Certificate Course : History of Scientific Discoveries

Inspirational Life Lessons for Effective Living

Audience: All

Duration: 45 Hours (4:15PM – 5:45 PM) (Mon, Wed, Fri)

First Batch Completed with 60 Students from June to September 2013

(23 Activities Based Class : Thinking, Leadership, IPS, Team Work, Theatre, Video Snippets)

Second Batch Starting June 2014

Venue: Central Block Room 811

·         Get a good understanding on the History of Scientific Discoveries

·         Appreciate Key Traits to live effective lives today

·         Learn from mistakes done by Scientist

·         Take inspiration to use time more effectively

·         Activity Based Interactive Classes

Scientific Discoveries ·         Astronomy / Cosmology ·         Chemistry / Physics ·         Life / Evolution ·         Geology

Inspiration from  lives of : Aristotle, Ibn al Haytham, Isaac Newton, Gottfried Leibniz, Euler, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr,Marie Curie, Charles Darwin, Stephen Hawking, Aryabhatta, Jagdish Chandra Bose, CV Raman, S Ramanujan

Effective Living Traits

·         Perseverance/Dedication

·         Passion for Excellence

·         Thinking / Creativity

·         People Connect

·         Attitude Problems

            Caution / Pitfalls


Based on Popular Science Books: 

•  A Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill Bryson
• Big Bang, Simon Singh

Sense and Simplicity : A biography

Babu Mooken

• Son of Rosy & Thomas -> Son of Porunju -> Son of Thomas Mooken
• Born Moospet Road, Thrissur

Love is not just words but action which come from sincerity and unflinching passion for the good and growth of the other. Babu chetttan (elder brother) is that true love personified. If somebody is unwell you can bet a hundred dollars that chettan will be the first to visit them. If there is a marriage or get together to be organised he will be at the helm of the work. You will not find him at a sick man’s bedside with a bouquet of roses but with a more healthy two kg of apples. You will not find him gifting a photo album or frame but with a more practical and long term item like a food processor.

My maternal cousin is currently retired, father of two, brother to 5 siblings and a mentor of many. A person towards him respect came automatically. There is no double guessing, there is no complicated mind games …. Frank and to the point … (I am over weight and he would not hesitate to point out within a jiffy)

He did his schooling from Kerala he did some odd jobs like working in a wholesale and a chemist shop, a sales job in Reckitt and Colman Agency. He still remembers brands like Cherry Blossom he used to deal, with a tinge of nostalgia. In January 1968 he came to Delhi, the city of eternal hope in those days.

A 22 year old coming to Delhi via Chennai (a 4 days journey in those days) in search of a job is right out of Bollywood. Our hero arrives in Delhi and stays with his Uncle and Aunt’s in their small house in a railway colony. After a couple of days this young boy caught a Bus No 6: Lodhi Colony to Tilak Nagar with an address in hand in a strange land, struggling to speak Hindi and hoping to reach a place in Kirti Nagar. “Hope he makes it” was my mother’s prayer and “World is my stage” was in Babu chettan’s heart. But fate had planned to test this young lad. And a test in fire it was, searching for the address for 2-3 hours the knight returned home only to get a scolding from his uncle on his gross inability to locate the place. Babu chettan tightened his resolve and the very next day was on Bus 6 once again.

He worked as a typist, took accredeition from a government agency and finally got a government job. People take a lot of struggle to get a house but Babu Chettan was no ordinary man he got flat allotted to him in his very first government job as a Lower Division Clerk (LDC). Destiny, Fate or was it his mother’s prayer back in Kerala … but in any case Chettan’s life was on track (not very smooth but more like a roller coaster). He later went on to resign his government job and joined an agriculture business enterprise as business was in his blood like his grandfather.

Born in 1946 the second child and eldest son in a family of 6 children. He is married and now resides in Delhi with his wife(Jessy) and two kids (Leo and Cyril).

Not very good in studies is what he recollects from his school days … some of his friends and relations remember that he did struggle in Maths. Very active in drama, church activities and member of an active social service group (closing pot holes on the road to distributing milk)

A dream to go to Russia !! Maybe influenced by his communist inclined neighbours in his teen years or maybe because of an essay he wrote for a magazine in his youth. It seemed unlikely when he worked as a sales man in a chemist shop and as a 10^th pass in Delhi.

But this matriculate later in life cleared Intermediate and Bachelor in Commerce from Delhi University. Post Graduate Degree in Marketing from Bhartya Vidya Bhavan later added a feather to his cap.

Worked very hard not for money, fame or greater opportunities but his simple philosophy to do what you do well. Babu chettan travelled extensively all across India as part of his job profile. He met farmers as well as officials in remote places. He worked with passion and zeal second to none at his workplace. It was not surprising then as he rose up in the cadre from a clerk to a manager. Finally his most cherished moment at work when he got an opportunity to go to Russia.

Babu chettan retired as a General Manager but his feet was always firmly grounded, no pompous air and no jazzy car. He is on a pacemaker now but still talks and laughs with nonchalant ease, came to meet and motivate my ailing dad, went to attend funeral of his aunt in Kerala ….. As somebody once said “A life is not important except in the impact it has on others lives” ..... and in this category the award goes to our family role model .... Babu Mooken .

