Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: safety

Showing posts with label safety. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Is India a Soft State...?

IS INDIA A SOFT STATE...?

IS OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS SECURITY CONSCIOUSNESS OKAY...?

Musings of a Veteran

VIKRAM KARVE

When we were in the Navy – we were taught that safety and security was everyone’s business.

If we found anything amiss – anywhere on the ship – we intervened immediately to redress the issue.

We did not adopt a “chalta hai” lackadaisical attitude – nor did we indulge in “jurisdictional” quibbling – saying it is not my part of ship – so it is none of my business – or – why should I poke my nose into someone else’s affairs.

On a Ship – Safety and Security was everybody’s business – because if there was a lapse – we would all “sink” together to the Davy Jones’s Locker at the bottom of the sea.

In today’s environment the same dictum holds true for you and me in the civilian world as well – security is your business – security is my business – security is everyone’s business.

In the distant past – security was the business of the security forces.

The defence forces were responsible for “external” security – and it was the job of the police to maintain internal law and order.

If you lived in a “safe” civilian place – you were quite secure – and it was the security forces who faced the dangers fighting the adversaries.

Recent events, over the past few years, have shown that this is no longer true – and each one of us is vulnerable.

So – it is high time each one of us became security conscious because in today’s environment security is everyone’s business.

There are Three Weak Spots (or Achilles’ Heels) that undermine security consciousness and make us a Soft State:

1. “Chalta Hai” Casual Attitude

2. Corruption

3. Lenient Merciful Forgiving System

1. “CHALTA HAI” CASUAL ATTITUDE

Rules are in place but you don’t bother to follow them because of your “Chalta Hai” Casual Attitude

Let me give you an example.

There is a rule that when you rent out your house you are required to get police verification of antecedents of your tenants and proper registration of the rent deed or lease agreement done in the prescribed manner.

When we insisted that this rule be scrupulously followed in our residential society there was a deluge of protests from the non-resident owners [investors who have purchased flats for renting out (now-a-days non-resident “investors” heavily outnumber resident “end-user” owners in most new housing societies, at least in Pune)].

They protested that this “unnecessary harassment” of tenants was affecting rental rates in our society.

When we explained to them that this was a mandatory security requirement they scoffed at us saying that we were being “dogmatic” and they scornfully told us that generally no one followed this rule.

Because of such casual attitudes towards security, it is no wonder that it is so easy for undesirable persons to rent a house and find a place to stay from where they can plan and conduct their nefarious activities.

Do you insist on police verification of antecedents of the people you employ at home, in your workplace and in your neighbourhood or residential society?

If you find a suspicious vehicle parked near your house or workplace or you see something irregular, a suspicious new structure or encroachment or an unknown person appearing suddenly, will you report it to the police – or will you look the other way saying it is none of your business and it is the job of the police.

Of course – the police are doing their job – but haven’t you too got some responsibility towards security.

Remember, God forbid, if something bad happens – it can be you – or your near and dear ones who may be casualties.

2. CORRUPTION

One of the main reasons why India is considered a “Soft State” and easy target is the rampant corruption prevalent at all levels.

If you pay a bribe anything is possible.

Conversely: If you do not pay a bribe – then it is difficult to get things done.

You may have seen news reports of how easy it is for illegal immigrants from foreign countries to obtain various identity documents and residential proof documents like PAN Card, Aadhaar UID Card, Voter ID Card, Ration Card, Driving Licence etc by paying bribes.

It is cruel irony that whereas genuine honest bonafide citizens have to struggle to get these documents made, persons who are not citizens of this country manage to get them by paying bribes.

Earlier it was a mystery to me as to how foreigners can so easily enter our country and comfortably settle down here and carry on their activities, but now the reason seems to be quite clear – Corruption.

Wherever you are, whatever post you hold, remember that when you take a bribe you may be compromising security.

And each time you give a bribe (as mamool or speed-money) you are establishing a Corrupt Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which can be detrimental to security.

Security Consciousness entails eradication of corruption and unless corruption is contained we cannot become secure and safe.

3. LENIENT MERCIFUL FORGIVING “SYSTEM”

Our system is lenient, merciful and forgiving in nature towards those accused, found guilty and convicted of undermining security.

This had weakened the fear of law in the mind of criminals and anti-national elements.

They know that even if they are caught, the process will be slow, the trial will take a long time, and there is a always a chance of bail and acquittal.

Even if they are found guilty and convicted they can always seek clemency to lighten the punishment and the lenient and merciful system is likely to be sympathetic, compassionate and benevolent in view of our forgiving nature.

All this has reduced the deterrence effect of the law.

This absence of fear of the law has emboldened criminals and hostile elements which is very detrimental to our security.

CONCLUSION

Security is everyone’s business so we must do our bit to eliminate the three weak spots (or Achilles’ Heels) that undermine security consciousness and make India a Soft State.

