B Tech I SEM NON DETAIL -- G D Naidu -- Trailblazers

                                      

    Gopalaswamy Doraiswamy Naidu was born on 23^rd March, 1893 in Kalangal, India. He was an Indian engineer and inventor. He was commonly referred to as the “Edison of India” for his significant contributions to the field of technology, industry and development. He was recognized for he built the first electric motor in India. He had attended only primary school, but gained technical knowledge out of his innovative ideas in scientific applications.

                  When Naidu was a youngster, he saw a foreigner riding a motor cycle through his village. He was excited and inspired with the sight of the motor cycle. Many of the children watched it in surprise, but he wished to ride the motor cycle himself and wanted to learn its mechanism. He worked at a hotel in Coimbatore as a waiter and earned about 400 rupees. Fortunately, he met the person who rode the motor cycle in his village and explained his passion for motor cycle. The foreigner gave the motor cycle to Naidu, as he was astonished by the determination of Naidu. He gradually understood the mechanism of the motor cycle. Soon, he procured a job as a mechanic.

                   In 1920, he established not only his own transport business but also dabbled in the cotton business. Overtime, his transport business expanded and owned the most efficient fleet of public transport vehicles (UMS) in the country. His passion for technology enlarged to cameras and films, and in 1935 he filmed the funeral of King George in London. A year later, he met Adolf Hitler, and was able to secure manufacturing contract. When he returned to India he entered to politics but lost the 1936 provincial general elections.

                    In his mid-forties, he collaborated with D.Balasundaram to create India’s first indigenous motor. It was a huge success in India. He invented an electric razor, a tamper-proof note - recording machine, a kerosene run fan.He began focusing on camera equipment and was fascinated by the ability to take photographs. He created a distance adjuster for film cameras. His inventiveness was not restricted to technology alone. He had piqued his interest in agriculture and identified new varieties of cotton, maize and papaya. Sir C.V.Raman and Mokshagundam Visvesvaraiah visited Naidu’s farm several times and were impressed by his grit and determination for invention.

                      In 1944, he retired from his automobile company. He established several charitable and philanthropic foundations. Though he did not attend school in childhood properly, he firmly believed in the importance of education and made it his mission to setup the first polytechnic in India. He became the principal of the college in 1945. He passed away on 4 th, January 1974. Sir C.V. Raman said, “Mr. Naidu is truly a man in a million - perhaps this is an understatement!” 

B Tech I SEM -- The Knowledge Society A P J Abdul Kalam --ENGLISH ESSENTIALS

THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY  -- A P J Abdul Kalam

          The “Knowledge society” is an extract taken from Abdul Kalam’s popular and famous book “Ignited Minds”. He tells that poverty can be rooted out by striking a balance between the past heritage and present day knowledge. He believes  in that India can reach the pinnacles and glory by following certain principles and applying modern technology.

          Knowledge has always been the prime mover of prosperity and power. India is a land of knowledge and it must rediscover itself. The foreign invasions and the colonial rule weakened India considerably. Knowledge has many forms and it is available at many places. It is acquired through education, information, intelligence and experience. It is manifested in artists, craftsmen, hakims, philosophers and saints. It plays a vital role.    

          India has been a country of great ancient heritage and culture. Knowledge acquisition has been thrust throughout the world. In addition, in Indian culture there has been the guru-shishya tradition and sharing of its knowledge even with the foreign travellers and students.

         During the last century the world has been changed from being an agriculture society to an industrial society. The technology played a crucial role. In 21^st century knowledge has become the primary production resource instead of capital and labour. The qualification of a nation as knowledge society goes concomitant with its creation and deployment of knowledge.

          The knowledge society has two very important components driven by societal transformation and wealth generation. The societal transformation is in respect of education, health-care, agriculture and governance.

          In order to emerge as a knowledge super power by 2010 we should have tri-dimensional objects of societal transformation, wealth generation and knowledge protection. For this we have to protect our network and information generators from electronic attacks through surveillance and monitoring. Further we should protect one ancient knowledge and culture and focus attention on intellectual rights and related issues.

B Tech I SEM : In London by M K Gandhi -- ENGLISH ESSENTIALS

                      In London  --- M K Gandhi    

         “In London” is an extract taken from the autobiography of Gandhi ,titled “ My Experiments With Truth” being  translated into English by Mahdev Desai. Gandhi is known for his simplicity. In this lesson he tells us how he struggled hard when he stayed in London for his education.

              He decided that he should not trouble others. He was a vegetarian and he wanted to cultivate other accomplishments which make him a decent gentleman in society.Bond street was the centre of fashionable life in London so he bought a suit there . He felt  that the Bombay clothes were unsuitable to English society. So he bought new ones at “ The army and Navy” stores. He learnt the art of tying for himself. He wanted to dress like an  Englishman. Gandhi started taking lessons in dancing , French and elocution. He even attempted to take lessons in music but could not follow the Piano. He thought that he should learn to play the violin in order to cultivate an ear for the Western music.

          In his retrospection he thought that he was not going to spend a life time in England. This thought made him realize that he was wasting money . Having listened to Gandhi, the dance teacher was convinced and encouraged him to go ahead. He wrote letters to the other teachers also. They encouraged his idea. He struggled for austerity and frugality. He exercised strict economy in all aspects. His living with a family involved him a lot of unnecessary expenditure. So he decided to take two rooms on his own account. The rooms were close to the business place. So, he walked eight miles every day and this kept him physically healthy.

         Gandhi knew that the Bar examinations did not require great study. On a friend’s advice Gandhi decided to pass the London Matriculation ,though it was difficult he passed in  his next attempt. He was forced to learn Latin which was very useful in the paper of roman law. Gradually , he acquired a taste for Latin ,French  and Chemistry.

       Gandhi felt that his way of living did not fit in the modest means of his family . So, he adjusted himself with one room instead of two rooms and cooked food at home for breakfast.  Plain living saved his plenty of time and he passed his examination. Gandhi says at the end that he spent only frugal life which by no means of dreary one.