AND a few stray thoughts for yet another Saturday. For a Saturday following the week when the low-cost Chinese alternative to ChatGPT and Google Gemini has shaken the world of technology. For a Saturday following the week when even the beaches are not safe for Goans now. For a Saturday following the week when a new proposal to start a new academic year for schools on April 1, has been opposed both by teachers and parents. For a Saturday following the week when Himachal Pradesh, ruled by the BJP, is the first state to officially introduce the Uniform Civil Code. For a Saturday following the week when there’s been a total transformation of Panaji and indeed, all of Goa.
AND a few stray thoughts on the low-cost Chinese alternative to ChatGPT and Google Gemini has shaken the technology world. The low-cost Artificial Intelligence alternative shatters the claim that AI apps require huge investments and sophisticated technology. Unlike the heavily funded open Artificial Intelligence and Google Gemini, DeepSeek was able to build in a cave with a box full of chips that were discarded as scrap. Paid access to DeepSeek comes at three percent at the cost of professional versions of ChatGPT. DeepSeek can be downloaded as a free app from the Apple app store to replace ChatGPT.
DeepSeek is an open-source app that allows developers worldwide to access modify and build upon its architecture. The openness enables cost-effective app development and democratizes AI innovation, as against the dollar four charges of ChatGPT DeepSeek, which offers similar services at just ten cents. The equivalent will be 80 paise in Indian currency. The new revolutionary AI app comes from a small company, Liang Wenfeng, located in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.
When Google India head Rajan Anandan wanted to build an Indian language model on a low budget he was told that it was hopeless as the costs were huge.
While ChatGPT and Google invested billions of dollars to develop advanced AI models DeepSeek version 3 was built at a mere 5.6 million. This stark contrast has made investors wake up to a possible scam in the valuation of AI systems. The difference and superiority of DeepSeek stand out as the innovative approach to creating a model. The DeepSeek app succeeded despite American attempts to sabotage it by restriction on semiconductor imports by China.
The announcement of the new super AI app DeepSeek has shaken up all the big technology companies both Chinese and American. The largest technology company in the world NVIDIA found itself on the back foot with its share falling by 20 percent. But perhaps this raises hopes that India can follow the example of China and need not depend on expensive Western technology.
China has always been a leader in low-cost technological developments. This is dramatized by the fact that our Indian markets are flooded with Chinese-made Christmas and Diwali decorations which are much cheaper than the equivalent locally manufactured goods. DeepSeek proves that what we need is not lots of money or high-tech but a good mind and passion for innovation.
BEACHES NO LONGER SAFE
AND a few stray thoughts on how even the beaches are not safe for Goans. Earlier it was felt that the roads were not safe because of drunken tourists. The shacks may be owned by Goans but all the staff are from outside the state.
Historically, shacks have been putting out beach beds, umbrella sheltered tables and chairs on the beach to cater to foreign tourists. Goans are not permitted to use the deck chairs even if they are not occupied. On several occasions, taking a walk on the beach, one is tempted to take break on an unoccupied beach bed. Only to be shouted at by the shack guards who are 100% bhaile.
In an incident in the north Goa tourism belt Amar Bandekar, a 37-year-old resident of Arambol, was taking a walk on the beach around 7.30pm on Sunday, January 26. Amar apparently decided to take a break and sat and lay down on one of the chairs put out by the Sea Lounge beach shack. The shack staff who were from Himachal Pradesh reportedly asked him to vacate the chair and started to beat him up. So savage was the attack that Amar Bandekar collapsed and was taken to the hospital where he was declared dead. The victim’s brother lodge a complaint against the beach shack staff. Post-mortem report confirmed that Amar died because of the assault. This is the second time a local has been attacked so savagely by outsider staff of a beach shack.
AND a few stray thoughts on the new proposal to start the new academic year for schools on April 1, has been opposed both by teachers and parents. It is been pointed out that April is one of the hottest months in Goa with high temperature and humidity creating very uncomfortable and unhealthy conditions for students. Most schools are not air-conditioned and the majority of government schools may not have fans. This often causes dehydration. The early start of the academic year also means that teachers and students would have shorter vacations.
Traditionally teachers and students have enjoyed the two-month summer vacations in April and May. At present the schools reopen after the vacation in June. We do not know whether June is a good month for opening schools as generally, the monsoon begins in June. The monsoon in Goa is quite heavy and it becomes difficult for children to go to school. The health risks during the monsoon are much greater.
Maybe it would be best if school here reopen in January with exams held in October. Advancing the opening date to April is not practical.
