,the BJP and the NCP came within a whisker of forming an alliance,but their efforts were thwarted by Bal Thackerey who put his foot down owing to his personal antagonism with the NCP's Sharad Pawar.If that alliance had materialized,the Congress would have been wiped off in the state.
So much for my post-mortem!Now,all eyes are on our president!Will he invite Vajpayee as the leader of the largest pre-poll alliance,or will he resort to the expedient of calling upon any leader who can produce letters of support from 272 newly elected MP's?
Your guess is as good as mine!
Labels: politics
Monday, May 10, 2004
THE MYSTERY OF CAPITAL
Here's a startling fact that most of us are unaware of :
"The value of savings among the poor in developing countries is forty times all the foreign aid received throughout the world since 1945."
This is the finding of the Peruvian economist Hernando de soto .
Read more about it here.
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Here's a startling fact that most of us are unaware of :
"The value of savings among the poor in developing countries is forty times all the foreign aid received throughout the world since 1945."
This is the finding of the Peruvian economist Hernando de soto .
Read more about it here.
Friday, May 07, 2004
Here is an open letter to Arun Shourie that I came across in Satish's blog . Do read it :
Dear Sir,
India stands on the cusp of a revolution. There is optimism all-round and in certain quarters, even fear of the growing prowess of India. This is a good start, but only the first step in what is a long journey. This is an opportunity for change and growth that we in India can simply not afford to lose. There are a billion dreams at stake.
So, these are my suggestions to you. The goal is not to find fault with what is happening. Rather, it is to provide specific inputs so that you and your government can continue to catalyse the positive forces that have been unleashed in the marketplace.
1. Develop a 5-year vision for India's IT and Telecom Infrastructure
India’s digital infrastructure is not going to be built with incremental policy changes. Over the past two years, the government did well to streamline the telecom policies. As a result, we are now seeing the world's second largest growth with 2 million new users every month. A similar strategy needs to be taken to promote the use of access infrastructure technologies (wireless and broadband), access terminals, software and information.
We need to set goals for building out India's domestic market in infotech and telecom. This is not just for the benefit of these sectors. The real beneficiaries will be Indians as technology spreads to schools, colleges, homes, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and rural areas – markets which hitherto have had only limited adoption. While the market is expected to take care of providing the solutions, the right policies from the government can act as catalysts – and the wrong ones (as I shall outline soon) can act as inhibitors.
2. Promote use of server-based computing and open-source software platforms
India is a country with little legacy when it comes to computing. Yes, we have an installed base of about 10 million computers, but that's a fraction of what it should be. If India needs to rapidly adopt computing across the country, the government should give a boost to two platforms which can significantly reduce total cost of ownership – server-based computing (using thin clients) and open-source software. Together, they can help bring down costs by more than 70%.
As a by-product of the adoption of this new and affordable computing platform, India can also then become a showcase for other emerging markets on how to build out their digital infrastructure. This will also create opportunities for domestic product companies to grow globally.
Will there be opposition? Absolutely! There are plenty of organisations which would not like to see a change in the status quo. But this is where we need to put our interests first. If India can bring down the cost of computing, we will make technology affordable to entire verticals and markets who otherwise will have to wait for many more years till either the cost comes within their reach or their incomes rise to meet the dollar-denominated prices. India does not have the time to wait – we need to lead the way.
3. Remove Anti-dumping duty on import of old PCs
There is a $200 anti-dumping duty on the import of old computers into India. Why? To protect a non-existent domestic manufacturing industry? India needs cheaper computers. If Intel and Microsoft, who between them control the processor and operating system for the computers, will not bring down their price points for the Indian market, we can at least ensure competition for them. Non-consumption and piracy are not solutions. While open-source software provides a possible alternative to Microsoft's Windows and Office, the cost of hardware still remains an issue.
My suggestion: get rid of the $200 anti-dumping duty on the import of used computers. While a recent notification does exempt some categories, it needs to be extended to all imports of old computers. Or if the government does not want to lose revenue, levy the same duty on them as exists on other computer imports (25% or so). Of course, the ideal scenario would be to eliminate duties altogether on computers, but that's a bigger decision.
