Political parties are not private properties Election Commission must supervise the party elections The recent “re-election” of Sonia Gandhi as the President of the Congress party was much elaborately reported in the press. Print media played up the issue ,it seemed to demonstrate how the power structure, the sociology of power, is shaping the perceptions…
British class system and the choice of schools
The school one attends still determines ones social status in British society. There is a clear division between State schools and independent (privately funded) public schools. Having a child in a public school is a powerful symbol of wealth and status among the Britons. Class is a tricky topic, these days. More thank money and…
What decent men can do in politics?
Politics is often discussed in negative terms by those outside politics, being outside power. The reasons are obvious to all decent persons. But what is not often stated by everyone of us, the decent persons, is that there is no life possible without politics, decent or dirty! Every society has to operate and operates only…
50 years of freedom
A time for celebration. And a time for introspection On an occasion like this, it is often easy to be nice and say the usual flattering things about ourselves. But in a more serious, purposeful sense it is rather imperative, a moral duty as well, to be more retrospective, more committed to see far and…
Agri scientists no use for creating agro entrepreneurs!
There is a real shortage of skilled manpower in agri sector! Or, for undertaking consultancy business management of various new agro ventures We are experiencing a severe shortage of people with requisite skills to work in the agri sector. To draw up strategic development projects in new crops, new agribusiness models, what is now called…
View from Silicon Valley
Middle class American dream turns sour? Record job losses for IT employees! World events affect students careers.September 11th, economic slowdown, IT meltdown, Enron collapse. All these have severely hit the career prospects of young Indians. September 11th hit the H 1B Visa seekers, the IT professionals whose American dreams shattered, as America tightened its rules…
A Landmark book for the public understanding of science
Unweaving the Rainbow Science delusion and the appetite for wonder Richard Dawkins, Penguin Books, PP313. There is concern, at least among the more thoughful sections of educators There is a decline of interest in science courses. The decline in science education has a direct bearing, in my opnion, on the goowth in India in recent…
My book buying interests
I believe but book selling, in my opinion, is a greater art and science and cultivated good manners! My book reading and book buying habits had grown over the years and changed radically too. Now, I am time conscious and therefore make quick glancing through the new books I see in the bookshops and make…