Things from, of and about the head on the shoulders.
The best example that underlines India’s commitment to Democracy is what’s happening in the elections that are about to commence in Jammu & Kashmir with nearly 6,500,000 voters eligible to cast their vote. India is setting up a polling booth in Ladhakh for just 10 people! Yes, there are only 10 registered voters in this […]
Rahul Gandhi seems to be maturing into a fine politician. I started giving a little more than a passing attention to reports on him after I read a story about him putting sycophants in Congress in their place. Compared to the near militant politics that is currently prevalent in most parts of the country by […]
Today, Indian Air Force turned 76. Back in 1932, it was today that 6 young men (Subroto Mukerjee, HC Sirkar, AB Awan, Bhupendra Singh, Amerjeet Singh, and ‘Tich’ Tandon) were commissioned into the service after having trained at RAF College in Cranwell. With 19 ‘hawai sepoys’ and 4 Westland Wapiti IIA biplanes operating out of […]
Forgot who sent me here but there’s no way I am going to miss this movie. An emotional comedy about three brothers re-forging family bonds. The eldest, played by Wilson, hopes to reconnect with his two younger siblings by taking them on a train trip across the vibrant and sensual landscape of India. The trailer […]
My city is organising a carnival tomorrow (via. TOI Report). With a parade. Wow! I love this line from the TOI report: Anyone can avail the facility to see the events of the day. Precious.
India today became the first country in the world to get a supersonic surface-to-surface cruise missile, BrahMos, officially inducted into active service (IE Report). The President handed over a replica of the missile at a function in Delhi to Army Chief General J J Singh to mark the commencement of delivery (President’s address & photos). […]
Rigveda has been added to UN’s Memory of the World Register (IE Report). It’s available online in both Devnagri & the translated text from 1896.
Today I got a call from one of the banks where I had deposited money that a Rs. 1,000 banknote was counterfeit and that I should come over. The note was impounded and I was simply issued a receipt that the note was a fake. I went to the bank that had issued me the […]
Isn’t it going to be ironical if the new Indian cricket team’s coach is called Whatmore?.
Creative Commons has launched its India chapter, allowing localised versions of Creative Commons licenses to be available for Indians. Best of luck guys!
Yesterday night, the temperature touched 0 degrees Celcius, the lowest in 32 year history. The last we saw this happen was in 1974, years before I was even born. Wow.
While ‘obedient’ women drivers are given gift hampers in Chandigarh, traffic rules violaters get Tulsi plants in Surat.
Wired learns about Smita Narang applying principles of Vastu Shastra to web design (apparently The Register had covered her back in June) and asks her to review Slashdot. The geeks tear her to pieces. Precious.
My response to the Editorial “Murder, we said” by Jug Suraiya in The Times of India: The editorial puts an interesting spin on capital punishment. But the same logic you apply to urge Indians to look down upon capital punishment, almost calling it immoral but at least suggesting it to be inhuman, can be applied […]
Finally, Starbucks finalises its retail partner and sets the ball rolling to enter the Indian market. After the franchisees taking Barista brand to bust (you should see the dilapidated outlets to believe it. Not all outlets are like the few that are earning the brand such a bad name but it shows laxity on the […]
In an observation to certain activities by the Government, the Supreme Court of India basically told the Centre in pretty clear terms to do its job and not try to take up stuff that’s meant for judiciary under their blind run of appeasement politics. Wonderful!
The J&K Chief Minister is seeking presidential clemency for Mohd. Afzal sentenced to death in the Parliament attack case. It’s a sad, sad day. Updated October 11: The Supreme Court of India sent an indirect message to the President by quashing a politically inspired pardon by a Governor in response to a PIL and made […]
While many Indians are squirming in embarrassment while the other majority are feeling angry about the recent inept and callous blocking of some rather popular blog sites by Indian ISPs on Government orders, I came across a completely different report today much closer to home that made me read it again just to make sure […]
My father retired as a Professor of Physics from Panjab University, Chandigarh in 1996, having taught Physics for 43 years. Always interested in improving Science education in general and Physics education in particular, he has served in the Board of Studies of various universities in North India, written books for NCERT, been a regular member […]
After a (perhaps the) local newspaper reported a faux pas on the official website of Chandigarh Administration, the Director of IT, Manjit Singh Brar said he would have the site updated immediately. The error? The map of Chandigarh posted there did not show the IT Park and the third phase of the city. This has […]