Stories about South Asia from November, 2006
Pakistan: Headgear for Pakistan
All Things Pakistan has a wonderful post on headgear in Pakistan. “Even though with increased travel, TV, and urbanization some of the caps (not turbans, though) worn in one part of the country have also been adopted by people in other parts but, by and large, the cap or a...
India: On Butterchicken in Ludhiana
Chandrahas is impressed with Pankaj Mishra's book – Butterchicken in Ludhiana. “Reading it this week for the first time, I was struck both by the smoothness of its style – it is a book without any dull bits, and the language has a full, rich flavour – and the strength...
Sri Lanka: War and Traffic
indi.ca on traffic snarls in Colombo, partly due to the war and because Mahinda, the President thinks nothing of shutting down traffic on the streets when he has to get somewhere. “One of the biggest daily troubles of the war is the traffic. Streets are closed and there are checkpoints...
Pakistan: A Healthy Diet
Sajjad Zaidi's Blog on having trouble finding something healthy to eat thanks to the food culture in Pakistan. “Our lives are getting more and more hectic and we have more money to indulge the taste buds, yet few people know much (or care) about nutrition and would rather enjoy their...
Nepal: A little colour in Khatmandu
With most of the talk about Nepal being limited to the peace agreement, the Maoists and the Ruling Alliance, it serves well to remember that Khatmandu is still a colourful place. Some photographs from the city at Say Na Something…
India: The NRI Marriage and Dowry
A blogger at Together We Bond shares a heartbreaking story of a marriage that fails because of the husband's demand for dowry. “Then came the expectations. He wanted $25000 from my parents that too to be transferred to his account immediately. Initially I did not comprehend why?”
Bangla blogs discuss politics and elections in Bangladesh
A growing sense of discontent in palpable in the Bangla blog world with citizens of Bangladesh voicing strong concerns about the current socio-political condition in the country. Chief Election Commissioner Mr. M. A. Aziz has taken 3 months leave of absence, succumbing to the mounting pressure of many political parties...
Trinidad & Tobago, India, Pakistan: In praise of cricketers
Mani sings the praises of West Indies cricket superstar Brian Lara, in the wake of the lightning-fast 216 runs he scored in the recently concluded 2nd Test against Pakistan. India's Sachin Tendulkar and Pakistani bowler Danish Kaneria — “only the second Hindu to ever represent Pakistan” — receive kudos as...
Pakistan: An abducted journalist and the Freedom of Press
The Glasshouse on the abduction and release of a BBC Journalist Dilawar Khan, and why freedom of the press is crucial in Pakistan. “As one of those Musharraf derided ‘extremist liberals’ your Blogger believes Press Freedom to be sacrosanct. In a country where you have a historically enfeebled parliament and...
Sri Lanka: Loss of childhood and the ethnic conflict
The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka has meant the loss of life, opportunity and innocence for many children. Indi.ca has a post on the issue. A heartbreaking photograph by Agron with commentary “This womens 15yr old son was abducted by the LTTE (Libeartion Tigers of Tamil Elam). She was desperately...
Nepal: Suppression of the April Uprising
In April 2006, even as the people in Nepal were actively involved in the political movement, government agencies and officers were suppressing the movement. BloggersNepal points to the release of the list of names who were involved and the suggested action. “However, the five-member panel headed by former justice of...
India: Photographing Allahabad
the shad king finds himself in Allahabad and shoots some dazzling photographs of the city. A glimpse of the pace, the traffic, the river and the people. “It was definitely an experience.. living in a “modern” city like Pune really blinds you from what the reality is for cities in...
India: Karva Chauth, women and their husbands
The Mad Momma reflects on the ritual of Karva Chauth – a fast kept by married women to pray for their husbands to live long. “Does your husband not love you then? Doesn't he want to fast and pray to God to give you a long life?”
Bangladesh: In Pictures
Bangladesh is going through a difficult time. Elections around the corner, discussions on authority and the state. Drishtipat puts together a series of photographs that quite well encapsulate the current state of affairs. “While we try to make sense of what is happening to our beloved country, here is a...
Pakistan: A Cricket Match in 1989
Light Within shares the memories of a cricket match played between two colleges in 1989. “While both colleges boast of great talent in academics and sports, DJ college gets the best of two in cricket. However, for at-least one year in 1989, Adamjee College was able to beat DJ College...
Pakistan: Women from Islamabad
Metroblogging Islamabad profiles women from the city who have featured prominently in the public arena. “Here are five of the top movers and shakers based out of Islamabad who can be a beacon and role models for the rest. They come from diverse backgrounds ranging from government, entrepreneurship, and technology”
China: India
Been a busy week for Chinese President Hu Jintao, first in Vietnam and now in India, and just what for? asks Hexun blogumnist Liu Dingcai: 胡哥访印度可以学什么 What can big brother Hu learn in India? 中国国家主席胡锦涛11月20日抵达印度首都新德里，开始对印度进行国事访问；２１日胡锦涛在新德里海德拉巴宫同印度总理曼莫汉&S226;辛格举行会谈，双方就发展中印战略合作伙伴关系达成重要共识。（据《人民日报》) China's national chairman Hu Jintao arrived in the Indian capitol New Delhi on November 20...
India: Statues in Chennai
Metroblogging Chennai on the politics of statues in public areas in the city. “The noise associated with the removal is directly proportional to their caste association, that is how much influence they had over their caste, it doesn't matter if they had a huge pan-caste image like Nehru or Gandhi....
Bangladesh: The Constitution
Salam Dhaka on the tense political situation in Bangladesh and a brief look at the constitution. ” Yesterday, out of sheer frustration, I read our constitution. I stopped half-way because of all the contradictions there were in it and its confusing demands. You can tell politicians manipulated it with bad...
Nepal: The King and Prachanda
Nepali Netbook has some observations on the current state of affairs in Nepal. How is it that the Maoist leader Prachanda is more easily absolved than the King? “He is being asked to take responsibility for the deaths of 22 protesters (hadn’t the toll reached 24 at one point?), while...
Nepal: A little love for Gmail
Gmail catches on as Wagle Street Journal writes about why the author prefers Gmail to other email services, and the trend of emailing in Nepal. “Even if we are one of the poorest countries in the world, emailing has become a very necessary part of Nepali life; that is to...
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