Articles

Articles on IT, Computer Science etc

1. IPR issues – Open source responses: An article that appeared in CSI Communications in 2004 Read Now

2. Achuthsankar S. Nair, “Keralavum Vivarasankethika Vidyayum”, (IT and Kerala), Malayalam Article in Sasthragathi, November 2005, p 48-50. Read Now.  This has significant overlap with the article: “Keralisation of IT

3. Achuthsankar S. Nair, “Plotting Attractors of Iterated Function Systems (IFS)”, CSI Communications,  1996. Read Now

4. K Madanan & Achuthsankar S. Nair,”Computer Shaasthrathinte Navena Vijnana Shaakhakal”, (Modern Branches of Computer Science), Malayalam Article in Vijnanakairali, 1995. Read Now

5. C Programming Quick Reference of 1990s, still usable. Read Now

6. Instructional Strategies for introducing some concepts in Computer Science, An incomplete article that I began to write in 1989. Read Now

7. A write-up on  Chithrakudukka, the first-ever clip-art CD on Kerala, from C-DIT (from Images , the newsletter of C-DIT, Oct 2003). Read Now

8. Google Scholar Hit Statistics for various Academic Institutions taken on September 2006 Read Now

9. Information technology: rainbow of careers, extract from Directory of Higher Education, Malayala Manorama, Kottayam, 2004 Read Now

10. A handout I used to introduce PCs to University Faculty – only of historic interest, 1996 Read Now

11. Steve Jobs and the Operating System Cult – An article that I wrote in Kerala calling Magazine when Steve Jobs passed away. Read Now

12. Teaching of Pointers in C, a topic I specialized in teaching,  Unpublished, 2004, Read Now

13. “Chila Ganitha Prakriyakalude Chaaya Chithrangal”  (Portraits of Some Mathematical Processes), Vijana Kairali,  1997 Read Now

14. Compressing digital images using 1-d Haar Wavelet transforms, An un-published tutorial, 1998. Read Now

15. HTML Basics: Learn Through Observation, a handout of 1990s and 2000s. Read Now

16. A PPT on HMM I used to teach masters students in University of Korea, Seoul, 2007 Read Now

17. 25 Years of eGovernance in Kerala, Infokairali, 2012. Read Now

18. “Computers and Creativity”, Dr K Gopinathan Memorial Speech ( Kerala Sahithya Akademy) Trichur,  2004 Read Now

19. “Cyber Malayalam”, Malayalam Article in Vijnanakairali,  2004 Read Now

20. “Keralisation of Information Technology”, Malayalam Article, Janapatham, PRD,  Govt of Kerala, 2004 Read Now

21. “Swathathryam Thanne Amritham”, an article on Freesoftware published in Samakaleena Malayalam during 2004 Read Now

22. “Y2K: 2000 Aandile Computerrinte Chinthaakuzhappam” (Y2K Problem) Vijnanakairali, May 1999, p5-13. Read Now  Another version of this article was serialized in Kalakaumudi weekly in 1999, titled Get Ready for the Digital Bandh, in 3 parts.  Note: I am ashamed to read this article again today. I was just one among many “computer experts” who predicted doom at the dawn of the 21st century. I watched in wonder, from a flat in Kuala Lumpur, the doom-day passing without any major mishap and causality. This article is dedicated to my own ignorance !  

23. Graphic Texting, Communications of the Computer Society of India, May 2012, Volume 36(2): 37

24. Haven’t You Put Your Head in the Freezer Yet?, Communications of the Computer Society of India, April 2012, Volume 36(1): 33

