Fwd: Lecture at RMRL
gee yes
From: RMRL Chennai <rm...@rmrl.in>
Date: Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 11:38 AM
Subject: Lecture at RMRL
To: RMRL Chennai <rm...@rmrl.in>
Dear Friends,
Roja Muthiah Research Library cordially invites you for the monthly lecture. Please forward this to your friends.
-------------------------------------------------------
Indus Research Centre of Roja Muthiah Research Library
invites you for a
lecture on
Indus Script: Computational Analysis and Challenges in Interpretation
by
Dr. Rajesh P. N. Rao
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington
Date: 19th December 2011
Time: 5.00 p.m.
Venue:
Roja Muthiah Research Library
3rd Cross Road, Central Polytechnic Campus
Taramani, Chennai 600 113
Telephone: 2254 2551 / 2254 2552
Tea will be served at 4.30 p.m.
-------------------------------------------------------
Summary of the talk:
More than 4000 years ago, people living in the Indus valley, in what is now Pakistan and northwestern India, wrote short sequences of symbols on seals, tablets, pottery, and personal belongings. These short texts constitute the Indus script, one of the last major undeciphered scripts of the ancient world. Deciphering the Indus script could have significant ramifications for the way we view the history of the Indian subcontinent today.
In this talk, Dr. Rao will first describe research aimed at analyzing the Indus script using computational and statistical techniques. This analysis provides insights into the syntax of the script and allows a comparison with other scripts encoding natural languages. Such an analysis however does not address the issue of interpreting the symbols (the semantics of the script).
The second part of the talk will focus on some of the challenges involved in interpretation and how the constraints imposed by syntax could play a role. These challenges will be illustrated using the example of the class of "fish" symbols in the script and the competing interpretations suggested by various researchers in the field.
Profile:
Dr. Rajesh P. N. Rao is an associate professor in the Computer Science and Engineering department and head of the Neural Systems Laboratory at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA. He received his PhD from the University of Rochester and was a Sloan Postdoctoral Fellow at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego. He is the recipient of an NSF CAREER award, an ONR Young Investigator Award, a Sloan Faculty Fellowship, and a David and Lucile Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering. He has co-edited two books, Probabilistic Models of the Brain and Bayesian Brain, both published by MIT Press. Dr. Rao’s research interests include Computational Neuroscience, Brain-Computer Interfaces, Humanoid Robots, and the Indus Script.
The absence of a multilingual "Rosetta stone" as well as the lack of knowledge of the underlying language have stymied efforts to decipher the Indus script. Rather than attempting to ascribe meaning to the inscriptions, Dr. Rao and his collaborators are applying statistical techniques from the fields of machine learning, information theory, and computational linguistics to first gain an understanding of the sequential structure of the script. The goal is to discover the grammatical rules that govern the sequencing of signs in the script, with the hope that such rules will aid future decipherment efforts.
Dr. Rao has published in leading scientific journals such as Science, Nature, Nature Neuroscience, and PNAS. He has also spoken at the prestigious TED conference and appeared on TV and print media to educate and enlighten the public at large on the state of Indus script research.
Innamburan Innamburan
geeyes
both researchers and lay-enthusiasts alike. Let us believe that each
step as this one is towards a concrete and wholesome deciphering and
understanding.
The problem with RMRL is that they conduct the talks at 5pm on plum
working days. They probably expect only the academics to attend.
G.Santhanam
On Dec 12, 11:07 pm, Innamburan Innamburan <innambu...@gmail.com>
wrote:
> '...Dr. Rao and his collaborators are applying statistical techniques from
> the fields of machine learning, information theory, and computational
> linguistics to first gain an understanding of the sequential structure of
> the script. The goal is to discover the grammatical rules that govern the
> sequencing of signs in the script, with the hope that such rules will aid
> future decipherment efforts....'
> ~ This is a commendable and a challenging unexplored pathway and sounds
> very interesting.
> Innamburan
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 5:44 PM, gee yes <gmsantha...@gmail.com> wrote:
N. Ganesan
On Dec 12, 11:44 am, gee yes <gmsantha...@gmail.com> wrote:
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: RMRL Chennai <r...@rmrl.in>
> Date: Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 11:38 AM
> Subject: Lecture at RMRL
> To: RMRL Chennai <r...@rmrl.in>
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> Roja Muthiah Research Library cordially invites you for the monthly
> lecture. Please forward this to your friends.
>
தகவலுக்கு நன்றி. ஐராவதம் ஏற்பாடு செய்துள்ளார்.
2012-ல் அடிக்கடி சியாட்டில் பயணிக்கும் வாய்ப்புள்ளது.
