A STUDY OF THE LIFE AND WORK OF BHARAT RATNA MAHARSHI DHONDO KESHAV KARVE

Bharat Ratna Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve

Biographical Literature on the Story of his Life and Work.

Reviewed by VIKRAM KARVE


In my own small way I wish to present a review of biographical literature on Maharshi Karve in order to enable readers, especially the students and alumni of educational institutions who owe their very genesis to Maharshi Karve like the SNDT University for Women Mumbai and the numerous and multifarious women’s schools and colleges under the aegis of the Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha Pune get an insight into the life and work of this great social reformer whose ceaseless efforts played a cardinal role in transforming the destiny of the Indian woman.  

 

I have before me three books on Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve:

 

(i) His autobiography titled ‘Looking Back’ published in 1936.

 

(ii) Maharshi Karve by Ganesh L. Chandavarkar published in 1958 by Popular Prakashan Bombay (Mumbai)

 

(iii) Maharshi Karve – His 105 Years published on 18 April 1963 ( His 106th birth anniversary) by Hingne Stree Shiksan Samstha Poona (Pune) 

 

Allow me to tell you, Dear Reader, a bit about these books which describe the life and times of Maharshi Karve and tell us about the monumental pioneering work of one of the foremost social and educational reformers of India.

 

LOOKING BACK by Dhondo Keshav Karve - Autobiography

 

It would be apt to start with his autobiography – Looking Back, and let Maharshi Karve describe his life and work from his own point of view in his simple yet fascinating style.

I am placing below a Book Review of his autobiography (which I had reviewed a few years ago) for your perusal:

 

 

Book Review of 

The Autobiography of Maharshi Karve: 

“Looking Back” by  Dhondo Keshav Karve (1936)  

 

Dear Reader, you must be wondering why I am reviewing an autobiography written in 1936.

Well, sometime back, for six years of my life, I stayed in a magnificent building called Empress Court on Maharshi Karve Road in Mumbai.

I share the same surname [ Karve ] as the author.

Also, I happen to be the great grandson of Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve.

But, beyond that, compared to him I am a nobody – not even a pygmy.

 

Maharshi Karve clearly knew his goal, persisted ceaselessly throughout his life with missionary zeal and transformed the destiny of the Indian Woman.

The first university for women in India  -  The SNDT University and educational institutions for women covering the entire spectrum ranging from pre-primary schools to post-graduate, engineering, vocational and professional colleges bear eloquent testimony to his indomitable spirit, untiring perseverance and determined efforts.

 

In his preface, Frederick J Gould, renowned rationalist and lecturer on Ethics, writes that “the narrative is a parable of his career” – a most apt description of the autobiography. The author tells his life-story in a simple straightforward manner, with remarkable candour and humility; resulting in a narrative which is friendly, interesting and readable.

 

Autobiographies are sometimes voluminous tomes, but this a small book, 200 pages, and a very easy comfortable enjoyable read that makes it almost unputdownable.

Dr. Dhondo Keshav Karve writes a crisp, flowing narrative of his life, interspersed with his views and anecdotes, in simple, straightforward style which facilitates the reader to visualize through the author’s eyes the places, period, people and events pertaining to his life and times and the trials and tribulations he faced and struggled to conquer.

 

Dr. Dhondo Keshav Karve was born on 18th of April 1858. In the first few chapters he writes about Murud, his native place in Konkan, Maharashtra, his ancestry and his early life– the description is so vivid that you can clearly “see” through the author’s eye.

 

His struggle to appear in the public service examination (walking 110 miles in torrential rain and difficult terrain to Satara) and his shattering disappointment at not being allowed to appear for the examination (because “he looked too young”) make poignant reading.

 

“Many undreamt of things have happened in my life and given a different turn to my career” he writes, and then goes on to describe his high school and, later, college education at The Wilson College Bombay (Mumbai) narrating various incidents that convinced him of the role of destiny and serendipity in shaping his life and career as a teacher and then Professor of Mathematics.

 

He married at the age of fourteen but began his marital life at the age of twenty! This was the custom of those days. Let’s read the author’s own words on his domestic life: “… I was married at the age of fourteen and my wife was then eight. Her family lived very near to ours and we knew each other very well and had often played together. However after marriage we had to forget our old relation as playmates and to behave as strangers, often looking toward each other but never standing together to exchange words…. We had to communicate with each other through my sister…… My marital life began under the parental roof at Murud when I was twenty…” Their domestic bliss was short lived as his wife died after a few years leaving behind a son… “Thus ended the first part of my domestic life”… he concludes in crisp witty style.

 

An incident highlighting the plight of a widow left an indelible impression on him and germinated in him the idea of widow remarriage.

He married Godubai, who was widowed when she was only eight years old, was a sister of his friend Mr. Joshi, and now twenty three was studying at Pandita Ramabai’s Sharada Sadan as its first widow student.

 

Let’s read in the author’s own words how he asked for her hand in marriage to her father – “I told him…..I had made up my mind to marry a widow. He sat silent for a minute and then hinted that there was no need to go in search of such a bride”.

 

He describes in detail the ostracism he faced from some orthodox quarters and systematically enunciates his life work - his organization of the Widow Marriage Association, Hindu Widows Home, Mahila Vidyalaya, Nishkama Karma Math, and other institutions, culminating in the birth of the first Indian Women’s University (SNDT University).

 

The trials and tribulations he faced in his life-work of emancipation of education of women (widows in particular) and how he overcame them by his persistent steadfast endeavours and indomitable spirit makes illuminating reading and underlines the fact that Dr. DK Karve was no arm-chair social reformer but a person devoted to achieve his dreams on the ground in reality.

 

These chapters form the meat of the book and make compelling reading. His dedication and meticulousness is evident in the appendices where he has given date-wise details of his engagements and subscriptions down to the paisa for his educational institutions from various places he visited around the world to propagate their cause.

 

He then describes his world tour, at the ripe age of 71, to meet eminent educationists to propagate the cause of the Women’s University, his later domestic life and ends with a few of his views and ideas for posterity. At the end of the book, concluding his autobiography, he writes: “Here ends the story of my life. I hope this simple story will serve some useful purpose”.

