Maps and World History

No, I'm not going to post the syllabus of some History (or Social Studies) exam.

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Well, it's that time of the year, once again, when I feel guilty for not posting regularly. Actually, that occurs more often than the number of times I take the next (big) step, logging in and posting.

Of late, I have become a cartographer of sorts. The maps I create, though, are not route maps or geographical maps. They are process maps. Microsoft Visio is quite an interesting (albeit expensive) software and since one needs to understand each process thoroughly in order to map it well, the learning curve is quite steep. Sounds like I'm having fun right? Well, I am, most often, when the deadline is not lurking in the corner. I didn't count amongst the 'deadline dudes' for nothing, in one of my very first assignments in the corporate world. I must say that my estimation skills have improved by leaps and bounds but the last minute rush and anxiety still remains.

As always, my "to read" list is increasing exponentially. I have started 'Glimpses of World History' and I really hope to finish it sometime soon. Having read the first couple of chapters, I think the man was a genius - no wonder he commanded such respect and led such a large, diverse, and "unnatural" nation, which was then just a nascent democracy and an "unlikely" one at that. Do watch this superb Ramachandra Guha interview, about 'India After Gandhi' (which I hope to read some time soon) where he explains why he thinks India is an "unnatural nation and an unlikely democracy".