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dIaspora
DIASPORA
FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2014EAST COAST EDITION
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Subhas Khot, a topper all his life Winner of top Mathematics prize, Subhas A. Khot’s teachers remember him as a student who excelled in academics throughout his career QUAID NAJMI, KOLHAPUR (MAHARASHTRA)
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athematics genius Subhas A. Khot who got the Rolf Nevanlinna Prize — the ‘Nobel of Mathematics’ — has an “extraordinary academic talent and remarkable concentration power”, his school teachers recall. “We are very proud of his achievement which has brought global name and fame to his almamater. On his next visit home to Ichalkaranji in December, we have
planned a public felicitation for him,” a pleased Gopal G. Kulkarni, principal Venkatraro High School, Ichalkaranji, told IANS. Khot was a student at the Marathi medium school in the secondary section between 19871993 — and was the brightest in all spheres of academics, Kulkarni said, adding that around half a dozen of his erstwhile teachers still teach here. Khot’s maths and science teacher, Vaman G. Gogate, now 79 and retired, clearly remembers how his favorite student excelled in aca-
‘We are very proud of his achievement which has brought global name and fame to his alma- mater’
Author gives a taste of Ghalib in US
The translated book by Surinder Deol being released in Washington. ARUN KUMAR, WASHINGTON
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n India-born former World Bank staff member-turned poet and novelist has penned
a new English translation of famous Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib’s works to meaningfully engage American readers. Gopi Chand Narang, leading literary critic and former Presi-
Mathematician Subhas A Khot got the Rolf Nevanlinna Prize.
dent of Sahitya Akademi, released the book titled The Treasure: A Modern Rendition of Ghalib’s Lyrical Love Poetry by Surinder Deol, at a function on August 17. The 378-page book, beautifully produced by Penguin-Random House imprint Partridge, contains a complete free verse translation of Ghalib’s entire Urdu Divan. “Surinder Deol has dwelled deep into Ghalib and has struck a chord with the core of his creativity,” said Narang releasing the book. “He believes in the inner transformation and ecstasy of poetry, and as a translator he has succeeded in unravelling the magical world of Ghalib’s charm and his joy and zest for life,” he said.
demics throughout his academic career. “He had a special love for maths and science, but was the best in all other subjects. He had extraordinary academic talent and remarkable concentration power. I always knew that he would some day achieve top glory and fame,” Gogate told IANS. Khot, 36, is now a professor in Computer Science Department at New York University’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. Hailing from a middle-class family, his doctor father Ajit died following a heart attack in 1995. His mother Jaishree is also a doctor in Ichalkaranji, while his younger brother Amol is a doctor practicing in Mumbai.
Indian-origin biophysicist wins US grant IANS, WASHINGTON
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high-risk brain research by Indian-origin biophysicist Partha Mitra from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York has won a crucial grant from the National Science Foundation National Science Foundation (NSF). The grant will allow him to develop a ‘virtual neuroanatomist’, an has awarded 36 small grants artificial-intelligence system that can totalling $10.8 million to projects identify neural structures in micro- studying everything from electrodes that measure chemical and electronscopic images of brain slices. To support the Brain Research ic signals to artificial intelligence through Advancing Innovative Neu- programs to identify brain rotechnologies (BRAIN), the NSF structures.
Independence day celebratIons Overseas Indians mark Independence Day in Kenya NAIROBI: Indians living in Kenya celebrated India’s 68th Independence Day on August 15 wearing finest attires, as they gathered at the house of Indian High Commissioner to Kenya Yogeshwar Varma. Addressing members of the Indian community and local people gathered on this occasion, Varma, who is also concurrently the ambassador to Somalia and Eritrea, said though an ancient civilisation, India is a modern nation with modern dreams. Its constitution is a consequence of democracy and a culture which reflects ancient values. — IANS
India’s 68th Independence Day Thousands of Indians in Kuwait celebrated in US commemorate India’s I-Day Spectators witness the colorful 34th India Day parade in New York IANS, NEW YORK
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he Indian-American community, wearing bright and colorful clothes, celebrated India’s 68th Independence Day with a parade dancing down ManActors Raveena Tandon and Sunny hattan’s Madison Avenue on August Deol at the parade. (Photo: Rediff) 17. One of the main fashionable avenues of New York was a sea of Indian colors, complete with floats, the annual India Day Parade in drums and, of course, a lot New York City told Newsday. The 34th edition of the India of saris. “It’s a way of saluting those who Day Parade in New York City drew lost their lives” in the struggle for tens of thousands of spectators, sevindependence, said Ankur Vaidya, eral Bollywood stars and local electpresident of the Federation of Indi- ed officials, the local newspaper an Associations, which organizes further said.
IANS, KUWAIT CITY
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bout 10,000 people gathered at the premises of the Indian embassy in Kuwait to celebrate India’s 68th Independence Day. The celebrations were marked by a flag hoisting ceremony and singing of the national anthem. Ambassador Sunil Jain read out President Pranab Mukherjee’s
address to the nation on the occasion. The ambassador emphasized that India-Kuwait relations have been historically close, warm and friendly. He commended the contribution of the Indian community in Kuwait’s socio-economic development and in nurturing IndiaKuwait ties. He extended his greetings to all Indians in Kuwait. The ambassador also highlighted several measures taken by the embassy for the welfare of the Indian community. He announced the opening of an outsourcing center in the embassy on all working days and availability of embassy auditorium to various Indian associations for social and cultural activities.