 

Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve wrote this book in 1936. He lived on till the 9th of November 1962, achieving so much more on the way, and was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters ( D.Litt.) by the famous and prestigious Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1942, followed by University of Poona [Pune] in 1951, SNDT Women’s University in 1955, and the LL.D. by Bombay [Mumbai] University in 1957.

 

Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve received the Padma Vibhushan in 1955 and the India’s highest honour the “Bharat Ratna” in 1958, a fitting tribute on his centenary at the glorious age of 100.

 

It is an engrossing and illuminating autobiography, written in simple witty readable storytelling style, and it clearly brings out the mammoth contribution of Maharshi Karve and the trials and tribulations he faced.

 

Epilogue

 

I (the reviewer) was born in 1956, and have fleeting memories of Maharshi Karve, during our visits to Hingne Stree Sikshan Samstha in 1961-62, as a small boy of 5 or 6 can. My mother tells me that I featured in a Films Division documentary on him during his centenary celebrations in 1958 (I must have been barely two, maybe one and a half years old) and there is a photograph of him and his great grand children in which I feature.

It is from some old timers and other people and mainly from books that I learn of his pioneering work in transforming the destiny of the Indian Woman and I thought I should share this.

 

I have written this book review with the hope that some of us, particularly the students and alumni of Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha ( MKSSS ), SNDT Women's University, Cummins College of Engineering for Women, SOFT, Karve Institute of Social Sciences and other educational institutions who owe their very genesis and existence to Maharshi Karve, are motivated to read about his stellar pioneering work and draw inspiration from his autobiography.

 

 

Reviews of two biographical books on Maharshi Karve

 

As I have mentioned earlier, two other good books pertaining to the life of Maharshi Karve which I have read are:

 

Maharshi Karve by Ganesh L. Chandavarkar, Popular Prakashan (1958)

 

And

 

Maharshi Karve – His 105 years, Hingne Stree Shikshan Samstha (1963).

 

 

 

The biography ‘Maharshi Karve by Ganesh L. Chandavarkar’ was commissioned and published by the Dr. DK Karve Centenary Celebrations Committee on 18th April 1958 the birth-centenary of Dr. DK Karve.

(Thousands attended the main function on 18th April 1958 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai which was addressed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister).

 

The author, GL Chandavarkar, then Principal of Ram Mohan English school, has extensively researched the life of Dr. DK Karve, by personal interaction with the great man himself, reminiscences of his Professors, colleagues and students, and his two writings Looking back and Atma-Vritta.

 

The author acknowledges with humility: “This is the story of the life of a simple man who has risen to greatness without being aware of it in the least. It is being told by one who can make no claim to being a writer” - and then he lucidly narrates the story of Maharshi Karve’s life in four parts comprising twenty four chapters in simple narrative style.

 

Part I, comprising eight chapters, covers the early life of Dhondo Keshav Karve, from his birth to the defining moment in his life - his remarriage to Godubai who was widowed at the age of eight, within three months of her marriage, even before she knew what it was to be a wife.

The first chapter vividly depicts the life and culture of Murud and Konkan in a brilliantly picturesque manner and is a fascinating read. The narrative then moves in a systematic manner encompassing the salient aspects of Maharshi Karve’s life till his birth centenary in 1958.

The biographer comprehensively cover Maharshi Karve’s marital and work life, but does not throw much light on his relationships with his four illustrious sons, who were well-known in their own respective fields of work.  

 

The author avoids pontification and writes in friendly storytelling style which makes the book very interesting and readable, making it suitable for the young and old alike.

I feel an epilogue covering the remaining years of his life would make the biography more complete.

 

There is a reference index at the end and I found this book to be quite a definitive biography which could serve as a source for knowledge and inspiration to readers interested in the life and work of Maharshi Karve.

The 233 page book was published by Popular Book Depot Mumbai in 1958 and I picked up a copy priced at rupees forty at the International Book Service at Deccan Gymkhana in Pune a few years ago.   

 

 

Maharshi Karve – His 105 Years, published on his 106th birth anniversary, is a pictorial album depicting the life and activities of Maharshi Karve.

In today’s parlance it may be called a ‘coffee table’ book, but it is a memorable reference book of lasting souvenir value which is a must for every library.

The chronologically arranged sketches, photographs and captions tell Maharshi Karve’s life-story in a seamless manner. There are photographs of historical, heritage and sentimental value highlighting important milestones in his life and work.

If you want to see my picture, turn to page 98 and have a look at the small boy holding Maharshi Karve’s hands and looking at the camera. I may have been just one and a half years old then and barely able to stand...!

 

This book is indeed a ‘collector’s item’ and was priced at a princely sum of rupees ten at the time of publication.

 

If you wish to learn more about Maharshi Karve and draw inspiration from his life and work, do read these three books. 

And please do let us know if you come across literature on the life and work of Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve. 

VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2010
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

VIKRAM KARVE educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU and The Lawrence School Lovedale, is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, a Human Resource Manager and Trainer by occupation, a Teacher by vocation, a Creative Writer by inclination and a Foodie by passion. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. His delicious foodie blogs have been compiled in a book "Appetite for a Stroll". Vikram lives in Pune with his family and pet Doberman girl Sherry, with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog - http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve – http://karvediat.blogspot.com/
Professional Profile of Vikram Karve - http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Email: vikramkarve@sify.com
Foodie Book: Appetite for a Stroll http://books.sulekha.com/book/appetite-for-a-stroll/default.htm
© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 

INFORMATION CONTINUUM

MAKING SENSE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Book Review by Vikram Karve

Title: Information, Systems and Information Systems – making sense of the field
Authors: Peter Checkland and Sue Howell
John Wiley & Sons (1988)
ISBN 0-471-95820-4


Information Technology ( IT ) is the buzzword of today. 

IT is ubiquitous. 