25. Will a Yottabyte Quench Our Thirst?, Communications of the Computer Society of India, March 2012, Volume 35(12): 33

26. Green Computing, Communications of the Computer Society of India, February 2012, Volume 35(11): 40

Articles on Music

1. Gene or Protein Music:  Listen to “Gene Music” in Raga Kalyani here. I was inspired by an article by the great science writer D Balasubramaniam in the Hindu Science Pages where he said he will one day find time to map genes to music. I came across many western attempts to create gene music. I have produced a Protein music in Kalyani, my favourite Raaga. This is derived out of the Acidic Bovine Protein Sequence. What I have done is to take the amino acid sequences (proteins are basically amino acids sequences) and map them to some physico-chemical parameters of the acids. I have tried 3 parameters. Then I had a lookup table prepared where the amino acids were ordered based on increasing value of the physico-chemical parameters and each was assigned notes from 3 octaves. To make the music sound natural, I clubbed some amino acids which had very close parameter values. Finally I had 15 groups and they were assigned notes (Pa Dha Ni Sa) (Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa) (Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa) from Manthra Sthaayi (lower octave), Madhya Sthaayi (normal octave) and Thaara Sthayi (higher octave) respectively. You can hear un-natural jumps which need to be smoothed out, I am trying. Is such a music of any use ? Well, if you want me to defend, those who know the soul of music will find it easy to believe that a normal gene should ‘somehow’ correspond to melodious music and a diseased gene should map to a cacophony. Well, I am not talking science ! 

2. Earliest (19th century) notation of Swathi compositions, an article in Vijanana Kairali. Read Now

3. I used to listen to the famous Navarathri concerts in Trivandrum since late 1970s.  I wrote one review in 2004, on the 25th year of performance of TNS in the mandapom.  A review of Navarathri Concert, Day 1, October 2004 by Sri Madurai T N Seshagopalan (full version of article which appeared in the Hindu, Thiruvananthapuram. Read Now

4. "Valsala Sasthriyar – Composer of Carnatic Classical Music on Jesus Christ, Modified Version of Article Published in Samskara Keralam (Culture Dept, Govt of Kerala) in 1990. This article was edited by late Prof S Guptan Nair”. Read Now. See the video page in this website to listen to one of the songs. Read Now

5. “Nava Melakartha Raaga Sankhya: An alternative numbering scheme for Melakartha Raagas” published in the Journal of Music, University of Kerala in 2010s. Read now. Malayalam version in Vijanana Kairali: Read now

6. “Different facets of Swathi Thirunal” – article from book Swathi Smrithi edited by Pirappincode Murali, Bhasha Institute, 2014. Read Now

7. Writeup on Swathi on the occasion of his 200th birth anniversary in 2013, Mathrubhoomi week-end. Read Now

8.  I had a major role in setting up website on Swathi Thirunal in 2002-03. Here is a review of the web site. Read now.

9. Malayinkiz Gopalakrishnan, local historian and senior journalist has been an elder brother and mentor in my history initiatives. He carried reports about my findings regularly. Here are two examples: One, Two

10. This PDF is a work of my mother-in-law, late Prof PT Indira Devi. It is the text of Hindi songs by Swathi with meanings. Read Now. Read Now

11. Here are my personal notes on 381 Swathi compositions. Read Now

12. I lectured on Swathi Thirunal twice at the Madras Music academy (2007 and 2012). Here are the Hindu Chennai news paper reports on it. One, Two.

13. Death of Swathi Thirunal is shrouded in mystery. My book on Swathi has more info. This article on Deshabhimani week-end is a popular one. Read Now

14. Swathi- A fountain of music, an article in  The Millennium, 2004, Read Now

15. Music and IPR, an article from CSI Communications Read Now

16. “Music and Computers”, updated version of paper published in Musicus Journal, University of Lancaster, UK, 1993. Read Now 

17. “The Royal Lullaby”,  on the famous lullaby “Omana Thinkal”, The Millennium, 2003. Read Now