நிச்சயமாய் ராஜேஷச் சந்திப்பேன். விஞ்ஞானத்தின்
ஒரு பிரதம ஆய்வேட்டில் சிந்து முத்திரை
எழுத்துக்களை ஐராவதம், பார்ப்போலா வழியில்
அவை எழுத்துக்கள்தாம் என்று ஆய்வுக்கட்டுரை
வெளியிட்டுள்ள ராஜேஷ் ராவ் அவர்களை வாழ்த்த
தென்னிந்திய மக்கள் கடமைப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.
ராஜேஷ் ராவ் - சிந்து முத்திரை எழுத்துக்கள் பற்றி ஆற்றும்
சொற்பொழிவு இங்கே
http://www.ted.com/talks/rajesh_rao_computing_a_rosetta_stone_for_the_indus_script.html
வன்பாக்கம் தொடங்கிய இழை - நான், ஃழான், பெரமு, ... போன்ற பலர்
பங்கேற்ற இழை வாசிக்க:
http://groups.google.com/group/mintamil/browse_frm/thread/79cb7ad8ab9246b?scoring=d&
சிந்து சமவெளிக்கும் திராவிட மொழிகள் பேசுவோருக்கும்
உள்ள தொடர்பு, செந்தமிழால், ராஜேஷ் போன்ற இளைஞர்களால்
ஒளியூட்டப்பெறும்.
நா. கணேசன்
சிந்து நாகரிகத்தில் விடங்கர்(> இடங்கர்) முதலைகளின்
கொற்றவைப் புணர்ச்சி பறி 2007-ல் கட்டுரை வடித்தேன்.
பார்ப்போலா மிக அழகாக தோக்கியோ யுனிவெர்ஸிடி
வெளியீட்டில் முதலைகளின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை
சிந்து சமயத்தில் எழுதியுள்ளார். அதன் பின்
என் கட்டுரை: A Dravidian etymology for Makara - Crocodile
http://groups.google.com/group/mintamil/msg/1bb395573c3483e2
> *-------------------------------------------------------*
>
> *Indus Research Centre of Roja Muthiah Research Library*
>
> invites you for a
>
> *lecture on*
>
> Indus Script: Computational Analysis and Challenges in Interpretation
>
> *by*
>
> *
> Dr. Rajesh P. N. Rao*
>
> *Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington
> *
>
> **Date: 19th December 2011
>
> *Time:* 5.00 p.m.
>
> *Venue:** *
> *Roja Muthiah Research Library*
> 3rd Cross Road, Central Polytechnic Campus
> Taramani, Chennai 600 113
> Telephone: 2254 2551 / 2254 2552
>
> *Tea will be served at 4.30 p.m.*
>
> -------------------------------------------------------
>
> *Summary of the talk*:
>
> More than 4000 years ago, people living in the Indus valley, in what is now
> Pakistan and northwestern India, wrote short sequences of symbols on seals,
> tablets, pottery, and personal belongings. These short texts constitute the
> Indus script, one of the last major undeciphered scripts of the ancient
> world. Deciphering the Indus script could have significant ramifications
> for the way we view the history of the Indian subcontinent today.
>
> In this talk, Dr. Rao will first describe research aimed at analyzing the
> Indus script using computational and statistical techniques. This analysis
> provides insights into the syntax of the script and allows a comparison
> with other scripts encoding natural languages. Such an analysis however
> does not address the issue of interpreting the symbols (the semantics of
> the script).
>
> The second part of the talk will focus on some of the challenges involved
> in interpretation and how the constraints imposed by syntax could play a
> role. These challenges will be illustrated using the example of the class
> of "fish" symbols in the script and the competing interpretations suggested
> by various researchers in the field.
>
> *Profile:*
geeyes
முந்தைய மின்தமிழ் உரையாடலும் பல செய்திகளைத் தருகின்றன.
-ஜி.ஸன்தானம்
K R A Narasiah
ராஜேஷ் ராவின் சொற்பொழிவு வீடியோவை அறிமுகப்படுத்தியமைக்கு நன்றி.
முந்தைய மின்தமிழ் உரையாடலும் பல செய்திகளைத் தருகின்றன.
-ஜி.ஸன்தானம்
--
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N. Ganesan
> This evening I attended the lecture of Dr Rajesh Rao.
>
> Though nothing new was told on the scripts themselves, the approach was
> refreshingly technical and showed that researchers will soon find the
> solution. Starting from Father Heras to Iravatham, lot of work has been
> done not to miss the efforts of Parpola and other westerners.
> I have not been missing any lecture on Indus script and as Iravatham has
> been sending me regularly his articles I am able to follow closely. I did
> attend Parpola's lecture as well.
>
> I enjoyed the hour long lecture.
>
> Narasiah
>
Yesterday, I spoke with Iravatham for a long time.
He is now 82, and he recalled his days of being the
subcollector in Pollachi & he said: "you are the
grandson of my Gounder friend who helped collect
lots of lands for Vinoba's Bhudaan movement." etc.,
He said Rajesh has reached India, and will come to his
house. He is almost bed-ridden, having back pain issues
in addition to heart condition.