1. Let us get rid of our “Chalta Hai” Casual Attitude towards Security.

2. Let us strive to Eradicate Corruption.

3. Let us stop showing Misplaced Compassion and be less merciful towards those Undesirable Criminals and Inimical Elements who undermine our security. Let us have a “Zero Appeasement” Policy towards undesirable elements who undermine national security.

VIKRAM KARVE

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Re-post of my article posted in this blog at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/04/why-india-is-soft-state-our-attitude.html

Monday, January 19, 2015

EMI EMC RADHAZ - Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) to Human Beings and Living Organisms

EMI / EMC (ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE AND COMPATIBILITY)

Reference Literature Survey

BIOELECTROMAGNETICS

Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) to Human Beings and Living Organisms

Book Review : Biological Effects of Microwaves by S Baranski and P Czerski

I have been invited to deliver a few lectures on Electromagnetic Interference and Electromagnetic Compatibility abbreviated as EMI / EMC.

I have decided to speak on the topic of Electromagnetic Pollution (or Electropollution) and Bioelectromagnetics.

This gives me a chance to brush up my rusty knowledge and let me begin by going through a few book reviews I had written earlier when I used to regularly teach this subject at the Post Graduate Level and conduct specialized training programs on EMI / EMC too during my faculty days at IAT now known as DIAT Deemed University and MILIT located in the hills of Girinagar near Pune

So, Dear Reader, in case you are interested in this topic of Electromagnetic Pollution and its manifestations, do read on:

BOOK REVIEW

Biological Effects of Microwaves by S Baranski and P Czerski

(A seminal reference book on Bioelectromagnetics and Electropollution Effects on Human Beings and Living Organisms)

Book Details

Title: Biological Effects of Microwaves

Authors: S Baranski and P Czerski

Published by: Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Inc., Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. (1976)

Pages: 234

ISBN: 0-87933-145-3

Book Review by Vikram Karve

Electromagnetic Radiations emanating from various communication systems and devices like Radio and TV broadcasting antennas, satellite communication, cell phone and mobile phone transmitters and transmission towers, microwave ovens and electrical and electronic appliances have now become an unavoidable area of our life.

Today, especially in modern urban life, we are surrounded by electromagnetic radiation.

Microwaves constitute a significant part of electromagnetic radiations and contribute to “electro-pollution” as research indicates that microwaves affect living organisms.

The book ‘Biological Effects of Microwaves’ by S. Baranski and P. Czerski presents the detailed research work done in this field and is one of the earliest books on the subject.

It will prove helpful for the biologists, physicians, physicists as well as budding and practicing electronic and electrical engineers.

The content of the book is organized in seven chapters.

Chapter number one is the ‘introduction’ with the subject.

At the beginning of this chapter the authors make our concepts clear about the important terms like microwave radiation, ionizing radiation, non ionizing radiation and radio-protection.

Before dealing with the microwaves we must know about the electromagnetic radiation spectrum.

There are figures, illustrations and tables describing the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, the wavelengths (cm), energy (eV) of different waves like radio-frequencies microwaves, visible light, UltraViolet Rays, X rays and Gamma rays and explaining some examples of typical uses of equipment generating radio-frequency and microwave radiation.

This chapter explains the uses of different ranges of frequencies, their respective applications, their occupational exposure and some examples of potential exposure (i.e. general population hazards).

This chapter also explains the theory and working of various microwave transmitter valves such as magnetron, klystron – Reflex Klystron and multi-cavity Klystron and Travelling Wave Tube (TWT) briefly with their schematic representations.

The second chapter is about the ‘Physical Characteristics of Microwaves’.

This chapter is designed in such a fashion that the reader who wants to enter in this field but have forgotten some of the basic concepts of physics related to the microwaves.

This chapter is important and helpful to grasp the further concepts.

It includes the basic phenomenon of formation of electromagnetic wave, set of parameters that characterize the electromagnetic waves such as frequency, velocity, wavelength, Electric and magnetic field vectors, relation between the two and the characteristic impedance.

Coaxial transmission line, coaxial cable and wave guide are also explained to understand how the waves are propagated.

After getting introduced with the microwaves and going through their physical characteristics, in the third chapter we study the interaction of microwaves with the living systems.

Biologists and physicians studied the interaction of microwaves with the living systems and they came to the result which had three phenomena like penetration of microwaves into a biological target and their propagation within it, secondly the primary interaction of microwaves with living matter and the secondary effects induced by the primary interaction.

The three layered semi-infinite slab model of a biological target (which is made up of skin, fat and muscle) illuminated by simple wave front is explained and may be used for solving various problems relative to the medical use of shortwave and microwave diathermy.

In the later subsections primary and secondary effects of microwave interaction are studied.