Today you are connected with IT in some way or the other, in fact IT is an integral part of our lives, and everyone seems to be rushing to join the IT bandwagon.

A few years ago, till the 1980s, there were courses in Electrical, Electronics, Communications and Telecommunications Engineering and later in Computer Science and Engineering, but now there are dedicated courses specifically in Information Technology, and almost all Engineers, and even pure scientists and others, irrespective of their specializations, are rushing away from their "core" academic disciplines to take up jobs in IT and IT Enabled Services.

The Management guys have also joined the fray and added a “management” dimension to IT by offering MBA courses in “IT Management”.

What exactly is IT...? 

Maybe the phrase Information Technology or “IT” was coined to mark the convergence of two technologies that had been traditionally separate: “Computing” and “Communications” and the confluence of several streams of development including electronics, microelectronics, computer science, telecommunications, software engineering and systems analysis.

There are a large number of books and extensive literature on the content of Information Technology.

This book is a significant treatise on the context of Information Technology.

The principal author Peter Checkland is a pioneering researcher in the field of Systems Engineering and Management and has developed breakthrough concepts like Soft Systems Methodology [SSM] and written the seminal classic “Systems Thinking, Systems Practice”. The co-author Sue Holwell has a rich and varied professional experience in systems design and implementation, information strategy and communication networks.

This book has eight chapters arranged in four parts.

In the first part on “The Field of Information Systems and its Problems” the authors deliberate on the basic concepts pertaining to Information Systems [IS] and Information Technology [IT], distinguish between the “Hard” (objective positivistic scientific) and “Soft” (subjective interpretative) schools of thought in the context of Management Information Systems [MIS], and introduce the reader to the fundamentals of Soft System Methodologies [SSM].

The “meat” of the book is in Part Two whose two chapters elucidate on the application of the developed Information System Management concepts to organizations and describe the “information continuum” – the linkages between data, information and knowledge. 

Parts Three and Four of the book substantiate these hypotheses with experiential examples from as early as World War II and drives home the point that the evolution and development of the science of Information Systems [IS] owes nothing to computers which did not exist in 1940, makes it clear that IS is not the same as IT, reminds us that computers are a mere means of IS, and cautions us against falling into the trap of “technological determinism” resulting from the prevalent propensity to overly focus on computer-based IT and allow technology to take charge of our actions.

The book is aptly adorned with simple illustrations which facilitate ease of understanding. 

As the dust jacket says, the book is a work of conceptual cleansing and presents a well-argued account of IS and IT which is both holistic and coherent. 

I recommend this remarkable book to students of Information Technology, Engineering and Management, Practising Engineers, Managers and Teaching Faculty and IT Professionals – reading this unique book will certainly enhance your conceptual understanding of Information Systems and Technology.

Book Review by Vikram Karve

http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve

vikramkarve@sify.com

BIBLIOTHERAPY The Ladies Oracle by Cornelius Agrippa

BIBLIOTHERAPY

 

By

 

VIKRAM KARVE  

 

 

Whenever I’m in a blue mood, I browse through my bookshelves and pick up a book. Reading is the greatest of all joys, and the moment I start reading a book I enter a different world, and this change of environment has a positive psychological effect, and lo and behold, my spirits are uplifted. Those who do not have the habit of reading remain imprisoned in their moods and immediate surroundings.

 

I’ve just picked up a delightful little book called “The Ladies Oracle” by Cornelius Agrippa from my bookcase. Let me tell you about it.

 

Whenever I buy a book, I write down the date and place of purchase on its first page. I have duly recorded that I bought The Ladies Oracle on 14 February 1989 on the pavement bookstalls opposite the CTO at Fort in Mumbai, then known as Bombay.

I don’t remember what prompted me to buy The Ladies Oracle – maybe to present it to my darling wife, or maybe because there was no “The Man’s Oracle” in the pavement bookstall. But that’s not important now, so more about the book.

 

Let’s get down to using this delightful oracle. First choose a question from the ninety five listed in the book from pages (v) to (viii) numbered 5 to 100 (I wonder where the first five questions are?).

 

I select question number 35: – Shall I always enjoy good health...?

 

Now I turn to page (i), close my eyes and put my finger on the table of signs. (I have placed my finger on the sign representing a single square).

 

 Now I consult the table starting from page ten, follow the line marked by the number of the question (35^th  line) till I arrive at the column which has the chosen sign over it, and this figure gives me the number of the page (74) where by looking at the sign traced by my finger I find my answer: – You will always have joy, health and prosperity...!

 

Fantastic...! I’m feeling good already.

 

Now the next question, number 15: –   How many lovers shall I have...?

 

I go through the procedure and the Oracle gives me the answer: – A great many, but those that have so many generally choose the worst...!

 

Hey, I’ve to be careful!

 

The next question, number 91: – What opinion has the world of me...?

 

The Oracle answers: – You are thought to have had more than one adventure...!

 

Oh, dear...! Have I really sown my wild oats that much...?

 

Shall I be happy in love...? The oracle says: – You will find more pain than pleasure...!

 

Pretty bleak – I better steer clear of falling in love...!

So I ask: Will my reputation be always good...?

The oracle answers: It will always be as you make it...!

  

I must take care to build up a good reputation!

 

Shall I go many long voyages...?

You will do well not to voyage farther than round your own room...!

 

Great...!

That puts an end to all my travel plans...!

All I’m going to do is go round and round in my room...!

What a gloomy answer...!

And I thought browsing books was supposed to lift my spirits...!

 

Okay, just one last question, and the answer better be something good, or else no more ‘bibliotherapy’ for me!

 

I select question number 74: – What is the person that I am thinking about doing at this moment...? and the Oracle answers: – She regrets not being with you...!

 

Wow...!

Bibliotheraphy really works.

I feel thrilled, jubilant, ecstatic, on cloud nine, in seventh heaven and right on top of the world as I rush off to surprise my beloved sweetheart.

And just imagine, I thought she never even thought about me...!

 

Long live The Ladies Oracle...!

