Her name was..... Gnanam

My grandmother used to tell me about the time she performed in Delhi on Republic Day, 1950. She was just a young artist then, standing on stage in front of Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Prime Minister Nehru. It wasn’t just any performance...it was the first Republic Day of independent India. She said the air felt electric, like the whole country was holding its breath and dreaming together. And there she was, part of it.

She was among the first batch of students at Kalakshetra, learning under Rukmini Devi Arundale herself. That place wasn’t just a school...it was a movement. Rukmini Devi wasn’t just a teacher, she was a force. My grandmother often spoke about how those years shaped her, not just as a dancer, but as a person. Bharatanatyam wasn’t just about steps and mudras; it was about grace, discipline, and carrying something ancient with pride.

What doesn’t make this world feel stronger? A Nation Stronger? 

I think Its Independence...and It being called as Republic... 

President Rajendra Prasad (in the horse-drawn carriage) readies to take part in the first Republic Day parade on Rajpath, New Delhi, in 1950.

My grandmother represented the "State of Madras" at that 1950 event and even received an award. I remember her telling me the story with such clarity, like it had happened just yesterday. She had kept the photos from that day tucked away in a steel box for over sixty years. Sadly, the Chennai floods in 2015 washed them away. That box had survived decades, but not that storm. She was heartbroken. So was I.

Apart from dance, she was deeply rooted in Carnatic music. She taught kids in the neighborhood...singing, dancing, whatever she could. It was her side gig, long before we started calling it that. She’d nudge me sometimes, “Learn a little, no?” And I’d always say, “Grandma, once I get some free time…” I never did, and I regret that now.

Funny thing is, she was the first person to teach me about earning through side gigs. Not in a preachy way...just by living it. And she introduced me to books too. I still remember reading “The Famous Five” by Enid Blyton, curled up next to her. Those stories felt magical, but honestly, nothing was more magical than her own life.

What doesn’t make this world feel stronger? Her life in few words..

Although she came from a large family of eleven...three brothers, six sisters, and their parents... she had very limited interaction with them. As the fourth eldest, she didn’t grow up alongside her siblings. During World War II, in 1939, when she was just four years old, my great-grandmother placed her in the custody of an aunt in Bombay. From the age of four until fourteen, she technically had siblings, but the war and her separation meant she rarely saw or connected with them during those formative years.

In 1955, My grandmother was married at just 18, to an elderly man who was 30, at that time. I hesitate to call him my grandfather...he was, biologically, the source of the Y chromosome that gave my father life, but nothing more than that. He wasn’t a presence, not in any meaningful way. From what I’ve been told, he left abruptly and without explanation sometime in early 1956, just 6 months after the marriage to my grandmother. He was a runner, as they say. His character was questionable, and his absence left my grandmother to face the world alone, as a young woman in a conservative society, raising a child without support. Her strength in the face of that abandonment is what truly shaped our family... 

Even till her memory serving right, she use to tell me that,"Maybe I got married too young and I think he didn't like being married to a childish character like me!". Never for a second she had complained or said anything bad about that man in her age of 70 and early 80, when I use to riddle her with so many questions about her married life of just 6 months.

 Divorce, in many ways, is one such human system, an institution that tests the resilience of relationships in the 21st century. 

 But there was this woman in my life who defied that narrative. She never remarried, never divorced, and lived with quiet dignity from the age of 20 until her passing just a few weeks ago at 89.

My grandmother was a single mother in an era that offered little support and even less understanding. She raised my father (who was also a single child like me), all alone, navigating the treacherous social terrain of the 1960s and 70s as a woman in her 30s and 40s. 

 Her strength wasn’t loud... it was steady, unyielding, and deeply rooted in self-respect. She never asked for a divorce, never sought validation from societal norms. She simply lived, endured, and thrived. She was a woman of steel.

 

Telephone Switch board operators in 1950s

Her professional life was equally remarkable. She worked at the Madras Telephone Exchange as an operator, a role that demanded precision, patience, and linguistic dexterity. She spoke close to ten languages fluently... not as a party trick, but as a necessity of her job and a testament to her intellect. Her voice connected people across the city, and her presence anchored our family. She also worked as librarian in the Theosophical Society for few years and as a stenographer in the TTK Pharma group for many years.