18. Nil

19. Comparing singing and doing science, a newspaper report Read Now

20. Article on Kuthira Malika Music Festival, The Hindu, 2010 Read Now

21. Article on Swathi, Music and Science, The Hindu, 2011 Read Now

22. Carnatic compositions on Temples of Kerala Malayalam Malayalam Article, Samskara Keralam, 1995 

23. When the music reigns, The Hindu, June 2015, View Online

24. The music and Thiruvananthapuram,  The Hindu, June 2015,  View Online

25. Deciphering the sound of music, The Hindu, November 2014  View Online

26. An article on TM Krishna, The Hindu, 2018 Read Now

Popular Science Articles

1.  Ants and Computers (Malayalam)  An article in InfoKairali Magazine in 2011 or so Read Now

2. “Chila Ganitha Prakriyakalude Chaaya Chithrangal”(Portraits of Some Mathematical Processes),  Malayalam Article in Vijana Kairali, 1997. Read Now

3.  Achuthsankar S. Nair, “Plastic-Bhodhavalkkaranam Maathram Pora, Niyamanirmaanavum Venam” (Plastics – Awareness is not enough, we need laws), Malayalam Article in Swadeshi Sciences, p 276-279. Article during a phase when I used not to be selective on topics !  Read Now

4. Combatting disease with computer-aided drug design, IEEE Potential,  2006  Read Now

5. E-Mail-Stress, Communications of the Computer Society of India,  2011  Read Now

6. Games Kids Play (Digital addiction), Communications of the Computer Society of India,  2011  Read Now

7. “Sarvakalashaala, Kallan, Police, Thanmaathra, Oushadham, Computer” (University, Thief, Police, Molecule, Drug and Computers), Malayalam Article in Saasthragathi, 2006,  Read Now

8. “Futurology: An Introduction for Teachers”, Loyola Journal of Social Sciences, 1990,  (A pardonable article by a very young teacher !)  Read Now

9. ”Information Technologiyum Bhaavi samoohavum” ( IT and Future Society )  Read Now Malayalam Article in Vijnanakairali, 1995, p 633-647.  Written during days when internet was just getting popular in Kerala and mobile phones were unheard of. This is based on the first public talk I gave in Trivandrum in 1995 in the VJT Hall, organized by Bhasha Institute.  Read Now

10. “Teleportation”, Malayalam Article in Vijnanakairali, September 2001  Read Now

11. “Pusthakam Marichalum Marikathe Wayana” (Reading that will survive death of books), Malayalam Article in Kalakaumudi Weekly, 2002  Read Now

12. As Germans tasted defeat at the hand of Spain in 2010 FIFA World Cup Football, a very unusual star emerged, catching equal, if not more attention than the football stars. It was Paul the octopus, which was credited with ‘predicting’ the winner of 8 matches in a row. It was not just the game of football that was overshadowed by Paul, but the very method of  science. Three versions of a co-authored article titled “Spotlight on Paul and Bad Light on Science!” can be read here: 1, 2, 3

Articles on Local History

Full-length articles in Journals: I have published 3 long articles in the Journal of Kerala Studies, Published by University of Kerala. I do not claim them to be according to the modern methods of historiography, neverthless they might of interest and excitement to history buffs. Please also see local history book coauthored by me, in the Book page.

1.  Achuthsankar S. Nair “William Henry Horsley’s Memoir of Travancore (1839): Earliest English Treatise on History of Travancore ”, Journal of Kerala Studies, Published by University of Kerala, Vol. XXXI, 2004, pp 1-66 [Read Now]

2. Achuthsankar S. Nair and Catherine Logan, “Colin Paterson and his Medical Report of Travancore (1842)”, Journal of Kerala Studies, Published by University of Kerala, Vol. XXXII, 2006, pp 82-113. [Read Now]

3.  Richard R. Walding, Mme Helen Stone, Achuthsankar S. Nair "The Russian Prince and the Maharajah of Travancore", Journal of Kerala Studies, Published by University of Kerala, Vol. XXXVI, 2009, pp 10-87 [Read Now]

Here area few samples of large number of press cuttings on discovering new documents and curious information:

4. “On the demise of Swathi Thirunal” 1. Mathrubhoomi News Paper 2. India Today Malayalam Page 1, Page 2