 

Oh, Yes...The Ladies Oracle is a delightful little book you can consult from time to time on matters of love and life, believe me you’ll enjoy it.

It may be called The "Ladies" Oracle, but I feel that even men can consult it with satisfying results. 

 

Dear Reader, why don’t you try it out?

It is a delightfully entertaining reading, guaranteed to lift your spirits. I always carry this oracle in my pocket to enliven my moments of waiting.

 

Get a copy of this delightful oracle, ask the questions you always wanted to ask, and enjoy the answers!

That's Bibliotherapy.  

 

 

VIKRAM KARVE

 

vikramkarve@sify.com
 

http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve

 

INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Book Review

Title: Information, Systems and Information Systems – making sense of the field

Authors: Peter Checkland and Sue Howell

John Wiley & Sons (1988)

ISBN 0-471-95820-4

  

[Reviewed by Vikram Waman Karve]

   

Information Technology ( IT ) is the buzzword of today. 

IT is ubiquitous; almost everyone is connected with IT in some way or the other. 

A few years ago, till the nineteen eighties, there were courses in Electrical, Electronics, Communications and Telecommunications Engineering and later in Computer Science and Engineering, but now there are dedicated courses in Information Technology, and almost all Engineers, and even others, irrespective of their specializations, are rushing to take up jobs in IT and IT Enabled Services. 

The Management guys have also joined the fray and added a “management” dimension to IT by offering MBA courses in “IT Management”.

What exactly is IT? 

Maybe the phrase “IT” was coined to mark the convergence of two technologies that had been traditionally separate: “Computing” and “Communications” and the confluence of several streams of development including electronics, microelectronics, computer science, telecommunications, software engineering and systems analysis.

There are a large number of books and extensive literature on the content of IT. 

This book is a significant treatise on the context of IT. 

The principal author Peter Checkland is a pioneering researcher in the field of Systems Engineering and Management and has developed breakthrough concepts like Soft Systems Methodology [SSM] and written the seminal classic “Systems Thinking, Systems Practice”. The co-author Sue Holwell has a rich and varied professional experience in systems design and implementation, information strategy and communication networks.

This book has eight chapters arranged in four parts. 

In the first part on “The Field of Information Systems and its Problems” the authors deliberate on the basic concepts pertaining to Information Systems [IS] and Information Technology [IT], distinguish between the “Hard” (objective positivistic scientific) and “Soft” (subjective interpretative) schools of thought in the context of Management Information Systems [MIS], and introduce the reader to the fundamentals of Soft System Methodologies [SSM].

The “meat” of the book is in Part Two whose two chapters elucidate on the application of the developed Information System Management concepts to organizations and describe the “information continuum” – the linkages between data, information and knowledge. Parts Three and Four substantiate these hypotheses with experiential examples from as early as World War II and drives home the point that the evolution and development of the science of Information Systems [IS] owes nothing to computers which did not exist in 1940, makes it clear that IS is not the same as IT, reminds us that computers are a mere means of IS, and cautions us against falling into the trap of “technological determinism” resulting from the prevalent propensity to overly focus on computer-based IT and allow technology to take charge of our actions.

The book is aptly adorned with simple illustrations which facilitate ease of understanding. As the dust jacket says, the book is a work of conceptual cleansing and presents a well-argued account of IS and IT which is both holistic and coherent. I recommend this remarkable book to IT, Engineering and Management students and professionals – reading it will certainly enhance their conceptual understanding of Information Systems and Technology.

   

( Book Review by Vikram Waman Karve )

http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve

http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com

vikramkarve@hotmail.com

vikramkarve@sify.com

 

Book Review: Radar Systems Analysis by David K Barton

Radar Systems Analysis is a comprehensive and cohesive introduction to radar systems design and performance estimation. It offers professionals the knowledge they need to understand, analyze, evaluate, or design radar systems. The book presents accurate detection range equations for realistically estimating radar performance in a variety of practical situations. As radar systems evolve, designers, engineers, and analysts can turn to this book again and again to keep up with the latest advances in radar technology.

This book offers radar engineers all the fundamental and advanced information they need in day-to-day work. Readers will find several lucid chapters on various aspects of radar, such as theory of target detection, theory of radar measurement, description of radar targets, theory of search radar and its signal synthesis and analysis, error analysis, processing of radar data and tracking systems.

The book is divided into seventeen chapters starting with the theory of target detection where the radar echoes and noises are dealt with along with the integration of pulses. Chapter 2, 3 and 4 deals with the radar measurement of range, angle and velocity using the classical radar equation description, and description on RCS and complex targets. Chapter 5, 6, 7 and 8 is dedicated to the search radar and its target detection and measurement, MTI techniques, and synthesis and analysis. Chapter 9 to 14 deals extensively with the track radars which include angle measurement and tracking and its error analysis, range tracking systems, Doppler tracking systems, tracking radar data processing and its acquisition. There are discussions on the survey of propagation effects and multistation radar networks.

This book details practical procedures for search and track radar system testing and evaluation of radar range in difficult environments of combined noise, jamming, and clutter. However, an important topic like radar testing and evaluation gets one lonely chapter with somewhat cursory coverage. The book is substantiated with the adequate references and bibliography along with mathematical approximations for radar beam shape, spectra and waveforms.

Tables on transmission line and receiver input noise temperatures and table on radar range factors for system power change from 0 to 40 db have been provided for appropriate reference and use.

This excellent book summarizes the theory of radar systems and provides the radar engineer with methods and tools for estimating the performance of a wide variety of radars and for synthesizing or selecting radar designs to meet detection and tracking requirements. I recommend this book to all those interested in this fascinating field and Libraries of Technical Educational Institutions.

Neural Networks and Artificial Intelligence for Biomedical Engineering

Name of the Book: Neural Networks and Artificial Intelligence for Biomedical Engineering.

Authors: Donna L. Hudson, Maurice E. Cohen

Publication: IEEE Press, New York, 2000

ISBN: 0-7803-3404-3

Pages: 306

‘Neural Networks and Artificial Intelligence for Biomedical Engineering’
[Reviewed by Prachi A Deshmukh]


The advent of technology in the twentieth century has changed the total scenario around us. The fiction stories which we were reading in books have now become the truth, the reality. Robotics and artificial intelligence are some of the examples.

