Dreams and Challenges - Book Review

( Book Review)

Dreams and Challenges 
A Tale of Applied Research in Engineering
A Case study of development of indigenous equipment for Engg. Education & Automotive Testing Machines for Quality Assurance
 By
Prof. B. D. Kelkar, Prof. N. K. Gune
Dr. A. B. Kulkarni, Dr. Kanak Sabhapathy

Prof. B. D. Kelkar, my senior colleague and Professor in Mechanical Engineering from Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli sent me a copy of his forthcoming book on ARE’s Dreams and Challenges during transformation of innovations into marketable products . The book narrates a story of efforts by group of enthusiastic engineering  faculty in Walchand College of Engineering in building an organization for developing need based educational equipments on commercial scale during 1970 to 2000.

Prof. B. D. Kelkar, nicknamed Bhalaba Kelkar was an idol of innovation and creativity in the college. Late Prof. S. D. Phatak from Electrical Dept motivated Prof. B. D. Kelkar and his colleagues to form an active group for development of innovative educational products. Engineering faculty members from Mechanical, Electrical and Civil Depts  joined the group and started working together by giving their technical inputs as well as financial contribution for actual product development. This resulted in formation of  Applied Research Centre on 13th December 1968 in the form of partnership which  was converted to Private Limited on 5th June 1971.

The vision of ARE was to enrich engineering education & ensure quality of Automotive Components” and main stimuli for such product development was need of import substitution which tallies with governments new slogan of ‘Make in India’.

I was fortunate to be a member in the group and enjoyed the joint discussions, experimental trials and understanding the difficulties in development of product from prototype to final design. This exercise gave us lot of confidence, increased our ability to conceive the intricacy in product design and built a team spirit with awareness about need of interdisciplinary efforts.

The book is divided into 10 chapters, the first part dealing with sources of inspiration, background scenario  and initial perception of  industrial culture in nearby area. Once the hobby became passion, the design group started thinking seriously to build manufacturing company. Shri. Narayan Gune, with experience corporate  business  group joined  ARE and introduced discipline and procedural  systems to help in establishing business culture and deciding marketing strategies.

The book provides a vivid picture of 30 years progress of ARE from small design group to a high quality indigenous  educational  product development company  which offered services to most of the Engineering Colleges in all states of India.

As the company was formed by group of innovators, it was spending considerable resources on research and development of diverse products, which is not the case of any stable manufacturing company. Naturally, the financial problems cropped up and ARE could not keep its growth unabated. Instead, it gave rise to formation many new units with specificity of products and services.  This was inevitable considering the unavailability of huge financial support for continuing with multifarious production strategy. However,  ARE became a fertile and safe ground for development of many new production units, which in itself is a great contribution of ARE to the industrial growth in India .

The work in ARE also inspired me to start some business. Sensing the bright future for IT,  in 2000, I established Dnyandeep Infotech Pvt. Ltd. A website design and software company, though I was from civil engineering branch.  I could sustain this business in spite of many difficulties only due to inner urge for innovation developed in me through the experience I gained in working with ARE.
 
I feel that this book will usher a new wave of innovation and urge of applied research in the minds of faculty members of engineering colleges and give birth to many scattered AREs not only in India but in all developing countries. I congratulate the authors for revealing the initiative and efforts in transforming research group into full scale business with manufacture of quality  products which proved capable of import substitution.


I hope that the government shall provide financial assistance for nationwide distribution of this book which will serve as guide to technocrats and teachers in fulfilling the dream of ‘Make in India’.

Sanskrit Language - Introduction

[ The following text is based on Marathi article Sanskrit Parichay Bhaag 1 written by Late Mrs. Shubhangi Ranade and published in the Sanskritdeepika website.]

Sanskrit language is the main source of all Indian languages and major contributor in development of major foreign languages. In ancient times, Sanskrit was  used as a colloquial language. All ancient literature like Vedas, Ramayan, Mahabharat, various scientific and religious books are composed in Sanskrit language. Sanskrit literature also contains a vast treasure of essays, poems, dramas and stories. Hence, Sanskrit has gained universal respectable  status.

This also answers the most common and obvious question. Why we should learn this ancient language, it is not in active use. The answer lies in the precious store of knowledge accumulated and refined by great human minds since ancient times with life long studies to explore the nature of universe and noble ways for sustainable development of society.

The other reason is the pure joy in reading the rich literature full with poetic beauty and vivid description of human interactions and events leading to social and religious movements.

However, it is generally assumed that Sanskrit language is very complex and difficult to learn. But it is not true. Because, any language cannot be grouped as easy or difficult. It mainly depends on how we look at it. Through green glass, we see everything green whereas it appears red if we see through red glass.  There are various types of people in the world. Their languages are also different. Still all  speak and communicate with each other in their respective languages with ease.

