Volunteer Also v/s Volunteer Only

Posted by Manish Panchmatia on Saturday, April 23, 2016 Labels: , , , , , / Comments: (1)

This article is based on a session by Shri Janardan Hegde. This is not verbatim. It is about two type of volunteers at Samskrita Bharati. It applies to all volunteer based organisation. Even in a commercial organisation also, there are two types of employees. I wish this article will help all readers to be better volunteer and better employee for their respective organisations. 

 We all know meaning of "also" and "Only". For example let's take a sentence "I am doing work" Now how its meaning changes when we add "also" and "only" 

 I am doing work
I am also doing work
I am doing work also. 

 I am doing work
I am only doing work
I am doing work only. 

 The word "only" indicates definitely. 

 In any organisation there are two type of volunteers. (1) "also" category and (2) "only" category. At the beginning, all volunteers are "also" category. It is entry level. As they grow, develop, progress, they put their whole heart, and moved to advance level, that is "only" category. Any NGO like Samskrita Bharati is spread so much across the globe is because of such "also" category volunteer. Now let's see the difference in more details: 

 For an "also" category volunteer the life is easy. He is like just swimming in the direction of flow. He does the work as per his capabilities. 
For an "only" category volunteer the life is not easy. He swims opposite to flow. He work beyond his capabilities. His life is like climbing a mountain. 

 For an "also" category volunteer, there is so much flexibility. He can be 10% volunteer, 20%, 30%, ...90%, even 99.9 % volunteer. He has choice. If he feel difficulties, he may leave. He may follow his own schedule to work. There is lack of discipline. 
For an "only" category volunteer, there is no flexibility, there is no option. He is 100% volunteer. It is like PATIVRATA women. A women can be either PATIVRTA or not PATIVRAT. there cannot be 99.9% PATIVRTA women. Such volunteers do not leave organisation in any situation. They are forever. They are with full of commitment. 

 Both volunteers play their role. The "only" category volunteers make the organisation to grow. Wherever they work, the NGO achieves new heights, with stability. Each NGO needs such "only" category volunteers. They are less in numbers. It is difficult to find them/develop them. They are rare. The organisation needs to pay for it. No bargaining. 
It is easy to find many "also" category volunteers. They are like doing JAI JAI KAAR. Here, there is a scope for bargaining to bring them. Sometimes, The organizer wonders, he will come or not, on time. So they assign lesser responsibilities and use them more like assistants. They are also needed in organisation. 

 The "only" category volunteers, ask, "what need to be done?" They do not ask question : "how?" They do not think, there are no resources. They manage to organize/mobilize resources. It is like going towards destination without roads. They themselves make their roads. 
The "also" category volunteers says: "There are no resources only. How to proceed?" They walk on roads, that are created by others. 

 There was a big event, where Samskrit Bharati volunteers were coming to venue from across the India. There was a list, who comes, when, which train/bus etc. The list handed over to a team of local volunteers. Now they need to plan, how to arrange vehicles.  They should not give excuses , "there are no vehicles only, what to do?" 

The "also" category volunteer thinks oneself as a person. So he has many excuses. Many other social responsibilities.  Kids exam, Health issues. Guest at home. etc. They may think, anyway what I will get, by doing this work. How much time I need to spend etc. 
The "only" category volunteer, only thinks, what is need for the moment for the NGO? No excuses. 
Do you think, that you will ever get time in life, when there will be no difficulties? Suppose you go to take bath in ocean, then do you think, that, whenever there is no waves, I will take bath? 

 Once, Janaradan Hegade discussed with an "only" category volunteer. "Is it possible to bring Himalaya mountain to Chennai city?" The volunteer said, "Yes". Janaradan argued, "how it is possible? Himalaya is in North India. Chennai is city of South India." The volunteer explains: "I first see, who is asking me to do this work? If Samskrita Bharati is asking me to bring Himalaya to Chennai, then there must be some well-prepared plan. It is not blind faith. I am aware, I need to show my leadership skill, I need leave my all other works. Still My first answer will be 'OK, let's do it' Is it always impossible to bring Himalaya to Chennai?"

