Mainstream media reports on the floods in Jammu and Kashmir
This comment is in reference to your article titled, "By harping on army's role in Kashmir flood, media is trying to whitewash decades of abuse". The timing of this article seems utterly inappropriate. Yes, the role of the army is being glorified. And no, nobody gives a toss about how many years of "injustice" do or do not get covered up. I have family members who are safe and back in Delhi because of these efforts. There are real problems that involve real people, who need help, besides families that require reassurances.-Nandita Singh
* * *
This a really sad comment on what army jawans are trying to do to help people that are trapped in these floods. Misrepresentations such as these, quell the desire to do any good whatsoever. Should the army just let everyone drown then? Maybe it should.-Maniza Bharucha
* * *
I am in agreement that it is the duty of the armed forces to help those in need and that should not be used to whitewash any atrocities they may have been perpetrated in the past. Having said that, why shouldn't the armed force use this event as some sort of a good PR exercise, considering their massive efforts? Yes it is incumbent upon the army to rescue those stranded in the floods, as they are citizens of India. However, it is pertinent to ask whether all those local Kashmiris, who were rescued, would consider themselves to be Indians?-SV Sriram
* * *
Army is there to protect the nation's territorial integrity. It is there to protect the people. It will do its duty in all cases, whether Kashmiris pelt stones or request for help during floods. Most importantly, it is not a invading force in its own country. If it is forced to prevent Pakistan financed terrorism, it will do so at all costs. It is up to the people to understand what is good for them. Try and take a survey from the refugees that have returned from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. I leave it here because I am not sure how much authority the author has on this subject. Try and see both the sides of the coin.-Amir Khan
I just came upon an article on media reports about the role of the army during the Jammu and Kashmir floods. The army has many ills. It is stricken and requires help. But to say that the role played by the men and women of the Armed Forces in Kashmir was par for the course is absolute rubbish. I have many criticisms of the media, and I am a part of that soulless entity, but I am afraid I do not understand the author's particular concern. Is she trying to tell us that it is the state propaganda machinery that wants to subvert our minds? Or is it just that she wishes to stand up for the rights of a community that has been abused for decades?- Siddhanth Aney
Misplaced ideas about anti-GMO activism
In the article titled, "Vandana Shiva is confusing ideology for science – and getting rational people to believe her", the author mounts an attack on Vandana Shiva and what he believes to be her false and misleading statements about farmer suicides in India.
The article lacks credibility on many levels, one of which is foolishly resorting to the claim that Europeans exhibit a phobia over genetically modified crops. He might like to acquaint himself with what Europe’s approach to GMOs is based on: the precautionary principle. This implies there is a good chance that GMOs may pose widespread harm to the entire population if released for public consumption. There is enough evidence to suggest that this could be the case. As the risk is systemic, adequate testing should thus be carried out before these crops are sanctioned.
Europeans and their governments have genuine concerns based on science, not phobias about GMOs fuelled by Vandana Shiva. It is not science per se that anti-GMO campaigners reject, as the author would like us all to believe, but the use and distortion of science for commercial gain. If anything, it is the pro-GMO lobby that appears to have scant regard for science. Independent studies and evidence, not inadequate industry funded ones, have indicated yields are often worse and herbicide use has increased, health is negatively impacted, soil is damaged and biodiversity is undermined, among other things. The author thinks people with concerns about GMOs choose only certain studies to suit their stance. There is clearly NO scientific consensus on GMOs, despite what he likes to suggest.
