Author's Note: This post and accompanying photographs are copyrighted by the author; and any unauthorized replication, storage or publishing of this material without the author's express written (and signed on paper) permission is prohibited.
The author has been in the High Tech industry for over a decade; and can be reached on nsnsns(at)gmail(dot)com or mobile: 9811109407 and is happy to attend and blog about technology events and technology news; please feel free to contact him with your questions, comments, opinions and info about tech events in delhi.
Also, before everything else, my heartiest compliments and thanks for a great job done--- to Vijay and team (Sudhir, Divya, Kiruba, many others whose name I wasnt exposed to)-- my only complaint :-))) -- u cud do it bigger!!! 10 times bigger next time guys!!! :-)))
Also, the main reason I'm posting is because I googled around; but couldnt find any articles that did justice to the awesome event that proto.in 2008 at IIT-Del was...
This article is also on posted on VentureWoods - The startup and venture capital blog. will also be posted on my DelhiVoice Blog... http://delhivoice.blogspot.com --> and I encourage you to visit that blog too...
Hi Folks...
I was there at proto.in at IIT Delhi on 18-19 July 2008.
This was my first time at Proto.in- as earlier I wasnt sure if it'd be worth it- since I'm not actually looking for any funding from VCs nor do I have a product idea for which I need to create a buzz- but anyways, some college buddies who're also ex-Trilogy God programmers were here in Delhi showcasing their startup's concept and I took the liberty of hanging around them, feasting my eyes and ears on the intense startup and ideation action around me.
It was a amazing, awesome, mind-expanding experience- to understate it and to put it mildly. It was something everyone in the tech industry should check out-- even if you're not even remotely looking to interact with VCs and even if you have no entrepreneurship thoughts even from a distance.
Here's a bit of what I saw that inspired me to make the above statement.
(1) You heard "Allah ke bande has de" from the Movie Waisa bhi hota hai ?
You seen the Quick Gun Murugan commercials on your fave music channel ?
---> Shashanka Ghosh... the guy who conceived and executed both of the above was there talking about his filmmaking experiences and on the perspectives he got to hear from folks like Ram Gopal Verma when he presented his ideas to them. Furthermore, beyond any book on writing business plans, he shared his thoughts on getting funding; interacting with financiers and why he took some of his ideas only as far as he did-- and not as far as they could have gone.
And he did it all in a talk that was peppered with humour and a projector showing rushes from some of the movies/commercials he has done and some which are upcoming...
(2) There was Kiruba Shankar... one of India's premier podcasters competing with everyone else in the quiz and taking his shot at running the ideation session... a idea jam... where people would grab the mike and spout forth on ideas; as others expanded them and took things forward.... a lively entertaining session; which incidentally was surprisingly fruitful in generating some ideas on changing the shape of Indian society and indian politics... which kept the audience on it's feet and entertained throughout and which (surprisingly!) gave out prizes to ideas that generated the maximum momentum - and momentum was judged and measured in a surprisingly objective way.
(3) There were startups too; with loads of great ideas, presenting their concepts... and pushing their buttons and there was a session where all the startups were asked to sit on different tables in the luncheon area and attendees were encouraged to stroll by and talk to whoever they wanted to and see whichever demo they fancied seeing...
I personally had a pleasant surprise learning that one of the hot idea start-ups had as it's CTO a guy who was once one half of a team whose other half... it's chief marketting officer & CEO I had interacted extensively with over Ryze and over yahoo messenger... always great to learn it's a small world... and the world is round too!!!
(4) Food and coffee flowed freely and the ambience of IIT-D added to the atmosphere... but for me atleast, what really brightened up the atmosphere was the pleasure of running into and meeting a whole bunch of hot-shot techie faces I had heard or read about...
There were indeed a whole bunch of interesting people. There were folks who're agewise kids compared to me but who I respect as upcoming God programmers. And there were people I have heard and read about in techie circles but have never met. And then there were individuals I knew at college years back as God-programmers who are now senior technologists. And many others whose acquaintaince I will cherish... there was everybody... a electric mix but in a very civil garb... and a pleasure to rub shoulders with and interact with...