 Janaradan Hegade gave another example about his interaction with another  "only" category volunteer. There were many back to back "Sanskrit Sambhaasan Shibir" (Spoken Sanskrit Workshop) to be organised. Too much work, co-ordination at multiple places. Janaradan met him at around 10 PM and asked about his dinner. No dinner. Lunch? No lunch. Then he noticed injuries in legs of the volunteer. Janardan surprised, "why are you not put on shoes? If you need money I will pay now." There was amazing response: "Where is time to buy shoes? There is no question of money. There are many tasks to be completed, that are more important than buying shoes"

 Janaradan Hegade recall a very famous event few years back in Bangalore about "Sanskrit Pustak Mela" (Sanskrit book fair/sale/exhibition). He himself could not visualize before the event. He contributed to publications of books. There was very well coordinated and magnificent event. Even today also Bangalore people remember it. 

 So what is conclusion? A volunteer should leave every thing? His job? His family? His social life? No. That is not the case. In-spite of having all these things: Job, family, business, social life, it is possible to spare time for volunteer work. A volunteer should have complete faith in NGO for the assigned task. Then he should put his 100% along with team. 

 All volunteers at entry level, belong to "also" category. Yes, it is difficult to move up from "also" category to "only" category, and then stay at that category. However, for NGO to grow, they should have some such crazy "only" category volunteers. 

 What do you say? 

 Comments/suggestions/correction are welcome. 

 Ref: Janardan Hegde Mahodaya's speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paTtzoBOHIM

     

Mobile Operators in Karnataka

Posted by Manish Panchmatia on Sunday, February 21, 2016 Labels: , , , , / Comments: (0)

This blog is about statistical data analysis to determine, market share of mobile operator in Karnataka.

 Input data: 

 I have access to mobile numbers of 1300+ members of an NGO, since about June 2013. 

 Method: 

 As we know the first four digit of mobile number indicates the mobile operator in India. I extracted the first 4 digit. Then I referred wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_telephone_numbering_in_India to find out the mobile operator. I wrote a simple python code using panda library. 

 Here is the code: 

 import pandas as pd
import numpy as np

 df = pd.read_csv("C:\RawData.csv", header=None)
df[2] = df[0] / 1000000
df[2] = np.floor(df[2])
df.groupby(2).count()[0]

 series = pd.Series(df.groupby(2).count()[0])
series.to_csv("C:\summary.csv")
result = pd.read_csv("C:\ssummary.csv", header=None)
plot_data = pd.DataFrame(result.groupby(0).sum())
plot_data = plot_data.sort_values(by=1)
plot_data.plot(kind='pie', autopct='%.2f', subplots=True, figsize=(10,10))

Here is the result: 
Assumption

 1. The raw input data is not current mobile number of member of the NGO. The members may have change their numbers. 
2. The members can also opt for Mobile Number Portability. The impact on result is ignored. 
3. As part of data cleaning following entries are ignored

 - the number with 9 or 11 digits
- the number that belongs to other state. 
- the number whose first four digits are not present at wikipedia. May be wrong number. 

 Disclaimer 

 Due to above assumptions, the sample does not truly represent the population. The purpose of this blog is to show how quickly we can infer, using python panda library. This blog is not written for positive or negative publicity of any mobile operator. 

Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Posted by Manish Panchmatia on Monday, December 7, 2015 Labels: , , / Comments: (0)

Today is birthday of HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj. He completed 94 years today. You can get many more details, articles, books, events etc. on the web. This post is to just list out few poems. These poems are written by me. They are about HDH Swamishree. They are also the ones, who were recited in front of Swamishree. So let me share those poems. 

 I stayed at BAPS hostel during college time. So I got opportunity to be blessed by His divine grace. In college time, I started writing poems. I wrote first poem on New year. Then Pujya Bapa only inspired me to write poems about Him and slowly I started writing more and more poems.
  1. Prayer 1. This is my second poem. Swamishree visited our hostel. I composed this poem. I was busy in exams. So someone else, recited this poem during morning walk of Swamishree. Later on I got feedback that He was very happy with this poem. 
  2. Prayer 3 This poem, I composed on 74th birthday of Swamishree. 
  3. Prayer 2 The 75th birthday was celebrated as Amrut Mahotsav. We all prepared a birthday card. it was pyramid shape. It had steps on it. We posted my this poem on the card. 
  4. We had special Satsang on Amrut Mahotsav. I prepared a long poem. The first one was just like prologue or preface. I borrowed the idea from symbol of Air India / Indian Airlines. 
  5. The  second one describes the present situation of common SAADHAK (seeker). 
  6. The third  one is prayer to accelerate progress on the spiritual path on this occasion of Amrut Mahotsav. 
  7. I wrote a latter to Swamishree. I was eagerly waiting for the response. I visited Akshardham Gandhinagar. I noticed Shabari in the exhibition. I wrote this poem. Shabari - a character in Ramayan - is all about infinite passion, faith and eagerness. 
  8. Lord Swaminarayan mentioned that he noticed priest's action behind the idol of Jagannatha at Puri. Just imagine, if the an idol in the temple gets speech, then what the almighty describes. This imagination is captured in "GOVINDE MAANDI GOTHADI" (the lord Krishna started conversation). In this poem, please read the below line: 
" લોકો દિવસભર છેતરે એક બીજાને
સવારમાં તેની મારાથી કરે શરૂઆત..