5. “On Resident William Cullen’s Scientific Studies”: The Mathrubhoomi [Read Now]

6. “A rare English letter by Swathi Thirunal to Caldecott, first Director of Observatory in 1840s. : The Mathrubhoomi [Read Now]

7. “A rare sketch of the opening ceremony of the Trivandrum Karamana Bridge” [Read Now]

8. On locating Horsley's Memoir of Travancore, Mathrubhoomi [Read Now].

Articles on Dewan Sir T Madhava Rao (“Statue” in Trivadrum)

9. Administrator par excellence,The Hindu, September 2015, View Online

10. The row over Rao, The Hindu, October 2015, View Online

11. The Dewan as author and political observer, The Hindu, October 2015, View Online

12. Multifaceted Madhava Rao, The Hindu, October 2015, View Online

13. The other side of the Dewan, The Hindu, October 2015, View Online

Articles  on Hills of Trivandrum

14. City of seven hills?, The Hindu, April 2015, View Online

15. Haven of hills and beaches, The Hindu, June 2015, View Online

16. The monsoon watchers, The Hindu, June 2015, View Online

One off articles on local history

17. The forgotten king of pulayanarkotta, The Hindu, September 2014, View Online

18. A real thriller - Travancore Yakshi : Collector’s Note: I accidentally came across this piece. Even though titled Reminiscence of Travancore, this is actually a Cochin Reminiscence, giving an account of a super-natural experience in a bungalow in Cochin! Read Now

Century Old Schools of Trivandrum

19. The mother of city schools, The Hindu, March 2014, View Online

20. Of Asans and Pallikkodams, The Hindu, February 2014, View Online

21. Lest we forget, The Hindu, February 2014, View Online

22. Upholding the legacy, The Hindu, November 2013, View Online

23. Harbinger of change, The Hindu, November 2013, View Online

24. Picture postcards of daily life, The Hindu, October 2013, View Online

25. For women's education, The Hindu, October 2013, View Online

26. Holding to an illustrious past, The Hindu, September 2013, View Online

27. Temple of learning, The Hindu, August 2013, View Online

28. Fall from grace, The Hindu, August 2013, View Online

29. School with a majestic past, The Hindu, August 2013, View Online

30. Save our Schools, The Hindu, August 2013, View Online

Articles on  Karamana River

31. Bridging past and present, The Hindu, September 2012, View Online

32. Journey of the river, The Hindu, September 2012, View Online

33. Stream of music, The Hindu, September 2012, View Online

34. Bank of monuments, The Hindu, October 2012, View Online

35. Guardian angels of the river, The Hindu, October 2012, View Online

36. Tapping the river, The Hindu, October 2012, View Online

37. The rise and flow of Killi, The Hindu, October 2012, View Online

38. The green river, The Hindu, November 2012, View Online

39. The river wild, The Hindu, November 2012, View Online

40. Karamana chronicles, The Hindu, November 2012, View Online

41. Tracing the River, The Hindu, November 2012, View Online

Articles on Lighting History

42. Light

Articles on Education.

1.  Will teachers become redundant in the age of AI ? “Me Vs ChatGPT” – a visual presentation with a touch of humour. See video page to hear the presentation video. Read now

2. A Crisp and Plain English Manual with Exercises and Worksheets To assist Transforming an Existing Syllabus to Learning-Outcome-based Curricular Frame Work (LOCF) Read Now

3. When women won a fair place in CET, The Hindu, October 2014, View Online

4. 108 questions suggested to be addressed over a period of time by young teachers.  The questions can be classified roughly into the following categories: Questions 1-12: Assessment; 13-23: professional Ethics; 29-55: Lecturing; 56-87: Professional Development 88-101: student interaction; 102-108: Educational Technology. Read Now

5. Achuthsankar S. Nair, “Educational Informatics”  Malayalam Article in Vijnanakairali,  2002 Read now

6. Achuthsankar S.Nair, “Vidyabhayasam ITude Prayogam” (IT in Education) Malayalam Article in Grandhalokam, 2004 (This article and the article on Educational Informatics, overlap). Read now