I'm sure the startups presenting their products must have got their mileage too; for I saw people wearing badges of various incubators and every Seed-stage and mid-stage funding company I could think of and a few I had never heard of and I saw lots of interesting potentially lucrative products being presented... but yeah, I thought I'd share my take on stuff as a attendee-- so that folks that wonder abt the value of buying a pass to proto.in and attending-- but who are doubtful about showing up or doubtful about spending money see the value and do show up next time.
Some of the startups / attendees / people I met at proto.in 2008 included: (I hope my posting your names is ok- if any comments for additions/deletions, please mail me)
LifeBlob http://www.lifeblob.com
ApnaBill http://www.fourfractions.com
SocialWebFactory http://www.socialwebfactory.com
iStrait http://www.istrait.com
Eko - Mobile Financial Azadi http://eko.co.in
WebEx http://www.webex.co.in
Mustseeindia http://www.mustseeindia.com
Inkfruit (a t-shirt publishing company!) www.inkfruit.com
Medianama http://www.medianama.com
Muziboo http://www.muziboo.com
Lords of the odds http://www.lordsoftheodds.com
Pureplay Media
2i Capital India Pvt Ltd
... and many more... this was just a sampling from the names I remembered and the visiting cards I collected...
Posted below are some photos I shot at the Proto.in Delhi 18-19 July 2008... I hope ya like them... reach me on nsnsns(at)gmail(dot)com or on 9811109407... and I'd be happy to hear your comments...
Also, Lets make a flickr photo-pool of Proto.in snaps or if there is; please do inform me...
Also, finally, my thanks to Mr.Bakshish Dutta (dbakshish@hotmail.com), General Manager - Startups and Emerging Markets (Web 2.0) at sun microsystems; who when phoned him and asked him if proto was worth it and if he had a extra pass for me; strongly advised me to show-up and check out the atmosphere-- even if I showed up for a few hours...
A plug for Sun: Guys if your startup needs servers or if your web application uses a database; chances are you will be using MySQL- which while still free; is now owned and supported by Sun-- and I strongly advise you to atleast talk Sun Microsystems; enquire about their offerings and their prices-- they are doing a lot of interesting work to encourage startups... and a lot of their offerings beat the grey market/nehru place offerings fair and square; and their price includes the extremely valuable advice/information they share about servers, technology and technology options!!!
Please feel free to comment/ share your opinions.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Proto.in Delhi - 18-19 July 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
DYSOC 2008 Countdown - Russia ahead in Arctic 'gold rush'
In our Countdown towards DYSOC 2008's Youth Climate Charter to be released on May 29th 2008... we'll be covering some aspect of climate change each day... till May 29th 2008...
| By Paul Reynolds World Affairs correspondent, BBC News website |
As the arctic ice-melt continues... the Russians are leading a new "gold rush" in the high north, with a bold attempt to assert a claim to oil, gas and mineral rights over large parts of the Arctic Ocean up to the North Pole.
Check out this article... posted by the BBC...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6925853.stm
-----
| By Paul Reynolds World Affairs correspondent, BBC News website |
The Russians are leading a new "gold rush" in the high north, with a bold attempt to assert a claim to oil, gas and mineral rights over large parts of the Arctic Ocean up to the North Pole.
Russia's most famous explorer, Artur Chilingarov, complete with nautical beard, led the expedition to plant the Russian flag in a capsule on the ocean seabed under the pole itself.
"The Arctic is Russian," Chilingarov said earlier. "We must prove the North Pole is an extension of the Russian coastal shelf."
Russia is claiming that an underwater mountain known as the Lomonosov Ridge is actually an extension of the Russian landmass.
This, it argues, justifies its claim to a triangular area up to the pole, giving it rights under the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention.
Under Article 76 of the convention, a state can claim a 200 nautical mile exclusive zone and beyond that up to 150 nautical miles of rights on the seabed. The baseline from which these distances are measured depends on where the continental shelf ends.
