As I Hear the Bell Tolls

Light at the end of the tunnel...

2010-01-07T21:29:00.000-08:00

This doctoral journey began six years ago and came to a formal end after the successful oral defense of my dissertation yesterday.
Now I its time to look out for some light at the end of the tunnel.
Thanks to my parents, siblings, friends, and relatives for being supportive all these years so that I could cross the finish line...and not to lose touch with the bases..

THANK YOU ALL!!

Eye

2008-05-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

What should I write about eyes? The medical technicalities? Better I leave that in the able hands of wikipedia editors with optic trainings. Should I get very romantic now, describe the beauty of eyes? Better I leave that in the hands of compulsive poets who could write an epic for each eye-lid of their beloved. Then what should I write on eye? The Journal of Nursing of USA (1)reports only two cents worth of eye-drop could save a child from blindness. Well, that's 1910's estimate of 2 cents, when a gallon of gasoline was probably a 25 cents in USA. Now it is May 2008, when a gallon of gasoline is hitting $ 5 fast. that's an inflation of 20 times compared to 1910 price level measured by gasoline price in USA in 1910. Today, may be not two cents, but 40 cents (i.e., 2 cents x 20)would be required to save a child from blindness by making right eye-drop available and applied on the new born on time. Well, that's still bellow 50 cents a child. There are millions of children in the world, specially in the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America who are exposed to serious risk of child blindness due to lack of adequate post-natal care, and lack of critical eye-drops to supply vitamin A and other essential vitamins. If forty cents could save a child from blindness, diverting the budget of manufacturing a high-tech missile to mass production of eye drops containing vitamin A could save millions of childs from premature vision disorder. But will the warlords listen to us, ever?

reference:
(1) Ophthalmia Neonatorum as a Cause of Blindness
Carolyn Conant Van Blarcom
The American Journal of Nursing, Vol. 10, No. 10 (Jul., 1910), pp. 724-734 (article consists of 14 pages)
Published by: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Thoughts on World Women's Day 2008: Person vs. Posterity

2008-03-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

Case 1:
A happy couple. During the delivery of a baby, the wife had some physical complicaitons which damaged her future reproductive capacity. She will not be able to give birth any more babies. Now the couples are very concerned about the health of their only child, if anything bad happens to the baby, who will carry forward the flagship of posterity? Sometimes the husband frowns upon the fact that his wife is not able to deliver anymore.

Case-2:
Few months into the marriage, a young couple found out to their dismay that the husband's semen count is too low to become a biological dad in a natural way or even in an artificial way. But three years after the marriage, they feel very lonely. They love each other, but the emptyness also creeps in sometimes.

Case-3:
A newly wed young girl is diagnosed with cancerous cells in a part of her body that is vital for conceiving and giving birth of babies. Doctors advised that in order to reduce of the risk of spreading cancer to other parts of the body, it is better to remove those infected cells from her body through surgery. The operation may save the life of the lady, but can it save the marriage?

In all the three cases mentioned above, the main question boils down to this: what is the main concern of the spouses? The persons they are married to? Or to be able to continue expanding the family tree for posterity?
These are tough situations specially for people from cultures where posterity is glorified over persons. But personally, I think we should care more about the person than for preseving somekind of geanological footprints for posterity.

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T15:17:00.001-08:00

Wishing all of my friends, freinds' friends, their families, and colleagues a very happy valentine's day!

Happy New Year

2007-12-28T18:59:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and peaceful new year 2008.

ABD......other letters are yet to be earned before I spell my first name

2007-10-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I have successfully defended my research proposal and, thanks God, become an A.B.D. (all but dissertation). I feel like I have just earned first three letters of my first name. Now, I am counting months to defend my dissertaion in the final oral examination, so that I can earn rest of the letters that I need to spell my name. Wishes to all.
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A Nostalgic Call From Japan, A Recall of 'Jonaki' (Firefly)

2007-09-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

A Long lost friend of mine called recently from Japan. It took me on a nonstalgic ride down the memory lane. We talked for along time .. about our early days of school and college, we talked about our those golden carefree days...coffee house days that seem will never come back except in our memories and sighs. Then we talked about our current days...

He has been living in Japan for about two decades. Married to a japanese lady and have two kids.

These intercultural unions are great sources of undrestanding the diverse world we all live in which, I beleive, contribute to world peace. Wishing my friend and his family and friends in Japan a happy, healthy, productive life. Jonaki has always been a favorite icon in my friend's life. That's why I chose to upload this photo of a little girl playing with a jar full of 'Jonaki's- the nostalgic fireflies! Don't we all long for such glowing moments in our lives?!

Energy vs. Fatigue

2007-06-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

"Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed from one form to another".-remember physics 101?

So, fatigue is not lack of energy, rather just a different form of it.

World Cup Cricket 2007-Bangladesh among super eight teams

2007-03-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

It was great to see Bangladesh storms into next round of the world cup cricket. Keep it up guys! We neeed some world class success instances to be inspired by so that next generation can look into the eyes of their global counterparts with more self-confidence and self-respect knowing deep down that : AAMRAO PARI !!

Emile Zola(1840-1902):A Moment of Human Conscience

2007-02-04T14:03:00.000-08:00

I have recently watched a movie 'The Life of Emile Zola'. I literally had to shed couple of tear-drops when, at Zola's funeral, Anatole France declared, "He was a moment of the human conscience". At the height of name, fame and glory, Zola took the side of a wrongfully convicted person and fought against the huge state machinery of France. These are the moments that separate pro-truth forces from pro-eshtablishment puppets. It is really not easy to risk a preson's lifetime acheivements by angering the establishement just to see that an injustice done to another man is undone and justice is reinstated.
This type of people always has been rare species in any given society, but, we need them badly to make this world yet habitable. Zola and alikes are really Candles against the winds. My tribute to the memory of Zola and to the alikes to come.
A very good movie to watch to be inspired by.

