Putting together this weeks’ blog mela was an incredibly rewarding experience. I had a wonderful journey through Indian blogdom. There are almost 50 posts featured here. My thanks to all those who nominated. Without Bloglines this task would have been chaotic:)<\/p>\n
I have had a trying last two days. My ISP has been taking turns with my electricity provider to delay the Blogmela. For that my apologies.<\/p>\n
The Mela Opens. <\/strong><\/p>\n Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s start this week\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mela with a warm and funny letter <\/strong><\/a>from chankya at vichaar.org<\/strong><\/a> to the people of Pakistan. A sampler<\/p>\n Partition is no problem for us either \u00e2\u20ac\u201c we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re like so over that breakup. Moreover, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re sort of used to having Pakistan as our neighbor too (whom would we play cricket against if it weren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t for you ?). Besides, it would sort of suck to have Afghanistan next door. BTW, we heard Musharraf broke up with Osama ?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Vulturo <\/strong><\/a>wonders why there isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t any response from Pakistani blogdom, and wonders if there is such an entity. There is. Check out KO<\/a> <\/strong>one of the more popular bloggers from Pakistan, and this – an excellent blog on Mukhtaran Bibi Case<\/a> – from june last year to now. Bharat Desh Hai Mera – the art of living in India & being Indian:)<\/strong><\/p>\n Annie has this really funny piece about an encounter <\/a><\/strong>with the Minister for Rural Development – Raghuvansh Prasad Singh. Shivam <\/a><\/strong>ponders about reservations. Especially the “lowering standards” anti reservation rhetoric and asks<\/strong><\/a> what about the many “upper caste” people who are completely useless at what they do. Sunil Lakshman writes about the nature affirmative action<\/a><\/strong>. Media <\/strong><\/p>\n DNA seems to be the new favourite whipping boy of blogdom. Afterall when you exhibit more money than sense, you must expect to be laughed at. Education<\/strong> Satya has a piece <\/a><\/strong>on how Indians are the largest segment fo foreign students in the USA. Perspectives<\/strong> Mohib <\/a><\/strong>looks at the world through the lens and captures a very interesting circle of death<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Dilip, again, has an excellent piece on two ways of looking at things<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n JK glances back to produce an interesting post that looks at the written recording of history in India<\/a><\/strong> before the arrival of Alberuni. Reuben looks at a BBC poll on top philosophers that completely ignores eastern philosophy & philosophers<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n And, Anand Manikutty at Zoo Station<\/a><\/strong> looks at the enigma that is the Indian headshake<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Sourin Rao writes about how asexuality is becoming a movement and wonders whether a growing trend towards asexual behaviour <\/a><\/strong>could lead to the end of the world as we know it:)<\/p>\n Vulturo exposes hypocrisy in scoiety<\/a><\/strong> towards women who work. It is so easy to assume sexual “immorality” and so easy to label a woman a whore.<\/p>\n Blogdom<\/strong><\/p>\n Sepia Mutiny has this interesting piece about a devdasi <\/a><\/strong>who blogs. The Market Place<\/strong> And Finally<\/strong>
\nAnd Mukhtaran Bibi is a case that Indian blogdom has been following. Sepia Mutiny has this<\/a><\/strong> to say.
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\nSuhail has an interesting perspective on another rape case that shook Mumbai<\/strong><\/a>, asking why does it take so long to file charges.
\nAnd Primary Red looks at our society where the victim is made to feel guilty<\/a><\/strong> for the actions of the rapist.<\/p>\n
\nAmit has this excellent piece on the myth of liberalisation<\/strong><\/a>. There is a great discussion on this piece here<\/a><\/strong>. And as if to illustrate the point, Puneet has this surreal experience at a HDFC bank<\/a><\/strong>. Akshay has a similar time with broadband<\/strong><\/a>.