Russia lodged a formal claim in 2001 but the UN's Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf told it to resubmit the claim. The flag-planting can be seen as a symbolic gesture in support.
At the same time, other states are acting to protect their interests in the Arctic. Canada is planning to build up to eight new patrol ships and the US Congress is considering a proposal to build two new heavy polar ships.
The rush for the Arctic has become more frenzied because of the melting of parts of the polar ice cap, which will allow easier exploration, and by the urgent need for new sources of oil and gas. A new sense of nationalism is also evident in Russia.
The ice thaw is predicted by a team of international researchers whose Arctic Climate Impact Assessment suggested in 2004 that the summer ice cap could melt completely before the end of this century because of global warming.
If the ice retreats, it could open up new shipping routes and new areas where natural resources could be exploited.
The US Geological Survey estimates that a quarter of the world's undiscovered energy resources lies in Arctic areas.
At the moment, nobody's shelf extends up to the North Pole so there is an international area around the Pole administered by the International Seabed Authority from Kingston, Jamaica.
But quite apart from the Russian claim there are multiple other disputes.
The US and Canada argue over rights in the North-west Passage, Norway and Russia differ over the Barents Sea, Canada and Denmark are competing over a small island off Greenland, the Russian parliament is refusing to ratify an agreement with the US over the Bering Sea and Denmark is claiming the North Pole itself.
North Pole solutions
The five countries involved are considering two other potential ways of sharing the region, in which all the sea would be divided between them.
The "median line method", supported by Canada and Denmark, would divide the Arctic waters between countries according to their length of nearest coastline. This would give Denmark the Pole itself but Canada would gain as well.
The "sector method" would take the North Pole as the centre and draw lines south along longitudes. This would penalise Canada but Norway and, to a lesser extent, Russia, would gain.
One major problem is that the United States has not ratified the 1982 UN convention, largely because senators did not want to have international restrictions placed on American actions.
However, in May 2007, Senator Richard Lugar, a senior Republican, pleaded for ratification in the light of the Russian moves, saying that an American voice was needed at the negotiating table.
2) Lomonosov Ridge: Russia argues that this underwater feature is an extension of its continental territory and is looking for evidence
3) 200-nautical mile (370km) line: Shows how far countries' agreed economic area extends beyond their coastline. Often set from outlying islands
4) Russian-claimed territory: The bid to claim a vast area is being closely watched by other countries. Some could follow suit
Delhi Youth Summit on Climate - May 28, 29 2008 - (DYSoC 2008)
The Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) /Delhi Greens and the Nehru
Memorial Museum & Library (NMML), in collaboration with LEAD India,
Fountain of Development Research & Action (FODRA), The Climate Project
- India, SAYEN/UNEP and in partnership with the YP Foundation is
organising a two day "Delhi Youth Summit on Climate" (DYSoC 2008) at
Teen Murti Bhawan, on the 28th and 29th of this month.
The two-day event will bring together youth from different parts of
the city and different backgrounds - to discuss, debate, share
concerns and find innovative solutions to the pressing problems faced
by Delhi and to shape a vision towards securing and safe-guarding our
common future.
All concerned citizens between the age group of 18 - 30 years are
invited to participate in this historic event - to hammer out a Delhi
Youth Charter on Climate. Individuals outside the age group are
welcome to attend the summit as observers. Pre-registration is
mandatory for participants while observers can do spot-registration on
the event day(s). The summit will conclude with a white paper or the
"Delhi Youth Charter on Climate", that would be presented to the Chief
Minister, Environment Secretary and all decision-making bodies in
Delhi.
To find more, read what the media is saying about the summit and to
register yourself, visit: http://iycn.in/dysoc
(Registration is now open and shortlisting is being done on a
first-come-first-serve basis. Pre-registration is a must to
participate in Summit)
Kartikeya Singh
Event Coordinator
Indian Youth Climate Network
iycn.in
Ph: +91-9999-00-88-07
E-mail: kartikeya@delhigreens.org
--
Govind Singh
IYCN, Delhi Greens
M. +91-98111-477-54
E. govind@delhigreens.org
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Coming soon... a post abt PVR anupam;
Coming soon... a post abt PVR anupam;
people seeing this, please suggest/comment on what I can touch upon in my next post...
