Pass with caution!

Driving in India, especially north India, is a constant game of who will blink first. Every one has only one objective, irrespective of even traffic lights, “let me get through…..to hell with everything else”. Running down pedestrians is fast becoming a satisfying goal for majority of vehicle drivers. Honking for least cause is de-riguer. You can define micro-second by the time elapsed between lights changing green to hearing the honk from the guy behind you!!!
It was therefore a pleasant surprise when I saw a motorist screech to a stop at zebra crossing to let a pedestrian walk across first. As I was following in the same lane I also stopped. So far so good. Just when I was thanking the gods that some courtesy is back on roads the car in the slower lane came from behind and almost took off the poor walker from zebra strip to kingdom beyond where zebra’s actually live. I admire the courtesy of the first motorist and wish the second one also learns some pronto.

Training in computers: I do not have any formal education in computers. Hands on work experience and reading has taught me a lot

Approach to life: Tinkerer

Work experience: 29 years work experience in project execution, product launch, production, technology and marketing management

Current designation: Vice President, Nuchem Limited

My work: Production, Strategic marketing and sales. Division head. Additional charge of Computer use policy, including the technology directions

System overview: Being in charge of developing and nurturing a new product start up demonstrated to me the value of planning in systems and procedures. Computer usage was logical extension of system design. This experience gives me an appreciation as well as understanding of information technology. Experience has taught me to spot technology over-sell, the biggest pitfall.

Total cost of ownership and return on investment are primary motto in any implementation and consultation.

FOSS & Linux: I have completely moved our work systems to Linux base for last five years. Having committed to open source concept I spend some of my time in raising awareness on possibilities and benefits of FOSS movement.

FOSS activities:

• Active in various help-lists, both as problem poser and solver
• Promoting LTSP project. I consider this to be a elegant, exciting and excellent solution in providing low cost computing resources by optimising CPU cycles and re-cycling older hardware to work with the latest software.
• Published article on LTSP setup in PCQuest

Invited speaker at various FOSS events:

• Linux Demo Day – Hamdard University, Delhi (September 2004)
• Linux Asia 2005, Delhi (February 2005)
• Linux for You Seminar, Delhi (June 2005)
• FreeDel ILUGD – PHDCCI, Delhi (September 2005)
• Foss.In, Banglore (November, 2005)
• Linux Asia 2006, Delhi (February 2006)
• FOSSSL, Colombo (August, 2006)
• OpenTech JNU, Delhi (October 2006)

Interactions:

• IMT College, Faridabad
• Indian Institute of Statistics, Delhi
• RAI University, Faridabad
• GLA Institute of Management & Technology, Mathura