7. A series of articles on Brain Games in Mathrubhoomi Arogya Masika, 2012-13 Read now

8. “www.keralauniversity.edu - A model academic web site” , Malayalam Article in Info-Kairali, 2003 (Of historic interest only) Read now

9. Two articles on Googling (Of historic interest only): (i) Searching for Information on the Web: A Primer for Teachers(2001) Read Now, (ii) The Art & Science of Googling A Primer for Academia(2007) Read Now

10. I has a member of 2-member committee appointed by Govt of Kerala to prepare a proposal for setting up an IIIT in Kerala. The IIIT finally came up in Palai, perhaps not according to this report. Adding here for historic interest and also in view of novel suggestions made there. Read Now.

11.  A PPT used in a presentation given at JNU on Multiple Intelligence Read Now

12. My comments in 1996 during the introduction of the Credit and Semester System (CSS) in the University Departments in the University of Kerala. It is one of the rare academic reforms introduced by the University on its own. Led by Prof J V Vilanilam. Read now

13. Educational Informatics, Revised version of an article published in Communications of Computer Society of India, 2004 Read now

14. Digital Experience in Standard One ? Malayala Manoram Edit Page Article in April 2021. Read now

15. Outdated article of historic interest - Information technology & higher education: from Literacy to IT-enabled learning experience. Read now

16. Teaching of Pointers in C. Pointers are one of the most basic features of C which is both the strength and weakness of C. Many students struggle to master pointers. Here is my handout for the same, developed during my days of teaching Malaysian students in 2000. Read now

17.  An early attempt at bibliometry - Google Scholar Hit Statistics for various Academic Institutions as on September 2006 Read now

18. An article used heavily in Teacher training during 2008 by KSHEC, Govt of Kerala: Semesterisation, Choice Based Credit System, Continuous Assessment & Grading for Undergraduate Programmes in Kerala Read now

19. I led a massive project on documenting lifes and thoughts of teachers of higher education. The web site is now (2024) not showing up ! Here is a brochure of the project. Read Now

20. One of my earliest pedagogic innovations that appeared in the International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education (IJEEE), Manchester University Press, UK, 1991. “AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TEACHING MODEL FOR THE TRANSISTOR”. The electro-mechanical transistor model was used in Late Edward Hughes’ classical text now titled “Hughe’s Electrical Technology”, Seventh Edition, Published by Orient Longman and revised by Prof. Ian Mc Kenzie Smith. Read Now

21. A short note on new technologies and their educational and industrial adaptation for Kerala Read now

22. Doing an under-graduate Project – some guidelines: Extract from BSc(Computer Science) Curricular Document, University of Kerala, 2004, that I produced as chairman of BoS in 2004. The aim was to expose student to industry-standard project practices, through a real-life project work under time and deliverable constraints, applying the knowledge acquired through various courses. Read now

23. I had an obsession towards using documents to manage research scholars. Here are two examples: (i) Checklist for submitting a draft paper to your supervisor Read now (ii) Research docket for submitting periodical reports Read now\

24. “On Becoming a Researcher” A document produced in early phase of the research guidance career. Read Now. An updated version was made into a tiny book titled “Who is afraid of research” available in Amazon. 

25. “Socially Relevant S&T Projects for College Students of Kerala A collection of ideas for Student Projects that would potentially make a difference to Kerala and her people” was compiled by Deepak P.  in 2006 or so and I had provide many inputs.  Read Now:  Later as IQAC Director at UoK, I compiled similar ideas into a booklet, covering also social sciences and arts. Read Now.

26. “Tips on Making Powerful Presentations” – some advice on making PPTs. Read Now

27. Quality & Excellence in Higher Education - Thoughts from 2005. Read Now

28. A green exercise in research methodology (on forming hypothesis) Read now