\nSumeet reflects why Indians are’nt Indians <\/a><\/strong>(in Australia) while Charu <\/a><\/strong>looks at where Indians don’t want other Indians (in Rajasthan).<\/p>\n
\nAshish looks at whether we have got the leadership we deserve. He says that the poor usually end up making the right choice, it is the elite that screw up everytime because they want “paternalistic” policies<\/a><\/strong> from politicians. Nilu looks at how free electricity to farmers – defended by the politicians – ends up being used to electrocute rodents<\/a><\/strong>, that have multiplied because of encroachment and destruction of predators.
\nNitin Pai writes about terrorism in Kashmir and Prez Musharraf’s (non) attempts<\/strong><\/a> to curb them.
\nAtanu’s encounter with a packet of ‘export quality<\/a><\/strong>‘ haldiram has him contemplating about the nature of competition in this country.
\nKunal has a look at the anti defection law <\/a><\/strong>and wonders if it is democratic. Primary Red observes that in India, Investigation is often confused with Intimidation<\/strong><\/a>
\nKaps looks at Dayanadhi Maran’s<\/strong> <\/a>ability to spot the camera and stand in frame to ensure maximum publicity!
\nAkshay has a neat photo feature<\/a><\/strong> on Pune.
\nPatrix looks at a possible stand off on Vande Mataram in Madhya Pradesh<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\nCharu takes a peek at DNA’s increasingly irritating and senseless campaign<\/strong><\/a>.
\nFadereu describes his first week<\/a><\/strong> at DNA. Sounds incredibly Kafkaesque.
\nRamanand writes about optimizing film awards.<\/strong><\/a>
\nJabberwock writes about the pathetic state of Sunday Newspaper Content<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\nNaveen has an excellent piece on how we need to learn to spend, before we spend on learning<\/a><\/strong>.
\nPuneet in Puneetworld gives sound advice to those who want to study biotechnology<\/a><\/strong>. Satya looks at the impact of GATS<\/a> on education in India.
\nRashmi Bansal looks at the enigma that is Amity<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\nAbi walks us through the implication of the decision to scrap entrance exams<\/strong><\/a> in Tamil Nadu.<\/p>\n
\nRunaway Sun<\/a><\/strong>comparing Ayn Rand\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Heroes <\/strong><\/a>to the more classical definition of the same. .
\nDilip, in the thought provoking This Title is Comple<\/a><\/strong> contemplates the nature of Mathematical (and other) Incompleteness.
\nSunil Laxman in two excellent posts on being a targetted minority – talks about the paronia <\/a><\/strong>and xenophobia <\/strong><\/a>(if “they don’t look like us, they must be terrorists”) view in American society.
\nSurya <\/a><\/strong>writes about how sterile and apathetic <\/a><\/strong>society makes her long for the unsolicited advice from complete strangers.
\nNeelakantan <\/a><\/strong>wonders if there will be a single global language<\/a><\/strong>.
\nUma has this travelog <\/a><\/strong>from the time that she visited the states a couple of years ago.<\/p>\n
\nSambhar Mafia has a lovely little comparative on blogs and shopping malls<\/strong><\/a>.
\nThennavan has put together the taxonomy of bloggers<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\nCogito writes about brands that are ‘Indian!<\/a>.Rashmi Bansal has a piece on the return of the kiranawalla<\/a><\/strong>. Neelakantan has a piece on Fischer Price Toys<\/a><\/strong>.
\nVinod looks at how a free market approach may help in environmental conservation<\/a><\/strong>.
\nFinally, Ashish looks at how farm subsidies <\/a><\/strong>in rich nations can actually help the poor.<\/p>\n
\nAbhi takes poetic liberty<\/a> with the Ambani Fued.
\nKamesh has a set of quotes that get you thinking about life<\/strong><\/a>.
\nNirvana\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s outpouring \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the Irony<\/a> <\/strong> \u00e2\u20ac\u201c on Desi Media Bitch \u00e2\u20ac\u201cbemoans the state of society. (I think)
\nIn Search has this <\/strong><\/a>piece that, along with the sweltering heat, makes you long for the rains.<\/p>\n