Stories about South Asia from August, 2011
Pakistan: Help The Flood Affected People
The recent floods in Pakistan has displaced over a million people. Beena Sarwar highlights the relief efforts so far and lists the ways you can help the flood victims.
Nepal: The Taslima Nasreen Controversy
Bangladeshi writer in exile Taslima Nasreen was drawn into a controversy and had to cancel her trip from India to Nepal after she tweeted to her Nepali friends that she didn't consider Nepal a foreign country. Read more about the debacle at Ushaft's blog.
Pakistan: Islamic Televangelist Caught Out by Behind-the-Scenes Video
Dr. Amir Liaquat Hussain, a Pakistani Islamic televangelist and host of numerous religious shows, has been criticized after a behind-the-scenes video was released. The video depicted Dr. Amir, a notable religious scholar who otherwise poses as a humble, moral man, uttering abuse and profanities as well as religious blasphemy.
Nepal: Salary Hike For The VVIPs
Guffadi reacts to the salary increase of Central Assembly members, Ministers and Heads of the State by saying that they should not get more than the average income of the Nepalis since they have a lot of perks and amenities.
Bangladesh: Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior Starts A New Mission
After 52 years of service the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior has been retired and rechristened as Rongdhonu (Rainbow in Bangla), which will serve as an emergency medical ship around the Bangladesh coasts, reports Bangladesh Watchdog.
India: Yet Another Name Change
The West Bengal state government has decided to change the name of the state to Paschimbanga (in Bangla). Anirban explains why he doesn't support the name change.
Bangladesh, India: Comparison Of The Two Bengals
Jyoti Rahman attempts to compare the performance of erstwhile East and West Bengal and opines that the physical division of Bengal is not necessarily a bad thing.
India: Should Telangana Be A Separate State?
Tanushree Krishna at Youth Ki Awaaz asks whether Telangana should be made a separate state.
Sri Lanka: The Return Of The Grease Devils
In many rural areas of Sri Lanka the mythical figure of the Grease Yaka (Grease Devil) is being blamed for nighttime assaults on women and thefts/robberies. A number of suspects have been arrested and a few of them even mob-lynched by villagers. Rezwan investigates.
India: Crowd-sourced Filmmaking
Shashwati informs that a significant portion of the budget of the movie “Please Don’t Beat Me, Sir!”, which is having its world premier at the 2011 Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in October, came from individual donations collected over the internet. The movie is about a troupe of young Chhara...
India: Corruption Begins At Home
Amidst all the brouhaha about the recent Anti-corruption campaign in India, Vijay Menon points out that it is the ordinary public who encourage corruption one way or another. Vijay asks: “Aren't WE the real problem?”
Nepal: Kathmandu Metropolitan Traffic Police Has A Facebook Page
Nepali Blogger informs that the Kathmandu Metropolitan police department has launched a facebook page, which aims to provide traffic information, related news and updates on Kathamandu’s traffic.
Pakistan: Killing Of Protesters Enrage People Of Gilgit-Baltistan
Habib R. Sulemani at The Terrorland reports that police indiscriminately fired on the protesters demanding for basic rights in Gilgit-Baltistan. An ex-soldier and his son were killed and many more got injured, which sparked more protests in this northernmost administrative unit of Pakistan.
Pakistan: Youth Gets Justice After Video of Extra-Judicial Killing Emerged
On June 8, 2011, a 19 year old boy was shot dead at point blank by a Pakistan Rangers personnel in Karachi. Video footage emerged showing that the boy was unarmed. After two months, the accused Rangers official who fired the shots has been convicted with the death penalty.
India: RTI and Wildlife Activist Killed in Broad Daylight
Indian Right To Information activist and NGO worker Shehla Masood (39) was shot dead in front of her residence in Bhopal on Tuesday morning. She was also known for campaigning on wildlife conservation. Indian Twitter users react to this tragic death.
India, US: Stories Of Adoption From India
Lassi With Lavina shares some stories of parents who have adopted children from India. The post also contains some tips and a list of procedures on how to adopt a child from India.
Pakistan: Celebrating Independence Day
This year, on August 14, Pakistan's Independence Day was celebrated with jubilation not only in the streets but also in the blogosphere. Netizens posted about Pakistan, praying for its prosperity and success.
Bangladesh: Tragic Deaths Puts the Spotlight on Road Safety
The untimely death of award-winning film director Tareque Masud and internationally renowned cameraman and TV journalist Ashfaque Munier Mishuk in a road accident has shocked Bangladeshis. Netizens are mourning their death and are asking questions about the road safety on Bangladeshi highways.
Nepal: Prime Minister Resigns
After six months of serving as the Prime Minister post of Nepal, Jhalanath Khanal resigned today, reports Nepali Blogger. The 34th Prime Minister of the country was elected after 17 attempts in the parliament to reach a consensus on a candidate.
Pakistan: Ramadan Over The Top On TV
“Almost every notable Pakistani entertainment channel has a Ramadancentric talent or game show hosted by a decked up popular star,” notes Syed Manzoor Suharwardi at Pak Tea House.
Pakistan: Google Doodle Celebrating Independence Day
Spring Of Autumn celebrates the fact that Google had put up a special doodle for its search page on Pakistan's Independence day.
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