Vinod Ekbote watches parents making fools of themselves at the poolside as they watch their children learn to swim. If only it stopped at them flailing their hands, though…
the day before yesterday I saw a young mother slap her 9-10 year old daughter who was afraid to venture into the pool. It was something that [...]
Author Archive for space bar
‘all is not perfect in the world of science’
Published by space bar March 29th, 2008 in India. 0 CommentsIn light of all the recent cases of plagiarism is the scientific community, Fëanor says that scientists, being human, as as prone to skullduggery as anyone else.
Skullduggery began early. That much vaunted astronomer Ptolemy is credited with a superb cycle of observations and experimentation to validate his geocentric theory of the universe. Although the theory [...]
Rohit Chopra, in his excellent blog Anti-History/In Another Life, talks about the short shrift that the humanities are given in academia. The post, though old, makes many interesting points that tie in with some recent posts on education in the Indian blogosphere (how I hate that word!)
He says:
It has always surprised me why Indians (in [...]
Sunil Khandelwal has spent 90 days in Antarctica:
Today I complete 90 days in Antarctica staying at the Indian station, Maitri, as summer member of the 27th Indian Antarctic Expedition. Normally, the summer members of the IAE get to spend up to six weeks in Antarctica while another 6-8 weeks are spent on ship transportation. Since [...]
‘borders aren’t a small matter at all’
Published by space bar February 24th, 2008 in Community, Culture, Indiaspora, Language and Society. 0 CommentsHari observes his neighbours and tries to find out where Meelad Dawlaty is from.
The young man’s name was Meelad Dawlaty – we knew that from the mailbox. The name vexed Reza. It was a tantalizing name, as he once admitted, because it could be Iranian, but then not necessarily! The uncertainty appeared to tease and [...]
The Freelancer’s Bible (Abridged)
Published by space bar February 23rd, 2008 in Business, India and Media. 0 CommentsThe Chasing Iamb has some advice for freelancers. If you are one, or intend to be one, print this out and read it every morning before you start work:
1. Don’t work for free. Ever. Not even the first time.
2. Do not listen to Falana publishers in Delhi, when they tell you that they love your [...]
Sur Notes has a wonderful, introspective post about what we as parents might do to bring up our children so that we still ‘evoke the whiff of the library and the scratches of the hand me down toys’.What set this off was an evening with friends, among whom was filmmaker Paromita Vohra:
paro teaches a spectrum [...]
The many versions of The Ramayana…
Published by space bar January 11th, 2008 in Culture, Humour, India, Literature and Society. 1 Comment…and Krish Ashok’s hilarious take on it.
We are a diverse country but yet, at times, I am not entirely sure if we well and truly cherish that diversity. For instance, a lot of people would like to believe that our oldest epic is really one powerfully common story that connects all of us and gives [...]
Banno chants litanies to herself as she tries to fall asleep:
People who I used to love, but now hate.
People who hate me (most probably).
People who died on me (no one should be allowed to do that).
People who are living and whom I continue to neglect.
Shahrukh Khan (he is the same age as me, and so [...]
Vikalp: Then and Now
Published by space bar December 17th, 2007 in Activism, Cinema, Community, Democracy, India, Society and Spotlight Series. 4 Comments[This is Essay #3 in "The Spotlight Series". Click here for archives.]
Vikalp: Then and Now
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Space Bar
It has been four years since The Campaign Against Censorship was begun to protest the censoring of short films entered for the Mumbai International Film Festival – a festival of short films that is held every other year, and which [...]
Hindi movies and mobile phones
Published by space bar December 16th, 2007 in Cinema, India and Misc. 0 CommentsDipta Chaudhuri, excited at the prospect of several weeks of Bollywood Ka Boss in the new year, is busy thinking up questions for them. Here he wonders which Hindi film first used the mobile phone:
I was wondering on a lot of interesting question possibilities, a lot of which cannot work out simply because there is [...]
Still Life with Sunset and Plastic Bags
Published by space bar December 9th, 2007 in Development, Environment, Globalisation and Travel. 0 CommentsAnita and Amit visit Goa and return with mixed feelings.
We went back this time, after three years, and things had changed. The power boaters were there, stinking up the air and oiling the water, and offering you ‘dolphin rides’. There were tons of small, ugly resorts. Suddenly, it was Calangute again, without the milling crowds [...]
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