What will this do for India? The world (primarily US, Europe and Japan) are disposing off tens of millions of computers every year. These PCs are hard to dispose off and have become an environment hazard for many countries. For the cost of just shipping (which will come to about $60-70 – about Rs 3,200 - per computer if done in bulk), we can get these computers in India. Add Rs 800 as customs charges (rather than Rs 9,000 as it is now), and we have a computer for Rs 4,000. Even if only 4 in 5 work, the cost still does not exceed Rs 5,000. This is the 5KPC.
The key is to use this not as a standalone desktop but as a network device – a thin client. This can be the foundation for deploying millions of computers for today's non-consumers – those users who cannot afford one because the current price of Rs 15-20,000 for a PC is way too expensive for them. Intel and others should back this move because it will spur sales of servers (thin clients needs thick servers). More importantly, it spurs a domestic industry where none exists by opening up new markets for technology.
4. Standardise Indian language computing efforts
There are too many overlapping and parallel projects going on across the country to get Indian language support in the computer operating systems. It would be nice if there can be a standardisation of these efforts. There are many elements which need to come together here: fonts, Unicode support in the character set, translations, keyboard design, application support. If the various efforts can be coordinated together, it will help spur the use of local language computing and content development in these languages. India has plenty of languages to go around for all!
5. Provide a level-playing field for alternative hardware and software solutions
Most Indian states have Microsoft Office hardcoded as part of the education curriculum. This needs to change. Instead of mandating that students need to be taught and tested on MS-Word, MS-Excel and MS-Powerpoint, generic application categories should be used (word processor, spreadsheet and presentation application). A few years ago, it was probably difficult to consider alternatives to MS-Office because none existed. Now, there are. Many open-source applications including the OpenOffice suite are more than good enough.
It does not matter if the academic versions of MS-Office are available at very low price-points. By eliminating the use of alternatives at source, we are creating a difficult situation down the line – either we pay a lot of money for MS-Office later on, or encourage piracy since the need is there and the money isn't. We do not want to build a nation of Robbers. We want intellectual property to be respected – and we want every Indian citizen and business to understand that.
Many government tenders specifically mention Intel-based computers and Microsoft Windows as the base software. This too needs to be eliminated. What users need is computing – whether it is served from a thick Intel desktop or an AMD/Via-based desktop or a refurbished computers should not be specified in tenders. Similarly, whether it is Windows or Linux on the desktop should not matter – go for the solution which gives the best value.
I am not suggesting that open-source software and thin clients be given preference. All I am saying is that the playing field needs to be made such that they get an opportunity to play.
6. Open up the wireless spectrum
In India, we still have this habit of taking half-measures, which are ill thought-out. Take the WiFi policy which allows its use only for campus and office environments. Why? WiFi should be complete delicenced with the use of 2.4 Ghz and 5.7 Ghz made freely accessible to one and all. This will lead to an explosion in the use of WiFi hotspots across India and potentially WiFi as a medium for last-mile connectivity.
India needs to leapfrog in terms of bandwidth and connectivity. We need to leverage the latest advances in both wireless and broadband, and in fact lead the way in the adoption of new technologies like WiMax which go past the distance limitations of WiFi. Wherever wired technologies are possible, let us go for those. But wherever there are challenges in laying the wire (copper or fibre) for whatever reason, the customers should be able to opt for wireless technologies. Competition needs to abound. Note what competition did for mobile telephony. Something similar needs to happen with bandwidth and broadband availability across India – quickly.
I would strongly recommend reading Kevin Werbach’s The Radio Revolution. Even though the context is the US, much of what he says is relevant for India.
7. Change the way we fund Research in India
There is plenty of government funding which goes to various institutions across India. While there is some commercialisation which happens, that is not good enough. Can we look at alternate models which would encourage innovations to make their way out from the labs into the market? There are plenty of problems waiting to be solved – from the low-cost energy to connectivity in rural areas, from creating business process maps for SME sectors to creating rural hubs. We need funding which has a get-it-to-market focus. We need funding which concentrates on creating public goods which private investors and entrepreneurs would not be able to do. We need to focus on disruptive innovations which can help us leapfrog. We need to make R&D stand for research and deployment.
8. Start a Weblog
My last suggestion may sound odd, so let me explain. India needs the collective intelligence of many to move ahead fast. There are many people who have sound, practical ideas. They need to be encouraged to communicate. Your blog will send out the message that you are listening. By sharing your ideas (even though they may not be fully formed), you will garner the best wisdom and learnings that exist in people. Your blog (and it has to be written by you) will become a magnet for people to start coming together to build the New India.