He also recalled about my 2007 paper on
"crocodiles in Indus religion" paper, and asked
me if I have a copy of recent Asko Parpola's
recent paper on crocs in IVC. I said "yes, and
I regularly correspond with him & already prof. Parpola
has changed some etymologies he has offered
based on my inputs." Also, he asked Dr. Sundar,
Director, RMRL to print out all papers & asked him
to send to him so he can read. He said he will
appreciate my critical comments on his latest
paper, Indus Fish swam in the Great Bath,
I responded, I've some & will send them in January
as we are planning a vacation and travel now.
Iravatham said he will be glad to hear my lecture
on Crocodiles in Indus religion at RMRL.
Let us see. I told him it is highly strategic move
to start Indus center at RMRL, Madras and thanked
him for the initiative.
One of the critical comments I have is that
he does not yet connect with proto-durgaa
the Indus seal imagery. The buffalo-slaying,
tiger-goddess has been linked to proto-durga
in Parpola's 1994 book well. Back in 2007,
I showed her linkage with gharial-Mrgapati,
the crocs' importance in Indus religion is
very important. And, Prof. Parpola's
2011 UTokyo paper is very important.
I will send my recent paper,
A Dravidian etymology for Makara - crocodile
(Prof. V. I. Subramonium commemoration volume,
Intl. School of Dravidian Linguistics, Tiryvananthapuram, Kerala)
to you.
I will meet with Dr. Rajesh Rao & his paper on Indus script
in the prestigious Science journal is a landmark achievement.
Once Munda Etymological Dictionary is published,
Dravidian linguists, philologists, and Sanskritists
like Parpola - if 5 -10 scholars work on the Indus puzzle,
we will know lots more on the genesis of India and Hindu culture.
I hope my little contribution pointing out the importance
of crocodiles in Indus vELaaN riverine civilization is useful.
An important sign in Indus script is now identified as a
mugger crocodile, predessor of VaruNa, the god of Neytal tiNai
by prof. Parpola now in 2011.
can you cehck with Dr. G. Sundar if Rajesh's lecture
will be available in video from RMRL.
N. Ganesan
> 2011/12/14 geeyes <gmsantha...@gmail.com>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > ராஜேஷ் ராவின் சொற்பொழிவு வீடியோவை அறிமுகப்படுத்தியமைக்கு நன்றி.
> > முந்தைய மின்தமிழ் உரையாடலும் பல செய்திகளைத் தருகின்றன.
> > -ஜி.ஸன்தானம்
>
> > --
> > "Tamil in Digital Media" group is an activity of Tamil Heritage
> > Foundation. Visit our website:http://www.tamilheritage.org;you may like
> > to visit our Muthusom Blogs at:
> >http://www.tamilheritage.org/how2contribute.htmlTo post to this group,
N. Ganesan
here is one of my criticisms of Iravatham
4 years ago. He wrote in The Hindu
about Jallikattu as that was popular in political
circles then. But what is shown in Indus
seals is NOT male youths doing jallikattu
on zebu bulls, but rather the kanni (little) durgaa (koRRi < kol-)
in old tamil) slaying buffalo mahisha, she is the paTTamahishi
of mahesa, the gharial god of Indus valley.
My criticism of Iravatham (2008) writeup which he
wrote in The Hindu paper:
http://nganesan.blogspot.com/2008/01/eru-tazuval.html
எழுதி 4 வருஷம் ஆச்சு.
N. Ganesan
> > > Foundation. Visit our website:http://www.tamilheritage.org;youmay like
> > > to visit our Muthusom Blogs at:
> > >http://www.tamilheritage.org/how2contribute.htmlTopost to this group,
K R A Narasiah
"Tamil in Digital Media" group is an activity of Tamil Heritage Foundation. Visit our website: http://www.tamilheritage.org; you may like to visit our Muthusom Blogs at: http://www.tamilheritage.org/how2contribute.html To post to this group, send email to minT...@googlegroups.com
seshadri sridharan
seshadri sridharan
N. Ganesan
On Dec 19, 10:39 pm, K R A Narasiah <narasiah...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear Ganesan
> I am in touch with Iravatham regularly. In fact in the latest bulletin of
> Indus Research Centre, he says the Indus fish swam in the great bath. He
> sends me the publications immediately.
> He is a great man. But the humility he shows is remarkable. I cherish
> a letter written by him when he could not attend a lecture of mine in RMRL
> in Aug 2009.
> Though it is personal, I am putting it out here.
> I dont think anyone of his stature will do so!
> Narasiah
> I
Thanks, Narasiah. Iravatham said he could not go to RMRL lecture,
hope Rajesh Rao meets him at his house.
I sent you a copy of my paper.
