Photo by Yannis Papanastasopoulos on Unsplash
Illustration by Nilapratim Sengupta
“Peace in the universe rests on the shoulders of the tellers of good tales, the tellers of tales that give hope. They are the hope whisperers.“
The “Tribe of Hope Whisperers” grew from several roots but primarily from a beautifully recontextualized folklore (source of the above quote) by Sherline Pimenta, a Kathanika or professional teller of tales, that we published in our first issue of 2020. The phrase the “Tribe of Hope Whisperers” had such a lovely ring to it that we decided to put together an entire issue around the theme.
Now, after living a year when reality has often seemed stranger than fiction, an issue about “hope” cannot but embrace the whole of humanity. Hoping is, after all, an inherent part of being human. But how can one find hope amid uncertainty, conflict, or loss? How does one keep hope alive? To answer these questions, we set out on a quest that took us beyond the tribe of storytellers. The outcome is this issue in which hope takes many forms and voices, which we have divided into three themes.
Spreading Hope
Representing our original vision for this issue, we have the tribe of “storytellers,” “artists,” and “doers” who spread the myriad colors of hope through their actions, words, and deeds. There are stories about storytellers, and stories about men and women whose innovations and initiatives have changed the world (or a small corner of it) for the better, in whatever fashion, to whatever degree.
The Race to the Vaccine!
Big changes can only come when one is only willing to take that leap of faith; a first-person account of the Moderna Vaccine trials to illustrate that maxim.
It’s All About Telling Stories
The life journey of a master storyteller who has taken his love of stories to all forms of art.
Driven by Hope: Engineering, Economics and Strategy
An inspiring account of how sound engineering, economics and strategy, driven by hope enabled a struggling Indian company to survive the international competition and emerge triumphant in the post-liberalization era.
Finding Silver Lining in a Cloud
One of the positive changes that 2020 wrought – an increased consciousness about good health and a willingness to do something about it. The authors’ journey to better health, and his efforts to share what he’d learnt with a wider audience in 2020.
The Love of Reading
About an 18-year old vibrant book club in Pune who continued to meet virtually in 2020 and expanded their reach too!
Caterpillars Can Fly
A start-up travel company’s journey of metamorphosis during the pandemic. A story not just of challenges but the overcoming of them too.
Learning at Dawn
A thought-provoking piece by the creator of the Indian Rupee symbol that takes you through a teacher’s quest for perfection and diligence in his students.
The Same Yet Different World
Do folktales have a higher purpose? Read two folklores from two apparently disparate cultures that open our eyes to “other” worlds that lie beyond ours.
The Entrepreneurial Roller Coaster: IndianRaga
In the third installment of the Entrepreneurial Roller Coaster column, we introduce you to Sriram Emani, who has set up the largest Indian arts platform in the world.
The Pandemic: A World of Opportunities
In a year in which social distancing has been the norm, here’s an article on how music can connect people spread across geographies.
Living with Hope
We also hear the voices of those who live with hope for the situation to right itself; those caught between the ‘now’ and the ‘not yet’ who have been patiently holding up a candle to darkness. These are tales of sheer determination, tenacity and resilience.
The Master’s Mantra
A story set in Venetian lagoons that looks deep into the question of what constitutes true inspiration in art.
The Stranger In Your Mind
Our zany illustrator takes to poetry this time, to explore themes of truth, identity and attitude.
#AnEveningWithoutHashtags
On mobile phones, hi-speed Internet and why we need the occasional Internet Sabbath to reclaim our lives.
A COVID Tale from Melbourne
Glimpses of 2020 from a land down under; the changes in daily life and in one’s emotional landscape, the habits cultivated in order to keep going on.
The Bytes We Snack On
Uses an analogy of the snacks that we binge on to explore (online) content consumption habits and the impact on us.
The Underdog
A bittersweet tale of a friendship between a man and a dog; the story unfolds slowly and is rich in detail, one to be savoured, not skimmed through.