Dr. Yunus-the Nobel Peace Prize Winner 2006

2006-12-03T21:20:00.000-08:00

Finally the much awaited moment as arrived. Dr. Mohammad Yunus and his dreamchild Grameen Bank won this year's Nobel Peace Prize. This banker to the poor has been rightfully awarded the peace prize. The reasoning is simple, reduction of poverty via micro-credit reduces social unrest, and thus increases social stability and peace. Hungry souls are angry souls, we all know. Therefore, when common people have a decent standard of living, it becomes easier for them to be law abiding and peaceful. Dr. Yunus put Bangaldesh back on the world map. We all are proud of him.

Dristipat is Doing a great job

2006-06-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

These days are going on in exam mode. Soon it will be over. And, hopefully, I will have some now realizations by then to write about.
However a forum of expat Bangladeshi's has recently opened its London Chapter, besides its four existing U.S. chapter. (http://www.drishtipat.org ).
This organization is mainly composed of professionals -the white collars. If the members of this organization can do something meaningful for the blue collar people then that will reduce the mounted skepticism of common people in Bangladesh about the sincerity and patriotism of higher educated Bangladeshis.
By best wishes for Drishtipat.

Shashi Tharur is running for UN Secretary general position. We got one from Asia long ago -U Thant from Myanmar. But, perhaps a South Asian is going to be represented oon to be the leader of this world organization that is seriously under pressure of reforms to get closer to new development challenges of a new millenium.

Are We on the Same Page? A Misplaced or Misunderstood Joke Can Cost You A Relationship!!

2006-03-25T11:10:00.000-08:00

Humor is great. Often time we appreciate good sense of humor.
But, if a joke is told or written to a person in a way where there is room for misinterpretation, then the joke may backfire. So, it is very important to make sure that the producer of the humor and the target consumer of the humor are emotionally, intellectually and culturally on the same page. It they are not on the same page, then no matter how solid the relationship in seems, a bad joke or misunderstood humor is enough to ruin a relationship forever. This caution is even more applicable to people in long distance relationship. People who may accidentally make a misunderstood joke in person to someone typically sometimes can get lucky to get a second chance (boy, that’s rare!) the true implied morale or meaning of the joke. But, if a person in a long distance relationship makes a misunderstood joke, then s/he may never gets a second chance. So, my advice to everyone (to myself mostly): ‘ Think twice before making a joke. Make sure that you and the recipient of your joke are emotionally, culturally and intellectually on the same page so that the intended meaning will not be misinterpreted. Most importantly, even if a bad joke is misunderstood, the person on the receiving end would have the faith on your goodwill strong enough so that you will get a second chance to explain your true intention, context and morale of the joke, and, if necessary, apologize for the mistake.’

Visit of Big Apple, Rondezvous, Memories, and, Hopes

2006-03-12T21:57:00.000-08:00

I just returned form New York City last evening. Since I did my summer internship at United Nation's in 2001, this was my first re-visit of the big apple. I met some of my UN Colleagues there-Dr. Jeanne-Marrie Col, Nirjhari Delong, Korazon etc. Met Adam Rogers of UNCDF. He is an amateur photographer as well, his photos taken in Afrian countries frequently appears in various UN publications. I did also meet some UN officials of Bangladeshi descent: Dr. Selim Jahan of UNDP and Mr. Hasan Ferdous of UN Information service. Could not meet A.K. Chowdhury, -one of the Under Secretary Generals, as he was away. Also could not meet Dr. A.R. Khan and Ms. Gay Rosenblum-Kumar, as they were out of country. My host family was great. This Bangladeshi couple (Mr. Munna and Mrs.Zharna) is known to me since last 12 years. They were very welcoming.

I did coincidentally meet journalist Saleem Samad in NYC(hey Saleem bhai, stay evergreen!). Mr. Saleem is now in exile in Canada and taken political asylum there. He was staying in NYC for last three months in connection with a fellowship. I did meet other journalist friends,viz. Mr. Muzahid Ansari of nybangla.com( Ansari Bhai, your Moorighanta was fabulous), Darpan Kabir of ATN etc(thanks, Darpan, for sharing your novel with me. The character Simi was a wonderful creation!). Met some great youngsters such as Manzur of Habiganj(hey Manzur, your green veggie was great!), and Mithu of Naogaon(hey Mithu, I hope and pray that your wife can soon be with you!).

Few words about artists. I had a desire to re-visit MOMA this time and also to visit some studios of artists in NYC who are of Bangladeshi background. One name was in my head. I only know about one sculputure in NYC- Mrinal Haque. But, this time, I was happy to meet another great artist Alam Tipu. In my next visit of NYC, I would like to visit Alam Tipu's studio(Alam bhai, your website is a cool one: www.alamtipu.com ). Please keep up the good work.

I enjoyed meeting these new people, as well as, visiting old friends. While passing by the Peen Station I was reminded of the trips organized and participated by my UN summer interns from around the world.
Will be looking forward to visit again this vibrant city in near future.
Miss You Big Apple (the metaphoric synnonym of NYC), as you host some poeple with even Bigger Hearts!

8th March World Women's Day: A Tribute to Two Mothers

2006-03-07T17:35:00.000-08:00

Today is not mothers' day. It is world women's day. Then why I am writing only on mothers, and, not on other women? In fact, these mothers, like any other mothers, represent all the aspects a girl must go through. Pre-natal, neo-natal, post-natal, girlhood, adolosence, youth, and, life of a mature woman. My mother gave birth of five kids. Mother Teressa was mother of millions around the world, specially to thousands of those who needed a mother most-the street-urchins, the lepers, the slum dwellers. My mother mostly spent her life in a middle-class family environment. Mother Teressa took covenant in her young age, and, never tasted the mainstream family life so to speak.
Mother Teressa sacrificed a lot, my mother endured a lot. As a wife, as a mother (raising five kids back to back is no joke, guys!). Teressa knew a lot, had faith in the eternal goodwill of mankind. My mom always maintained her naive, astonished humility to the world around her. On this world women's day, I pay tribute to all women via writing about these two women touched my life in various ways.