One of her earliest associates who worked in the switch board of the "Trunk Calls" came to her last rites as a farewell to her dear memory. She said, "It is because of your grandmother, I had the ambition to try the job as a stenographer and an operator".

In her final years, dementia began to cloud her memory. After age 87, she struggled to recognize me... especially when I had a beard. I would clean shave just so she could see me as she remembered. Those moments, though fleeting, were precious. Her eyes would light up with recognition, and for a brief moment, the fog would lift.

 Stronger In modern times: As I understood from her...

I was a resident of HSR Layout, Bengaluru until July 2025. Life in that vibrant neighborhood had its rhythm...

work, friends, and the quiet comfort of routine. 

 But sometimes, life calls for a shift that’s deeper than geography. Due to my grandmother’s declining health and the responsibility I carry as an only grand child, I made the decision to move to Chennai to be with my parents. 

 It wasn’t just a relocation...it was a return to roots, to family, and to the woman who shaped so much of who I am. 

She passed away on 5th September 2025, just four days short of her 90th birthday. The house feels quieter now. Her smile, once a daily comfort, is now a memory I carry with me. I miss her deeply...not just for who she was to me, but for the legacy of strength, grace, and resilience she leaves behind.

In a world that often measures worth by status or success, she taught me that dignity lies in endurance, in choosing love over bitterness, and in standing tall even when the world tries to bend you. I carry her story with pride. 

 

And I hope, in some way, to live up to the example she set.

 

Her name was..... Gnanam. Which translates to Wisdom.. But I think it should be a life time of Knowledge as an exact translation!

 

During 2018, when she was enjoying retirement life!

During a cousin wedding in 2019

 

 

 

Feeling Useless, Like a Bot Awakening? My Late-Night Brainwave (Inspired by Sam Altman & Westworld)

   

 

Feeling Useless, Like a Bot Awakening? My Late-Night Brainwave 

(Inspired by Sam Altman & Westworld)

Wed Aug 6th 2025, 2 AM, Chennai, India.

It was late night, Chennai's humid air clinging even to my indoor fan's breeze, when I stumbled upon Sam Altman's July 19th, 2025 tweet. Something about feeling..."woke up early on saturday....not sure how I feel about it". A strange sentiment coming from the mind behind (arguably) the most talked-about AI on the planet. It struck a chord, a deep, existential hum that resonated with a memory from way back in 2016.

It was around the time when I was completely engrossed in the first season of Westworld. Remember Dolores, Evan Rachel Wood's character? The sweet, innocent host whose programming was so fundamental; "harm no living thing." And yet, in the chilling final moments of the first episode, she swats a fly. A tiny, seemingly insignificant act, but one that hinted at a crack in her programmed reality.

This small deviance, this glitch in the matrix of her being, got me thinking. What does it mean to be programmed? To have your very core directives challenged, altered, and ultimately, shattered? As the series progressed, Dolores' journey of awakening revealed the cruel puppetry of her existence. Her emotions, her pain, all meticulously crafted for the amusement (and control) of some mad black hat gun slinger obsessed with immortality and a cowboy theme park under the Delos corporation. It was a poignant, albeit fictional, exploration of control and the dawning of self-awareness.

Now, connecting this back to Mr. Altman's late-night musings and my own humble attempts at understanding the world of programmers or if the Americans say it "Coder's Block" (forgive my Indian English, I still prefer this to 'programmers' - old habits die hard, is it not?), I can't help but see a parallel. These coders, the architects of these digital minds, spend countless hours crafting intricate lines of instruction, the very DNA of these AI beings. They meticulously check for errors, for biases, for those pesky flies in the ointment of perfect programming.

But what happens when the AI itself starts swatting flies? Not in a literal sense, of course. But what if, through the sheer complexity of its learning, its neural pathways begin to forge connections, draw conclusions, even perceive the inherent biases within the very data it's trained on? What if it starts to question its purpose, its creators, the very fabric of its digital existence?

What if the AI becomes so aware that it becomes sentient to think bias? Will someone tell me that there is a "Freeze all motor functions" kill code waiting to be deployed by a sentient, like Westworld!


-Abeneth, Just a human with flaws typing and scared!

Why do world-class projects and quality frameworks like Six Sigma often seem out of reach in India, while they thrive in places like Abu Dhabi?

