· November, 2006

Stories about South Asia from November, 2006

India: Why he won't fly that airline anymore

  30 November 2006

Dateline Bombay on rude airline staff and why the one of the best airlines in India will lose its grip. “So you can have the best technical staff, the best equipment and the best food (in the airline business). But when your number one position gets to you and arrogance...

Bangladesh: Islam and Iraq

  30 November 2006

Or how I learned to stop worrying on a Muslim reaction to the situation in Iraq. “Who says that Muslims, just like everyone of good conscience, are not horrified by the violence and killings in Iraq? Who says that Muslims are not opposed to this chaos? I feel no inclination...

Bangladesh: Take Back Bangladesh

  30 November 2006

drishtipat on a concert called Take Back Bangladesh. “The idea behind Take Back Bangladesh is to reconnect the people, especially the younger generation, who are turned off by politics as usual and feel that their voices are never heard by the political parties. … The first step in this direction...

India: Cornershops in the era of big retail stores

  29 November 2006

Wal-mart's entry in India along with other big retail plans elicits quite a few reactions from those who feel it might threaten the traditional kirana stores (cornershops). The Indian Economy Blog on why that's not likely. “A vast majority of middle class India still shops from one of the millions...

India: A city named Madras (or Chennai)

  29 November 2006

DesiGirl at My Word! muses on Madras (now Chennai), on how the city has room for the new and the old with its own unique charm. “The old and the new have meshed together so well that one barely leaves a dent on another. The Geetha cafes and Saravana Bhavan...

India: Gandhigiri, Hinduism and the Media

  29 November 2006

Ambimama reflects on reactions to a popular actor being tried in the court of law under charges of terrorism and a religious leader being tried for murder, drawing links political will, the underworld and the silence of the media. “In North only film industry is controlled by the underworld. But...

Pakistan, India: Governance in Azad Kashmir

  29 November 2006

The Glasshouse comments on the state of governance and lack of telecommunications in Azad (Free) Kashmir. “It was shortly after the earthquake that I learnt that the so-called president, prime minister and cabinet ministers of that benighted place were more or less permanently ensconced in Rawalpindi, only making infrequent trips...

Nepal: Democratic Parties

  29 November 2006

United We Blog! on why it is essential that parties in a democratic system function within the purview of the same. “It is absolutely necessary for eight political parties to democratize their party organizations if they see the urgency to change with the changing time.”

Bangladesh: Names, caste and family

  29 November 2006

What's in a name? At the Bangladeshi LJ community, a member writes about experiences with caste, name and marriage. “The question here is, how do the majority of this generation feel about blood lines, family names, ect. Do we have a deeply embedded caste system and what can we do...

DRC: Insurrection in North Kivu

  28 November 2006

UDPS Liege wrote yesterday (Fr): “According to the UN Mission in the Congo (MONUC), fighting resumed this Monday morning at Kasengezi, about 20 kilometers from Goma. UN troops from India intervened using helicopters and ground operations to bring the men loyal to [General Nkunda] back to their positions near Sake,...

Sri Lanka: Citizen Journalism

  28 November 2006

A new Citizen Journalism initiative GroundViews based out of Sri Lanka takes off. From their About Page – “In response to many requests from INGOs, humanitarian aid organisations including sections of the UN, CSOs, local and international journalists as well as members from the diaspora to have a better idea...

India: A popular actor and public memory

  28 November 2006

A popular actor who was charged under an act to prevent terrorism is partially let off the hook. World of India! on public memory and law. “The actor has been let off the much serious charge of abetting terrorism, though. A youth was quoted on NDTV saying – ” his...

Bangladesh: On Nur Hossain and Democracy

  28 November 2006

Ahmede Hussian remembers a man who of 26 years who died in 1987. “On the 10th November of 1987, Nur Hossain, an auto rickshaw driver and an activist of Awami League, went out to the street, his torso bared, with two lines written in Bangla on his chest and back–...

Nepal: Laws to protect children

  28 November 2006

Bahas on why Nepal requires a stronger legal framework to deal with child sexual abuse and violence against children. “police find it difficult to deal with such cases as there is no specific legal provision. However, the recently passed Gender Equality Act has addressed the definition of sexual abuse to...

Africa: Africa's economies

  28 November 2006

Eliesmith writes about the 2006 African Development Indicator, “According to the report, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of South Africa have retained their dominant positions on the economies of sub-Saharan Africa. Both countries account for 55% of the GDP of the region.”

India: Caste and reservations

  27 November 2006

National Highway on caste matters and reservation. “But if a ‘meritorious’ person like him could achieve so much in life despite such hardships, why do we need reservations at all? “I was an exception,” he says, “dalits are deliberately discriminated against and excluded and we need reservations to make sure...

India: A writing exercise

  27 November 2006

Caferati has a writing exercise that asks writers to write from the other side of the fence. “It could be a poem extolling child labour. A monologue from a necrophiliac. An essay in favour of stronger government controls if you're a libertarian (or a paean to free markets of you're...

Nepal: Peace Process

  27 November 2006

Nepali Netbook comments on the peace process being a farce. “Protestors injured in the April Uprising want representation in the interim parliament. Can the relatives of those killed be far behind?”

Pakistan: Government tracks your movement

  27 November 2006

The Oyster travel card in London maybe a bit more than just a device for convenience according to Suspect Paki. “If you register your Oyster Card, the police can, without your knowledge, determine the extent of all your London Transport wanderings.”

Bangladesh: Family in the country

  27 November 2006

Andrew Morris on family in Bangladesh and UK. “It never ceases to amaze me here that ‘family members’ can travel across the country, turn up unannounced at a relative's home, and expect to be accommodated, fed and watered for up to a month.”

About our South Asia coverage

Rezwan
Rezwan is the South Asia editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.