Swamishree commented, "if one start his any activity with God in the morning, then he can succeed well through out the day." The whole crowd laughed by listening to this wit/humor of pujya Bapa. 

So I hope, the readers of this blog must have liked this post. Stay tune for more posts on my poems and many more other interesting stuff. 

Sanskrit Proverbs

Posted by Manish Panchmatia on Saturday, November 21, 2015 Labels: , , / Comments: (0)

A beautiful list of Sanskrit proverbs that I got on a Google group. Use
yourselves, teach others!
 
अतिपरिचयादवज्ञा ।
अतिलोभो विनाशाय ।
अतितृष्णा न कर्तव्या ।
अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत् ।
अधिकस्याधिकं फलम् ।
अनतिक्रमणीया हि नियतिः ।
अल्पश्च कालो बहवश्च विघ्नाः ।
अलभ्यो लाभः ।
अव्यापारेषु व्यापारः ।
अहिंसा परमो धर्मः ।
अभद्रं भद्रं वा विधिलिखितमुन्मूलयति कः ।
अर्थो हि लोके पुरुषस्य बन्धुः ।
आकृतिर्बकस्य दृष्टिस्तु काकस्य ।
आये दुःखं व्यये दुःखं धिगर्थाः कष्टसंश्रयाः ।
इक्षुः मधुरोऽपि समूलं न भक्ष्यः ।
इतः कूपः ततस्तटी ।
इतो भ्रष्टस्ततो भ्रष्टः ।
ईश्वरेच्छा बलीयसी ।
उत्पद्यन्ते विलीयन्ते दरिद्राणां मनोरथाः ।
उत्सवप्रियाः खलु मनुष्याः ।
कण्टकेनैव कण्टकमुद्धरेत् ।
कर्तव्यो महदाश्रयः ।
कवयः किं न पश्यन्ति ?
काव्यशास्त्रविनोदेन कालो गच्छति धीमताम् ।
कालाय तस्मै नमः ।
किमिव हि मधुराणां मण्डनं नाकृतीनाम् ।
किमिव हि दुष्करमकरुणानाम् ।
किं मिष्टमन्नं खरसूकराणाम् ?
क्षमया किं न सिद्ध्यति ।
क्लेशः फलेन हि पुनर्नवतां विधत्ते ।
गतं न शोच्यम् ।
गतानुगतिको लोकः न कश्चित् पारमार्थिकः ।
गहना कर्मणो गतिः ।
गुणाः सर्वत्र पूज्यन्ते ।
चक्रवत्परिवर्तन्ते दुःखानि च सुखानि च ।
जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी ।
जलबिन्दुनिपातेन क्रमशः पूर्यते घटः ।
जीवो जीवस्य जीवनम् ।
त्रुटितः सम्बन्धः प्रशान्तः कलहः ।
त्रैलोक्ये दीपकः धर्मः ।
दुर्लभं भारते जन्म मानुष्यं तत्र दुर्लभम् ।
दूरतः पर्वताः रम्याः ।
द्रव्येण सर्वे वशाः ।
धर्मो मित्रं मृतस्य ।
धीराः हि तरन्ति आपदम् ।
नास्ति सत्यसमो धर्मः ।
न कूपखननं युक्तं प्रदीप्ते वह्निना गृहे ।
न भूतो न भविष्यति ॥
नमः शिवाय ।
नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ।
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते ।
न शान्तेः परमं सुखम् ।
निगूढेऽपि कुक्कुटे उदेत्येव अरुणः ।
निर्वाणदीपे किमु तैलदानम् ।
निरस्तपादपे देशे एरण्डोऽपि द्रुमायते ।
निःस्पृहस्य तृणं जगत् ।
न निश्चितार्थात् विरमन्ति धीराः ।
निर्धनस्य कुतः सुखम् ।
नीचैर्गच्छत्युपरि च दशा चक्रनेमिक्रमेण ।
परदुःखं शीतलम् ।
परोपकाराथमिदं शरीरम् ।
परोपदेशे पाण्डित्यम् ।
परोपकारः पुण्याय ।
परोपकाराय सतां विभूतयः ।
