the mobile revolution
September 12, 2003Today 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…
sms as language
September 12, 2003today 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…
The Forgotten 9-11
September 11, 2003Today 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…
yet another 9-11 Blog
September 11, 2003There was a very interesting theory that was in vogue a few years ago. It was a theory that sometimes collective memory is based on false memories – or implanted memories. Examples given were 1) a whole spate of children who wrongly…
Who Killed Daniel Pearl?
September 7, 2003There is a new book written by the French Author Bernard Levy called “Who Killed Daniel Pearl”. His theory is that the ISI (Pakistani Secret Service) murdered him because he discovered the links between them and “Islamic” terrorists. (the reason why the…
Pity the Nation
September 6, 2003I came across an old poem of Khalil Gibran – used to read him when i was a student. it was the in thing to do in those days. and then when i went into work, i kind of left all that…
A new verb in the English Dictionary
September 3, 2003was chatting with a friend of mine on IM last week. suddenly the “conversation” turned to what i was reading. I told him that i was reading Edward Said and “Culture and Imperialism”. My friend is a mathematicain – hadn’t come across…
September 1, 2003
All of last week, i contemplated a poem by Frost – The Road Not Taken. More a reflection of life and achievements, than any other reason. Did i gain anything by going down the path not taken. I always told people –…
Mumbai Blasts 2003
August 26, 2003The Heroes – Mumbaikars This must be the most remarkable place in the world. yesterday afternoon at around 1 pm. two bombs went off and killed 46, and injured 140. and there were rumours of serial bombs. the mobile network went down…
How to be a Third World Country
August 16, 2003It was very interesting to see the power black out in the USA. a lot of people i know smirked. they now have an experience of being third world, they said. But i guess in a lot of ways, they already are….