Regards
N. Ganesan
N. Ganesan
On Dec 19, 11:02 pm, seshadri sridharan <sseshadr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> உண்மையில் அவர் உயர்ந்த உள்ளம் கொண்டவர் என்பது அக்கடிதமே காட்டி நிற்கிறது.
> அவர் அடர்வு செய்து தந்த பிராமி கல்வெட்டு தொகுப்பு பல்லாற்றானும்
> ஆய்வாளர்களுக்கு உதவியாய் இருக்கின்றது. தமிழ் உலகம் அவருடைய இத்
> திருப்பணிக்கு அவரை என்னென்றும் மறவாது நினைத்து ஒழுகும்.
>
> சேசாத்திரி
>
ஐராவதத்தின் தமிழ்பிரமி கல்வெட்டுகள் இரண்டாம் பதிப்பு வெளிவருவதாய்ச்
சொன்னார்.
நூல் வெளியானபின் கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்ட கல்வெட்டுக்களும்,
உ-ம்: தாதப்பட்டி ஆகோட் கல்லெழுத்து சேர்த்து வரவேண்டும்.
http://nganesan.blogspot.com/2006/10/blog-post.html
அவர் உடல்நிலை இடம்தருமா என தெரியலை.
நா. கணேசன்
N. Ganesan
> Thanks, Narasiah. Iravatham said he could not go to RMRL lecture,
> hope Rajesh Rao meets him at his house.
>
> I sent you a copy of my paper.
>
> Regards
> N. Ganesan
Thanks for your blessings.
Yours
N. Ganesan
On Tue, Dec 20, 2011 at 7:56 AM, K R A Narasiah
<naras...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Read with great lot of interest. Quite erudite. Where was it read and when?
> (Incidentally, the first amphibian vessel of the Indian Navy was christened Magar!)
> Narasiah
N. Ganesan
> <narasiah...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Read with great lot of interest. Quite erudite. Where was it read and when?
> > (Incidentally, the first amphibian vessel of the Indian Navy was christened Magar!)
> > Narasiah
Prof. V. I. Subramonium commemoration volume, Internationa School of
Dravidian Linguistics,
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Ganesan
seshadri sridharan
//ஐராவதத்தின் தமிழ்பிரமி கல்வெட்டுகள் இரண்டாம் பதிப்பு வெளிவருவதாய்ச் சொன்னார். நூல் வெளியான பின் கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்ட கல்வெட்டுக்களும்,
உ-ம்: தாதப்பட்டி ஆகோட் கல்லெழுத்து சேர்த்து வரவேண்டும்.
http://nganesan.blogspot.com/2006/10/blog-post.html
அவர் உடல்நிலை இடம்தருமா என தெரியலை.
நா. கணேசன்//
K R A Narasiah
--
N. Ganesan
On Dec 21, 7:56 pm, K R A Narasiah <narasiah...@gmail.com> wrote:
> இன்னும் சில நாட்களில் திரு ஐராவதத்தைச் சந்திக்க நினைத்துள்ளேன்.
> பார்த்தாபிறகு விவரம் தருகிறேன்
> நரசய்யா
>
The second edition, an Indian version, should be lot cheaper, just
like
Parpola's classic book (1994, Cambridge) - the Indian edition is
inexpesive.
Please convey my request to complete his IVC book from Penguin
(India),
he sent couple of chapters long ago. For example, his explanation of
the name,
nIlakaNTan. But a completed book should be great. Hope God gives
Iravatham
good health.
N. Ganesan
> 2011/12/21 seshadri sridharan <sseshadr...@gmail.com>
>
>
>
> > //ஐராவதத்தின் தமிழ்பிரமி கல்வெட்டுகள் இரண்டாம் பதிப்பு வெளிவருவதாய்ச்
> >> சொன்னார். நூல் வெளியான பின் கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்ட கல்வெட்டுக்களும்,
>
> >> உ-ம்: தாதப்பட்டி ஆகோட் கல்லெழுத்து சேர்த்து வரவேண்டும்.
> >>http://nganesan.blogspot.com/2006/10/blog-post.html
> >> அவர் உடல்நிலை இடம்தருமா என தெரியலை.
> >> நா. கணேசன்//
>
> > என் செவிக்கு இனிய செய்தியாய்த் தருகின்றீரே நன்றி உமக்கு
>
> > சேசாத்திரி
>
> > --
> > "Tamil in Digital Media" group is an activity of Tamil Heritage
> > Foundation. Visit our website:http://www.tamilheritage.org;you may like
> > to visit our Muthusom Blogs at:
> >http://www.tamilheritage.org/how2contribute.htmlTo post to this group,
> > send email to minT...@googlegroups.com
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> > minTamil-u...@googlegroups.com
> > For more options, visit this group at
> >http://groups.google.com/group/minTamil- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -