A Day To Be Proud Of And Show Off !

Yes sir, I am proud and WILL show off.

Today 5 names were announced for Fields Medal and Nevanlinna prize winners. Two of them are of Indian origin! Obviously I am proud!!

But there is more to it, and once I disclose what it is, you will yourself say that I have good reasons to SHOW OFF!!!

I am showing off because I am basking in the reflected glory of being connected to both in some manner!!

First, Manjul Bhargava, the winner of Fields Medal (considered Nobel Prize of mathematics), is my nephew! His mother Mira jiji is my first cousin. My mother and Dr. Purushottam Lal Bhargava (Manjul's grandfather, HOD of Sanskrit Department in Rajasthan University, Jaipur) were sister and brother. So yes, I have every reason to show off my nephew :-).

Now comes Subhash Khot. Of course unlike Manjul, I do not know him personally - but the fact that he and I are both from IIT (though he is from IIT/Bombay, and I from IIT/Kanpur), is enough for me to roam around like a proud peacock.

Here are the links to articles about them...

2014 Fields Medal and Nevanlinna Prize Winners Announced

• Artur Avila
• Manjul Bhargava
• Martin Hairer
• Maryam Mirzakhani
• Subhash Khot

Khobragade Case: Visa Fraud Plus Arrest and Strip Search Are Two Separate Issues.

Khobragade is coming back to India.

If she is innocent of any wrong doings, her running away from USA should be seen as lack of confidence by India in US system of justice. Therefore if US also shows lack of confidence in Indian system of justice (by 'evacuating' Sangeeta Richard family to USA), we should not raise such a hue and cry. On the other hand if she is guilty, she should at least be punished in India now - although punishment in USA was preferable for bringing shame to India. Rule of law - let it be seen to work.

Strip search is a separate issue. If strip search is not a norm in such cases and was performed solely to humiliate her then it should be taken as deliberate attempt to humiliate India. For this India should take a stand that educates USA suitably.

Let Sangeeta Richard not be forgotten in all this. We must know whether she was exploited or not. If Indian government wants, I am sure it can get to the truth. There must be plenty of witnesses to tell us as to what hours she was keeping and the type of work she was performing. Surely it is one of the easier things to do for many of our investigative agencies.