पुनः पुनरपि प्रक्षाल्य कज्जलं न श्वेतायते ।
पिण्डे पिण्डे मतिर्भिन्ना ।
प्रज्ज्वालितो ज्ञानमयः प्रदीपः ।
प्रथमग्रासे मक्षिकापातः ।
पृथिव्यां त्रीणि रत्नानि जलमन्नं सुभाषितम् ।
बधिरात् मन्दकर्णः श्रेयान् ।
बहुजनहिताय बहुजनसुखाय ।
बहुरत्न वसुन्धरा ।
बालानां रोदनं बलम् ।
बुद्धिः कर्मानुसारिणी ।
बुद्धिर्यस्य बलं तस्य ।
भद्रं कर्णेभिः श्रुणुयाम देवाः ।
भवन्ति भवितव्यानां द्वाराणि सर्वत्र ।
भिन्नरुचिर्हि लोकः ।
मधु तिष्ठति जिव्हाग्रे हृदये तु हलाहलम् ।
मनः पूतं समाचरेत् ।
मनोरथानामगतिर्न विद्यते ।
मरणं प्रकृतिः शरीरिणाम् ।
महाजनो येन गतः स पन्थाः ।
मार्गारब्धाः सर्वयत्नाः फलन्ति ।
मातृदेवो भव ।
पितृदेवो भव ।
आचार्यदेवो भव ।
अतिथिदेवो भव ।
मूढः परप्रत्ययनेयबुद्धिः ।
मृदुर्हि परिभूयते ।
मौनं सर्वार्थसाधनम् ।
यथा बीजं तथा अङ्कुरः ।
यथा राजा तथा प्रजा ।
यद् वा तद् वा भविष्यति ।
यद् वा तद् वा वदति ।
याचको याचक्ं दृष्ट्वा श्वानवत् गुर्गुरायते ।
यादृशं वपते बीजं तादृशं लभते फलम् ।
यः क्रियावान् स पण्डितः ।
युद्धस्य कथा रम्या ।
येन केन प्रकारेण प्रसिद्धः पुरुषो भवेत् ।
योजकस्तत्र दुर्लभः ।
राजा कालस्य कारणम् ।
वन्दे मातरम् ।
वक्ता दशसहस्रेषु ।
वचने का दरिद्रता ?
विद्वान् सर्वत्र पूज्यते ।
विद्याधनं सर्वधनप्रधानम् ।
विनाशकाले विपरितबुद्धिः ।
शठं प्रति शाठ्यम् ।
शरीरमाद्यं खलु धर्मसाधनम् ।
शीलं परं भूषणम् ।
शुभास्ते पन्थानः ।
शुभं भवतु ।
सत्यमेव जयते न अनृतम् ।
सत्यं कण्ठस्य भूषणम् ।
सुखमुपदिश्यते परस्य ।
संहतिः कार्यसाधिका ।
स्वभावो दुरतिक्रमः ।
मितञ्च सारवत् दुर्लभं वचः ।
हुतं च दत्तं च तथैव तिष्ठति ।

My Dream Mobile

Posted by Manish Panchmatia on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Labels: , / Comments: (1)

We observed, in last few years, many new mobile handset launched in the Indian market. They are low price, yet rich in features. It is really a cut throat competition, where cost of the handset and time to market both are critical. 

 Today, I wish to list out some important features that I am looking for in mobile handset. This can be seed for new Android app idea. Some features may need hardware change. Some may feasible. Some may already exist in some handset. I request readers of this blog to list out such apps, and/or handset which fulfill my desired features. This is a kind of personal blog. 

 Shortcut for settings

 I often change following settings. How nice if we have short cut for that. 

 1. I noticed that I cannot transfer files between Android phone and PC, if the mobile screen is locked. Can we make file transfer enable even if the mobile screen is locked?