Neural networks and artificial intelligence have created new horizons in the field of medicine and biomedical engineering.

The book ‘Neural Networks and Artificial Intelligence for Biomedical Engineering’ by Donna Hudson and Maurice Cohen is a good guide for those who are working in this field or for the students who are studying neural networks, artificial intelligence or biomedical engineering as a part of their course work.

The book is divided into three parts: The first part covers Basics Neural networks, the second discusses Artificial Intelligence and the third one comprises of Alternative approaches.

Before starting with the neural networks, the authors have introduced us with the basics of biological systems as well as medical and biological data. This makes easy for us to enter in the field.

In part one, there are eight chapters.

All these are related with the neural networks. Chapter one is the foundation of neural networks. This one introduces us with the basic things regarding the neural networks. Starting from the structure of a biological cell and neuron, central nervous system we move towards the early neural models and current models. Second chapter classifies the neural networks. In this chapter we also learn the techniques which are used in biomedical problems. In chapter 3, 4 ad 5 we learn the network structure, feature selection and types of learning. Chapter 4 and 5 are dedicated to supervised learning and unsupervised learning respectively.
Chapter 6 is regarding the design issues. In this we learn the input data types, structure of networks implementation of network structures and the choice of learning algorithms. In chapter 7, we do the comparative analysis. In this chapter we again deal with the supervised and unsupervised learning. In this chapter we also learn the network structures.
The last chapter of part one is chapter no 8: Validation and evaluation. Here we become familiar with some important concepts such as data checking, validation and learning algorithms and evaluation performance.

After going through the first part of the book, we have with ourselves a strong base on neural networks.

In second part we move towards the Artificial Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence is an important field in the history of science and technology.

The second part is divided into 5 chapters.

First chapter of this part is chapter no. 9: ‘Foundations of computer assisted decision making’. Here the authors introduce us with the databases and medical records, mathematical modeling and simulation, pattern recognition, decision theory, symbolic reasoning techniques. Chapter no. 10 and chapter no. 11 are knowledge representation and knowledge acquisition respectively. These two introduce us with the production rules, frames, databases, nets (predicate calculus and semantic nets),learned knowledge, meta knowledge and knowledge base maintenance.
Chapter 12 deals with the reasoning methodologies. Here we learn the problem representations, blind searching, trees-graphs and higher level reasoning methodologies. In chapter 13 we learn the validation and evaluation. Here we learn the algorithmic evaluation, knowledge base evaluation and system evaluation. The part two terminates with the end of chapter no. 13.

In third part there are 6 chapters which are arranged under the name ‘Alternate approaches’.

In chapter 14 we learn about the genetic algorithms. In this chapter we learn about the representation schemes, evaluation functions, genetic operators, evaluation strategies and some biomedical examples.

Chapter 15 and 16 are probabilistic systems and fuzzy systems respectively. In chapter 15: probabilistic systems, we learn about the Bayesian approaches in which we become familiar with the Baye’s rule and Baye’s decision theory, parameter estimation, discriminant analysis, statistical analysis, regression analysis. At the end of the chapter brief information about the medical applications is given.

Chapter no. 16 is related with the Fuzzy systems. Here we get the information of fuzzy logic and fuzzy set theory, representation of fuzzy variables, membership functions, fuzzy neural networks, fuzzy approaches of supervised learning networks, fuzzy generalizations of unsupervised learning methods, reasoning with uncertain information, pre-processing and post processing using fuzzy techniques etc.

At the end we find some applications in biomedical engineering.

In chapter 17 we become familiar with the hybrid systems. Here we learn about the hybrid system approaches, components of the hybrid systems, use of complex data structures, design methodologies etc.

Chapter 18 deals with the ‘HyperMerge’ which is a hybrid expert system. Here we learn about the knowledge based component, neural network component, analysis of time series data, combined system and lastly an application: Diagnosis of Heart Disease.

Chapter 19 is the concluding chapter of this part as well as the book. It is ‘Future Perspectives’. In this chapter different aspects are considered such as the effects of hardware advances, effects of increase in knowledge and the future of software. In this chapter different important parameters are discussed. Computing speed, memory, parallel machines, miniaturization etc. The different effects of increase in knowledge such as information explosion, human genome project, proliferation of databases, communication of information etc are studied. The end of the chapter the authors discuss about the future of the software. Here we discuss about the hybrid systems, parallel systems, non textual data, Neural network models and the artificial intelligence approaches.

This book provides useful guidance for the graduate and undergraduate students who are studying this subject and I strongly commend the book to those interested in this fascinating field.

RADAR - A Book Review

BOOK REVIEW

Here is a rather amusing book review by Prachi Deshmukh, a bright young engineer who works with me. It was written quite some time back and I like her rather droll friendly style and, hence, I have intentionally not edited the review too much, so that the writing retains its original refreshing youthful flavour. So here is the book review E & OE :-

Name of the book: Radar
Authors: P.S. Hall, T.K. Garland-Collins, R.S. Picton and R.G. Lee
Publication: Brassey’s , (UK), 1991
Pages: 170
ISBN: 0 – 08 – 037710 – 6

[Reviewed by Prachi A. Deshmukh]

It was a bright morning, and I was enjoying my first tea of the day. Usually, I do not take tea without having a glance on the newspaper. There were plenty of news showing the fall of the top Indian software companies, the falling share market and there were overflowing columns discussing about the global recession. I was getting somewhat bored by reading them, and suddenly a news attracted me, which was about the bravery of a pilot in USA who saved the life of nearly 160 passengers. The brave man did land the plane in a frozen river to rescue the passengers in the plane and saved it from crash, which could happen because of a bird approaching towards the plane. Hats off to the presence of mind of the pilot! At the same time, we should not forget to say thanks to the radar technology, which had helped the pilot to detect the presence of the approaching bird.