For expressing thoughts and views they use gestures, hand movements and native spoken language or writing script. The scripts or method of writing is not same for all languages. For example some use pictorial signs, some use Devnagari script, some use Roman script and so on. Moreover, the spoken language and  pronunciation style vary from place to place. While talking we use small or long sentences, change our voice and pitch to express our views more effectively. What ever is true for speaking, same holds good in case of writing. We can change the style of writing as we do while speaking.

The writing script for Sanskrit language is Devnagari. For Marathi, Hindi languages also Devnagari script is used. Hence it becomes easier for people speaking Marathi and Hindi to learn Sanskrit language. Many North Indian languages have similarity to Devnagari  script with minor changes in character shapes. All Indian languages include large number of Sanskrit words, hence their pronunciation is same even though writing scripts are different.

Sanskrit language has a logical structure of grammar composition and its capability of building new words appropriate to express new ideas and objects. It has a magical property of flexibility and combination to transform the prose text into poetic stanzas. Even the basic grammar developed by Panini is the in form of sutras.

The traditional approach of learning language starts with learning grammar. However, it is seen that language can be easily learned by actual use. The modern approach for teaching foreign language also rests mainly on actual use. Speaking, reading and writing are three steps in mastering language. Child learns her mother tongue by listening and speaking. Initially there are mistakes in pronunciation and construction of sentences. But this learning is effortless and natural.

We should use same approach to learn Sanskrit. First listen to simple sentences, shlokas and poems. Recite and understand general meaning. Try to modify and use to construct new sentences with minor modifications. This will create confidence in learning and remove fear of complexity of grammar.

Next stage is to learn the grammar. This activity can go parallel for elders. While learning grammar also the emphasis should be on repetition and actual examples rather than concentrating on classification, rules and exceptions.

Once we get conversant with the language and the literature in that language, we get impetus to learn grammar in detail. The learning of grammar then becomes a natural outcome.

Dnyandeep has developed Sanskritdeepika website (http://www.sanskritdeepika.org) for teaching Sanskrit to school children. The emphasis of the site is not on grammar but on presentation of plenty of examples with audio clip support. It is expected that students will understand and remember grammar rules by reading and practising the examples of translation and using ready reckoner tables of nouns and verbs.

Now Dnyandeep has started developing Android and iOS apps for teaching Sanskrit. Sanskrit Shabdakosh and Subhashitani android apps are already published. In future we plan to develop apps for various facets of Sanskrit grammar and literature.

America - Translation of Marathi poem

We went to America  to my daughter, Sumedha's house  in 2001 for the first time. Based on the experience of stay there, Shubhangi wrote a poem America which was published in 'Kavyadeep' poem book.

I have translated it in English just to give idea about the contents for those who can't follow Marathi.I do not claim to have given full justice to her poem in my translation but I hope that you can understand the meaning in a better way by listening to this poem in her own voice

