namaskArAH! This page contains some quasi-random non-academic information and thoughts. Academic information is found elsewhere. Rest assured: My most dangerous thoughts and frankest observations remain hidden. As they say: अतिपरिचयात् अवज्ञा।
Certain scientists are trying to find intelligence in outer space. I am trying to find intelligence in me! I frequently observe many flaws in my thoughts and actions.
By the way, 'vAsuki' is not a 'family name'; it is a patronymic which comes from the name of my father: ವಾಸುಕಿ ಕಡಬ ರಙ್ಗರಾಜ ಅಯ್ಯಙ್ಗಾರ್. (My family name would actually be 'ayya~NgAr'.) So, I prefer to be called: vishvAs.
People often form rather strong opinions about others based on irrational biases, scant information, brief exchanges and dubious hear-say. So, note that visiting this allegedly "personal" web page is very different from getting to know me in person. Even then we will misread each others' body language! But seriously, I am always blown away by the number of things I learn from others in debates and discussions. (Communication is simultaneously painful and rewarding to me; which makes it beautiful.) Like most people, I have dreams and a non-insignificant potential for good.
I lived in Southern karnATaka, bhArata for all of my life before I came to USA for studies. It is a complex country. All countries and cultures have their noble and ignoble aspects.
I have met non-Indians with very wrong notions about bhArata and its many cultures. It is not uncommon to see its deepest classical thought mangled in translation from संस्कृत. It is also not too uncommon to find Indians who are deeply mistaken about the extant of their knowledge about parts and cultures of India other than their own.
To know more about bhArata: Visit the Kamats' excellent website. Behold the sitemap, photographs and informative articles, take a pictorial tour.
I like to practice my sometimes questionable language skills (संस्कृत-भाषा, ಕನ್ನಡ, हिन्दी, தமிழ்) on others. Incidentally, you can practice conversational संस्कृत-भाषा in many places around the world, including Austin, thanks to संस्कृत-भारती! In fact, we even have a saMbhAShaNa-saMskRRita study group at UT Austin.
I
practice yoga daily, right after sandhyAvandanaM. I also enjoy the
precise, musical art of chanting the vedas. Are body, breath,
intellect, desires and sound not intimately connected? Is humble but
uncompromising devotion to
the truth and purity not good?असतो मा सद्गमया। तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमया। मृत्युर्मा अमृतङ्गमया। ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