MetaFilter posts tagged with india

First Bangalore, now Ahmedabad

hadjiboy — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:20:15 -0800

Two cities in two days. Multiple injuries and several fatalities. The BJP has of course come out strong against the [ruling] Congress party for not trying to do enough to stop the menace of "terrorism" in the country, after having lost its fight to overthrow the government. Now, it is up to the Prime Minister to pick up the pieces and move on. However, the Congress has denied the charge of being soft on Terrorism, and believes that this is a ploy to bring down the government. The Police on the other hand are continuing with their investigation, and believes the members of the So Called Extremist Islamic Organization "SIMI" might have had something to do with this. Meanwhile Delhi, the capital, remains on high alert, while cities like Hyderabad, which had been the target of such attacks in the past are also on the radar. An eye witness account of the incident in Ahmedabad (with pictures) and the US's response as usual.

Naxalite revolt in India

Kattullus — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:33:02 -0800

Naxalites are India's most dangerous revolutionary organization (of which there are many). They capitalize on dissent against the Indian Government where it is weakest, promising a better life to India's poor. This Maoist movement has waxed and waned since its inception in the 1960's. The Government's latest attempt to vanquish the Naxalites, called Salwa Judum, has been a failure. Though little known in the West, the Naxalite uprising has torn asunder large parts of India, devastated local economies, terrorized millions and turned brother against brother.

Rare English Gandhi Recording from 1947

homunculus — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:40:08 -0800

Saying His Peace: Rare Recording of Speech by Gandhi Landed in Safe, if Unknowing, Hands. [Via Linkfilter]

Vivisecting the Goddess

Halloween Jack — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:45:48 -0800

The operation was a success, but the patient is now a mere mortal. When she was born, her neighbors considered her a gift from God and lined up to receive her blessing. However, her parents, who wanted her to have a normal life (and refusing an offer to sell her to a circus) , found a doctor and a hospital who would operate on Lakshmi for free. Lakshmi received some parts from her parasitic twin (previously on MeFi). No longer venerated, she will have a chance to walk.

Air India 182

netbros — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:21:01 -0800

On June 22, 1985, Air India flight 182 left Montreal en route to Delhi with 329 passengers aboard, most of them Canadian. Four hours later, an explosion in the baggage compartment destroyed the plane, killing all on board. Premiering tonight on CBC television, this documentary (trailer) recounts the final hours, days and weeks before the plane disappeared off Irish radar screens. It reveals the story of how Canada’s first major counter-terrorism operation failed to thwart the conspiracy and details the errors that resulted in the world’s most lethal act of aviation terrorism before Sept. 11. (previously on MetaFilter) The producers have also created a site.

So that's why it's called IPA

uncleozzy — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:31:06 -0800

Have you ever wondered what a real IPA tasted like after the long, hot journey to India? Pete Brown found out. Brown, author of Man Walks Into a Pub and Three Sheets to the Wind, ventured to take a pin (named "Barry") of some very special India Pale Ale, brewed by the White Shield Brewery, from its home in Burton-on-Trent to Calcutta, following the traditional route around the Cape of Good Hope. Though Barry met an untimely demise in Tenerife, and missed part of the journey, he was replaced by Jerry and Kevin in Brazil, who sailed around the Cape with Pete, arriving in India five weeks later. How did they taste? Jerry was "punchy" and, yet, still "balanced," given his 7% ABV. Kevin, who had been dry-hopped during the journey, made a grand entrance, and was something else entirely. Both were, as expected, quite changed from their travels. Although the book has been delayed until 2009, you can read all about the journey, and other beer issues, on his blog.

Brimful of Kumar

Kattullus — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:07:50 -0800

Rare Kishore Kumar Songs is a website dedicated to the music of legendary Bollywood playback singer and comic actor Kishore Kumar. There are hundreds of songs, many with other Bollywood legends, such as Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar. There are also songs by Kishore's son Amit. All songs and videos are in Real Player format and in low quality.

Rethinking Literacy

divabat — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:49:19 -0800

The Dark Side of Literacy - Indian education reform organization Shikshantar, who aims to encourage concepts of "Swaraj", or self-rule in local education, argues that current education and literacy models do not take into account local cultures and languages and gives too much credit to the Western alphabet. They also argue that there are many serious flaws in what they describe as UNESCO's campaign of "McEducation For All".

Seven average Indians

goo — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:19:01 -0800

Liberalisation's children. The Financial Times interviews seven 24-year-old Indians, all of the average age but of very different circumstances.

The right to do wrong

asok — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:17:37 -0800

Auroville Funded by Governments all over the world, the city of Auroville is an ongoing experiment 'whose stated purpose is to realize human unity in diversity' through yoga. Unfortunately, it seems the 'rule free' society has attracted some of the least welcome of humanity's outliers, namely child sex tourists. Auroville is the biggest employer for the impoverished local Tamil population, which some would argue makes it likely that the local police might not be inclined to investigate abuse claims very thoroughly. Aurovillians pay no tax and benefit from 2/3 of the profit from any commercial enterprise, as well as receiving a maintenance grant from the government which is more than the locals earn by working a full day. Is Auroville simply an extension of the usual colonial european behaviour in Asia, or a bold experiment? It was quite difficult to find any online information about Auroville that was not directly attributable to an Auroville resident. Subsequently, the links are not un-biased. Thanks to hadjiboy for the 'Bizarre Childhood' link.