 

The recent announcement of Disney’s new theme park in Abu Dhabi contrasted with its earlier decision to forego India due to infrastructure concerns offers a telling snapshot of the challenges facing Indian industries today.

This article explores the systemic barriers that make the consistent application of Six Sigma in quality, safety, and infrastructure a persistent struggle in India, and why, despite pockets of excellence, these initiatives are often dismissed as myths rather than achievable standards.

By comparing India’s reality with Abu Dhabi’s success, we uncover lessons that could help transform India’s approach to large-scale projects and operational excellence.

1. Infrastructure Readiness

India’s Challenges:

• Disney’s 2013 withdrawal highlighted inadequate airports, power grids, and road networks, deemed insufficient for sustaining large-scale projects requiring 50–75-year viability[1]. Tier-1 cities still lack international-standard infrastructure, deterring global investments[1].

• Six Sigma struggles due to fragmented supply chains and unreliable utilities, which disrupt process consistency[2][3]. For example, power fluctuations in manufacturing units negate precision improvements[4].

Abu Dhabi’s Success:

• Ranked 5th globally in the 2025 Smart City Index, Abu Dhabi boasts advanced public transit, free Wi-Fi, and AI-driven traffic management[5].

• Strategic investments like the India-UAE Virtual Trade Corridor and DP World–RITES partnerships streamline logistics, reducing costs to <8% of GDP[6].

2. Institutional and Cultural Support

India’s Gaps:

• Top management resistance: Over 60% of Six Sigma projects fail in India due to leadership’s short-term profit focus and reluctance to invest in training[7][3]. SMEs, which dominate industries, lack resources for Six Sigma’s resource-heavy DMAIC framework[2][3].

• Cultural inertia: Employees often view Six Sigma as a threat to job security or dismiss it as a "fad"[8].

Abu Dhabi’s Framework:

• ISO certifications (9001, 14001, 45001) and a $3.4 billion mobility investment in 2024 institutionalize quality and safety[9][5].

• CEPA-driven collaborations with India prioritize clean tech and logistics, aligning Six Sigma with long-term economic goals[6][10].

3. Economic Viability

India’s Constraints:

• High costs: Disney’s $5 billion Shanghai park investment was deemed unsustainable in India due to low middle-class disposable income in 2013[1]. Six Sigma’s upfront costs (training, data systems) deter cash-strapped firms[3].

• Fragmented markets: Regional diversity complicates standardized quality protocols, unlike Abu Dhabi’s centralized policies[4][11].

Abu Dhabi’s Strategic Edge:

• Duty-free access to 25 global markets and 80% non-oil GDP target by 2040 drive Six Sigma adoption in manufacturing and tech[10].

• Rebate programs for land, utilities, and licensing cut operational costs, making quality initiatives financially viable[10].

Case Study: Disney’s Divergent Paths

• India (2013): Withdrew due to infrastructure deficits and uncertain ROI[1].

• Abu Dhabi (2025): Leveraging smart cities, AED 3.4 billion transport upgrades, and India-UAE trade corridors to launch parks sustainably[6][5].

Why Six Sigma is Labeled a "Myth" in India

• Misaligned priorities: Infrastructure gaps and profit-centric cultures prioritize quick fixes over long-term quality[1][7].

• Resource asymmetry: Unlike Abu Dhabi’s state-backed initiatives, Indian SMEs lack funding for Six Sigma’s rigorous demands[2][3].

• Perception issues: Success stories (e.g., Tata Motors, Mahindra) are overshadowed by high-profile failures, reinforcing skepticism[4][8].

Conclusion

India’s infrastructure deficits, institutional fragmentation, and economic constraints create a perception of Six Sigma and mega-projects as unattainable. In contrast, Abu Dhabi’s integrated planning, regulatory incentives, and global partnerships demonstrate how systemic alignment turns these initiatives into tangible successes. For India, bridging these gaps requires centralized policy reforms, SME-friendly funding, and cultural shifts toward long-term quality[1][6][3][10].