Moreover, people’s attitudes towards the GMO sector’s most powerful corporation are not based on ideology but on hard evidence. There are extremely good reasons as to why millions of people do not trust Monsanto. It has a history of criminality, health-damaging cover ups and environmental contamination that would lead most informed people to regard Monsanto as having less than altruistic motives. Again, it is not knee-jerk ideology that drives negative depictions of Monsanto. The company’s record speaks for itself.-Colin Todhunter
A portrait of Hauz Khas hipsters and Def Col dudes
I enjoyed the sketches on types of people you see on the streets Delhi. It took me back to the impressions of Delhi's citizens that are stamped in my mind because they are just so odd. For example, a little girl walking behind her mom at a mall dressed and walking exactly like her with some heels and a handbag dangling from her elbow! Thanks for making these portraits. I am looking forward to some more sketches.-Nita Soans
* * *
I love Delhi, despite its faults. So I was really happy to see these drawings that defines a "Dilli walla". Thanks for sharing. Must visit the artist's blog.-Lalitha Subramanian
India's coal power plants and its lack of technical expertise
I totally agree with your analysis, on the need for better technical expertise in handling coal power plants. In fact it has been an ongoing battle between the power and coal sector for the last 25 years. I know of a chief minister, who has complained about coal shortages effecting power generation because the coal is wet and does not flow freely!-TP Balakrishnan
The urgent need for toilets in India
It will be beneficial to combine toilet construction with gobar gas plants for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swach Bharat scheme. The toilets may be designed to feed directly into the gobar gas plant. In addition to human waste this gobar gas plant may be designed to accept other waste products like gobar, food and vegetation waste depending on the make up of the village. The gas produced may be fed back to their homes.-Harish Dalal
* * *
Are compost toilets being considered for the Swach Bharat campaign?-Willem Colenbrander
Facebook's list of top 100 books
Facebook's list of top 100 books based on your post, hardly throws up the names of any writers from the global South, except those already welcomed into the canon of must-read world literature. It used data mostly from the global North for this exercise. One can safely conclude that the idea was never to discover lesser known books.-Subuhi Jiwani
* * *
Since most of the top twenty books are those in which movies have been made, I'm wondering whether people read those books before or after watching the movie! The latter seems more likely, and for me at least, it takes away something from the pleasure of reading literature for its own sake, rather than to understand a movie or crosscheck facts. -Padmini Boruah
HMT Watches shut down by the government
I was shocked to hear this news. Last year I was staying very close to their Bangalore factory and outlet. They have a wonderful range even today even though we do not see their ads. Even your report says that the watches are sold out in a very short time on Flipkart. Why are they making losses and being forced to shut down? Your website should do an investigative report. The entire land around this owned by them. Is this an attempt by the land mafia to get hold of it? I am sure public outcry could stop this. Please do a thorough investigative report as soon as possible.-Asha Gopinathan
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This comment is in reference to your article titled, "By harping on army's role in Kashmir flood, media is trying to whitewash decades of abuse". The timing of this article seems utterly inappropriate. Yes, the role of the army is being glorified. And no, nobody gives a toss about how many years of "injustice" do or do not get covered up. I have family members who are safe and back in Delhi because of these efforts. There are real problems that involve real people, who need help, besides families that require reassurances.-Nandita Singh
* * *
This a really sad comment on what army jawans are trying to do to help people that are trapped in these floods. Misrepresentations such as these, quell the desire to do any good whatsoever. Should the army just let everyone drown then? Maybe it should.-Maniza Bharucha
* * *
I am in agreement that it is the duty of the armed forces to help those in need and that should not be used to whitewash any atrocities they may have been perpetrated in the past. Having said that, why shouldn't the armed force use this event as some sort of a good PR exercise, considering their massive efforts? Yes it is incumbent upon the army to rescue those stranded in the floods, as they are citizens of India. However, it is pertinent to ask whether all those local Kashmiris, who were rescued, would consider themselves to be Indians?-SV Sriram
* * *
Army is there to protect the nation's territorial integrity. It is there to protect the people. It will do its duty in all cases, whether Kashmiris pelt stones or request for help during floods. Most importantly, it is not a invading force in its own country. If it is forced to prevent Pakistan financed terrorism, it will do so at all costs. It is up to the people to understand what is good for them. Try and take a survey from the refugees that have returned from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. I leave it here because I am not sure how much authority the author has on this subject. Try and see both the sides of the coin.-Amir Khan
I just came upon an article on media reports about the role of the army during the Jammu and Kashmir floods. The army has many ills. It is stricken and requires help. But to say that the role played by the men and women of the Armed Forces in Kashmir was par for the course is absolute rubbish. I have many criticisms of the media, and I am a part of that soulless entity, but I am afraid I do not understand the author's particular concern. Is she trying to tell us that it is the state propaganda machinery that wants to subvert our minds? Or is it just that she wishes to stand up for the rights of a community that has been abused for decades?- Siddhanth Aney
Misplaced ideas about anti-GMO activism
In the article titled, "Vandana Shiva is confusing ideology for science – and getting rational people to believe her", the author mounts an attack on Vandana Shiva and what he believes to be her false and misleading statements about farmer suicides in India.