After reading this, I became curious about the RADAR technology. ‘RADAR’ is the abbreviation of ‘Radio Detection and Ranging’. I went to the library in search of the book which will make me familiar with this RADAR technology. There were number of books available there, out of which, I selected one book, which I think was best suitable for a reader who is interested in to know the basic operation of RADAR, but does not have detailed knowledge of electronics or RADAR system, but is interested to know about the modern warfare. The book about which I am talking is ‘Radar’ by P.S. Hall et al, Brassey’s Publication, UK. ‘RADAR’ is the 9th volume of the series ‘Land Warfare: Brassey’s New Battlefield Weapons Systems and Technology Series’.

The content in the book is well arranged in 10 chapters, each having plenty of supporting diagrams, equations as well as photographs. The first chapter introduces us with radar. We enter in the world of radar with knowing the importance of radar, its history, i.e. origin of radar, motivation behind it, its first use in army etc. We also go through the technical history of radar. At the end of the first chapter, we become familiar with the types of radar such as primary and secondary radar, monostatic, bistatic and multistatic radar. The last figure of this chapter shows the electromagnetic spectrum and the radar bands in it.

The chapters 2 to 4 deal with the radar principles and technology. It is advised that the readers who wish to strengthen their fundamentals should study these chapters carefully. For those who are new to this field or want the comprehensive view, all the chapters are recommended. Those who understand the basics but wish to update themselves on the current state of battlefield radars chapter no. 5 to 9 are there.

Chapter 2 is about the ‘Principles of Radar Operation’. This chapter introduces us with the basic principles of radar operation such as basic action of the Pulse Radar Operation, Pulse Repetition Frequency, evaluation of the performance of radar , how to design the antenna, the maximum detection range and the radar equation etc. At the end of the chapter we gain the knowledge about the detection of radar signals, radar resolution, velocity resolution, radar accuracy and how to choose the frequency of radar.

Chapter 3 is an interesting one. Here we become familiar with the Doppler radar, Doppler processing in pulse radars, blind and ambiguous velocity. Besides these concepts, there are some other important radar techniques also, such as methods of target discrimination, Rain Clutter suppression by circular polarization, pulse compression, scanning and tracking radars, synthetic aperture radar. After going through this chapter, we find that we have acquired enough fundamentals to thoroughly understand the radar technology.

The fourth chapter is ‘radar technology’. Here we have to make use of the knowledge which we have gained in the previous chapters. At the beginning of this chapter we have a look on what are radar transmitters and receivers, what is magnetron, Klystron, Travelling wave tube, solid state transmitters etc. Without the knowledge of the components of radar, we can not understand what the system actually is? The common microwave transmission lines such as waveguide, co-axial, line, microstrip, triplate stripline are illustrated in brief. Antennas are the important sense organs for the radars. Here are the different types of antennas such as reflector antennas, adaptive antennas, multiple beam antennas as well as the phase arrays, frequency scanned arrays. Digital processing and displays are also explained in brief. If the displays could have been explained in detail, it would be better.

With chapter 5, we move towards the battlefield surveillance radar. First the authors introduce us with the requirement of the battlefield surveillance radar. Mainly there are two classes of battlefield surveillance radar i.e. Short range battlefield surveillance radar and airborne battlefield surveillance radar. In Short range battlefield (BSR) radar, there are different points which should be taken into consideration while studying BSR. The important points are frequency of operation and resolution. The block diagram is there to understand the working of the BSR. There are some examples of current BSR such as RASIT radar and MSTAR radar. The photographs give us the idea about the systems. The second important type is the airborne battlefield surveillance radar. Here we go through the Stand-Off Radar (SOR) which stand well back and use long range sensors. Again we gain knowledge about the principle of SOR, SOR resolution, target imaging and displays. At the end of the chapter there are two practical systems also.

Chapter 6 is about the weapon locating radars. The purpose of the weapon locating radar is to detect the launch of an enemy projectile or missile and to establish the segment of the trajectory of projectile.

The general technical requirements, principle of back track location provide us with base to understand the fundamentals. Here are some practical systems, recently introduced systems, near future outlook and possible future systems.

Chapter 7 is about the Air Defence Radar. In this chapter the important types such as strategic radars, long range radars, medium range radars and short range radars and surveillance and tracking of each of the type are studied. All the four types are presented very nicely with enough diagrams and photographs.

In chapter 8, there is collection of some other types of battlefield radars. To mention few are: balloon tracking radar, free flight rocket correction radar, unmanned aircraft radar, remotely piloted vehicle tracking radar, tank Automatic defence radar , as well as radar anti–tank homing missiles and projectiles and passive radar homing missiles. At the end of this chapter, we acquire some command on the radar systems.

Chapter 9 is about the electronic warfare. Here the authors have introduced us with the Electronic Warfare (EW). This chapter gives a brief idea about the electronic warfare. Electronic Counter Measures (ECM), Electronic Support Measures (ESM) and Electronic Counter Countermeasures (ECCM), jamming are some of the important concepts of EW. Here we get a brief knowledge of the tactical aspects, antenna systems, and jammers. Comparisons between ESM and radar confrontation, tracking radar and threat borne jammer, tracker and repeater target borne jammer help to make our concepts clear.

Last but not the least, chapter 10, which is the conclusion of the entire exercise. This chapter tells us about the importance of radar in battlefield, as well as it shows us the future of this technology. It includes the comparison of radar and other surveillance and target acquisition methods, the importance of the EW and its impact on radar, the future technical trends, adaptive radar, Artificial intelligence, and future military trends. This chapter is the most important one as far as the warfare is concerned.

For the sake of convenience of the keen reader who wants to see the particular diagrams, there is a chapter wise list of illustration at the beginning of the book.

In simple words, ‘Radar’ is a book which gives us sufficient information of radar systems and makes us familiar with the Electronic Warfare also. This is a good example of a technical book. This book can be used by the students for reference who are studying Radar for academic purpose, as well as this will prove simple and helpful for those readers who do not have detailed knowledge of electronics or radar system. But reader must be from technical background and should have at least the basic knowledge of physics and electronics.

