Indian with 22 MA degrees, 5 PhDs, and 3 D.Lits

[ranger]

Meet R.K. Rai, a scholar extraordinary. Over the years he has acquired MA degrees in 22 subjects, five PhDs and three D.Lits. But at the age of 65, he wants more...

http://sify.com/news/22-MA-degrees-5-PhDs-3-D-Lits-professor-learns-on-news-National-jm1mudaefid.html

I thought one of my undergrad profs with 1 PhD and 3 MSc was too much, but this guy wants more! Talk about a life dedicated to academic learning.

 

[noblegas]

my hero

 

[rootX]

I wonder how well he utilized his knowledge.

 

[cronxeh]

Not my first choice of subjects, but still impressive, an inspiration.

 

[Pengwuino]

'I am at present pursuing MA in astrology from a renowned and one of the most ancient universities of the world, Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi,' said Rai, who lives in the Mohamdabad area in Ghazipur.

/unimpressed

 

[fourier jr]

that's like michael griffin, a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Griffin#education"

 

[waht]

looks like astrology is actually taught in universities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_astrology

In 2001, the University Grants Commission of India issued a circular proposing that universities should offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in what it termed Vedic Astrology or Jyotirvigyan (i.e jyotir-vijñāna, lit. "astral science"). This was widely protested in the scientific and academic community.[6] A legal challenge filed by academicians with the High Court of Andhra Pradesh was dismissed in 2004; on subsequent appeal, this decision was upheld by the Supreme Court of India.[7]

 

[berkeman]

looks like astrology is actually taught in universities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_astrology

Yikes. My opinion of India just dropped significantly. Unfortunate.

 

[rootX]

looks like astrology is actually taught in universities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_astrology

How astrology differs from other old religions?

 

[Cyrus]

Curious what impresses some of you. My idea of impressive is getting a phD and contributing a lifetime of work and publications in a field.

What being in school all your life accomplishes, I have no idea, nor do I care.

My reaction...meh.

 

[Pengwuino]

What being in school all your life accomplishes, I have no idea, nor do I care.

Getting an article written about you.

People who are in school forever around here are called bums afraid of the real world.

 

[qedprigmosyno]

meh, it's like trying to get all of the merit badges in boyscouts.
good base of knowledge, but almost a waste of time

 

[ranger]

looks like astrology is actually taught in universities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_astrology

Yikes. My opinion of India just dropped significantly. Unfortunate.

Okay, so what is the big deal? I don't see anyone making the same kinda fuss over theology and other religious studies.

 

[rootX]

There's a Buddhist quote about getting fat from attaining too much knowledge but utilizing none of it; I was trying to find it..

 

[waht]

Okay, so what is the big deal? I don't see anyone making the same kinda fuss over theology and other religious studies.

If someone wants to get a masters degree in astrology, well good for them. But I don't think academia is a place for this.

http://astrology.wikia.com/wiki/Vedic_Astrology

The practice of Vedic astrology primarily relies on the visible or sidereal zodiac, which is different from the tropical zodiac used in Western astrology in that an ayanamsa adjustment is made for the gradual precession of the vernal equinox. The tropical zodiac is used in Vedic astrology only to compute ascendant (lagna), although the end result is converted to sidereal lagna. Prediction of weather and related phenomena is traditionally made according to sidereal system, especially through horoscopes for the moment of solar transition into sidereal nakshatras and rāshis at ancient cente of India (near Bhopal at Cancer) or from Meru in Jamboodvioa [1] ; but some people are now experimenting with tropical syatem for predicting the course of nature - as in weather, etc.

 

[rootX]

If someone wants to get a masters degree in astrology, well good for them. But I don't think academia is a place for this.

http://astrology.wikia.com/wiki/Vedic_Astrology

Well, most of the older religions have similar nonsense which are taught all over the world.

 

[berkeman]

Okay, so what is the big deal? I don't see anyone making the same kinda fuss over theology and other religious studies.

http://astrology.wikia.com/wiki/Vedic_Astrology]Prediction[/PLAIN] of weather and related phenomena is traditionally made according to sidereal system, especially through horoscopes for the moment of solar transition into sidereal nakshatras and rāshis at ancient cente of India (near Bhopal at Cancer) or from Meru in Jamboodvioa [1] ; but some people are now experimenting with tropical syatem for predicting the course of nature - as in weather, etc.

Sorry Ranger. It's a black mark no matter where it happens. There was a thread here a few months ago about some Isralie clerics on a plane, acting like idiots...

 

[Freddy_Turnip]

How does he afford to do it?

 

[ranger]

How does he afford to do it?