In Conclusion
This is what I wanted to tell you that day in Bangalore when you couldn't make it. Is this all that needs to be done to transform India's technology space? By no means. I have put a few ideas which came to my mind. I am sure there are others who can improve on these ideas and even suggest many better ones. My focus has been on the market within India. This is a market beyond the IT services and outsourcing we are doing so well.
I believe that IT and Telecom can continue be transformative tools in India’s future development – what’s needed is the right vision to see it through. Unfortunately, we are still hobbled my some short-sighted policies which stifle growth in the domestic segment. I feel that unless we may adequate attention to building out India's digital infrastructure, we will not do much to impact the millions of domestic businesses and hundreds of millions of Indians outside the major metros and big towns. For the first time in our post-Independence history, there is a positive momentum. If we can give it the right catalytic push, India can unleash its entrepreneurial energies across the board and ensure that growth and development happen in a balanced manner. And you, Sir, as the Minister responsible for IT and Telecom, can make it happen.
Thanking You,
Rajesh Jain.
|
Dear Sir,
India stands on the cusp of a revolution. There is optimism all-round and in certain quarters, even fear of the growing prowess of India. This is a good start, but only the first step in what is a long journey. This is an opportunity for change and growth that we in India can simply not afford to lose. There are a billion dreams at stake.
So, these are my suggestions to you. The goal is not to find fault with what is happening. Rather, it is to provide specific inputs so that you and your government can continue to catalyse the positive forces that have been unleashed in the marketplace.
1. Develop a 5-year vision for India's IT and Telecom Infrastructure
India’s digital infrastructure is not going to be built with incremental policy changes. Over the past two years, the government did well to streamline the telecom policies. As a result, we are now seeing the world's second largest growth with 2 million new users every month. A similar strategy needs to be taken to promote the use of access infrastructure technologies (wireless and broadband), access terminals, software and information.
We need to set goals for building out India's domestic market in infotech and telecom. This is not just for the benefit of these sectors. The real beneficiaries will be Indians as technology spreads to schools, colleges, homes, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and rural areas – markets which hitherto have had only limited adoption. While the market is expected to take care of providing the solutions, the right policies from the government can act as catalysts – and the wrong ones (as I shall outline soon) can act as inhibitors.
2. Promote use of server-based computing and open-source software platforms
India is a country with little legacy when it comes to computing. Yes, we have an installed base of about 10 million computers, but that's a fraction of what it should be. If India needs to rapidly adopt computing across the country, the government should give a boost to two platforms which can significantly reduce total cost of ownership – server-based computing (using thin clients) and open-source software. Together, they can help bring down costs by more than 70%.
As a by-product of the adoption of this new and affordable computing platform, India can also then become a showcase for other emerging markets on how to build out their digital infrastructure. This will also create opportunities for domestic product companies to grow globally.
Will there be opposition? Absolutely! There are plenty of organisations which would not like to see a change in the status quo. But this is where we need to put our interests first. If India can bring down the cost of computing, we will make technology affordable to entire verticals and markets who otherwise will have to wait for many more years till either the cost comes within their reach or their incomes rise to meet the dollar-denominated prices. India does not have the time to wait – we need to lead the way.
3. Remove Anti-dumping duty on import of old PCs
There is a $200 anti-dumping duty on the import of old computers into India. Why? To protect a non-existent domestic manufacturing industry? India needs cheaper computers. If Intel and Microsoft, who between them control the processor and operating system for the computers, will not bring down their price points for the Indian market, we can at least ensure competition for them. Non-consumption and piracy are not solutions. While open-source software provides a possible alternative to Microsoft's Windows and Office, the cost of hardware still remains an issue.
My suggestion: get rid of the $200 anti-dumping duty on the import of used computers. While a recent notification does exempt some categories, it needs to be extended to all imports of old computers. Or if the government does not want to lose revenue, levy the same duty on them as exists on other computer imports (25% or so). Of course, the ideal scenario would be to eliminate duties altogether on computers, but that's a bigger decision.