* अमेरिका *	America
विमानातल्या प्रथमप्रवासी अमेरिका गाठले परि मातृभूमीला स्वप्नी सुद्धा कधी न अंतरले ---- १	I went to America for the first time by plane But did not forget my homeland even in my dream --1
भलाथोरला देशचि आहे अमेरिका हा जसा फळाफुलांनी फुलारलेला स्वर्गचि वाटे जसा ---- २	America is a big country spread across large area Full of greenery with  fruits and flowers like heaven --2
त्या देशाप्रती जाण्याचीही संधी मज लाभली शितावरुनी त्या भाताचीही जाणीव की जाहली ---- ३	I could get opportunity to visit that country And could get overall idea  from short stay there --3
रसाळवाणीमधुनी सांगण्या लागे जी बुद्धी ठाऊक आहे मला तेवढी नाही माझी मती ---- ४	I know that I do not have have that literary skill Needed to  describe the things in sweet palatable voice --4
पिटुकल्याशा खारीपरि ते यत्नचि मी केले भावलेच जे मला तसे ते वर्णन मी केले ---- ५	Like a small sqirrel, I have put my efforts To describe what I observed and felt --5
पैसा-अडका सारे तेथे आहे मुबलक घरे नि दारे रस्ते शहरे सारे सुरेख ---- ६	There is no dearth of money and resources With beautiful houses, roads and cities --6
ठेंगणीठुसकी बसकी घरे ती छपरे उतरती आकाशाला भिडणार्‍याही दिसती इमारती ---- ७	There are single storied houses with slant slope roofs Along with presence of  few  skyscrapers --7
कसल्याही त्या कामाचा ना कोणा कमीपणा ठायीठायी असती तेथे शिस्तीच्याच खुणा ---- ८	Nobody feels degraded in doing any type of work You find the signs of discipline everywhere --8
लाल नि हिरव्या दिव्यांच्या त्या इशार्‍यावरती सुसाटवेगे पळती गाड्या त्या रस्तोरस्ती ----९	Cars move fast on roads with  blinking of signals  red and green --9
पोलिसमामांच्या कायद्याची ती भीती असे मनी म्हणुनि तयांच्या वाटेला ना जाई कधी कुणी ---- १०	There is fear about police in everybody's mind Hence nobody tries to disobey the rules --10
अमेरिकेमधि आहे सारे जगताच्या उलटे लेफ्टहँड ड्राइव्ह करीत गाडी पळत की सुटते ---- ११	In America you find everything reverse With left hand drive, cars move fast on road --11
राइटटर्न घेण्या कधीही तेथा नलगे परमिशन परि लेफ्टटर्न घेण्या रस्यावरती आखलेली खूण ---- १२	You do not require permission to take right turn  But you have to wait at road line to take left turn --12
फ्रीवेवरती असती तेथे दोन-चार लेन घुसाघुशी अन् गैरशिस्तीचे नाही देणं घेणं ---- १३	There are two to four lanes on freeway We don't see any overtaking or breaking of rules --13
सुपरबाजारी लहानमोठ्या वस्तूंची दाटी तारीखवार नि किंमतीचीही प्रत्येका पाटी ---- १४	Plenty of small and large items fill super bazar Well tagged with labels of date and price --14
कोठेही जा पोस्टात सुद्धा हसुनी स्वागत होते प्रत्येक गोष्टीत ` मेड इन चायनाचे ' दर्शन की घडते ---- १५	Any where you go, even in post, you are greeted with smile For most of products we see the labels of 'Made in China'--15
अर्ध्यावरती जनता तेथील चिनी जपानी दिसे काळा-गोरा भेदही तेथे फारसा उरला नसे ---- १६	Half of people are seen like Chinese or Japanese There is no difference between black and white --16
कॉलेजच्या त्या वाटेला ना विशेष कुणी जाती दहा-पंधरा वर्षाचीही होती कमावती ---- १७	Generally people do not opt for college and start earning even at age of 10 to 15.  ---17
घराघरातून राजाराणी सुखात नांदती लहान मुलेही वेळेआधी शहाणीसुरती होती ---- १८	Married couples stay happily in their homes The children also become smart at very young age --18
आजी-आजोबा काका-मामा नाती ना उरली कुटुंबसंस्था कधी न तेथे खोलवरी रुजली ---- १९	Grandma-grandpa or uncle-cousin relations have lost  their relevance Even the family system has not  deep rooted here --19
लग्नबंधनी अडकत नाही कोणी लवकरी स्वातंत्र्याच्या उपभोगाची प्रत्येका सुरसुरी ---- २०	People don't get confined in marriage bonds early Everybody is after enjoying freedom in life --20
स्वच्छतेचे का बा आपणा इतुके ते वाकडे शिकू नये का आपण त्यांचे दोन चार तरी धडे ---- २१	Why we don't care about cleanliness like them Should we not take at least few lessons from them ---21
मधमाशीच्यापरी आपणही चांगले तेचि घ्यावे कोठेही जरी गेलो जगती संस्कार न बदलावे ---- २२	Like a honey bee we should take whatever is good But should not change our culture wherever we go ---22
लोकसंख्या हे कारण आहे अपुल्या गरिबीचे कर्तव्यचि ते आहे अपुल्या सार्‍या जनतेचे ---- २३	Population is the reason of  our poverty To control it is the duty for all of us. ---23

Recognition of Shubhangi's Contribution to Art and Culture of India

I am happy to inform you that we received mail from Secretary Kuldeep Sharma, office of the Especial Advisor (to the First Vice President, Govt. of Nepal)  addressed to Shubhangi Ranade  with following text as follows 
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                                     Madam,                            Date - Jun 1, 2017 at 12:25 AM

With humility and profound reverence it is to state that in order to make Bharat (India) re­established with the same dignity as a global mentor of ancient Vedic era culture and to become India, a permanent member in the security council of united nation organization with the veto power with the status as a 8th powerful most country of the world.

It is to inform that you have been selected as a candidate for the appointment of Mission Advisor in the program of SAARC member countries (India, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Maldives ) which is going to be conducted at Kathmandu (Nepal) on 7th to 9th Dec. 2017 to give the practical formation of Cultural Coordination forum and to perform the needful activities for its accomplishment. This selection has been made after the meticulous assessment of your activities from the working site to the development, coupled with your simplicity and your varied long experience.

Hence, it is requested to send your consent with your one photograph, and copy of ID to this office, earliest possible.
Please Find Attached File With Regards
Secretary
Kuldeep Sharma
office of the Especial Advisor
(to the First Vice President, Govt. of Nepal) 
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See the snap of email 

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It would have been a great honour for her to become Mission Advisor in the program of SAARC member countries and attend conference in Nepal.

None the less the letter did recognise the work done by her in Sanskrit, Poetry and Culture of India.