Stories about South Asia from March, 2010
India: Women's Bill Stirs Up A Hornet's Nest
There was a pandemonium in the upper house of the Parliament of India (the Rajya Sabha) when a controversial Women's Reservation bill from more than a decade ago, was re-introduced by the ruling UPA government on March 8th - International Women's Day. Netizens in India are divided on the issue.
Pakistan: Perils Of Having Dark Skin
Maria Saadat, who runs a South Asian beauty blog, guest blogs at CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan. She writes about the obsession of Pakistanis for fairer skin and the stigma related to having a darker shade of skin.
India: Not A Country Of Nomads
Kiran Rao Batni at Karnatique breaks the stereotype that “India is basically a country of nomads, i.e., people who have no other business in life but to migrate from place to place, even from one linguistic state to another.”
Sri Lanka: Missing In Action
Dr. P. Saravanamuttu at Groundviews remembers the recent disappearance of the Lanka E-News journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. He notes: “Ekneligoda’s disappearance is yet another statistic of shame in the long list of disappearances, abductions and extra-judicial killings that have targeted the media in particular over the last four years”.
Pakistan: Suicide Bombing In Lahore
Five Rupees reports that a suicidal car bomb has ripped through government buildings in Lahore today killing 12 people and injuring many.
Pakistan: More Than 80,000 Cell Phones Snatched In A Year
Hina Safdar at Chowrangi informs that More than 80,000 cell phones were snatched last year in Pakistan and almost 75% of them were of one brand.
Bangladesh: Much Ado About Nothing
Maskwaith Ahsan at Voice Of Bangladeshi Bloggers discusses about the acrimonious politics in Bangladesh which deals with unproductive issues and not the important ones. “How come we never see this ferocity of political competition when it comes to ensuring basic necessities like food, shelter, security and human rights?” asks the...
India: The Women's Reservation Bill
Sandeep Bansal at Desicritics discusses whether the impending enactment of the Woman's reservation bill will make any significant impact to the Indian society.
Bangladesh: Photo Competition For The Bihari Refugees
Six Oranges reports that a photo competition titled Ummid (hope) has been arranged to mark the second anniversary of the granting of citizenship to stranded Biharis (Pakistanis) by the supreme court of Bangladesh. The competition will bring attention on the problems of the refugees that still remain.
Pakistan: Climate Change and Global Warming
Every year the winters are shrinking, which is resulting in warming of climate and less and less greenery in Pakistan and elsewhere in the world. Pakistani Bloggers discuss how climate change is affecting our lives.
Pakistan: Google A Taxi Driver
Pakistan Speaks talks about Asif Hussain Shah, a Pakistani taxi driver, who has found a new way to advertise his book and his taxi business with the “search on Google” phrase in his taxi body.
Maldives: Failure Of Judiciary
Reacting on some recent court rulings in Maldives, Maldivian blogger Yaamyn, who blogs at “Slicker Than Your Average”, comments: “the Maldivian judiciary is an embarrassment, and completely deserves not only our contempt, but also the strongest condemnation.”
Sri Lanka: Exploitation Of Paddy Farmers
Ratmale at Serendipity discusses about the exploitation of paddy farmers “because two of the Agricultural Ministers in Sri Lanka are directly or indirectly owners of the largest rice mills”. The market price of rice is 86% higher than what the farmers are getting for their paddy.
Sri Lanka: Shunning Public Transport
Sujeewa de Silva at Random Reflections of a Kind blog discusses about the “terrible state” of the Sri Lankan public transport system and why people shun away from them.
India: Interview With Greatbong
Blogadda interviews Indian blogger Arnab Ray aka Greatbong, who is working as an Assistant Adjunct Professor at University of Maryland. His blog Random Thoughts Of A Demented Mind was adjudged Indiblog of the year 2008 last year.
Pakistan: Public Transport Of Karachi Requires Improvement
Spring Of Autumn lists a series of problems associated with the current public transport of Karachi and urges the authorities to hear their plights.
FarmVille And Facebook
“It is hard to be on Facebook and avoid Farmville. It’s Global addiction,” comments Hina Safdar at Chowrangi Blog while discussing the popularity of the online Facebook game app.
India: Nithyananda Scandal On Twitter
Blogadda compiles the reactions of some Twitter users on the recent scandal of Swami Nithyananda, a Karnataka based spiritual leader.
Bangladesh: Save The Wounded Whale
A whale entangled with a latch of fishing net on its tail fins was seen by a tourist group in the Swatch-of-No-Ground (SONG) of Bay or Bengal, the largest submarine canyon on the Bangladesh shelf. Kewkradong urges for a cumulative action to save the life of the wounded whale.
India: The Battle Of Rin vs. Tide
In India a recent advertisement on TV openly comparing between rival detergent brands caused an uproar in the blogosphere with bloggers discussing about rivalry, fair competition and ethics.
India: The Joy Of Giving
Ugich Konitari from Mumbai shares a wonderful story highlighting the joy of giving.
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