 If not, then..... I often changed: Settings->Display->Screen timeout from 15 seconds to 5 min before transferring file and revert back, once it is done. Can we have short cut for that?

 2. I noticed that if I keep my phone in 3G mode ("WCDMA only" OR "GSM/WCDMA preferred") then my phone often lost signal. In such case I am miss incoming call. So I keep the mode "GSM only". However, whenever I want to use 3G data service, I need to change mode with Settings->Wireless network->More->Network Mode. I revert back once done. Can we have short cut for it?

 Hardware limitation OR software limitation? 

 Now, let me list out desired features, that may need hardware change

 3. I wish to use mobile call to listen to some live event. It can be musical concert or speech or anything. I describe it further in my blog post "Live audiocast" The mobile is designed to capture voice from nearby source only. Even its microphone is mounted deep inside so the ambient noise can be eliminated. Some mobile has option to enable/disable capturing of this ambient noise. Why cannot have a dedicated socket in mobile 3.5mm diameter to connect external microphone? We can connect mobile directly to amplifer system of the event and do live audio cast with much better audio quality. 

 Even we can take out two cable from earphone and connect female 3.5 mm socket to connect external microphone. No need to enhance the handset. The handset has constrain for size so 2nd 3.5 socket may not feasible. 

 4. I understand, that one needs to insert earphone to play FM radio. The earphone acts as antenna. The FM radio can be played in earphone OR in mobile speaker. Why cannot we stream that audio over bluetooth? I wish to play FM radio over remote bluetooth speaker.

 5. There are many MP3 player with so many sound effects, equalizers on Google Play. Many apps about equalizers also. Why these equalizers only applicable to MP3 files? Why we cannot apply them to audio from FM radio. I noticed that FM radio on mobile is little delayed compare to normal analog FM radio. The mathematical processing by equalizers will increase the latency further. It is OK. Anyway it is delayed. Let it be further delayed. 

 Apps

 Now few apps, that I am looking for. 

 6. All mobile have default app for FM radio. We can store few channels as favorite. We can list out them and choose desire one. However many times most of the channel broadcast advertisements as same time. So I do not want to choose one of my favorite channel, but I wish to jump to next favorite channel to know, there advertisement is over or not. Can we have such navigation facility among all favorite channels? It should be possible by OEM. Can it be possible using Android NDK or SDK as 3rd party app? 

 7. Many apps support copy and past feature. It is good. We can send SMS content as WhatsApp message and vica versa. I am wondering, why dial pad does not support copy paste feature. I often get my meeting ID in e-mail. I dial the bridge number from my address-book. Once call is established, I need to paste the bridge number in response to IVR menu. Such apps should be possible. 

 8. Many times, we need to note down phone number, that remote person inform us. We can dial that number, during on going call. However, once call is over the number disappear ! How to invoke address book with minimum steps during ongoing call, to store number? 

 9. In my old phone, I had facility to create group in address book. I can assign picture and ringtone to that group. I can detect the possible topic by ringtone only as I know the caller belongs to which group. Even the picture on screen set context for it. I used to keep logos of organisation as picture of group. Such feature or app, I am missing on Android. Yes, I found one app about group ringtone. However it maintain its own internal group. So if I add any new number to a group say X. Then the app does not automatically assign the ringtone for group X to that new number. I am wondering how such useful app is missing on Google play. 

 10. I wish a simple app, which keep scanning the WiFi SSID, when I start the app. Then it stores those SSID in a text file along with time stamp in sorted order where SSID with strongest signal first. The end-user should able to assign user friendly name to SSID. The app should show that name v/s time stamp to display the text file. This app can be used to track children, where they spent time when they came back to home. 

 11. Similar app, with scanning of bluetooth name. 

 Both app can be used to find out how much time the child spent with particular friend. For WiFi case, one mobile should start WiFi hotspot. This should be feasible. Anyway we have app for outdoor tracking, which list out cell id v/s time stamp in text file. 

 12. Everyone like free Internet. :) We should have an app, which scan only those SSID, which does not need password. Then try to connect to it. This should be feasible. 

 Questions

 13. My earlier Android phone had swipe keyboard. Very productive and convenient. Now, my new phone does not have it. How to make it enable? This is Sony Xperia S. 

 So enough for today. The desires have no end. :) The lucky are ones whose desire fulfill, before that arise. Stay tune to your own blog : "Express YourSelf !"