Free Indian language software

Recently I needed a software which can convert English transcript in Indian languages -- more specifically in Hindi. Being the pidgin user, I tried to look for a plugin for pidgin but to my luck, there was none except one which does translation for tamil called ezuththaaNi but even that one was poorly written and causes pidgin to crash very frequently. So I decided to write one for hindi. Not to my luck again just before submitting the plugin (which suprisingly turned out very well) to pidgin community I found one free language software which translate English transcript in many indian languages and can do it for any application. Basically it reads any keyboard input and convert it to selected language unicode.

Further to its credit, you can select which application you want to use native language and also can switch between english and native language with a hotkey. This software is called Baraha. You can know more about it here.

Note: Unfortunately for pidgin users, it doesn't works well. May be if I get some time, I will update my plugin for other languages (or if you want to do it, just let me know) and upload it.

The Smoke

The morning when I wake up, walk down the lawn, raise my hands up … and when I open my eyes, look around and then look up … that were the time when I start my day saying “Well painted!” The beauty of the light, the cold smoke filling your lawn in the morning, emptying the tiredness of yesterday from your body with a smile.

That’s something which shouldn’t be missed.

The moving craziness of the city, cars moving fast past you especially when there is water clogging, honking down every minute, don't care to give a way even for ambulances, political rallies delay your day at the office and a meter distance shot at someone's who is trying to make it to hospital, the heavy dark air of the vehicle forcibly inhaled in your body every minute you are out there.

That’s something which we don’t deserve.

Clean spaces around you and guys cleaning the floors, the pantry, the restroom, the coffee machine to keep it clean; no extra icon on desktop, totally organized files, worksheet on the wall and meetings in calendar; healthy neighbors, good friends, sensibly behaved lobbies ... but something which is not seen or told as clearly as it actually look or sound; some kind of dark fog in them … and there are more words between the lines then in the lines. Thing changing faster that the clock ticks.

That’s something which shouldn’t be there.

Some thoughts in the head, some ideas flowing through the brain, something you want to change, and something you want to contribute, something you like to add, air flowing above your head and you feel you can make something out of it.

That’s the something which got to be in a shape.

Then there is some smoke in mouth reducing some part in lung capacity, bringing something closure and filling some part of stomach … some place where is doesn’t belong, some place which doesn’t deserve it and calling someone to which it’s related.

That’s something which got to stop.

Its in different form and in different way ... the good, the bad, the ugly, the raw and the killer.

But knowing them is not the question … and knowing them is not the answer either.
Adieu,
SA

“You know the world is off tilt when the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy, the tallest guy in th NBA is Chinese, the Swiss hold the America’s cup, France is accusing the U.S. of arrogance, Germany doesn’t want to go to war, and the three most powerful men in America are named Bush, Dick, and Colon. Need I say more?”

Yes, that the most powerful men in America and their president is a black guy.

A few days before – America made a milestone, history breaking decision; by electing a person for president of states whose color of skin once thought to be suited only for cleaning and fencing – an object of hatred -- If you remember some lines of “I am the darker brother ...” (or watch the movie “The great debaters”). And to notice that margin wasn’t very close!

The questions which I was hearing in last few days in my home town (or you can say a new topic to discuss over the tea than India and Pakistan politics) was to find out his take on India. And I tell you there were more thoughts than Obama might have think of in his rarest dream of life time.

To start with, many a people was too happy and thinks he would be good with us (read India) and help just because in one of his election campaign he said (which may not be a part of his written speech) that he has statue of Hanuman. In fact many were just too exited by that fact. Guess still no one knows why he has.
A second – popularly voted and believed thought -- is based of his color of skin; that many thinks that he can do well with off white countries. Isn’t it another kind of racism? Thinking about someone will favor you just because he was born with the same color and you were? May be can’t fit in definition of racism but certainly biased. And remember these are the same ones who cry of every kind of racism - visible or not; exist or not; worth or not.

On the funny note, someone said – “American main Obama, America be bahar Osama”
(In America – it’s Obama, outside of America – It’s Osama)

Whatever it is, and doesn’t matter how many thoughts a flowing the head, One thing is certain that American voters shows their readiness for the change and a lot maturity to vote irrespective of any color discrimination (at least the result tells that); may be there will be cases around about the racism and may be the thought about the color will never go away; but certainly it’s a good start. I hope they choose the better guy for the job. Neither too sentimental nor be discriminative.

Change won’t be easy; but together as one world ---- Yes we can.