• Thursday, February 22nd, 2007
Wow!! I was really taken back when I saw the awareness processions and meetings in some parts of TN in connection with the Mother Tongue Day or Mother Language Day while I was watching the SUNTV(Tamil TV Network) news today. Is there a really a day to honor and celebrate our mother tongue? Looks like there is one.
I heard about Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Heart Day, AIDS Day, Teachers Day, Childrens day and never to forget the most well know Valentines Day. But I never heard one to celebrate and honor our Mother language/Tongue.
I am really happy to see people actually observing that day because I am lover of my mother tongue. Obviously everybody loves their mother tongue which needs to be honored and celebrated. It might not have any special effect in the western world because they really speak one and only language which is English. I guess thats the reason I don’t see any special cards from Hallmark which always try to make buck of it. 
It really matters for people in those countries which has lots of different languages spoken and used. Especially in India, it really matters and makes a lot of sense. As per my knowledge, we have around 800 different languages with around 2000
dialects. We have 23 official languages in our country. Too many languages but each of them has their own heritage which needs to celebrated and remembered by their own people.
As usual, my buzzing brain wants to know how exactly this day start to be commenrated as Mother language Day ?
I found some interesting facts as below:
Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. Half of the world’s 6000 to 7000 languages are in danger of extinction.- International Mother Language Day, celebrated annually aims to promote the recognition and practice of the world’s mother tongues, particularly minority ones.
The main objective is by “Favouring the promotion of linguistic diversity and the development of multilingual education from an early age helps preserve cultural diversity and the conditions for international understanding, tolerance and mutual respect.”
Language is the root of any culture and by showing the pride towards honoring it seems to be wonderful way. I think it makes real sense to honor and celebrate our mother tongue while there are other nonsense unimportant days celebrated in the world. It also gives the opportunity to talk about it to our kids and increase their awarness.
At this time, atleast start saying out loud that “I AM PROUD TO SPEAK MY Mother language {Hindi, Kannada, Telugu or any of you language}”.
I am saying it loud, “I AM PROUD TO SPEAK MY MOTHER LANGUAGE TAMIL”.
Also try to have a habit to speak only in your mother language whenever you talk to your friends who know your mother language instead of using some other language. Like for example, (Translation – Speak to Tamilians in Tamil to increase Tamil awareness)
• Thursday, February 15th, 2007
VOIP – Voice over IP technology is been widely used for various purpose including local phone connections in USA. After VOIP phone/Internet phones came to the market, traditional phone companies faced a huge challenge and set back in their business. VOIP Phone companies offered all or most of the features for a small or cheaper flat rate compared to the traditional companies which charged seperate rate for each features.
I been using VOIP Phone(Vonage) since 2003. It makes it easier to get connected if you already have the Internet connection at home. Otherwise you have to the internet cable connection to have the VOIP phones. It saved me lot of money. For a flat rate of $14.99, I am getting all the features any phone company can offer including 500 free long distance minutes not to mention in-network mins are free. If you think, you speak a lot then you can always select unlimited mins plan for just $24.99 comparing to $50-60 with tradition phone companies like att or verizon.
There were some hesitation when VOIP Phones came to the market but with very high marketing campaign by different VOIP phone companies, it really changed the perpective of people to have phone from Internet. Recently, lot of friends subscribed for additional phone line and they sent to India for their parents to get connected. If their parents have broadband internet connection, you just plug in the modem sent by the company and you are connected. They can just make a local call to any USA phone numbers. Its so simple and works almost all the time. There are few VOIP phone companies already provide international portable phone numbers which can be used in different countries. Also many small call centers in India make use of this VOIP phones to reduce their cost of calling abroad.
VOIP really changed the way the phone works comparing to the olden days. You have to wait in line for submitting the application and then wait for your landline to get approved. Now its all done faster and it can get faster with VOIP. Around 10-15 years ago, you end up paying 100 rupees for a min of call to USA. Now its all free if you have VOIP phone in India.
Why don’t we see many companies coming up in India to use this VOIP technology to revolutionlize the phone industry. Telecommunication is booming like anything and the charges are way below the average call charge from 2-3 years ago. If VOIP comes into picture, then it will really bring down the landline charges and no need for wire running around all over our streets and potholes to be digged everytime they run wireline to the streets. Also it will make the phone available to any villages in the country. We just need a satellite internet connection and we have the phone working in that village.
Don’t you all think VOIP is the way to go to have all over villages connected to the main stream people with VOIP phones?!
• Friday, January 05th, 2007
was browsing the latest news today while I was eating my lunch. Its my daily habit to spend atleast 15mins reading to catch up some India news. I know that within 15mins I wouldn’t be able to cover all of it but atleast the main new topics which makes me feel atleast a not far away from home.
The News topic which pondered my attention today was our honorable President Dr.Kalam’s visit to Science conference in Chidambaram. He gave medals/Awards for best young scientist which is really a very good thing. I thought, If we have good young and experienced scientist, why can we just create our own products and leverage them.
For example, China is a big source and back bone to US economy. Without China, US can’t survive. Most the products from US comes from China. But China brought up new reforms in his economy, to avoid using foreign inventions and patents and encourage people to invent and use them. They have less tax for the products invented, patented and made by China then comparing to products patended by other countries. They have to pay huge tax for the foreign orginated products. This way, they pushing the big companies to invent new things on their own in China and make mass production for their own people. Once this comes to effect,other big companies outside of china will start buying Chinese invented products and use them..
Why can’t india do that too ? We use Dell & HP machines created in India using Intel and Microsoft technology. Why can’t we invent new processors and new OS and implement our own PC just as a sample..
Its Dr.Kalam’s dreams for all of us to dream and invent a well developed country.. Why can’t this be a start ?!