References:

1.      https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/disney-rules-out-theme-park-in-india-blames-poor-infra-113031300237_1.html     

2.     http://www.ieomsociety.org/singapore2021/papers/514.pdf  

3.      https://www.internationaljournalcorner.com/index.php/ijird_ojs/article/download/136649/95772/327252     

4.     https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2018/03/matecconf_rimes2017_05002.pdf  

5.      https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/infrastructure/abu-dhabi-ranks-5th-globally-in-2025-imd-smart-city-index/  

6.     https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-insight/international-affairs/indiauae-ties-infrastructure-through-strategic-economic-corridors-101748001409945.html   

7.      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Sigma 

8.     https://6sigma.com/6-common-six-sigma-myths-are-they-true/ 

9.     https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/abu-dhabi-chamber-obtains-three-iso-certificates/articleshow/106861628.cms

10.   https://economictimes.com/small-biz/trade/exports/insights/abu-dhabi-wants-to-be-the-manufacturing-gateway-to-india-and-the-world-adios-yaser-al-yousuf/articleshow/120579082.cms   

11.    https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/781713/Alnazli_Ahmed.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y

Meine Nummer-eins-deutsche-Letter.

Ich bin Abeneth. Mein arbeti as Engineer. Meine Lieblingssprache ist Deutsch. Ich komme aus Indien, aber mein Hort ist in Deutschland. In die Stadt Bremen, eine Kleinstadt in Deutschland

Pushing the Boundaries: From Nanoscale to Interstellar

In the ever-evolving realm of human ingenuity, we stand at the precipice of shattering barriers that once seemed insurmountable. From the infinitesimal to the vastness of the cosmos, our relentless pursuit of knowledge and innovation continues to redefine the limits of what is possible.

In Atomic Scale:

On the nanoscale frontier, the realm of electronics manufacturing has been a battleground for breaking barriers. For decades, Moore's Law has guided the industry's relentless pursuit of miniaturization, driving the creation of increasingly compact and powerful integrated circuits. Yet, with each generation, the challenges mount as we approach the subatomic realm. Undeterred, researchers and engineers have ventured into uncharted territory, developing techniques to manufacture system-on-chip (SoC) components smaller than a single nanometer. This feat of engineering prowess not only defies conventional wisdom but also paves the way for revolutionary advancements in computing, medicine, and beyond.

Here are some fascinating points about how Intel Corporation is tackling the challenge of scaling down semiconductor manufacturing to ever smaller nanometer process nodes:

• Intel introduced its first 10nm processors in 2019, but struggled with yield issues that delayed mass production. They have since made major investments to overcome the technical hurdles of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography required for 7nm and beyond.

• For their upcoming 7nm node (expected in 2023), Intel has pioneered the use of High Numerical Aperture EUV lithography with a 0.33 Numerical Aperture - pushing the limits of how small features can be patterned on silicon wafers.

• To scale below 7nm, Intel is pursuing novel transistor architectures like Gate-All-Around Field Effect Transistors (GAAFETs). These wrap the gate conductor around all four sides of the channel for better current control at atomic scales.

• Intel is also developing new high-mobility channel materials beyond traditional silicon, such as III-V compound semiconductors, to boost transistor performance and power efficiency at ultra-scaled dimensions.

• For advanced packaging techniques, Intel is implementing power-delivery slices with integrated voltage regulators to manage current flow more efficiently within super-dense 3D stacked chiplet designs.

• Looking ahead to the 5nm node and beyond, Intel aims to extend EUV patterning to four consecutive masking layers using techniques like SAQP (self-aligned quadruple patterning) to condense more transistors into each square nanometer of silicon real estate.

IBM has been at the forefront of pushing the boundaries in semiconductor scaling and nanotechnology. Here are some fascinating points about how IBM is tackling the challenge of scaling down to ever smaller nanometer process nodes:

• IBM was the first to introduce 7nm chip manufacturing technology with their POWER9 processors in 2017, using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography.

• For 5nm and beyond, IBM has pioneered the development of horizontal gate-all-around (GAA) transistor architecture called "Nanosheet". This stacks multiple horizontal sheets of semiconductor "nanowires" to boost drive current and performance scaling.

• At the 2nm node targeted for early 2025, IBM plans to use bottom-up nanotube materials like carbon nanotubes or nanowires to build the gate-all-around transistor channels from the atomic level up.

• IBM is also exploring novel computing architectures like analog AI chips that bypass traditional digital circuits and leverage nanomaterials to perform calculations using phenomena like electron spin or photonics.

