Posted by gargi on 30 Sep 2003 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
China is 1.2 billion plus. Most of them don’t read English. They are fairly fluent in Mandarin or Cantonese or other Chinese dialects. But not English.
Much of the content on the web is in English, and will continue to be so. This is not just content, but other little thins like URL’s or email id’s [...]
Posted by gargi on 29 Sep 2003 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
Last week two of my favourite writers - Hugo Young and Edward Said died.
Young was the political columnist for the Guardian, and Said was, well Said - probably the most prolific writer of his times. A scholar, an idealist, a supporter of the state of Palestine. Both were men of honour and integrity. Both wrote [...]
Posted by gargi on 28 Sep 2003 | Tagged as: Diary, India
Had a screening of Noam Chomsky lecture at Harvard “Distorted Morality“, at Sophia’s.
His basic premise is we all hypocrites in that we expcet a high standard of behaviour from others that we are unable to adhere to ourselves. He means in specifically in the context of the United States of America. And traces systematic [...]
Posted by gargi on 19 Sep 2003 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
Was invited to a seminar at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research on collaboration between industry and acedemia.
The new director of TIFR, seems to be a dynamic sort. Plans to inject new blood in to the system - that would be a countervailing force against the “govermentization” of R&D.
This. as Sir Humphrey would put it, [...]
Posted by gargi on 15 Sep 2003 | Tagged as: India
Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, “thirld world” unity has again reared its head. Reminiscent of the New World Information & Communication Order (NWICO) movements - against cultural imperialism, and the LDC trade blocs to negotiate at GATT and UNCTAD through the 1970’s
this new unity has seen leaders of different political and economic dogma’s [...]
Posted by gargi on 14 Sep 2003 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
The recent US sponsored resolution on Iran to come clean of its nuclear weapons - is reminiscent of the circus that preceeded the war in Iraq.
The East India Company that ruled India for almost one hundred years, had an interesting policy that was rescinded in 1857 by the British Empire. The Doctrine of the Lapse [...]
Posted by gargi on 14 Sep 2003 | Tagged as: India, Politics
The Supreme Court on Friday said it did not trust the Gujarat government and prosecution to bring the rioters to book.
A bench, comprising Chief Justice V N Khare, Justice Brijesh Kumar and Justice S B Sinha, said:
“What is the rajdharma of government? You quit if you cannot prosecute guilty. Democracy does not mean you will [...]
Posted by gargi on 12 Sep 2003 | Tagged as: India
Today my rickshawalla gave me a heart attack - when he whipped out a mobile phone - at a signal - and had a conversation with a friend.
He told me “madam, aaj kal yeh bahut sasta ho gaya hai” (nowadays the service has become very cheap). Which they have.
I remember paying 16 rupees for a [...]
Posted by gargi on 12 Sep 2003 | Tagged as: And Finally ..., Diary
today a student submitted her culture and communiction essay. all key points were in sms.
a) if i flunk her, i devalue the course.
b) if i grade her with good marks the university will get its knickers in a twist.
ah joys of being a visiting faculty - is that i can always plead ignorance after i [...]
Posted by gargi on 11 Sep 2003 | Tagged as: Uncategorized
Today is the 30th death anniversary of Chilean Leader Salvador Allende - who was overthrown and murdered by General Pinochet
Salvatore Allende was head of the minority government of Chile. He planned to usher “democratic socialism” in to the country - and redress the balance of wealth amongst the population. Part of his strategy was to [...]
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