And, then we have stories of ordinary people finding hope and solace in the smallest things of life such as dandelions that push their way up toward the sunlight.
Finding Hope
The dandelion that features in the cover illustration of this issue, in fact, beautifully embodies the elusive yet all-pervasiveness nature of hope — unnoticeable and gentle at first sight but with an amazing determination to self-propagate. Like a dandelion seed that sets sail on the back of winds in search of renewed life in unknown lands, we hope that you can ride on the back of this issue into a land of light and promise. And, reawaken, even if it is for a fleeting instant, the “instinct of hope” within you.
The Toast Doesn’t Always Have to Fall Buttered Side Down!
The essential survival tool, therefore, has been pessimism, and do we love it! Even when its “use by date” is long gone.
A Game of Stones
Sometimes the inspiration for creative work comes from the most unlikely places; in this case a casual chat with a stranger on a bus heading to Hampi.
Turbulent Times
A poem for those who work with words, who know tears and tear-jerkers, and for those who understand what it is to weave aspirations with temptations.
Birding Beats the (Lockdown) Blues
Tales of bird watching that read like a travelogue, taking you on an unplugged, no Apps journey of Mumbai.
Whisperings of Hope
About hope and promise found in the smallest and everyday things of life.
To end with a much-loved quote from Ruskin Bond: Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it. The same can be said about hope. This issue of Fundamatics is all about finding hope, living with hope, and spreading hope even in the bleakest of times when it is indeed most needed.
Tomorrow will be beautiful.
Cover Illustration by Rajat Patle
The COVID 19 pandemic has been devastating, globally. Despite the development of new vaccines, many are still wondering what recovery could look like. Many are also pondering on how the pandemic has changed the world and the life lessons that it has taught us. The articles in this issue aim to help our readers assess the changes that have occurred in 2020 and give them a perspective of what could be expected over the next two to three years, what would change irrevocably and how can they adjust to it. As our Guest Editor for this issue, Chandru Chawla captures it beautifully in his Editorial “we are pretty much locked into a new paradigm for some time – a surreal digital life in the safety of a gated cocoon…” This edition has an extraordinary array of writers speaking on wide-ranging topics like effective delivery of justice, financial inclusion of the marginalized, existential issues of a social sector startup, transition to e-learning, mental health during a pandemic. Also, included is a liberal dose of art that captures the lighter side of the crisis.
Table of Contents
Editorial: Living with Hope
Illustration by Nilapratim Sengupta The headlines on the front page of the New York Times on 1 Jan 2020 were normal: Iraqi Protesters assault embassy after US strike; E.P.A policies scorn…
Acrylic SOUP for the Locked-Down SOUL!
A splash of colours that will invigorate, refresh and rejuvenate
The Entrepreneurial Roller Coaster: Peppermint Robots
The first instalment of a regular column that will cover entrepreneurs and their journeys in the startup-land. In this one, we bring you Runal Dahiwade and Miraj Vora’s journey in building Peppermint.
Keeping Our World in Motion
A case study of what it took to keep goods and services in motion during the pandemic and an illustrative insight into the dramatic changes sweeping trade and supply chains in the post COVID world.
2020: Lessons in seeing things differently
The new normal is uncertain and fragile and even more so for those who live and work in the social sector.
COVID and Financial Inclusion
How the COVID 19 challenge has propelled India’s journey to bring banking to the dispossessed in rural areas.
The New Normal in the World of Law
The adoption of e-platforms to conduct virtual hearings in judicial and quasi-judicial cases can reduce cases of pendency in the Indian Judicial System.
When the Clock Strikes Twelve, Ce Qui Va Se Passer?
A savant’s version of crystal ball gazing with astute observations on the Indian Economy and how it will all go down in 2021 and beyond.
Porous Borders
On the subject of fences and borders, which seem to be taking over our lives.
Rise Like the Phoenix
IIT Bombay’s student counsellor shares her perspective on wellness and mental health concerns arising out of the pandemic.