The article lacks credibility on many levels, one of which is foolishly resorting to the claim that Europeans exhibit a phobia over genetically modified crops. He might like to acquaint himself with what Europe’s approach to GMOs is based on: the precautionary principle. This implies there is a good chance that GMOs may pose widespread harm to the entire population if released for public consumption. There is enough evidence to suggest that this could be the case. As the risk is systemic, adequate testing should thus be carried out before these crops are sanctioned.
Europeans and their governments have genuine concerns based on science, not phobias about GMOs fuelled by Vandana Shiva. It is not science per se that anti-GMO campaigners reject, as the author would like us all to believe, but the use and distortion of science for commercial gain. If anything, it is the pro-GMO lobby that appears to have scant regard for science. Independent studies and evidence, not inadequate industry funded ones, have indicated yields are often worse and herbicide use has increased, health is negatively impacted, soil is damaged and biodiversity is undermined, among other things. The author thinks people with concerns about GMOs choose only certain studies to suit their stance. There is clearly NO scientific consensus on GMOs, despite what he likes to suggest.
Moreover, people’s attitudes towards the GMO sector’s most powerful corporation are not based on ideology but on hard evidence. There are extremely good reasons as to why millions of people do not trust Monsanto. It has a history of criminality, health-damaging cover ups and environmental contamination that would lead most informed people to regard Monsanto as having less than altruistic motives. Again, it is not knee-jerk ideology that drives negative depictions of Monsanto. The company’s record speaks for itself.-Colin Todhunter
A portrait of Hauz Khas hipsters and Def Col dudes
I enjoyed the sketches on types of people you see on the streets Delhi. It took me back to the impressions of Delhi's citizens that are stamped in my mind because they are just so odd. For example, a little girl walking behind her mom at a mall dressed and walking exactly like her with some heels and a handbag dangling from her elbow! Thanks for making these portraits. I am looking forward to some more sketches.-Nita Soans
* * *
I love Delhi, despite its faults. So I was really happy to see these drawings that defines a "Dilli walla". Thanks for sharing. Must visit the artist's blog.-Lalitha Subramanian
India's coal power plants and its lack of technical expertise
I totally agree with your analysis, on the need for better technical expertise in handling coal power plants. In fact it has been an ongoing battle between the power and coal sector for the last 25 years. I know of a chief minister, who has complained about coal shortages effecting power generation because the coal is wet and does not flow freely!-TP Balakrishnan
The urgent need for toilets in India
It will be beneficial to combine toilet construction with gobar gas plants for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swach Bharat scheme. The toilets may be designed to feed directly into the gobar gas plant. In addition to human waste this gobar gas plant may be designed to accept other waste products like gobar, food and vegetation waste depending on the make up of the village. The gas produced may be fed back to their homes.-Harish Dalal
* * *
Are compost toilets being considered for the Swach Bharat campaign?-Willem Colenbrander
Facebook's list of top 100 books
Facebook's list of top 100 books based on your post, hardly throws up the names of any writers from the global South, except those already welcomed into the canon of must-read world literature. It used data mostly from the global North for this exercise. One can safely conclude that the idea was never to discover lesser known books.-Subuhi Jiwani
* * *
Since most of the top twenty books are those in which movies have been made, I'm wondering whether people read those books before or after watching the movie! The latter seems more likely, and for me at least, it takes away something from the pleasure of reading literature for its own sake, rather than to understand a movie or crosscheck facts. -Padmini Boruah
HMT Watches shut down by the government
I was shocked to hear this news. Last year I was staying very close to their Bangalore factory and outlet. They have a wonderful range even today even though we do not see their ads. Even your report says that the watches are sold out in a very short time on Flipkart. Why are they making losses and being forced to shut down? Your website should do an investigative report. The entire land around this owned by them. Is this an attempt by the land mafia to get hold of it? I am sure public outcry could stop this. Please do a thorough investigative report as soon as possible.-Asha Gopinathan