You mean how can he afford the time or money?

 

[Tobias Funke]

I don't see why people like this are looked down on for not contributing anything or publishing papers, especially when he's apparently contributed new knowledge to 5 fields.

Furthermore, maybe he just won't contribute a more powerful bomb or more destructive virus to us. Sounds ok to me.

 

[ranger]

I don't see why people like this are looked down on for not contributing anything or publishing papers, especially when he's apparently contributed new knowledge to 5 fields.

I don't see why either. Its not like he is afraid of life or something. The man is a retired professor, who believes in a life long learning process. Hes fulfilling that. So why not do it and earn recognition? Especially if you can afford the time and money.

 

[rootX]

I don't see why people like this are looked down on for not contributing anything or publishing papers, especially when he's apparently contributed new knowledge to 5 fields.

Please quote where this person was looked down...

 

[Cyrus]

Furthermore, maybe he just won't contribute a more powerful bomb or more destructive virus to us. Sounds ok to me.

What this has to do with the topic of this discussion is anyones guess; futhermore, it is inappropriate.

 

[Hologram0110]

I agree with the sentiment with regards to a degree in astrology. It certainly doesn't give me confidence in the educational institution when I find out they are granting degrees in these types of areas.

 

[Tobias Funke]

Please quote where this person was looked down...

I'd consider these somewhat negative remarks...

What being in school all your life accomplishes, I have no idea, nor do I care.

My reaction...meh.

People who are in school forever around here are called bums afraid of the real world.

meh, it's like trying to get all of the merit badges in boyscouts.
good base of knowledge, but almost a waste of time

What this has to do with the topic of this discussion is anyones guess; futhermore, it is inappropriate.

Contributing nothing, if that's the case here, can be better than contributing something in some cases. I don't see how it's inappropriate. Do some people with PhDs not apply their knowledge to bomb design, or social engineering, etc.?

I could have also said that in 100 years nobody will care about any of our "accomplishments", but apparently I hit a nerve with my last comment. I didn't meant to offend anyone, but I've seen worse remarks. Hell, rootX offended about 3 billion people a few posts ago (not that I don't agree with him).

 

[Senjai]

This may not be physics and other sciences, however with a PhD in philosophy it is understandable as to his course choices. He is doing what he wishes to do, and if his lifelong wish is to learn, then to him it may not be a waste of time. I'm sure he's happy in his life decisions, and he doesn't deserve to be scrutinized for them. What he has done is remarkable. It takes a lot of effort to stay in studies for that amount of time. But he's doing what he wants to do, no it isn't courses many here would choose, but that is a biased opinion. I myself find this quite remarkable.

 

[Senjai]

Curious what impresses some of you. My idea of impressive is getting a phD and contributing a lifetime of work and publications in a field.

What being in school all your life accomplishes, I have no idea, nor do I care.

My reaction...meh.

This is pure opinion. I don't really understand anyone who would spend their lives working for other people. Yet people still do it and are happy with it. I find it illogical and a waste of time, just as how you look at this mans way of "working."

 

[HallsofIvy]

Okay, so what is the big deal? I don't see anyone making the same kinda fuss over theology and other religious studies.

I had a friend who taught "Religion". When someone referred to her teaching "Theology", she quickly corrected him, pointing out that in order to study teach something you had to believe it exists. As she put, "I know 'religion' exists".

In any case, astrology is not anything like a religion.

 

[Cyrus]

Contributing nothing, if that's the case here, can be better than contributing something in some cases.

This is a meaningless statement.

I don't see how it's inappropriate. Do some people with PhDs not apply their knowledge to bomb design, or social engineering, etc.?

The fact that people with PhDs happen (if they so choose) to work on bomb design is completely off topic, and inappropriate, as I indicated in my previous post.

I could have also said that in 100 years nobody will care about any of our "accomplishments", but apparently I hit a nerve with my last comment. I didn't meant to offend anyone, but I've seen worse remarks. Hell, rootX offended about 3 billion people a few posts ago (not that I don't agree with him).

Again, I have no idea what this naive statement is supposed to mean, as all knowledge is derived from building on the past work and extending it to new unknowns. This is specifically what it means to have a PhD.

 

[Cyrus]

This is pure opinion. I don't really understand anyone who would spend their lives working for other people. Yet people still do it and are happy with it. I find it illogical and a waste of time, just as how you look at this mans way of "working."

Who said anything about 'working for other people'? Why is this on topic, or relevant? You should try to not put words in my mouth. In addition, since you seem to be divorced from reality, try making a living while not 'working' for anyone. Even our dear professor has an employer, namely the university that pays him to teach.