Madhuban Fine Dining, and PVR memories
http://jaiarjun.blogspot.com/2005/11/madhuban-fine-dining-and-pvr-memories.html
Changing Delhi (inspired by Priya's blog)!
http://sharmavivek.sulekha.com/blog/post/2005/05/changing-delhi-inspired-by-priya-s-blog.htm
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai/Lagta Khuda ka nek irada hai...
This video is one of my favorites.
For those that arent into hindi/urdu and need a explanation of lyrics... talks abt falling in love etc.
This has lyrics like "Kya Mujhe Pyaar hai ? Lagta Khuda ka Nek Irada hai... kal ka fakir aaj shehzaada hai"
Translation: "seems by God's Good Intentions I'm in love... yesterday's Fakir is today's Crown Prince"
(Fakir = wandering holy-man who survives by begging for alms)
Love the lyrics coz I'm a technology buff and I love disruptive technologies that change the faces of markets, challenge status quo and throw up new kings... and yeah, at some level, love is the ultimate disruptive technology!!! That makes folks break old bonds and create new relationships...
Enjoy the beautiful video folks... and if there's someone that's not soo much into the hindi/urdu lyrics and wants a translation... comment me... and I'll do the honours!!!
And for folks that're heavy into music trivia; someone explain to me the caption this video had on you tube.
"The remix video of the song "Kya Mujhse Pyar Hai" from Woh Lamhe. And before anyone decides to bombard this one with comments - YES, I realize the song is a copy of Tak Bisakah by Peter Pan. Don't state the obvious."
[You Tube Caption for the above video]
Who's 'Tak Bisakah' and WTF's 'Peter Pan' ???? Drop me a comment, I'd love to hear the funda behind these names/words...
aaaa
zzzz
Petty Shopkeepers & deep convictions; versus white lies adding up to a petty life...
If there's one thing I pride myself for- it's my ability to connect with the ground reality- and be sensitive to the market around me.
And yeah... each time I visit a market- I feel like I'm visiting a beach or climbing a beautiful snow covered mountain or experiencing a communion with God.
Why ? because a market to me embodies a idea of freedom and independance. A idea of being one's own boss and living by one's beliefs and sleeping happy even if that means sleeping hungry.
And yet; that same sense of independance often adds up to anarchy; and that same sense of shop-keeperliness adds up to chaos and a seemingly ungovernable city.
So ok; one aspect of this ungovernable-ness is the sealing of un-planned shops that's happening here.
Another is the spectre of student protesters clashing with and inflicting casualities upon heavily armed riot police...
ANd then there's the dark side!!!
Of stupidly profiteering autowallahs that give our city a bad name.
Ok, so anyways, I met this friend on orkut- she's a law student, and passionate abt taking a stand for certain causes... most notably the one relating to profiteering autowallahs... so ok, here's this scrap exchange we recently had on orkut:--
Myself: (in orkut scrap)
You know, I and a friend were standing at a uncle-jee's shop- and a friend remarked upon seeing a 23 yr old female autodriver about the equality - and uncle-jee sadly commented abt how she's their neighbour and how when school bus didnt come, she charged him Rs 60 for a ride others charge Rs 20 for and insisted on talking rudely to them in front of their kids.
NC: (Orkut scrap)
the term 'autowallah' is used as iv never come across an 'autowallih'....so for me its a gender neutral term.....feminism is not abt.allowing women to indulge in corrupt actions.....whether a woman or a man, 'autodrivers' will surely be taken to task if the meters are messed up with!!!
... a interesting exchange... and yeah... this is a exchange we're gonna come back to, with heavy philosphy someday soon... so, folks!!! watch this space!!!
Rock On, rocking city...
THis photo folks is a photo of a popular pop singer called Kailash Kher performing live at a college rock-show.
