string theory: a theory of everything?? ...and were the ancient vedas on to something??

I was watching this very informative show on TV on the string theory.. a theory which is seeking to unite the four fundamental forces in nature.. the large scaled GRAVIATION with the small scaled Weak and Electromagnetic forces. The theory assumes that all matter vibrates as a string (which can be characterized by multi-dimensional vibrations).

I started thinking... that our very own vedas and puranas have talked about a cosmic sound or OM (or AUM). This sound is supposed to be the cosmic truth... could it be that the vibrations of this sound explain the fundamental vibraton frequencies of the universe? Were the ancients on to something??
here is another link to a similar discussion....

... [Albert Einstein's] dream of a unified theory has become the Holy Grail of modern physics. And a sizeable part of the physics and mathematics community is becoming increasingly convinced that string theory may provide the answer. From one principle-that everything at its most microscopic level consists of combinations of vibrating strands-string theory provides a single explanatory framework capable of encompassing all forces and all matter. String theory proclaims, for instance, that the observed particle properties, ... are a reflection of the various ways in which a string can vibrate. Just as the strings on a violin or on a piano have resonant frequencies at which they prefer to vibrate-patterns that our ears sense as various musical notes and their higher harmonics-the same holds true for the loops of string theory. But we will see that, rather than producing musical notes, each of the preferred patterns of vibration of a string in string theory appears as a particle whose mass and force charges are determined by the string's oscillatory pattern. The electron is a string vibrating one way, the up-quark is a string vibrating another way, and so on. Far from being a collection of chaotic experimental facts, particle properties in string theory are the manifestation of one and the same physical feature: the resonant patterns of vibration-the music, so to speak--Of fundamental loops of string. The same idea applies to the forces of nature as well. We will see that force particles are also associated with particular patterns of string vibration and hence everything, all matter and all forces, is unified under the same rubric of microscopic string oscillations-the "notes" that strings can play. For the first time in the history of physics we therefore have a framework With the capacity to explain every fundamental feature upon which the universe is constructed. For this reason string theory is sometimes described as possibly being the "theory of everything" (T.O.E.) or the "ultimate" or "final" theory. The Elegant Universe, Brian Greene; pp15-16. Vintage Books 1999


hese are the very words of Veda. Prajapatir vai idam asit: In the beginning was Brahman. Tasya vag dvitya asit; with whom was the Vak (or Sound)... Vag vai paramam Brahma; and the Vak (Sound) is Brahman"

There is a Yogic Discipline called Shabda Yoga - The Divine Science of Light and Sound. This path helps one to become one with the light and sound of the supreme divine. The Masters of the Discipline teach how all of creation came into being. Creation came into being though the light and sound of the creator. This sound is called OM or AUM. It is part of mantras and chants used by tibetan monks and other meditative schools of thought.

whew!!

today i finished an exam i was studying for the past few days. This is the PE (professional engineers) license exam. It is something which is useful when u do consulting work for the govt types (who knows maybe it will come in handy after my post mba life... thinking Booz allen and the like)...

I was struck at the vast variety of people taking the exam.. some of them were people with 20 years experience and many were repeat takers.. i didnt study that hard for this exam but i thought i did okay...i am just glad its over.

happy diwali to all my indian breathren.... well i am off to a diwali party now.

Spitzer on the heels of mutual funds now... looks like late trading and market timing are the main culprits...the first one is easy to understand, its clearly unethical... the second, i.e., market timing, which affects long term investors is a bit convulated for me to understand.

Most fund managers think the SEC’s renewed focus on the industry, when added to Mr Spitzer’s probes, will only make it harder for them to attract new investors. William Donaldson, the SEC’s chairman, recently published some proposed rule amendments that would curb late trading and market timing. Moreover, the SEC is also planning to require funds to publish their lists of holdings four times a year rather than twice, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Interesting piece of information for a desi like myself:

Here's the big irony: The root cause of this dreary record is a statute left over from India's socialist past that was actually intended to protect manufacturing jobs. Under the Industrial Disputes Act of 1947, any company with 100 or more workers cannot lay off employees without permission of the local state government. And such approval is rarely granted, says a recent World Bank study. As a result, the typical Indian company has 17% more workers than it needs. Little wonder that multinationals are bypassing India as they stampede to China -- even though wages and the availability of skilled workers are roughly the same in both countries. India's real job growth has been in services, where employers may downsize without state permission. Also exempt are small manufacturers. If India is truly interested in competing for global manufacturing with its neighbor to the east, analysts say, it needs to amend its laws.

This is very important for India' sustaining growth over the longer term. I never understand why India does not extend its competetive advantage in software and services to more products and manufacturing oriented sectors. This would be beneficial to India both in terms of new jobs created as well as enormous foreign capital investments.

MIT openware courses
Now this is impressive. In todays world of over-arching capitalism comes a concept that education should be and would be freely AVAILABLE for all. In ancient Hindu mythology, a story goes that a non-brahmin wanted to learn archery from the great guru Dronacharya, but could not because the royal guru would teach only the elite kings. However, the young student whose name was Eklavya was not deterred. He built a mockup of the guru and practised for years and became really good. When Dronacharya got to know of this, he came to the student and asked him for Guru Dakshina (or fees for his tutorship). Eklavya said that he would give anything to the guru. Do you know what Dronacharya asked him? He wanted Eklavya to cut off his thumb and give it to him. Why he did this is a seperate story.. but the fact of the matter is even in ancient times, education was never free. You had to always pay a price for this.

However, MIT has come up with this great idea for a free educational resource open to all. Maybe the Eklavyas of this world can finally sign on for free education.

long time..no Blog
I have been really busy so far..even no time to pen a few thoughts. Couple of things happened:
1.Moved apartments.. as usual this was no fun.. lots of packing, a horrendous experience with U-Haul and eating out for 3-4 consecutive days!!!

2. I joined a role model program for middle school children. This seems to be great oppurtunity for me to interact with Middle school kids and give them some advise on career and other issues. I need to commit myself for 4-5 classes, wherein i can pick and choose the timings after talking to the teacher. Its a great program without being way overtaxing on my time.

3. I have also been appointed the Director of Professional development for a local chapter of a professional organization in my field. This is yet another great set of people I have met through the local chapter of an engineering society.. mostly younger mebers of the society. I have to plan and strategize the initiatives within the group for Professional development: a key area within the group!!! Should be exciting... but I need to stategize my time first. meanwhile, I have just formulated a 3 pronged strategy for promoting professional development within the group. More on this later.