Three Comrades: A lonely Bird on a Lonely Tree in a Lonely Twilight

2006-03-03T19:39:00.000-08:00

Who told me to highlight only great people or great events or ideas on this personal blog site?
No body did. Sometimes it is nice, just to look around, serfing the net. As one of my journalist friend call it 'site seeing'.
This photo posted on a site caught my eyes.
It is hard to tell which one of these three things on the photo is more lonely: the bird, the tree or the twilight.
I could not figure out. But, reflecting on this picture gifted me with some blues.
[photo courtesy: Rohon Kuddus. His blog website address is http://rohon.blogspot.com/]

Re-Thinking International Trade Paradigms

2006-02-27T17:17:00.000-08:00

One of my Bangladeshi American friend, a computer engineer by training, and, and an entrepreneur by heritage (dad used to own a printing business in Bangladesh) , recently has inititiated a process of exporting round log from Canada to Bangladesh. After listening to this, I didn't waste a second to shoot my naive question ' but, won't it be cheaper for a business in Bangladesh to import logs or timbers from neighboring Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), instead of imorting them from the West?'
He replied, 'not necessarily'. Then he explained, there are three main components that makes an internatonal trade happen. One, the good to be imported must have to meet the necessity of import. If I need to import a printer for my windows-run computer, then I can't import a mac-compatible printer, no matter how cheaper it is. Two, the cost of the product (or service) has to be competitive holding the quality constant. The good has to be identical, and, of required quality, only then price comparison will be meaningful. Three, if the product is found to be of identical quality and price in multiple counries, then the cost of shipping will be considered. By the same token, if the product quality and shipping cost are identical, then the importer will focus on importing the stuff from the exporting country offering lower prices. So, it turned out in my friend's case that, the kind of log / timber is required in Bangladesh for a certain purpose, is cheaper to import from Canada than from any other log exporing countries known so far. No doubt, Akiab port of Myanmar is much closer to Chittagong port of Bangladesh. But, after considering all the three points, the Bangladeshi importer found it more profitable to import log from Canada (via port Vancouver).
So, it is time to rethink our good, old international trade paradigms.

Road Ahead : From Accidental Giant Killer to Consistent Winner

2006-02-22T17:17:00.000-08:00

It was nice that the Tigers tamed the Lions. Bangladesh Cricket team also showed some sporadic success in beating some other world cup victors in the past. India, Pakistan, Australia and, now, Sri Lanka.

It would be nice to take time to diagnose and follow through a program that would ensure that these vitories are consistent rather than accidental.

The best fruits of this vicotry is that regional sports grounds will be rejuvenated and there will be inter-regional competition to build international standard sports grounds and to host international matches. It will also inspire local young cricketers to aspire for big games.
I congratualate the members of the cricket team and the sports lovers. This winnings can boost a nation's morales-which has long been questioned to be in hybernation. Let's wake up Bangladesh, claim your fair share in the world in all branches of human accomplishments through hard work, imaginaiton and fair play.

Syaed Rana Moostofee-The Profile of A Pioneer

2006-02-19T21:52:00.000-08:00

Today, I will introduce one of my friends, Philosophers and guides-who, has pioneered & I believe, has been instrumental in elevating the financial journalism to a new level in Bangladesh both in the print and electronic media. I know Sayed Rana Moostofee as my Rana Bhai (Bhai means brother in Bangla language). He is the editor-publisher of the National Financial Fortnightly ‘Arthokotha’ (which means money talk in Bangla language). He anchors a popular talk show on economic and financial issues-'Moneytalk' on Satellite TV Channel and serves as the Chairman & Managing Director of Motherland group-a multi-dimensional business house in Bangladesh.

He pioneered many visions in Bangladesh press. As a young journalist he was the first to introduce the daily press coverage of the much talked about, month-long "Ekushey Book Fair" that holds in each February in Bangladesh.

It was his vision that prompted the then daily newspaper “Dainik Janata” from Bangladesh to begin this daily media coverage of this most significant book fair of the nation, his daily write-up used to be published as by-line item on the back page of “Dainik Janata”; which later quickly was followed by other newspapers. At the time, coverage on “Ekushey Book Fair” was hardly seen in a negligible manner in the inner page of of the print media. Now-a-days, daily coverage of the “Ekushey book fair” is a ‘must go’ item in all mainstream newspapers on the front page and television network & channels.

In the very beginning of 21st century, Rana Bhai started fulfilling the much realized need of taking financial journalism to the electronic media so that common people can be outreached with what the socio-economic stakeholders are currently thinking and acting upon that would matter for the entrepreneurship and economy of Bangladesh.

His management style, in his words, is ‘benevolent dictator type’. However, it can be said that he is a groomer as well, and a keeper. I recall, some of his employees/colleagues have been working with him for quite a long time now, which indicates that there is a human side of his management that prevents the turn over rate to be disruptive.

Rana Bhai also works as a consultant in both local and international spectrum. Phuket Air, Marium Tower 1 & 2, Habib Hotel International Ltd, Eunus Trade Centre, Bangladesh Hotel & Guest House Owners Association are some of the projects bearing testimony of his successful consulting services and loan negotiation skills. Interested entrepreneurs and business leaders are welcome to contact his consulting firm ‘Motherland Consultants Ltd.’ By Emailing at moostofee@gmail.com OR motherlandgroup@gmail.com.

Rana Bhai has a great journalistic, educationist and politician family heritage. His mother Khaza Selima Khatun (popularly known as Mina Apa) was a commissioner of Jessore municipality and was the Editor of weekly 'Banhi' (meaning, Flame). She was also the publisher of weekly 'Matribhumi' (meaning, motherland), which came out in 1970. She had a pioneering role in journalism as vice-president of Jessore Press Club. Khaza Selima Khatun was the member of National Social Welfare Council, one of the founder directors of national women cooperatives and the chairman of the Jessore branch of Jatiya Mohila Sangstha. She was one of the founders and head teacher of Jessore Sheba Sangha Girls High School and also served as the head teacher of Kuada Girls High School.