There are illustrations of the primary and secondary effects of microwaves on different levels of organizations ranging from molecular level to highly organized living systems.

The fourth and the most praiseworthy chapter of this book is titled ‘Biological effects of Microwaves (Experimental Data)’.

It presents the collection data found in literature on experimental facts and observations on biological effects of microwaves.

Various results of experiments done on different animals like mice, dog, rats, guinea pigs and cat are illustrated.

Effects of microwaves on nervous system, cardiovascular effects, effects on endocrine and metabolic effects, effects on genital system, foetal development, chromosomal effects, possible genetic effects and cellular effects, effects on internal organs like abdominal cavity, chest and digestive track, effects on blood and the blood forming system, cataractogenesis are presented with experimental details.

In the last section of the chapter some comments on experimental studies on the interaction of microwaves with living systems are done which are very useful while doing such experiments.

Chapter Five is about the ‘health status of personnel occupationally exposed to microwaves and the symptoms of microwave overexposure’.

In this chapter the outcome experiments and conclusions of literature survey of various authors are given. At the end of the chapter the main points which are the outcome of all the survey of the literature are collected.

Microwaves are the boon for the mankind and improve our quality of life in so many ways and it is prudent to be aware of the hazards and adopt safety standards to protect ourselves as well as the environment form the adverse effects of microwaves.

Chapter Six is about the ‘Safe exposure limits and prevention of health hazards’ with analysis on the safe exposure limits of microwaves.

The basic principles which may be used while determining the safe exposure limits are elucidated.

At the end of the chapter suggestions for prevention of health hazards are given which are very much important while dealing with the microwaves.

The seventh and last chapter of the book summarizes the work presented in the previous chapters and the important developments in the field till the writing of this book.

The authors suggest integrated coordinated interdisciplinary efforts of biologists, physicians, physicists and electronic engineers.

The authors have done extensive literature survey for this book and cite more than 600 references which may prove helpful for the reader for further studies in this subject.

This book was published in 1976.

Though not a recent publication, this book is a seminal work and an important book of reference literature in the area of bioelectromagnetics and will prove useful for those who are doing research in this field.

Book Review by VIKRAM KARVE

VIKRAM KARVE

EMI EMC RADHAZ - Biological Effects of Microwaves - Book Review

ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE AND COMPATIBILITY (EMI / EMC)
Reference Literature Survey
Book Review : Biological Effects of Microwaves by S Baranski and P Czerski

I have been invited to deliver a lecture on ElectroMagnetic Interference and ElectroMagnetic Compatibility abbreviated as EMI / EMC.

I have decided to speak on the topic of RADHAZ also known as Electromagnetic Pollution (or Electropollution).

This gives me a chance to brush up my rusty knowledge and let me begin by going through a few book reviews I had written earlier when I used to regularly teach this subject at the Post Graduate Level and conduct specialized training on EMI / EMC during my faculty days at IAT later called DIAT Deemed University and MILIT located in the hills of Girinagar near Pune

So, Dear Reader, in case you are interested in this topic of Electromagnetic Pollution and its manifestations, do read on:

BOOK REVIEW

Biological Effects of Microwaves by S Baranski and P Czerski

(A seminal reference book on Electropollution Effects)

The Book

Title: Biological Effects of Microwaves

Authors: S Baranski and P Czerski

Published by: Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Inc., Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. (1976)

Pages: 234

ISBN: 0-87933-145-3

Book Review by Vikram Karve

Electromagnetic Radiations emanating from various communication systems and devices like Radio and TV broadcasting, satellite communication, cell phone and mobile phone transmitter towers, microwave ovens and electrical and electronic appliances have now become an unavoidable area of our life.

Today, especially in modern urban life, we are surrounded by electromagnetic radiation.

Microwaves constitute a significant part of electromagnetic radiations and contribute to “electro-pollution” as research indicates that microwaves affect living organisms.

The book ‘Biological Effects of Microwaves’ by S. Baranski and P. Czerski presents the detailed research work done in this field and is one of the earliest books on the subject.

It will prove helpful for the biologists, physicians, physicists as well as budding and practicing electronic and electrical engineers.

The content of the book is organized in seven chapters.

Chapter number one is the ‘introduction’ with the subject.

At the beginning of this chapter the authors make our concepts clear about the important terms like microwave radiation, ionizing radiation, non ionizing radiation and radio-protection.

Before dealing with the microwaves we must know about the electromagnetic radiation spectrum.

The second chapter is about the ‘Physical Characteristics of Microwaves’.

This chapter is designed in such a fashion that the reader who wants to enter in this field but have forgotten some of the basic concepts of physics related to the microwaves.

This chapter is important and helpful to grasp the further concepts.

Coaxial transmission line, coaxial cable and waveguide are also explained to understand how the waves are propagated.