What will this do for India? The world (primarily US, Europe and Japan) are disposing off tens of millions of computers every year. These PCs are hard to dispose off and have become an environment hazard for many countries. For the cost of just shipping (which will come to about $60-70 – about Rs 3,200 - per computer if done in bulk), we can get these computers in India. Add Rs 800 as customs charges (rather than Rs 9,000 as it is now), and we have a computer for Rs 4,000. Even if only 4 in 5 work, the cost still does not exceed Rs 5,000. This is the 5KPC.
The key is to use this not as a standalone desktop but as a network device – a thin client. This can be the foundation for deploying millions of computers for today's non-consumers – those users who cannot afford one because the current price of Rs 15-20,000 for a PC is way too expensive for them. Intel and others should back this move because it will spur sales of servers (thin clients needs thick servers). More importantly, it spurs a domestic industry where none exists by opening up new markets for technology.
4. Standardise Indian language computing efforts
There are too many overlapping and parallel projects going on across the country to get Indian language support in the computer operating systems. It would be nice if there can be a standardisation of these efforts. There are many elements which need to come together here: fonts, Unicode support in the character set, translations, keyboard design, application support. If the various efforts can be coordinated together, it will help spur the use of local language computing and content development in these languages. India has plenty of languages to go around for all!
5. Provide a level-playing field for alternative hardware and software solutions
Most Indian states have Microsoft Office hardcoded as part of the education curriculum. This needs to change. Instead of mandating that students need to be taught and tested on MS-Word, MS-Excel and MS-Powerpoint, generic application categories should be used (word processor, spreadsheet and presentation application). A few years ago, it was probably difficult to consider alternatives to MS-Office because none existed. Now, there are. Many open-source applications including the OpenOffice suite are more than good enough.
It does not matter if the academic versions of MS-Office are available at very low price-points. By eliminating the use of alternatives at source, we are creating a difficult situation down the line – either we pay a lot of money for MS-Office later on, or encourage piracy since the need is there and the money isn't. We do not want to build a nation of Robbers. We want intellectual property to be respected – and we want every Indian citizen and business to understand that.
Many government tenders specifically mention Intel-based computers and Microsoft Windows as the base software. This too needs to be eliminated. What users need is computing – whether it is served from a thick Intel desktop or an AMD/Via-based desktop or a refurbished computers should not be specified in tenders. Similarly, whether it is Windows or Linux on the desktop should not matter – go for the solution which gives the best value.
I am not suggesting that open-source software and thin clients be given preference. All I am saying is that the playing field needs to be made such that they get an opportunity to play.
6. Open up the wireless spectrum
In India, we still have this habit of taking half-measures, which are ill thought-out. Take the WiFi policy which allows its use only for campus and office environments. Why? WiFi should be complete delicenced with the use of 2.4 Ghz and 5.7 Ghz made freely accessible to one and all. This will lead to an explosion in the use of WiFi hotspots across India and potentially WiFi as a medium for last-mile connectivity.
India needs to leapfrog in terms of bandwidth and connectivity. We need to leverage the latest advances in both wireless and broadband, and in fact lead the way in the adoption of new technologies like WiMax which go past the distance limitations of WiFi. Wherever wired technologies are possible, let us go for those. But wherever there are challenges in laying the wire (copper or fibre) for whatever reason, the customers should be able to opt for wireless technologies. Competition needs to abound. Note what competition did for mobile telephony. Something similar needs to happen with bandwidth and broadband availability across India – quickly.
I would strongly recommend reading Kevin Werbach’s The Radio Revolution. Even though the context is the US, much of what he says is relevant for India.
7. Change the way we fund Research in India
There is plenty of government funding which goes to various institutions across India. While there is some commercialisation which happens, that is not good enough. Can we look at alternate models which would encourage innovations to make their way out from the labs into the market? There are plenty of problems waiting to be solved – from the low-cost energy to connectivity in rural areas, from creating business process maps for SME sectors to creating rural hubs. We need funding which has a get-it-to-market focus. We need funding which concentrates on creating public goods which private investors and entrepreneurs would not be able to do. We need to focus on disruptive innovations which can help us leapfrog. We need to make R&D stand for research and deployment.
8. Start a Weblog
My last suggestion may sound odd, so let me explain. India needs the collective intelligence of many to move ahead fast. There are many people who have sound, practical ideas. They need to be encouraged to communicate. Your blog will send out the message that you are listening. By sharing your ideas (even though they may not be fully formed), you will garner the best wisdom and learnings that exist in people. Your blog (and it has to be written by you) will become a magnet for people to start coming together to build the New India.
