राष्ट्रपित मोहोदय की मुलाक़ात के फोटो

Pictures of the President's visit
Still waiting for official images, but here is some pictorial evidence:
Waiting for his convoy to arrive!


Presenting him with the bouquet:


A brief chat:


I introduce the Indian students:


Photo courtesy: Didier. Merci Didier!

समाचार हेअद्लिने

News Headlines!

Outlook India
Central Chronicle
Indian National network of Education
Aviation and Aerospace News
Google news links

अब्दुल कलाम इये-एस-यु को सुम्बोधित करते है

Abdul Kalam, President of India visits ISU.

An Excerpt from the Times of India, this morning:

STRASBOURG: As a head of the state he might be handling national and international issues, but President A P J Abdul Kalam depends on scientific methods to solve most political problems.

“Definitely, without a doubt, I will choose science. Even now, as President, I do not engage in politics but use scientific methods and scientific experiences to solve political problems,” said Kalam last night during an interaction at the International Space University here. He said this when he was asked to choose one between science and politics.

During the interaction, which lasted for over an hour, Kalam also said the “chances of Indian women landing on the moon or on the Mars” were high.

“Three of the astronauts who have taken on space missions have been of Indian origin – Rakesh Sharma, Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams. Two out of three are women,” said 75-year-old Kalam, much to the delight of the audience.

Earlier, while delivering his lecture, the president made it clear to the young scientists gathered in the hall that India's space programme had no military interests.

“It has been built to be locally relevant when globally challenging, and its foundation is the quest of India and other space-faring nations to use the collective wisdom of the humanity to solve the socio-economic problems of our society,” said Kalam.

Kalam also said that “no nation has sovereignty over space.”

“When we explore space, the fact that it belongs to the whole humanity can act as a motivator for natural collaboration between nations. It is a platform for sharing ideas and technologies and to work towards a sustainable world with peace and prosperity,” said Kalam.

He called upon all the nations to build an international space satellite service station as an “international venture” so that the life of the satellites can be extended to ensure continued applications to the world community.

The president said the Indian Economy was in an “ascent phase.”

“There is considerable growth in the manufacturing and service sectors. We have a mission of spreading this economic growth throughout the country including the rural sector,” said Kalam.

दिसप्पोंत्मेंत ब्य बिग बेन

Disappointment by Big Ben

Unfortunately, after training for 4and a half months rigorously, I only happen to be a few days away from the marathon when I caught an infection due to acute allergies, and got to london in an unfit state to run it. :-(

Here is the email I wrote to everyone who has been supporting me non-stop since the start. I owe my marathon experience to them still and I promise to run one to put the funds they helped me raise to good use before end of this year:

Dear All,

Hello. First of all, I would like to thank you all with all my gratitude. Thanks for supporting my running training all through the last few months, for the lovely thoughts and wishes you sent and for keeping my spirits going.

Unfortunately, in the mid last week, I have caught a bad throat infection, which has led to inflammation of my tonsils and sides of the food pipe which means I cannot swallow liquids/food with easy or breathe - two things I may need to do during the marathon. I am on a serious anti-biotic course, but still running temperature every few hours - which means I have had to pull out of the marathon and give my spot.

As most of you have known, for the last 4 months, my life has revolved around the marathon and the training leading up to it, and am very dissappointed that I cannot run the distance tomorrow despite of being in London!

BUT, I assure you, your good intentions and support are not wasted. Oxfam has agreed to transfer the funds to another marathon event that I can take part till end of 2008. I am hoping to be able to run the Chicago marathon - and shall update you all soon.

Once again, thank you, and I shall keep you updated. I am still planning on going to watch the marathon and cheer the several (50,000+) people running it tomorrow.

My best regards.
Bee

इंडिया के राष्ट्रपित स्त्रस्बौर्ग मे आय-एस-यु से मिलने के लिए आएंगे.

President of India to Visit ISU in Strasbourg!

The International Space University (ISU) will have the privilege of
hosting India’s President Dr. Abdul Kalam, at its central campus in
Illkirch-Graffenstaden, on Tuesday, April 24, 2007.

Dr. Abdul Kalam is India’s 11th president and with a background in
aero-science, through his Vision 2020, he is pushing for India to become a
developed nation with a significant space sector.

Coinciding with this mission, Dr. Abdul Kalam has chosen to visit the
International Space University to meet the students of the future space
generation. At this occasion, you are cordially invited to hear him
speak and will have the privilege of asking him questions related to the
Indian Space Industry.

This is a scientific event, therefore no political questions will be
answered and questions will have to be addressed in English only.

If you wish to participate in this exceptional event please make sure
to arrive promptly at 16h40 due to high security requirements.

यह ब्लोग आज से दौ भाषा मे आएगा

This blog is going bilingual today!

Last week, My daddy arrived from India. Although, he speaks English adequately, he misses his own language, so until I can make this blog work in Gujarati, Hindi AND English, it is going to have to work in Hindi and English.

(and french) et Voila!

Aajese yeh blog

Current sponsorship Grand Total Update!!

A MASSIVE Thank you to all the generous benevolent friends who are donating - woohoo, already 350+ GB Pounds - That means, so far Oxfam can use:

- £24 can plant an allotment to provide a family with a livelihood
- £36 can provide a teacher with a teacher packs and guides
- £70 can provide a family with a cow. Cows can fertilise crops, give milk to feed families and to sell.
- £100 can buy basic medicines for a village (for 2 villages!)

Happy Birthday Shorty!

Choo Choo, you are 26! Happy Birthday to the closest friend I have in the world!

E-dweeb

I couldn't help but point out to Ed... In the words of my email to him:

Dear Ed,
As I checked out your 'funny thing of the day' blog, I
thought it would be great to show Chris(tine), my
housemate your tipi pictures : she has heard already
about several of 'chris and ed' stories from uni times
(I am thinking of writing a book)

So, we log on to 'edweb' and perhaps it is because of
the late night and constant gazing at climate change
models that she is very tired; but she gives me a very
confused look... Gazes again at the screen and asks
"Bee, why is it called e-dweeb?"

Considering this is Chris, who generally would have
reflected a couple of times already whether her
question was appropriate or not, it is Hilarious! No
doubt, I cracked up laughing and the furniture around
me tasted the delicious stroopwaffel I was enjoying at
the time! Later on, she tried to justify explaining
that she was thinking, perhaps e-dweeb is not a bad
name for a bloky/ gadgetty website!

Yuri's Night Film Projection + Debat: What's your space?

Also, designed this film projection for a debate on space issues Annelie is organizing - come along to La Artichaut at the end of Grand Rue for a fun evening!

Poster for YN 2007 - Strasbourg!

Here is our poster for Yuri's Night, 2007 - 12th of april! Come, join the world's biggest space party!

Vous aiment ma conception ?