An Inspiring Book on Leadership Styles

INSPIRING LEADERSHIP

19 STARS: A STUDY IN MILITARY LEADERSHIP

By

EDGAR F. PURYEAR Jr.

[Book Review by Vikram Karve]


It was indeed a pleasant surprise to chance upon this engrossing treatise buried in the books that adorn the shelves of my bookcase, last evening.

I had first read this book long long back, maybe fifteen years ago. I read it again. I enjoyed the book thoroughly and found it inspiring, educative, enjoyable and stimulating, and decided to tell you, dear reader, about it.

“19 Stars” is a comparative study of the contrasting styles of leadership by four of the most outstanding American generals of World War II.

The book attempts to capture those elusive qualities that have made great leaders of Generals Marshall, MacArthur, Eisenhower and Patton. The title of the book symbolizes the total number of ‘stars’ these four Generals wore on their collars.

The book starts with a lucid description of their early years as Cadets and traces their diverse backgrounds.

It is revealed that whereas MacArthur and Patton belonged to families with rich military heritage, Eisenhower grew up with no knowledge of, or any inclination towards, a military career. He could not afford to go to college, qualified for entrance to Naval Academy, Annapolis, but was overage, so opted for West Point, which had a higher entering age.

Marshall just decided to follow his elder brother into the Army.

MacArthur’s career as a cadet was brilliant.

Patton distinguished himself in the qualities of a soldier and athletic skills but faced difficulty in academics.

Eisenhower has been depicted as indifferent, carefree and careless.
An absorbing narrative encompassing World Wars I and II and the interregnum is the highlight of the book. It is a thoroughly researched analysis interspersed with a large number of anecdotes and reminiscences.

The author avoids platitudes and presents his analysis with remarkable candour.
Whether it be the ‘flamboyant’ Patton, ‘imperious’ MacArthur, ‘genial’ Eisenhower or ‘austere’ Marshall, a pattern of common leadership qualities emerges despite their contrasting temperaments.

It is revealing that these intrepid men were groomed under the tutelage of various patrons who not only furthered their careers but also bailed them out of professional crises on a number of occasions.

The numerous first person reminiscences of eminent personalities, lucidly illustrate the universal respect and honest relationships, totally devoid of sycophancy that they developed and loyally sustained.

Hallmarks of leadership like Decisiveness, sometimes based on a “Sixth Sense”, Outspokenness, and an uncanny knack of spotting the right man for the right job are highlighted in various episodes, as also their inner strength and courageous attitude towards reversals and adversities, over which they invariably triumphed.

The author has succeeded in organizing and presenting his analysis in an extremely streamlined and readable manner.

This is a very inspiring, educative and enjoyable book which is do delightfully written that once you start reading it, it’s unputdownable.


VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2009
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this review.

vikramkarve@sify.com

http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com

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ART and SCIENCE of LEADERSHIP

ART OF LEADERSHIP

Book Review: A Soldier’s Story by Omar N. Bradley

[Reviewed by Vikram Waman Karve]


I love reading autobiographies, as there is nothing more inspiring and authentic than learning about the life, times, thoughts and views of a great person in his own words.

It’s a lazy hot Sunday afternoon. I browse through my bookshelves and pick out A Soldier’s Story by General Omar Nelson Bradley, one of my favourite autobiographies, and certainly my all time favourite military autobiography. Come Dear Reader, sit with me for a while, and let’s leaf through and peruse this fascinating book.

General Bradley (1893-1981) known for his calm and resolute leadership and affectionately called the “Soldier’s General” commanded the largest American combat force in history and rose to be the first Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

This is a story, not of my life, but of a campaign…I have sought... to tell a story of how generals live and work at their chosen profession the author says at the beginning of his memoirs which focus on his participation in World War II.

Candidly written with remarkable humility in beautiful expressive language it is a wonderful memoir embellished with interesting episodes and lucid characterizations of many renowned military personalities.

In the preface General Bradley says: “In this book I have tried to achieve one purpose: To explain how war is waged on the field from the field command post… To tell a story of how and why we chose to do what we did, no one can ignore the personalities and characteristics of those individuals engaged in making decisions…..Where there are people, there is pride and ambition, prejudice and conflict. In generals, as in all other men, capabilities cannot always obscure weaknesses, nor can talents hide faults…I could not conscientiously expurgate this book to make it more palatable…if this story is to be told, it must be told honestly and candidly…”

The author writes in a wonderfully readable storytelling style and starts his riveting narrative on September 2, 1943, driving to Messina along the north coast of Sicily when, suddenly, General Eisenhower summoned him to tell him that he had been selected to command the American Army in the biggest invasion of the war – the liberation of Europe from the Germans. He then goes back in time and starts his story with vignettes from his early formative days of soldiering.

General Bradley vividly describes how, from General Marshall, he learnt the rudiments of effective command which he himself applied throughout the war: “When an officer performed as I expected him to, I gave him a free hand. When he hesitated, I tried to help him. And when he failed, I relieved him” - isn’t this leadership lesson valid even on today’s IT driven world where delegation seems to be taking a back- seat and excessive monitoring, interference and intervention seem to be on the rise.

Rather than encourage yes-men, ego-massage, sycophancy and groupthink, General Marshal sought contrary opinions: “When you carry a paper in here, I want you to give me every reason you can think of why I should not approve it. If, in spite of your objections, my decision is to still go ahead, then I’ll know I’m right”.

When it was suggested to General Marshall that a corps commander who had an arthritic disability in the knee be sent home rather than be given command of a corps in the field in war, he opined: “I would rather have a man with arthritis in the knee than one with arthritis in the head. Keep him there”.

“For the first time in 32 years as a soldier, I was off to a war” he writes on his assignment overseas in February 1943 to act as Eisenhower’s “eyes and ears” among American troops on the Tunisian front in North Africa.

