Latest posts by Neha Viswanathan from May, 2007
India: Child Labour and Trafficking
The Weight of Silence on child labour and trafficking. “The conditions these children are forced into essentially amount to nothing more than slavery, two hundred years after legislation was passed which made the practice illegal. And this is slavery at its ugliest, most evil core, slavery of the most vulnerable...
India: Street Vending and the Media
Sacred Media Cow on how the media covers the issue of street vendors. “The local English print media has often targeted hawkers invoking a liberal-democratic discourse of citizenship: the rights of the ‘common man’ or the ‘pedestrian’ to public space, the ‘common man’ being a politically innocent, classless, neutral entity...
India: Television in the 80s
DesiDabba remembers television serials aired in the 1980s and early 90s, and wonders if they would have their appeal if they were to air today. “This brings us to the very question I started with. Swamy was based on a well written literature. What if the same serial would have...
India: Supermarkets, Chain stores and Corner Stores
The Qualitative Research Blog on the differences between supermarkets and traditional stores in the UK and India. “It’s interesting to see how retail establishments from these two worlds are converging – borrowing elements that work and shunning away those that don’t. The small – medium size ‘supermarket’ ensconced in residential...
Pakistan: Thinking as a Nation
The Pakistani Spectator on the importance of thinking like a nation. “We have totally disregarded thinking as a nation, if symbol of unity and integrity is thinking on such lines then we cannot blame a poor who is only thinking of his wages. We need to think like a nation...
Pakistan: Violence, Terrorism and Islam
iFaqeer on Islam, leadership, terrorism and the politics of it all. “Given that, the problem as I see it, both with Muslims in the West and globally, and “communities of concern” in places like Karachi, and Kashmir, and Palestine, is that, now that there is “leadership” in place that a...
Bangladesh: Indian Army and Liberation
The 3rd World View on the controversies regarding the Indian Army's role in liberating Bangladesh - “Now there are certain quarters in Bangladesh who try to ignore India's contributions and some think that it was India's game plan to divide Pakistan, their arch rivals. And interestingly there are some quarters...
India: Sexism and the Internet
Noah's Ark Broken on sexism on the internet. “All of this leads me to wonder when this is going to catch up with us here in India. So far, women bloggers have been relatively safe because the blogosphere is dominated by a handful of left leaning liberals, many of whom...
India: Dera Sacha Sauda and I
I, Me, Myself on the political angle to the Dera Sacha Sauda controversy, and a personal recollection. “Then, one day, while he was at the Dera premises, he was poisoned and his corpse delivered home in a tractor-trolley on the next. The father, the devout follower that he was, refused...
India: Women Vs Liquor
My Himachal on women protesting against liquor stores. “During past one month more than fifty Mahila Mandals of the district have registered their strong protests with the Sub Divisional Magistrates of their areas and Deputy Commissioner of the district against the liquor meanness which was now approaching their rural homes.”
India: At the Delhi airport
Dateline Bombay on struggling through the queues and rush at the Delhi airport. “There is just one long line to enter the immigration area. And it takes a long time. Guess why ? Not because the immigration guys are dragging their feet. Not quite. Because for every four guys from...
India: Reviewing Protocols of Zion
Dispatches from Zembla on a documentary called Protocols of Zion. “Most of the footage and interviews shown in the film are truly frightening and to ignore them as works of a lunatic fringe will be a serious mistake. Having said that, the film doesn't really get into really troubled waters,...
Bhutan: It's all in Delhi
Bhutan: For a Democracy publishes a reader's email that points to the trouble in South Asia being caused by India. “In conclusion what I would like to point is that the solution of problems in countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka should not be sought inside their boundries but they...
Bhutan: Layap Community
Stunning photographs of the Layap community at Earth-Bound Insight. “My cousin, whom I’ve already mentioned as the one who took pictures of the Motithang batch, sent more photographs from his trip to Lingzhi. They had snow fall as they were crossing the pass above 5400meters above Sea level. And now...
Pakistan: Any woman in two minutes
Metroblogging Islamabad with some insight into the not too successful Prime Minister. “Shaukee's charm failed to work its magic on US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, according to a new biography of her. The book, titled Twice as Good: Condoleezza Rice and Her Path to Power. describes in excruciating detail...
Sri Lanka: On the Hijab
Married With Kids on wearing the Hijab and the changes in people's behaviour towards her. “My family, as a whole is not overly into religious identity, and stuff, and opt for a more secular look. I did too, but, somehow, a change within, was happening for quite a while when...
Nepal: The Nepali Congress and the Maoists
United We Blog! on the major points of discussion between the Nepali Congress and the Maoists. “Negotiations between the Nepali Congress and the Maoists are focused mainly on four issues: A. Return of seized property, B. Release of salaries for the combatants, C. Construction work at the cantonment sites, and...
India: Flying Coffins
Retire The Coffin hopes to mobilize opinion about the Mig 21, also known as the flying coffin. “This blog is dedicated to the memory of Squadron Leader Swapnil Sakar Pandey, who sacrificed his life on March 1st 2007, while trying to steer his burning aircraft away from populated areas. The...
Pakistan: The Budget
The Pakistani Spectator on the upcoming budget. “Prices of milk products is actually increased by 20%. How does a common man survive in such an economic situation. Up-till now currency reserve and reduction in debt payment have no impact on the life of a common man. Increase in salary in...
Bangladesh: On Pakistan and the US
Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying on how the US is supporting the Pakistani Military. “In pursuit of its War on Terror, the Bush Administration has been subsidizing General Musharraf and his military as they continue to cling to power in Pakistan. Pakistan is most definitely not a poster...
India: The trouble in Punjab
Indian Muslims on the ongoing conflict between the sects of the same religion in Punjab. “That brings me to some really troubling happenings in Punjab recently. Apparently there is a sect called Dera Sacha Sauda that claims a following of 15 million people. 15 million is a huge number even...