Rana Bhai’s Father late Sayed Abdus Salam was a brave freedom fighter in Jessore sector during the great war of independence of Bangladesh. He took active part in many operations in direct fight with the occupying Pakistan force. Prior to joining in the liberation war Mr. Salam was a central leader of National Awami Party (NAP) under the able leadership of great leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani. Sayed Abdus Salam was the founder and editor of weekly "Matribhumi". This weekly was published with the inspiration of Maulana Bhashani to create awareness of freedom among the people. Later researchers confirmed that “Matribhumi” was the first news paper in Bangladesh that published the news of victory of Bangladesh in her war of independence in a banner heading in its independence issue dated 23rd March, 1971. Mr. Salam, a profound patriot, after having a long career of a national politician & editor died on March 1st 1991. Rana bhai’s grand father Sayed Arshad Ali was one of the great organizers of the war of liberation in Bagharpara (southeastern part of Jessore District) later the collaborators of the occupying force had killed Mr. Arshad & his elder brother Sayed Aziz Ahmed brutally.

Now, with all these heritage, along with all these years of sincere hard works, no wonder Rana Bhai will be able to leave behind a great trail.

Let's talk about a softer side of Rana Bhai that I was a witness and an 'accomplice' of. I recall, over the last year of the last century (1999), we used to catch up with almost every full moon. A team of about six boys who would go out of the Dhaka city to enjoy the full moon! It was like our version of ‘Aronner Din Ratri’ (meaning 'Days and Nights in Forest'-the famous novel of Sunil Ganguly which was later turned into a movie by famous film director Satyajit Ray). During those golden days, no matter how hectic life used to get, we all would manage some time to drive away…far from the maddening crowd of Dhaka city. A car pool of friends (oh, down the memory lane…), sometimes a convoy of three or four cars, We would go to Ashulia-a quite rural palce in the outskirt of the Dhaka City, would sat on the bank of River Turag and would watch the full moon. Most of those moon-sighters are now scattered around the world. Rana Bhai travels a lot between Dhaka and Dubai. Another moon-sighter Palash is now in London. Yusuf is in Canada. I am in USA. Recently when I was watching the bangla movie ‘Abar Aronney ‘(Again In forest’-the follow-up movie of ‘Aronner Din Ratri’), I felt that time is approaching in our lives the same way …some day, some year…some decade down the road to get together with all those good, old buddies-those golden heart boys. Little modification, this time, we would rather talk more among ourselves, and, let the full moon be the witness. A mystic, a gifted orator and singer, Rana bhai has lot more to offer to Bangladesh and to the World. Guys, let's wish a happy, healthy, long, workaholic life for Rana Bhai !

[ Footnote: 'Ekushey' meaning 21st. Ekushey Book Fair of Bangladesh commemorates the language movement of 21st February of 1952 that led Bangladesh eventually to be independent from Pakistan in 1971 at the costs of pools of blood and sweat. 21st February has now been declared as ‘International Mother Language day’ by UNESCO (http://www.unesco.org/education/imld_2002/ ).]

Reflections on Valentine's Day

2006-02-16T15:24:00.000-08:00

As we may recall, St. Valentine volunteered to be the wedding-priest for Roman soldiers required by the job rules to remain bachelor. So, so what it is that used to prompt employers to impose marital restrictions on workers of different professions-soldiers, air hosts and hostesses, nurses, athletes etc.? Why do various religious establishements continue the legacy by requiring clerics to 'officially celibate' . It is understandable that a profit maximizing employer would prmiarily care about profit maximization. So, I always wondered, is a bachelor soldier more employable, because, he is supposedly "more productive" (possess a higher level of killer instinct?!) than a married soldier? Is a bachelor nurse or air hostess is more employable because she seem to be more caring and pateint than her married colleague? Or, because she is less likely to get pregnant and be off-duty? Now, it is hard to tell about the impact of relationship on spiritual motivation. Do married clerics consistently show less focus on god and more on home-goddess? I do not know. But, if a married soldier become more domesticated and so, become lesser of a killing machine, I would like to be the devil's advocate to promote necessary modifications in the recruitment policies that would require all subnational, national and international defense forfces' to recruit only married people as soldiers I know, it sounds discriminating. It will reverse the traditional course where marriages are being followed by jobs. But, for world peace, I believe the social burden of this 'positive' discrimination will not be unbearable.

Impossibility of a Paretian Liberal-Amartya Sen

2006-02-06T21:22:00.000-08:00

Recent win of Conservative party in the Canadian general election and many other recent wins in the conservative parties in many European countries in 'free' and 'fair' elections are just democratic verdict of people. Although, there is a section of pleople who think, democracy, as a decision philosophy, and, majority voting as a decision rule, tend to be bent more towards Liberalism than towards conservativsm. But Sen has sowed in this 1970 article that, in a Pareto-ensuring democracy, Liberalism can not be maintained. So, Pareto or Liberalism? The answer seems to be the recent poll results in North America!

Two Films-Man on Fire and The Bridges of Madison County

2006-02-05T21:09:00.000-08:00

I have watched two films over the weekend-one was starring by Clint Eastwood and another one by Danzel Washington and others (there were defintely other great co-actors and actresses, but unfortunately I do not remember their names now, please take no offence guys!).Hey, I know, these are quite old movie, but, remember, most of my movies are borrowed from school library, so don't expect me to write on current releases.

The man on fire is quite famous since when the novel it hit the market. It has been well translated in different languages and recently bollywood also produced a film on its light (the same way as 'the magnificent seven' became bollywood buster movie 'Sholey'). A tough retired serviceman of U.S. was hired as a gunman in a rich family in Mexico. The job is to protect the little girl of the house from kindnapping for ransom which plagued in Mexico in that time. The rough and tough bodygurd develop a wonderful friendship with that little girl and when she was kindnapped, and tough to be killed, Danzel unleased his wrath agains bad guys. Action and emotion packed tense and dynamic story line.

