Stories about South Asia from January, 2014
Teaching of “Religion and Morality” In Bangladesh Schools
Blogger Bhaskar comments in Mukto Mona Blog about the newly introduced subject ‘religion and morality’ in school curricula of Bangladesh: In Bangladesh, teaching of ‘religion and morality’ in secular schools, we are talking about, is an extension of Maktab, Madrasa [Muslim religious schools] and dictatorial position held by Ulema in...
Birds Avoiding Bhopal
Bhopal, the capital of the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh, lies in the North-South corridor of the migratory path of birds coming from Northern Asia, Russia, Afghanistan, China, Mongolia etc. Blogger Proloy Bagchi reports that several species of migratory birds which used to congregate in and around the Bhojtal (former...
3 Out of The Top 10 Most Inspirational Bangladeshis are Tech-Centric
While commenting on the a list of 10 most inspirational Bangladeshis around the world published by the London-based organization ‘British-Bangladeshi Power and Inspiration’, blogger Aminul Islam Sajib points out that 3 of them had significant contribution in technology field.
Sri Lanka's Best Bus Terminal
Freelance writer, translator and blogger Nandasiri Wanninayaka writes about the multi-purpose bus terminal-cum shopping and entertainment complex in the resort town of Negombo: You wouldn’t expect a bus stand in Sri Lanka to be like a mini airport. But if you happen to go to Negombo Bus Stand, renamed as...
Outdoor Air pollution in Bhopal
Proloy Bagchi reports that outdoor air pollution in Bhopal, the capital of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, has risen to an alarming proportion mainly from the emission of the transports. The blogger slams at the inaction of the state government and stresses the importance of reducing this pollution. According...
The Other Side of Social Media
That’s Twitter – it makes a joke out of serious issues and takes jokes seriously. - comments blogger Purba Ray while discussing Sunanda Pushkar’s sudden death who underwent a Twitter spat with a Pakistani journalist. The unusual death of the wife of Indian minister Shashi Tharoor has created a lot...
Bangladesh Gets Its First LGBT Magazine, ‘Roopbaan’
"Finally Bangladesh is prospering. I had to leave Bangladesh for being gay, now I feel like going back and do[ing] something there."
Protest Against Rape : WordToon by Subhendu Sarkar
In India women often fall prey to sex crimes where police fail to take proper action. Subhendu Sarkar, an artist from Kolkata created cartoons from words (see Youtube video) in an workshop called “wordtoon” urging everybody to protest against rape.
The Biggest Indian Blogging Conference In February 2014
The WIN – Blogadda conference will take place in Mumbai on February 9, 2014. This conference is claimed to be the the biggest offline Indian blogger conference where a mix of Bloggers, Industry Specialists & Influencers will talk about how blogging today has grown to be an optimum platform for...
Cartoon Character ‘Meena’ Changes South Asian Attitudes Towards Girls
"Since her inception 14 years ago she has shown millions of women and girls what can be achieved."
Despite Controversial Past, Indian PM Candidate Narendra Modi's Star on the Rise
Chief Minister of India's western state Gujarat Narendra Modi is a polemic figure for his hotly debated role in the deadly 2002 riots in the state between Hindus and Muslims.
Talking Trash In Chennai – Through Blogs
There are about 4,500 tons of waste generated in Indian city of Chennai per day. Talking Trash in Chennai blog discusses how to deal with them.
Lebanese Blogger Spoofs Study on Middle Eastern Women's Clothing
The question “How Should Middle Eastern Women Dress in Public” posed by the University of Michigan is attracting hilarious spoofs online. The content is so rich that an additional post to our first one was necessary. When Washington Post Max Fisher shared the original image on Twitter, he wasn't expecting...
Preserving The Hidden History Of Old Dhaka
Writer and blogger Jenny Gustafsson highlights the works of The Urban Study Group, a non-profit voluntary organization, which is campaigning for the conservation of the rich architectural /urban heritage of old Dhaka.
Enforced Disappearances in Sri Lanka: 2006-2013
Groundviews highlights a report (pdf), which aims to facilitate the criminalization of enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka during 2006-2013, recognize and uphold the rights of the victims families.
Unethical Practices In A Bangladeshi Private Hospital
Emma Clare Burton-Chowdhoury, an Englishwoman (married to a Bangladeshi) living in Dhaka, Bangladesh, blogs about her experience in giving birth to a daughter in a Bangladeshi private hospital: The pediatric team at Apollo welcomed the premature delivery of our daughter with open arms as conveniently her special care boosted our...
Is Pakistan's Much-Needed Gas Pipeline a Pipe Dream?
In early December, Iran cancelled a 500 million US dollar loan to help Pakistan finance its part of a gas pipeline that authorities hope will combat Pakistan's dire energy crisis.
Urging Indians to ‘Take the Poo to the Loo’
Sanitation and hygiene remain critical problems for India, with about 50% of its population still defecating in the open. UNICEF India's #poo2loo campaign aims to raise awareness about this issue.
Aitezaz Hasan, Pakistan's Young Hero Who Took on a Suicide Bomber to Save his School
"We don’t need more Aitzazs’. Not one or one million. What we need is to be worthy of the one we lost."
French Restaurant In Pakistan Closed For Not Allowing Pakistanis
Blogger Farzana Versey from Mumbai weighs on the hypocrisy regarding alcohol consumption by Pakistanis while reporting on a recent incident: La Maison, run by Frenchman Philippe Lafforgue, in a part of his house at an upscale area of the capital Islamabad, has been forced to shut down after there was...
37 Million Students Start New Year with Free Textbooks in Bangladesh
"This is the kind of Bangladesh we would like to see...Children happy with new books seeking knowledge....not children with gun powder learning to make human BBQ"
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