In Conclusion
This is what I wanted to tell you that day in Bangalore when you couldn't make it. Is this all that needs to be done to transform India's technology space? By no means. I have put a few ideas which came to my mind. I am sure there are others who can improve on these ideas and even suggest many better ones. My focus has been on the market within India. This is a market beyond the IT services and outsourcing we are doing so well.
I believe that IT and Telecom can continue be transformative tools in India’s future development – what’s needed is the right vision to see it through. Unfortunately, we are still hobbled my some short-sighted policies which stifle growth in the domestic segment. I feel that unless we may adequate attention to building out India's digital infrastructure, we will not do much to impact the millions of domestic businesses and hundreds of millions of Indians outside the major metros and big towns. For the first time in our post-Independence history, there is a positive momentum. If we can give it the right catalytic push, India can unleash its entrepreneurial energies across the board and ensure that growth and development happen in a balanced manner. And you, Sir, as the Minister responsible for IT and Telecom, can make it happen.
Thanking You,
Rajesh Jain.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Placements are nearing, and I,like most of my classmates,am developing cold feet. As always, most companies insist on strong fundamentals in C and C++,which are appraised in the written tests,while the interviews are more comprehensive as questions are asked on a wider range of subjects .
There are times when I do wonder whether the companies have got their selection procedure right. In most tests,the programming puzzles that are posed revolve around syntactical quirks/discrepancies and other pitfalls in the language,that one can always get used to with a bit of exposure.
I,for one, would have flunked miserably in most of these C-puzzles papers ,a couple of months ago. But with exposure,I've gained confidence that should hopefully see me through the written tests at least . The point that I am trying to make here is that nowhere in these papers are they testing whether we possess a sound algorithmic approach to problem-solving ,which as we know is indispensable in a good programmer. The present system is,in my opinion,not very effective in separating the wheat from the chaff. It fosters mediocrity and allows even average programmers like me to entertain hopes of getting through.
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There are times when I do wonder whether the companies have got their selection procedure right. In most tests,the programming puzzles that are posed revolve around syntactical quirks/discrepancies and other pitfalls in the language,that one can always get used to with a bit of exposure.
I,for one, would have flunked miserably in most of these C-puzzles papers ,a couple of months ago. But with exposure,I've gained confidence that should hopefully see me through the written tests at least . The point that I am trying to make here is that nowhere in these papers are they testing whether we possess a sound algorithmic approach to problem-solving ,which as we know is indispensable in a good programmer. The present system is,in my opinion,not very effective in separating the wheat from the chaff. It fosters mediocrity and allows even average programmers like me to entertain hopes of getting through.
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Thought it won't be a bad idea to tee off by giving a link to an article on P.G.Wodehouse who happens to be my favourite author . Hope to meet a few Wodehouse buffs among the blogging community .
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Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Hello everyone,
Another addition to the burgeoning blogger community. A year ago, I had the faintest idea as to what blogging is all about. It all began when I chanced upon
a directory of (iim)mba bloggers. Being a cat aspirant, it was but natural for me to get addicted to some of them (especially that of Venkat and Anirudh(iiml)). For the past few months, an irresistable desire to have my own blog has been growing within me. And I guess the creation of this blog is , in a sense , a consummation of that desire.
What is the purpose of this exercise? To articulate one's thoughts? To record salient experiences? To disseminate information? At this juncture, I have the vaguest notion about the shape my blog is going to assume in future.Please do keep frequenting to keep track of my progress.Au revoir!
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Another addition to the burgeoning blogger community. A year ago, I had the faintest idea as to what blogging is all about. It all began when I chanced upon
a directory of (iim)mba bloggers. Being a cat aspirant, it was but natural for me to get addicted to some of them (especially that of Venkat and Anirudh(iiml)). For the past few months, an irresistable desire to have my own blog has been growing within me. And I guess the creation of this blog is , in a sense , a consummation of that desire.
What is the purpose of this exercise? To articulate one's thoughts? To record salient experiences? To disseminate information? At this juncture, I have the vaguest notion about the shape my blog is going to assume in future.Please do keep frequenting to keep track of my progress.Au revoir!