The bridge on the madison county is a romantic film. Clint got a chance here to show that he can come out of that 'cowboy cocoon' if he is asked to do so. This movie will fall in the genre of Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenia' or Tagore's 'Home and Abroad' category. It can also be branded as 'desperate housewives'. See it for yourself to appreaciate soft version of Clint.

A Tribute to Dental Hygienists

2006-02-01T22:42:00.000-08:00

Dental hygienists are doing a great job. We are not much aware about the importance of oral health in the overall public health. In developing countries, most of the people suffer from various oral deseases from a very young age and eventually, many people lose their teeth by there late 50s or early 60s. Although, in the north american countries, the quality of dental health care services are much standardized and the access to those services are more widely avilable to people via job related dental insurance plan or personal dental care plans, a growing number of people are suffering from oral health problems due mainly to their food habits and life styles. Chocolates, candies, dairy products, coffee, smoking all these takes their toll on a consumer's oral health status. So, we should be careful abour our oral health, and should try to brus, floss and, use mouth wash atlest twice a day (once in the morning, and once before going to bed at night). Meantime, my tributes are to dental surgons, doctors and hygeienists. They are doing a great job and more can be done increasing awareness of oral health in developing countries. One hygeienist Ms. Melinda is going to graduate in spring 2008, I would like to take this opportunity to wish her and all her past, present and future colleagues in the profession. Let's keep up the good works!!

Coretta King - A Tribute to the Keeper of A Dreamer

2006-01-31T22:21:00.000-08:00

Civil movement leader of USA Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wife Mrs. Coretta King died yesderday in a Mexico clinic at the age of 78. She was suffering from cancer for a long time. She was more than jsut a wife of a great leader of civil rights movements.
Follwing excerpt from a local newspaper (www.ajc.com) reads:
It would have been easy to label Coretta Scott King just a wife, but it would have missed the mark.
Before she married the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the Alabama-born Coretta Scott had established herself as politically and socially conscious young woman. Formally educated in Ohio and Boston, she was an anti-war activist who rallied fellow students against violence and was a delegate to a political convention. She was an accomplished classical singer.

During the civil rights movement, she marched alongside her husband and sang to raise money for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the organization he co-founded.
After her husband's death in 1968, Coretta King emerged as an important activist in her own right. She founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change and led the fight to make her husband's birthday a national holiday. Yet she also was known as a loving mother who reared four children alone. She instilled in them a reverence for the ideals their father espoused, as well as an independence to chart their own courses, even if it challenged long-standing ideals of who or what they should be.
She became an international advocate for peace and human rights. She met with presidents and world leaders and was arrested fighting against apartheid. And well into her 70s, she traveled the globe to speak against racial and economic injustice, promote the rights of the powerless and poor, and advocate religious freedom, full employment, health care, educational opportunities, nuclear disarmament and AIDS awareness.
Coretta Scott King, 78, of Atlanta, died late Monday at a holistic hospital in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, about 17 miles south of San Diego, family members said. Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard is in charge of arrangements, which at this point are incomplete.
"Mrs. King's lasting contributions to freedom and equality have made America a better and more compassionate nation," President Bush said Tuesday in a prepared statement. "Laura and I were fortunate to have known Mrs. King, and we will always treasure the time we spent with her. We send our condolences and prayers to the entire King family."
Mrs. King suffered a debilitating stroke and heart attack in August.
Despite her physical struggles — friends and family members said her last days were painful — she made a surprise appearance last month during the King Center's annual Salute to Greatness awards dinner in downtown Atlanta.
She was wheeled into the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, triggering a standing ovation. She smiled, waved and kissed family members, but she did not speak.
It would be her last public appearance.
For many, Coretta King was the closest thing possible to African-American royalty, from the regal way she carried herself to how others perceived her. Her image froze in the public's consciousness thanks to a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph taken at her husband's funeral. Beneath her black veil, she seemed dignified and stoic even as she consoled her grief-stricken 5-year-old daughter, Bernice.

On Dec. 1, 1955, seamstress Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of a city bus. Her arrest sparked the Montgomery bus boycott. At 26, the movement chose Martin Luther King Jr. as its leader.
Coretta King has said it was an exciting time for the young couple because they were leading a life of purpose.
On the evening of Jan. 30, 1956, while Martin Luther King Jr. was speaking at Ralph David Abernathy's First Baptist Church, the Ku Klux Klan bombed the family home in Montgomery.
In her autobiography, Coretta King wrote that she was sitting in her house with a friend and daughter Yolanda when they heard a loud thump on the porch. She had been anticipating an attack and tried to run to the back of the house.
"We moved fast—not through the hall, which would have taken us near the sound, but straight back through the guest bedroom," she wrote. "We were in the middle of it when there was a thunderous blast. Then smoke and the sound of breaking glass."
She, the friend and baby Yolanda narrowly escaped injury.
"I think Coretta Scott King is the quintessential woman that has been far underrated in terms of her contributions," the Rev. Al Sharpton said Tuesday. "People talk about Dr. King, but it was Dr. King and Coretta King. When they bombed the house it was Coretta's house. She was home. He wasn't even there."
On a personal note, I would like to add that, what Mrs. Gandhi did to carry forward Mr. Gandhi's dream in the Indian context, Mrs. Coretta King probably did even more to carry forward the dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King in the United States' perspectives. May her soul rest in eternal peace.

"World's Largest Online Library" and Victoria Ocampo

2006-01-30T21:58:00.000-08:00

The address of the website is: http://www.questia.com/
You can read many best seller contemporary novels and evergreen classics here for free(only time to invest)!
In this Library, I have found a nice book on Victoria Ocampo of Argentina, nobel laureate Indian poet Tagore's Vijaya. The title of the book is "VICTORIA OCAMPO: Writer, Feminist, Woman of the World". This book is translated and edited by Patricia Owen Steiner. Publisher is UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO PRESS ALBUQUERQUE.
Victoria was a renaissance lady. An editor of the famous Latin American literary magazine the 'Sur', a poet, a novelist, a social worker, human rights activist..the list could go on and on. But, I was mainly curious about the life and works of this great lady primarily because of her much publicized friendship with the indian poet Rabindranath Tagore-perhaps the only guy whose lyrics are used as national anthem for two different countries-India and Bangladesh. Tagore was hosted by 'Vijaya' (the word Vijaya is the bengali synnonym for the word Victoria). His brief stay in Argentia was eventful and produced some sweet liteary works, some of which later was published in bengali language (Tagore's first language). In Shantiniketan(in the alternative university founded by Tagore in West Bengal, India), there is still preseved the deck chair that was presented by Victoria to Tagore on the later's return voyage from Argentina to India. Interested readers can read the book along with some complementary articles .
The weblink of the book on Victoria Okampo is as follows: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst;jsessionid=DbV6bvvhJZzhHM6SxwF54J3kkHCmhH1G3yG26CjTVLRKc77k6zP8!-2077773756?a=o&d=77473354

Amitav Ghosh - A Writer with an English Pen and a Bengali Soul

2006-01-29T22:13:00.000-08:00

His web address is: http://www.amitavghosh.com
This everyoung journalist-turned-book writer was born in Calcutta in 1956. Had a journalist career in India. Received a PhD from Oxford and now lives in Brooklyn, USA.

I could care less about whether someone obtained his/her PhD degree from Oxford or from Mars. I care about how smoothly one can make transitions in their self-actualization process. Be it from Bengal to Brooklyn, or from London to Liberia for that matter. And, how candidly we can share with readers about our origins and, about our present situations and future destinations. No doubt, there is a genre of readers in the industrialized west, to whom mere narratives of everyday trivialities of rest of the world can read very intrigueing and, exoticly original. Same applies to the readers from the developing world, who find the descriptiion of everyday life of an average westerner enviably interesting. R.K. Narayanan's 'Malgudi days' got popularity in english language due mainly to the fact that 'exotic South India' was served in an accessible language. Now, Ghosh seems to be more urban, more sophisticated, and, is aparently making his living by serving not only 'exotic' to non-exotic readers, but, also by feeding western readers with images and thoughts from their own societies. That's great.
Ghosh's essay on Satyajit Ray was a great peice. In that essay, he tells us about how Japanse literary fans pay homage to their cultural idols. That's a nice polite way.

Back to daily grind..Reinvention of wheels....

2006-01-28T20:52:00.000-08:00

The eight hour long exam is behind me. It is time again to try to find some 'new' things even if that would mean re-inventing the wheels.
Public diary keeping, as with 'public speaking', needs some homework, to sort out what to share, how to share and how much to share. We live in a time, when the list of 'apolitical' issues are shrinking, making our every statement, every opinion, every professional stance more vulnerable to a fault-finder's magnifying glass.
Anyway, I was watching a Latin American film today. The title of the movie is 'The Motorcycle Diaries'. A story of two Argentine friends' travel arross Latin America. Two friends started the journey by an old motorbike. But, understandably that 'mighty one'(the brand name of the bike made in 1939)was not mighty enough to survive the enthusiasm of two travel crazy youngs in 1952. The cinematography is beautiful, the landscapes of Aregentina, Peru, Chile..all were breath-taking as was claimed by the back page of the DVD coverjacket. Throughout the movie, there were the references of latin american literary personalities and their works (Lorka, Neruda, Marquez etc.). I would also like to recommend here another movie. This one is an Italian movie, title: 'The Postman'. I liked the movie, as a nice frienidship between exiled poet Neruda and a local rural postman in a small island in Italy was narrated in a sweet, melancholic way. So, here you go, now you know both the motor cycle diary and the postman are wort spending time on (if you really have time).

Exam approching, so irregular posting

2006-01-21T19:30:00.000-08:00

I am taking an eight hour long exam very soon. So, these days are little tight time wise. After few days I will try to resume more frquent posting. Still have to learn how to post photos etc. or stuff from other websites. Hope you all are doing great! Wish me luck in the exam, please.

site seeing...web sites that cought my eyes today

2006-01-13T20:22:00.000-08:00

Not everyday new things happen, new 'eureka' ideas pop up in the head of a doctoral student. So, someday I ponder..what I should write about?
Thanks God, there is site seeing opportunity...to share with friends about the sites that may interst them as these sites triggered my interest recently.

A friend from London refered this folloing website for bangla literature and networking:
www.satrong.com

A friend from Georgia referred these websites mainly for south asian community who share ideas in english language:
http://www.kavitachhibber.com/ [this website is a good place to share writings, ideas, dreams and apassions that impacts south asian people both in home and abroad]

Rivaaj Magazine:
http://www.rivaajmagazine.com/aboutrivaaj.html

This magazine, I believe, is primarily focused on new generation western women of south asian origin. But, hey, don't we know who really form the main readership group for bangla feminine magazins such as Sanonda and Anyonnya? (smile).
Please feel free to share with me your recent discoveries of websites of interst-GO SITE SEEING!

Social Security Fund Reform in USA

2006-01-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

In USA, the debate is on the rise about an eminent reform of the nation's social security system. Currently, they have a 'PAY-AS-YOU-GO' system which means social security pension contributions of current working populaiton is being concurrently used to pay out for the pension benefits of the current retirees. So, as such, the contributions are not 'invested' to grow, rather, they are being paid out to current retired people. Some of the reform advocates have voiced in favor of a fully funded system, where the contributions of current working people will be actually 'invested' so that the pie grow bigger, so that, the contributor can receive benefit of his or her own savings when they retire. Current PAYG system is heavilty dependent upon demographic realities. Currently, about four workers are supporting one retiree's benefit. But as baby boomers start retiring in few years, the ratio of retired people to working people will increase significantly which may put the social security system in to unsustainable path where future benefits may have to be significantly sqeezed, if not eliminated. This also has enormous impact on people's labor and leisure choice.

National Exchequer, Partisan Gain, and Money Talks

2006-01-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

The State I live in (Georgia), it is an election year here. Today's all the local dailies headline focused on present state government's plan of incrasing the expenditure on education significatly ["a windfall increase"-as titled by a leading local newspaper (www.ajc.com)]. The teachers would get higher salaries, class sizes would be smaller, etc. etc.-bit priority of public finance the last year of the present govt. But then, the 'eternally cynnical' opposition smells of using natinoal exchequre for partisan gain in this move of increased spending in education. The opposition's point is: " for last three years, we have been always pushing for this increased spending in education agenda...and always heard back the same excuse...not enough money to increase education budget. But then, ,now, in the election year, where did the money come from?".
So, it seems that it is not only developing countries, where it seems to be a widely held practice that spend public money strategically (but more covertly) for partisan, electoral gain. Then, one can argue that, the voters give that 'right' to a government when they elect one. So, instead of far crying what opposition needs to do is focus on how to win the hearts (actually, ballots) of the voters. But, then, if voters are 'very loyal to their salts and grains' and, if they don't have x-ray eyes to penetrated the surface to public expenditure to find the truth beneath, then there may emerge a vicious cycle of one party's reelection over and over again.

The Duality of Technology and Int'l Terrorism

2006-01-08T19:55:00.000-08:00

Technology is bringing us together...email, cell phone, video phone, sattelite, super sonic air planes etc. etc...now a days people can travel across continents faster than ever before. But the politics of terrorism is making it harder to get the full benefit of faster modes of travels and communications accross coountries. So, could we say one force is centrifugal, one is centripetal..?
Or, there is a better metaphor to capture these rival forces who tend to cancel each other out and perpetuate the status quo..to benefit who??

Time Management and Prodctivity

2006-01-07T23:31:00.000-08:00

I sometimes resolute that will finish all the studying a week before exam, but then find myself cramming up to the last minute before the exam starts.
Now, I would suspect that some people are finishing their readings and exercises earlier. Who are those people? better time managers? Book worms? Definitely a PhD program requires a tunnel vision, a continous and tenacious focus for four to five years on a particular field of study. Now, the opportunity cost of achieving this depth is we are missing out on breadth of life! So many things are happening around us...bird chimes, little art festivals, little wild flowers and herbs are growing and dying each day in the rural south..the real south? But we are missing out on these, hope some day we will catch up with these stuff, or, will we ever?

Study study study!

2006-01-06T15:41:00.000-08:00

What an eight hour long comp means to anybody? Well the medical doctors are used to it in US, because they had to take the licensing exam which is pretty lengthy. But hey, I am not an MD, why should I then be sitting their for eight hours? I should finish early.

Site Seeting- Samaritans.org GOOD JOB!

2006-01-05T18:02:00.000-08:00

I came accross this website: http://www.samaritans.org.uk/

This U.K. based NGO have volunteers to help out lonely people to reduce thera burden of loneliness.
Is not it cool?

Back to School...Ground Hog's Day Again....?!

2006-01-02T18:06:00.000-08:00

Oh, now it's time to come back to school again, get the back pack ready loaded with books, read economics some more. I tried to read the nobel ecture of the laureates of 2005 on the web www.nobelprize.org, oh, although they have video clips laoded, the text version is not yeat available. So, is Nobel.org in need of some copy writers who can retread text from watching the video over and over again? I can do that!

New Year's wishes:Peace, Prosperity and Pragmatism

2005-12-31T19:32:00.000-08:00

Hi friends, I am wishing us all a happy, peaceful and prosperous new year 2006.
Love.
~A

Refreshing Rendezvous! Thanks, Faisel Da'!

2005-12-30T20:28:00.000-08:00

It was nice talking to a good friend, philosopher and guide of mine- Faruq Faisel. Almost two decades ago, I met this multi-talented man (a journalist, development activist, humanist, magazine editor, radio and TV talk show host, a columnist, a great dad of a cute daughted, a true fusion of east and west..the list could go on and on but let's pause here for now). He is now Canda based, travels around the world in connection with human rights and social developent action research projects. His blogs are thought provoking, captures well the passing time and inspires us to work harder to build a better tomorrow for everyone( http://faruqfaisel.blogspot.com ).
Let's join me in wishing this great person a very happy and peaceful new year-Happy New Year 2006 for you, family and friends, dear Faisel da'!

Good Goes Around.....

2005-12-29T20:25:00.000-08:00

Reflecting on my Christmas eve dinner at my host family. She graduated from the same school that I am attneding now (www.gsu.edu) and raising four girls. I asked her why she likes to host international students? She said, it is kind of pay back. When she was in the Navy-she was stationed in a remote naval base for a training session which supposed to have ended two days before Christmas, but for some reason, the training had to continue until the first week of next year. So, the trainees were ordered not to leave the station.So, she was so sad that she started crying during the Christmas eve remembering family and friends. Then a local host family showed up who drove several miles to get to the naval base to adopt trainees for the Christmas celebration to take to their home for a day and then they promised to return the guests to the naval base before the training resumes. They dined together, played games...a touch of home away of home. She felt so relieved after spending that Christmas with that host family and liked it so much that she decided to 'adopt' guests who are away of their family during crhistmas. Thus every Christmas she comes out and look for international students of GSU who are staying here here away of their family and home and adopt them for a day or two. Same an act of good can really replicate it self, as my host jokingly said-like a 'good virus'! I guess I have to help someone learning driving someday for the same token...

Policy is Important

2005-12-28T14:28:00.000-08:00

I have wake up today to a realization that, policy intervention is necessary to bring in positive changes. Old saying, but new realization..after reading a news piece of a newspaper from India (www.anandabazar.com). The news is that in members of Bihar Police (Bihar is one of the states of Federal India) cook and dine in a highly segregated environment. Each racial/religious and ethnic group maintains their own kitchen and cook. This tradition has been sustaining in the state police barracks from god knows how many hundred years (at least from the Moghul period..when the organized state police froces were formed). As there was and is no policy intervention available (not until today) to change this segregating culture, this is perpetuating. So, one can argue, people have different tastes and preferences about many things, democracy should provide that diversity in the menu. But, having seperate menu and having seperate kitchen and dining place are not same and the later creates more negative externalities than positive utility maximizations as suggested by typical neoclassical economics.