Kailash Kher folks for those who're not plugged into this particular genre of music got famous performing a song called "Allah Ke Bande Has Dey" (Laugh oh Man of God); the lyrics of which alluded to the importance of hanging on, and seeing hope, even when one's dreams or plans are shattered.
To me, this song embodies everything the city of Delhi stands for... in it's spirit and in it's history.
So, without further ado, here's the video; and then lyrics of this awesome song, with a rough translation by local-guy...
Allah Ke Bande Has De - performed & written originally by Kailash Kher
(lyrics picked up from http://www.indianguitartabs.com/archive/index.php/t-3490.html
Toota Toota Ek Parinda Aise Toota
G
Ke Phir Jud Naa Paaya
G D
Loota Loota Kisne Usko Aise Loota
G
Ke Phir Ud Naa Paaya
(a bird, broke such that it couldnt put itself together again;
so badly did someone rob it that, that it couldnt fly again)
(Rythm Starts)
Verse 2:
D G
Girta Hua Woh Asma Se
D G
Aakar Gira Zameen Par
D
Khwabon Mein Phir Bhi Badal Hi The
G D
Woh Kehta Raha Magar
Chorus:
G
Ke Allah Ke Bande Hasde Allah Ke Bande
C
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Jo Bhi Ho Kal Phir Aayega
G
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Allah Ke Bande
C
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Jo Bhi Ho Kal Phir Aayega
(falling from the sky, fell on the ground
in his (bird's) dreams there were still clouds,
and he (bird) kept repeating "oh man of God Laugh, Tomorrow will come again")
(Same as verse one)
Kho Ke Aapne Par Hi To Usne Tha Ud Naa Sikha
Kho Ke Aapne Par Hi To O O O
Kho Ke Aapne Par Hi To Usne Tha Ud Naa Sikha
Gham Ko Aapne Saath Mein Lele Dard Bhi Tere Kaam
Aayega
(it was only by losing his wings did he learn to fly,
take the sorrow with you, even the pain will serve you)
Chorus:
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Allah Ke Bande
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Jo Bhi Ho Kal Phir Aayega
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Allah Ke Bande
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Jo Bhi Ho Kal Phir Aayega
Aa Aa Aaa
D G
Tukde Tuke Ho Gaya Tha Har Sapna Jab Woh Toota
D
Tukde Tuke Ho Gaya Tha Aa Aaa Aa
D G
Tukde Tuke Ho Gaya Tha Har Sapna Jab Woh Toota
D
Bhikre Tukdon Mein Allah Ki Marzi Ka Manzar Paayega
(shattered was each dream when he broke,
broken to pieces,
in broken pieces will you find the shrine of the Lord's Wishes)
Chorus:
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Allah Ke Bande
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Jo Bhi Ho Kal Phir Aayega
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Allah Ke Bande
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Jo Bhi Ho Kal Phir Aayega
Toota Toota Ek Parinda Aise Toota
Ke Phir Jud Naa Paaya
Loota Loota Kisne Usko Aise Loota
Ke Phir Ud Naa Paaya
Girta Hua Woh Asma Se
Aakar Gira Zameen Par
Khwabon Mein Phir Bhi Badal Hi The
Woh Kehta Raha Magar
Ke Allah Ke Bande Hasde Allah Ke Bande
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Jo Bhi Ho Kal Phir Aayega
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Allah Ke Bande
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Jo Bhi Ho Kal Phir Aayega
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Allah Ke Bande
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Jo Bhi Ho Kal Phir Aayega
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Allah Ke Bande
Allah Ke Bande Hasde Jo Bhi Ho Kal Phir Aayega
It's a beautiful song... and only by knowing the language can one do justice to it's lyrics... but yeah, to folks like myself that's what the city of Delhi (and perhaps Lahore), more than any other city of the world embodies.
More from me soon... and I'm gonna be auditioning some team-members for this site real soon now... so, people, watch this space.
And if someone knows where I can find the youtube video for this song; drop me a note in comments and I'll add this to the blog...