"It is true that good things cannot and should not be hidden. Babu Chetan is a GEM, unassuming, may not eloquently express his love and affection but we know, we have felt the deep love he has for each one of us. Indeed a role model." P J Michael

"Babu uncle has been a significant person not just for the Mooken / Puthur family all of his friends and relatives. My childhood recollections when Babu Uncle visits us I used to just leave everything and sit just to listen what he says. .and comments. His perspective towards life was different. I wish the best for him.God bless." Jim Puthur 

Followership 5 @ MTech Christ University, Kengeri

Copy of CUFE Report

 

On the 13^th of September, the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, CUFE had organized a workshop on leadership skills. The event was a collaborative effort of Prof K Balachandran, Head of Computer Science & Engineering and Prof Jibrael Jos. Prof Jibrael Jos, presently a faculty in Department of Computer Science, Christ University, Hosur Road, has over 12 years of industry experience in the area of Business Intelligence, Project Management, Recruiting and Training.

A group of 24 students, both from M Tech 1^st and 2^nd years had taken effective part in the workshop. The workshop was a day-long session that began at 9 in the morning and went on till 4 in the evening. The leadership workshop, termed as “Followership” workshop, was filled with many activities that were not only aimed at bringing out effective leaders in the participants but also giving them insight on how to be good team players. The session included events like Think First, Thespian Walk, Leadership Traits, Building from Scratch and many more, in which the students were divided into teams and were given challenges. Prof K Balachandran took a session on Leadership Traits; he used a blend of a Image based presentation, Individual Introspection and Group Interaction to drive home the key traits of a leader. Towards the end of the session, Prof Jibrael Jos had the students identify not just their goals and aims but also their habits, strengths, weaknesses and many more factors that could help them recognize their individuality and entrust upon them the urge to reach their goals.

It closed at 4 pm as an eventful and beneficial workshop for the students, who have stated it to be both fun and educative workshop- one of the like they would look forward to

"I like the “Cricket Stadium Making” in which we have spent time on planning, designing and implementing it with our peers", Amresh Kumar

"You sure inspired us with the small things that matter a lot", Kanthi Aradhana

So enjoy what you do or do what you enjoy

Enjoy the tempest in life
       like the first monsoon rain
Enjoy another's laughter but also
       shed a tear for another's pain
             
Take time to smell the flowers
      and to enjoy the gentle showers
Take time to see the clouds
      and to observe the crowds

How long will you stare at the monitor
          Solve Something
How long will you stare at the mirror
          Reflect on Something

How long will you run
          Compile Something
How long will you cry
      Debug Something

Imagine Something
    Build Something
        Share Something
and not to forget be a part of Something

So enjoy what you do or do what you enjoy

Fourth year as a teacher and at times I have to pinch myself to check that is it for real.

Every time I enter a classroom, I am not sure what goes thru the minds of the students but I definitely feel a sense of wow. What I teach and who I teach does make a difference in the wow factor ... but it is wow all right

Sometimes a non interested classroom challenges and motivates me to do better. On the other hand a talented class who are too lazy to do their homework fills me with dispair.

When I tell students that guys you have potential not everybody believe me. I can clearly see the potential bubbling inside them, most of them change in the 3 years for the better, but the rate of change depends on person to person. The power of incremental learning we all know .... but why o why dont we put it to action !!

As a teacher I try in the following areas

• Thinking
• Self Belief
• Appreciate Fundamental Concepts
• Wow for the Subject at Hand
• Public Speaking
• Expressing
• Reading
• Comprehension
• Leadership
• Coding Skill
• Database Engine
• Beauty of C in Unix
• Underlying Design of OOPS
• Wonder of MS Excel
• Telling Stories

Christ University and Computer Science Department has provided me with lot of freedom to innovate, to give creative assignments, changes in teaching pedagogy, Leadership Workshop, Think First Workshop, Using Theatre in Class, changes in Lab pattern, Seminar Pattern, Exam Pattern, Coding Competition, College Fest, Corporate Connect, Special Lectures etc

I have got opportunity to teach B.Sc, BCA, M.Sc, MCA, BBA, BBM, MPhil and Law. Most importantly I get a chance to stay connected with industry by teaching M.S Computer Science on weekends (for working professionals from all major IT Companies)

For some all of this may seem as work but for me this is fun. Those who know me before know that I was happy even as a DBA, Software Engineer, C Developer, IT Manager, Onsite Manager, Senior Consultant, Culture and Competency Manager.

So enjoy what you do or do what you enjoy

1089

I was reading this great book on Maths. 1089 and all that by David Acheson

Just 167 pages of a book the size of the palm of my hand

Some questions the author raised had me thinking
1. Why is Negatives times Negative = Positive ? What is the proof ? What is the application ?
2. What is the best way to place three circles fully inside a triangle, such that the circles occupy maximum area. We need to vary the radius of circles to maximize the area. Each circle can have different radius
3. How much area is required to turn a stick of length 'd', by 180 degrees. Assume you have to move in 2 dimensions (Hint it is less than area of circle)
4. Prove Pythagoras Theorem square(a) + square(b) =square(c)
5. Why is pi connected to the series 1 -1/3 +1/5 - 1/7 + 1/9 ..... . After all pi is related to area of circle, so what is connection !!
6. What exactly are complex numbers. If they are imaginary why do we need it here in the real world
7. Did you know the i (complex number) e (natural log base) and pi are related by Euler Formula !!
8. If there are 4 cities and we want to connect them with roads. Assume the cities are in four corners of a square. What is the best way to connect them with minimum road laying cost. (Hint: Answers is not Minimum Spanning Tree and neither is it 2 diagonals !!)
9. Why is the book called 1089

Read if if you get a chance, it is available in Christ Library