HIMACHAL PRADESH FOR UNIFORM CIVIL CODE
AND a few stray thoughts on Himachal Pradesh which is ruled by the BJP being the first state to officially introduce the Uniform Civil Code. However, the Uniform Civil Code introduced by Himachal Pradesh has a saffron twist. The UCC passed by the state legislators requires that all live-in couples should register themselves. The excuse is that live-in couples have to be protected. This is besides compulsory registration of marriages and divorces.
The Muslims and Catholics are protesting as they feel the UCC is targeted at minorities. The Church does not recognize divorces granted by the courts. The Church has its own courts and there is a complicated process for granting a divorce. The only grounds are when a marriage cannot be consummated. In Islam also there is a separate set of laws for marrying and divorce. From “Qubool Hai” to the controversial triple “Talaq” it is very easy for men to divorce wives in Islam. There are instances where a triple talaq has been sent on WhatsApp.
It may be pointed out that in Goa only civil marriages are considered legal. Before a couple goes through a religious ceremony they have to produce the civil registration certificate irrespective of whether they are Hindus, Catholics or Muslims. There have been no protests in Goa from minorities against the UCC. Muslims and Catholics can also get a divorce in the court. There is no reason why a UCC should not become compulsory in the whole country.
PANAJI TRANSFORMATION
AND a few stray thoughts on the total transformation of Panaji and indeed all of Goa. When I visited Goa in the mid-70s, the only starred hotel was the Mandovi Hotel which is now unfortunately closed down. Ironically, I came again to Goa in 1981 for the soft opening of the Cidade de Goa, now taken over by the Taj Group. The Mariott Resort came to Panaji 25 years ago. More recent additions are three more Taj properties, the Taj Vivanta at St Inez and the one at Miramar-Dona Paula road came up recently.
When I came to Goa permanently to stay in 1983 the Panaji Gymkhana had a small pavilion and a large cricket ground. There was no bar and the only sports facilities besides cricket facilities were the table tennis tables. The Panaji Gymkhana was started by the first chief minister of Goa, Dayanand Bandodkar. The much-loved chief minister died while he was playing table tennis with table tennis champ, the young Vero Nunes who owns the Bambolim Beach Resort.
On our recent visit to the Panaji Panjim Gymkhana I found that it has become very posh. The gymkhana has four flooded tennis courts. It has swimming pools and a restaurant with a bar attached, managed by Ritz Classic. But apparently, it is still incomplete, as the hall on the first floor has yet to be completed.
The Gasper Dias Club at Miramar beach was promoted for tennis and was a simple affair to begin with just tennis courts being the main feature. The club now has a swimming pool and rooms for members and guests and a fancy restaurant.
Similarly, the International Centre which started after I came to Goa, has expanded with his own swimming pool, outdoor party lawns and a gymnasium. The ICG is now more like a hotel resort and it has forgotten why it was founded as a cultural and literary hub. The present director is a hardcore chaddiwala and only promotes the Modi government.
The only clubs which remain simple and user-friendly are Club Vasco Da Gama and Club Nacional. Thanks to former chief justice of the Allahabad high court, Ferdino Rebello, when the old Vasco Da Gama club building was rebuilt, a whole floor was allotted to the club. The club has a bar which at one time was a favourite watering hole for young professionals like lawyers and journalists. I have spent several pleasant evenings at the Club Vasco. The club also organizes dances for its members.
I am not aware of the fate of Club Nacional which was started for Goans as against Club Vasco which originally only for Paklos. In 1983 the population of Panaji was less than 20,000. There were no buildings at Dona Paula or down the Miramar-Dona Paula bypass road. The population of Panaji including that of Taleigao now suffer from the ravages and pollution of over development as a concrete jungle.
BAD, SAD SMART CITIES
AND a last stray thoughts on smart cities doing badly everywhere in the country. Indore is considered the cleanest and best managed municipality in the country. Unfortunately, it was chosen by the smart city project. This has been disastrous as the whole city has been dug up like Panaji. Some Goan friends had gone to Indore as their son was participating in the national abacus competition.
When they reached Indore they felt they were back in Panaji. This is because the Indore roads were all dug up. But officially Indore has been winning awards as the best-developed city in Madhya Pradesh and is close to the grand ruins of Mandu built by the Pathan kings of history.
Our friends tell us that Indore has a very good zoo with three different kinds of tigers, including a black tiger. In comparison one would think Goa neglects the Goan zoo at Bondla which does not have a single tiger.