A Student’s Note to Self
What has been the impact of almost two semesters of online learning on students at IIT Bombay? A gifted student writer delves into the isolation and alienation of digital learning.
From Face-to-Face to Online Teaching @IITB
The balancing act between “the presence of tech in teaching” and the “absence of human touch in learning”.
Privilege
A poem for all those working in trying circumstances these days – doctors, those helping the migrants and so many others.
Illustration by Nilapratim Sengupta
“A healthy planet should not be a moonshot,” writes one of the authors of this Climate Change issue of Fundamatics. As a global pandemic continues to rock the world causing untold hardships to the human race, there is a greater challenge lurking behind the scenes. The Guest Editor of this issue Raghuram Murtugudde, succinctly points out in his Editorial piece, good health comes from consuming mindfully not just food, but also energy and water. Read a kaleidoscopic range of views on climate change – anecdotal, some scientific, and others discursive – that will drive home the realization that the threat of global warming no longer a far-off phenomenon. The set of articles in this issue not only discuss the various implications of climate change but focus on efforts to mitigate its impact on ecosystems and communities, and share guidelines to achieve a sustainable future.
Table of Contents
Editorial
Prof. Raghuram Murtugudde shares his perspective on the issue of climate change and introduces the articles in this issue.
Government and Citizen responses to Climate Change
Raises pertinent questions that all of us should be aware of. Are problems being ascribed to Climate Change alone when there are multiple factors impacting them, and what can citizens and governments do about this?
Our Small Corner of the Universe
An inspirational story of two forest makers and a message – what we need is right here.
Climate Change Battle – The Youth are at the Forefront
The role of the youth in movements related to the protection of the environment, and how we can encourage their involvement.
Matters We Don’t See
The simple life of birds serve as a reminder for us that in our haste to claim over everything nature has to offer— its space, air, or the privilege of a lake or a hill—we must not forget that life works best in symbiosis.
Goa’s People say NO to Coal
The key role of civil society participation in movements related to the protection of the environment as illustrated by the recent popular upsurge against projects in the Mollem National Park led by the youth of Goa.
Climate Change and Environment
An assessment of approaches that can help us to effectively tackle climate change.
Fueling Change
Something as simple as reducing community dependence on firewood can go a long way assuaging human-wildlife conflict in our protected forests. Find out more from this story from Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
Seeing Climate Change: First Hand
For monsoon-dependent India, rain truly is a grace from the sky and climate change, a storm closer to home than we think. This article illustrates the different ways in which cities and rural areas experience the impact of climate change ( or a heavy monsoon).
Deciphering India’s Climate Goals
India can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by adopting the twin levers of decarbonizing the power sector and adopting energy efficiency measures.
The Paradox of Sustainable Water and Climate Change
Leavened with anecdotes, this article gives a comprehensive overview of water availability and usage In India.
Growth in Sustainable Investing
Sustainable initiatives need not be seen as charitable efforts. The need for capital investment in climate-related initiatives has resulted in instruments such as Green Funds and Green Bonds. This article outlines the growth and performance of these forms of sustainable investing.
Climate Technology Breakthroughs
A few Critical Climate Technology Breakthroughs Multiplied by “Instigators” is desperately needed.
Illustration by Frits Ahlefeldt
“A healthy planet should not be a moonshot,” writes one of the authors of this Climate Change issue of Fundamatics. As a global pandemic continues to rock the world causing untold hardships to the human race, there is a greater challenge lurking behind the scenes. The Guest Editor of this issue Raghuram Murtugudde, succinctly points out in his Editorial piece, good health comes from consuming mindfully not just food, but also energy and water. Read a kaleidoscopic range of views on climate change – anecdotal, some scientific, and others discursive – that will drive home the realization that the threat of global warming no longer a far-off phenomenon. The set of articles in this issue not only discuss the various implications of climate change but focus on efforts to mitigate its impact on ecosystems and communities, and share guidelines to achieve a sustainable future.
Cybersecurity
Trust Lab was established in September 2022, with the mission to advance the state-of-the-art related to living in a trustworthy digital environment. We believed “trust” covers all the issues addressed…
How AI impacts Cybersecurity
Fun fact: Machine learning and deep learning use Linear Algebra, which every student at IITB learns in the first year.
Cybersecurity Issues Due to Hardware Vulnerabilities
In 2018, researchers discovered two major security flaws, Spectre and Meltdown, that let attackers take advantage of this guessing behavior, in virtually all processors used in mobiles, desktops, and tablets,…
Cybersecurity and Cyber Frauds in Banking and Payments
Around 2015 or so, a few unemployed youths from a small, backward village from Jamtara district came up with a brilliant idea to scam people all over the country using…
Capture The Flag Competitions
Do CTFs actually help cybersecurity other than just being a fun competition? Very heavily so! CTFs often involve real vulnerabilities, and exploring those vulnerabilities provides very practical hands-on experience with…
Asset Management for CyberSecurity
Lay persons believe that devices are “hacked” because of “hacker’s” skills and ingenuity. While skills and ingenuity are / may be needed, the primary reason devices get “hacked” are because…
Enhancing Cyber Security in Defence: Strategies and Future Directions
This article explores the evolving landscape of military cyber security, focusing on key strategies, challenges, and future directions, with insights from both Indian and global perspectives.
MSMEs are vulnerable to cyber threats — the most ignored concern in India
More than 40% of MSMEs never conducted any cybersecurity awareness training for their employees, which is the biggest threat helping cybercriminals targeting these companies, as illustrated in the figure. Around…
Discovering the Underwater World- An Introduction to Scuba Diving
In the same dive, I vividly remember an encounter with an octopus – the master of disguise. Watching it effortlessly alter its shape and color, becoming one with its surroundings…
Nostalgia Nuggets
I had to miss my B.Tech convocation due to my stupidity on Janmashtami in 1973.
Nostalgia Nugget
This was in our third year. We had just won the Institute Treasure Hunt. Our joy knew no bounds. Jitna daru ka stock tha pee liye. But yeh Dil Mange…
Nostalgia Nugget: Look Before You Leap
One night, four students were playing till late night and could not study for the test which was scheduled for the next day.
Nostalgia Nuggets
The MI rock show took place in the SAC amphitheater, and the sound check would go on for what felt like hours (especially for the headlining bands).
Nostalgia Nugget: War Piece
There used to be, and maybe there still is, a quota for foreign students. The IITs used to attract students from all over the global south.
This month we bring to you a “children-themed” issue of Fundamatics. And, by children, we mean for children and mostly by children who are connected to IIT Bombay through their parents — alumni and faculty.
We have a request for you, our readers. Do spare a few minutes from your busy schedules to read and acknowledge the work of these children who have poured their souls into this issue. Please encourage them by leaving your comments at the end of posts that you like and appreciate. It would mean the world to the young ones.
This issue is our tribute to a demographic affected by the COVID pandemic, which has robbed them of green fields and the company of their peers. A few of us on the Editorial team were curious to find how these tiny tots, tweens and teens are coping with the new world order. We did not specify any theme and merely asked them to share a submission reflecting whatever is closest to their hearts.
The cover illustration of the issue (displayed above) is by a 12-year old. A tiny tot illustrated her mother Sherline Pimenta’s (also the author of this issue’s Foreword) story. A group of children presented us with comic strips that hold up a mirror to society – Asterix & Obelix fighting COVID, two brothers saving the farmers’ crop from a swarm of locusts, and a protest against the ruthless treatment of animals – all available in the section titled “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall”. Another group came to us with amazing stories all captured in the section Thereby Hangs a Tale. Others shared mindboggling artwork (grouped together in the section “Brush Strokes”), each a masterpiece in itself. The star piece of the artwork section is The ABCs of Art by the incredibly talented Prof. Arun Inamdar — a perceptive cartoonist and caricaturist — who shares some words of wisdom for aspiring artists. The lead piece of the issue “Story of a Story” is, however, by Prof. Shilpa Ranade, an IDC faculty, who gives us a glimpse into her childhood, adroitly interweaving it with the story behind the making of the award-winning animation “Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya.”
Is there anything for the “adult” alumni in this issue? Of course, there is. This is your chance to peek into the mind of the generation that will be taking over our planet in the next couple of decades. And, we can tell you this much — they will not disappoint you. Indeed, we have lots of hope for our future.
We’re sure you will enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together. Happy reading and once again. Please don’t forget to comment and share through your social media.
Foreword by Sherline Pimenta
Sections in this Issue
This time, we have had a wealth of submissions, and so have grouped the content thematically into the following four sections for your easy perusal.
We hope you have enjoyed reading Fundamatics, the award-winning ezine published by the IIT Bombay Alumni Association, envisioned as one that is by IIT Bombay alumni, faculty and students, and for the same vast community. And, the best part of Fundamatics is that it is completely free and can be accessed by thousands of our alumni who are spread all over the world. But this does not mean that we do not incur any operational costs in bringing the ezine to you. Your financial support can mean that we can continue to remain in circulation and “free” to you, our readers.
Not for the Bird-Brained!
A crossword featuring many of the residents and visitors of the winged variety that are commonly seen on the IIT Bombay campus.
Paracosm
A paracosm is a detailed imaginary world. The creator of a paracosm has a complex and deeply felt relationship with this subjective universe, which may incorporate real-world or imaginary characters and conventions.
The ABCs of Art
The broad purpose of art could be that of enriching the viewer with new experiences and perspectives, thus taking ahead our intellectual evolution, which we call ‘culture’!
Books Are Windows
Being Wise is Knowing What to Look At
Sailing into the Wind
Sunrise in an Unknown Mountain Valley
Sunrise Landscape
Locked In and Locked Out
The Tiger and the Monkeys
The Cry of the Crow
Be a Player
Beauty Lies in the Details
Asterix and the Curse of Covid
The year is 2020. The entire world is occupied by a deadly virus. Well not entirely! One small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders.
A Betrayal Of Love
Food sustains life. But, what if you cannot trust the hand that feeds you?
The Leopard Who Came to Tea
How much fun is the IIT Bombay campus without its student population? Find out from this feline visitor.
Jack, Joe & the Locusts
A swarm of locusts devastate the crops of poor farmers till two plucky brothers come to their rescue.
Story Of A Story
Some stories stay with you. They live in your imagination and become a part of you. One such story was Goopi Gayne Bagha Bayne, a delightful tale I first heard…
The Duck in the Desk
While he was getting up, a duck hopped into his school bag pocket, without his notice.
Janaki
Sita, the heroine of the Ramayana, the great Indian epic, was found in a furrow by her father King Janak. The name Sita is derived from the Sanskrit word seeta which means furrow. She is one amongst the dozens of characters from Indian mythology, who is adopted.
A Comprehensive Guide to Rebranding
An irreverent, satirical, action-filled romp through Heaven, Hell and that little world in between. Laugh out loud as you read this delightful fantasy about Ari Havenmark matching wits with humans, Archangels, and the Devil himself ; you’ll never think of Hell the same way again, but then, that’s what rebranding is all about, right ?
Raja Bada-Moochee Dildaar
“Lucky charm! Your moustache!” cried the hermit, “that is your lucky charm. Never cut it!” He said solemnly.“As long as you let the moustache grow it will protect you.”
Foreword
Childhood, that chimeric phase in one’s life, where the one going through it, just wants to get done with it and those who have emerged on the other side wish…
A Treasure Hunt
I must now find a treasure to hide in my castle, thought the boy. It was a good time for a treasure hunt. The sea had just gone back. He found a few shells, pebbles, some seaweed, and an empty can. But, they did not look that special. Then he found something else.
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