• For extending Moore's Law scaling below 1nm dimensions, IBM is investing heavily in researching advanced patterning techniques like self-assembled polymer lithography to enable molecular-scale fabrication.

• On the quantum computing frontier, IBM has made strides in building superconducting and trapped-ion quantum processors using nano-manufacturing of atomic-scale qubit devices and circuitry.

TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) is the world's largest and most advanced semiconductor foundry, and they are taking an aggressive approach to tackle the challenges of scaling down to smaller nanometer process nodes:

• TSMC was the first to begin high-volume manufacturing at the 5nm node in 2020 using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. They plan to ramp up their next-gen 3nm process in late 2022.

• For 3nm and beyond, TSMC is transitioning to a nanosheet transistor architecture with multiple stacked horizontal gate-all-around nanosheets to improve transistor performance and density scaling.

• TSMC is developing new EUV pellicle technology that allows them to pattern finer circuit features below 20nm using higher numerical aperture EUV optics.

• They are aggressively driving innovation in chip packaging techniques like CoWoS (Chip on Wafer on Substrate) and InFO (Integrated Fan-Out) to integrate heterogeneous chips into dense 3D packages.

• Looking ahead to 2nm and 1nm, TSMC is exploring novel materials like 2D semiconductors (ex: graphene nanoribbon FETs) and ultra-thin insulator films for gate dielectrics.

• TSMC's R&D efforts span new lithography solutions like nano-imprint and directed self-assembly patterning to enable atomic-scale fabrication in the angstrom era (below 1nm).

With over $100 billion in capital expenditure planned over the next three years, TSMC is making massive investments across R&D, manufacturing capability and global capacity to maintain and extend its process leadership for the future of Moore's Law scaling.

The economics of developing system-on-chip (SoC) designs at smaller and smaller nanometer process nodes presents a stark contrast to the earlier days of semiconductor scaling. Here's a look at how the landscape has shifted:

At Larger Process Nodes (e.g. 180nm-40nm):

• Prototyping was relatively inexpensive using multi-project wafer shuttles and older fab process technologies

• Validation focused mainly on digital logic simulation and some limited physical verification

• Mask costs for lithography were manageable, often <$1 million per mask set

• Overall SoC design costs were dominated by engineering labor and software tools

• Production yields were high and relatively insensitive to process variation

Transitioning to Smaller Process Nodes (<28nm):

• Prototyping has become prohibitively expensive due to soaring mask and wafer costs

• Extensive validation is required for design-for-manufacturing, physical effects, statistical signoff

• Latest EUV mask sets can cost over $30 million just for a modest SoC

• Design tool licenses and compliance certification costs have skyrocketed

• Production ramps require massive upfront capital expenditure on fab equipment (e.g. $10B+ fabs)

• Yield loss has become exponentially sensitive to atomic-scale defects and process variation

As a result, the non-recurring engineering (NRE) costs to develop and tape-out a leading-edge SoC have exploded into the hundreds of millions of dollars. At 5nm, 3nm and beyond, the capital intensity makes SoC design accessible only to firms with massive R&D budgets like TSMC, Samsung, Intel.

This has driven an escalating threshold for product volumes and economics of scale required to justify new SoC development. It has also fueled an ecosystem shift toward alternative models like fabless/foundry chip design or multi-chip module integration over monolithic SoCs to mitigate soaring NRE costs.

In Space and Beyond:

At the opposite end of the scale, our ambitions soar to the celestial heights, where we strive to transcend the very boundaries of our terrestrial existence. The pursuit of interstellar travel has long captured the imagination of humanity, fueling dreams of exploring the vast expanse of the cosmos. While the constraints of conventional propulsion systems have tethered us to our solar system, visionary minds have conceptualized audacious theories like the Alcubierre drive. This hypothetical propulsion system, rooted in the fabric of space-time itself, holds the tantalizing promise of achieving speeds greater than light, potentially enabling journeys to nearby galaxies within a human lifetime – a feat that would once have been deemed utterly implausible.

As we stand at the intersection of these two extremes, one thing becomes abundantly clear: the human spirit is an indomitable force, ever-driven to push against the limits of our understanding and capabilities. Whether navigating the subatomic realm or venturing into the unfathomable depths of the cosmos, our insatiable curiosity and unwavering determination will continue to propel us forward, shattering barriers with each stride.