He vividly describes the chaos after the American defeat at Kasserine, the arrival of Patton on the scene who growled “I’m not going to have any goddam spies running around in my headquarters” and appointed Bradley as his deputy, a defining moment which was the first step of Bradley’s illustrious combat career.

This is easily the best book on Patton’s stellar role in World War II, complementing General Patton’s Memoirs War As I Knew It and Patton: Ordeal and Triumph by Ladislas Farago. Though his admiration for Patton is evident, General Bradley writes about his long association with Patton with fairness and honesty and reveals unique and remarkable facets of Patton’s leadership style and character.

Sample this – Precisely at 7 Patton boomed in to breakfast. His vigour was always infectious, his wit barbed, his conversation a mixture of obscenity and good humour. He was at once stimulating and overbearing. George was a magnificent soldier. (Can there be a better description of General Patton?)

Bradley vividly describes how Patton transformed the slovenly and demoralized II Corps into a fighting fit formation. “The news of Patton’s coming fell like a bombshell on Djebel Kouif. With sirens shrieking Patton’s arrival, a procession of armoured scout cars and half-tracks wheeled into the dingy square opposite the schoolhouse headquarters of II Corps…In the lead car Patton stood like a charioteer…scowling into the wind and his jaw strained against the web strap of a two-starred steel helmet.”

General Bradley writes superbly, as he describes how Patton stamped his personality upon his men and by his outstanding charismatic leadership rejuvenated the jaded, slovenly, worn-out, defeated and demoralized II Corps and transformed it into a vibrant, disciplined, fighting fit organization that never looked back and went on winning victory after victory in most difficult circumstances and against all odds.

There are bits of delightful humour in this book. Commenting on the ingenuity and improvisation abilities of Patton’s staff, the author writes: “…Indeed had Patton been named an Admiral in the Turkish Navy, his aides could probably dipped into their haversacks and come up with the appropriate badges of rank…” Though, at times, the author appears to be in awe of and enamoured by Patton’s larger than life charisma, he is candid, dispassionate and, at times, critical when he describes how he was bewildered by the contradictions in Patton’s character and concludes: “At times I felt that Patton, however successful he was as a corps commander, had not yet learned how to command himself.”

Their techniques of command varied with their contrasting personalities. While the soft-spoken unassuming Bradley preferred to lead by suggestion and example, the flamboyant Patton chose to drive his subordinates by bombast and threats, employing imperious mannerisms and profane expletives with startling originality; and both achieved spectacular results.

Many of us are at a loss for words when asked to qualitatively appraise our subordinates. See how easily General Bradley lucidly evaluates his division commanders, bringing out their salient qualities, in so few words with elegant simplicity and succinctness: “…To command a corps of four divisions, toughness alone is not enough. The corps commander must know his division commanders, he must thoroughly understand their problems, respect their judgment, and be tolerant of their limitations…among the division commanders in Tunisia, none excelled the unpredictable Terry Allen in the leadership of troops…but in looking out for his own division, Allen tended to belittle the role of others… Ryder had confirmed his reputation as that of a skilled tactician…his weakness, however, lay in the contentment with which he tolerated mediocrity…the profane and hot-tempered Harmon brought to the corps the rare combination of sound tactical judgment and boldness… none was better balanced nor more cooperative than Manton Eddy…though not timid, neither was he bold; Manton liked to count his steps carefully before he took them.” Aren’t the author’s understanding, observation and articulation precise and remarkable?

Throughout the book, we find honest, frank and incisive appraisals of characters in this story – superiors, peers and subordinates – most of them renowned and famous personalities. He writes with candour about the problems of command during the planning of the invasion of Europe.

From then on the story gathers speed and moves so captivatingly that one is spellbound as one reads the author fluently narrate the events of the campaign with remarkable preciseness and detail, one realizes what an engaging and compelling book this is – it’s simply unputdownable!

All important events, turning points, and personalities are vividly described with the aid of maps, charts, pictures and appendices; from D Day (the Normandy Invasion) to the surrender of the German forces. Towards the end of his memoirs General Bradley reflects “Only five years before…as a lieutenant colonel in civilian clothes, I had ridden a bus down Connecticut Avenue to my desk in old Munitions Building… I opened the mapboard and smoothed out the tabs of the 43 US divisions now under my command…stretched across a 640-mile front of the 12th Army Group...I wrote in the new date: D plus 335…outside the sun was climbing in the sky. The war in Europe had ended.”

While this autobiography is a “must read” for military men and students of military history, I am sure it will benefit management students and professionals for it is an incisive treatise on Soft Skills encompassing aspects of Leadership, Communications, and most importantly, the Art of Human Relations Management in the extremely complex and highly stressful scenario of War where achievement of success (victory) is inescapably paramount. It is a primer, a treasury of distilled wisdom, on all aspects of management, especially human resource management. One can learn many motivational and management lessons from this book.

Nothing can surpass the experience of learning history first hand from a man who lived and created it rather than a historian who merely records it.

The Art of Leadership is better learnt from studying Leaders, their lives, their writings, rather than reading management textbooks pontificating on the subject and giving how-to-do laundry lists.

The Art and Science of Management owe its genesis and evolution to the military. Modern Management theories, concepts, techniques and practices emerged from the experiences and lessons learnt during World War II [particularly in The United States of America].

It’s ironic isn’t it that the reverse is happening today?

It was the military that gave modern management principles to the civilian corporate world, and today we see military men running to civilian management institutes to “learn” management and acquire the coveted MBA which is the sine qua non and all important passport for entry into the corporate world.

I love reading stories, all kinds of stories, fiction, fantasy, parables, fables, slice of life. I like Life Stories, biographies, particularly autobiographies, as there is nothing more credible, convincing and stimulating than learning about the life, times and thoughts of a great person from his own writings. It’s called verisimilitude, I think.

A Soldier’s Story is a magnificent book. A unique masterpiece, a classic!

This autobiography is enjoyable, engrossing, illuminating and inspiring.

Dear Reader, I commend this superb book.

Do read it; I am sure you will learn a lot about the art of leadership and feel inspired by this life story.



VIKRAM WAMAN KARVE

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