My Exams..and A Recipe request

2005-12-27T17:25:00.000-08:00

Guys my exams are coming in january. That's gonna be an eight hour long exam..called comprehensive.
However, I will share with you any new thoughts that may trigger any interest for you.
But currently, I am thinking of tailoring a way of regret free life for my self.
Any recipe, guys?

Ground Hogs Day...

2005-12-26T19:55:00.000-08:00

Public forum guys....Open book...So I must share things keeping in mind of the universal audience (and my dear censor board members, ha..ha).

Recently watched movies: Ground hogs day. I know this movie was released few years ago..but, hey this was first time for me. Good making. I also enjoyed today Charlie rose's interview session of the director of 'Memoirs of Geisha'- Rob Marshall. This guy was sharing his experience of making the movie, managing an international cast (from china, Japan, U.S. and some other countries). How director has to co-ordinate himself between what interpreters had been saying of others and what his (Rob's) gut feelings was asking to comprehend.
Also, Rom mentioned that how folly it is when some poeple perceive the word 'Giesha' as a synnonym for 'Japansese sex worker'. Geisha is not that, it is more than that, I should have said beyond that. They were the icons of Japanse art and aesthetics at a time and they all went through rigorous trainings (sometimes about 19/20 hours a day for months at a stretch..) to master all the major branches of Japanse fine arts.
How ever, I was amazed to read the full text of Nobel Laureate Harold Pinters' Prize Lecture. You guys should read it too!
Good Night.

Merry Christmas, Home Alone.....

2005-12-25T20:18:00.000-08:00

Thank You, TBS , for playing home alone today....I watched this movie over and over again, and most of those times when I was home alone. So, the here is Christmas and it is slipping away until next year we get it back. I made phone calls and wrote emails to friends in many countries wishing Merry Christmas. Today was Hanukah as well. So, Happy Hanukah to my Jewish friends. I wish I could keep track of all the faith based festivals of the world so that I could greet my friends from different religions, languages and cultures. Now a days, sendings greetings became so easy! A click away! But I should also mention about the duality of technology and politics of the present time we all are passing through around the world..

One the one hand amazing advances in communications and transportation technology is bringing us together via cell phone, email, video phone, instant messaging, super sonic jet planes, sattelites etc. On the other hand, political and social unrests and extremisms are making the process of international communications difficult and slower. One of my class mate from Austria friend was telling me how slower the process has become in the immigration counters at port of entries around U.S. even for the EU nationals. I am sure, many others countries now have put additional restrictions on their immigration and emmigration processes since the beginning of this decade.

It was nice talking to my friend and former room-mate Suman. He is a computer guy originally from India. Now nicely managaing his career and family in USA and progressing with satisfactory speed. He sometimes give me some 'anti-dinosaur tips' which are very useful and taught provoking... ... Curious to know more about his tips? Stay tuned, come to read this e-journal often and eventually I may share with you his contact email address (not the cell number), OK? Good night guys.

Christmas Eve

2005-12-24T20:27:00.000-08:00

It was a nice evening in a local host family. Hostess were Ms. Sonya and thier four daughters-Bianca, Brandy, Jamie and Joy. Also there were family friends Jancie and Rashida. We, the guests were quite global-two sisters Nasiba and Salima from Tazikistan, two chinese students-Yatin and Kim, there was a guy named Snotty(born in NYC, dad from Liberia and Mom from Grenada) and I (born in Bangladesh).
We ate good food (chinese girl Yatin helped the host to cook some great dishes, thanks again Sonya and Yatin!), we played games -Gesture and Monopoly or something (can't remember the name really, kind of gesture where the description has to be by words, not via body language). Nice dessert and everything.
Great time. Thank you all-the hosts and the guests. You guys made my evening.

Festival in the Air and Free Lunches are not gone

2005-12-23T13:57:00.000-08:00

This is last week of December and festivities are in the air. I am invited to attend a chrismas eve dinner , and to a family for christmas dinner. Now, while Christmas cards can do the job, there are kids in both the houses..so, may be I will need to be a candy man too.
Today I had a lunch with a friend in a local restaurant. This pop and mom eatery has named the place after theri first child-Dania. So, it is 'Dania's gormet'. We took Salmon and green beans with fried rice. And talked about an hour over the lunch. Who told the days of free lunch is gone? As the hosting guy was celebrating the joining of a new job, so I didn't have to pay for my lunch today. So, I encourage you all to join the labor force as soon as possible and celebrate by hosting a freel lunch for guys like me who are languising in the graduate school for more than four years in a row...

Thinking Man's Tavern

2005-12-22T16:14:00.000-08:00

Names of eating and drinking places are believed to offer interesting images in the minds of prospective customers , and, in that sense, an interesting name is the most cost effective ever lasting ad campaign a business house ever wishes to run.
While driving to the local farmers market, a tavern's name caought my eyes...
"Thinking Man Tavern" ( http://www.thinkingmantavern.com/ ).
Interesting logo, nice menu and affordable price tags, most of all, the word 'tavern' immediately creates a handful of british imagery in the head of the reader takes him or her back to the time of Robin Hood, and Kings and Queens and Lords and Barons and, many other icons of the Britis isles.
One day I am going to try that tavern and will report as I hear the bell tolls there...

My Days...

2005-12-21T16:17:00.000-08:00

How do you guys feel to be in grad school 7 years in a row?....Ask me and I will share how it feels adn what it takes.......
As soon as I finished doing my MBA, I started pursuing this phd program in economics.
Hope someday all these will be paid off...
So, I hear bell tolls occasionally. Don't get a chance to post blogs daily.
But you guys can post something on my behalf on this website. I have allowed the setting such way that anybody can post something here without going thruogh those boring signing up process.
Take care.
~A

Hi, Friends! Let's Celeb My Little Web Presence!!

2005-12-18T21:04:00.000-08:00

So, here I am. As I hear the bell tolls, so I will share with you. If you hear it differently, You have my respect. Would love to listen to your storiefs...the way you hear it.
Cordially,
Abdullah