Sunday, September 11, 2011
Gravity as energy
The total kinetic energy that winds can generate may be lesser than what was estimated earlier. But that need not make it undesirable. Whatever sources of energy that are environment-friendly and economical and can be stored and transported should be explored. One source for all regions and all seasons, which is a poisoned luxury oil has nurtured, will not and need not work any more.
Among the different sources of energy discussed, one that is generally seen missed or bypassed is gravity. Transportation is one area that now burns away a large portion of the oil extracted the world over. At least this sector of energy-needs can be directly taken care of by gravity, especially in naturally inclined landscapes, with very little investment in erecting/installing monorails and rope-ways. Its potential for any type of landscape is also worth exploring. Besides, by tapping the motion gravity can generate, electricity can be generated without any technological hassles. The idea of using gravity for transportation is not new, but, the strangle hold of the oil-based automobile industry is bent upon killing all other options and enterprises.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Subramanian Swamy advocated disenfranchisement of the offending community
Dr.Subramanian Swamy published an article in DNA on 16 July 2011, How to wipe out Islamic terror.
Here is the url: http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/comment_analysis-how-to-wipe-out-islamic-terror_1566203-all
I cannot copy and paste the article as it is prohibited if done without permission.
The Hindu, on 16 July 2011 published the following news item, the gist of which was: Subramanian Swamy advocated disenfranchisement of the offending community
The following is the text of what The Hindu published on 30 July 2011.
The Hindu, Published: July 29, 2011 23:48 IST | Updated: July 29, 2011 23:48 IST http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2306235.ece
"Offended minorities' panel to decide on Swamy's article"
Special Correspondent
Subramanian Swamy had advocated disenfranchisement as a punishment for Muslims refusing to acknowledge their Hindu ancestry
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) will take a final view on Tuesday on an article written by Subramanian Swamy where he advocated disenfranchisement as a punishment for Muslims refusing to acknowledge their Hindu ancestry.
The NCM had taken suo moto notice of the article at its meeting on July 19. The article appeared in the Daily News and Analysis (DNA) on July 16 – three days after the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai. NCM chairperson Wajahat Habibullah told The Hindu that while the NCM found the article offensive in the extreme, a final decision on the commission's response would be taken when the full bench reconvened on Tuesday. He said the NCW will go by legal advice it had procured from within the government: “There are no two opinions that the article is highly offensive and violative of the law. I'm fairly clear about the course the NCM should follow, but the decision has to come from the full Bench.”
Since its publication, Dr. Swamy's article has been hotly debated on Twitter and Facebook, and last week it raised a storm in Harvard, where he taught Economics in the 1960s. In an online petition, students and faculty members demanded that Harvard end its association with him. The petition said: “While free expression and the vigorous contest of ideas are essential in any academic community, so too are respect and tolerance for human difference. By advocating measures that would grossly violate freedom of religion and the unqualified right to vote for different religious groups, and by aggressively vilifying an entire religious community, [Mr.] Swamy breaches the most basic standards of respect and tolerance.”
In the article titled, ‘How to wipe out Islamic terror' Dr. Swami, who is also president of the Janata Party said that by 2012, he expected Islam to confront Hindus to “complete unfinished business.” He said: “Fanatic Muslims consider Hindu-dominated India an unfinished chapter of Islamic conquests”. All other countries conquered by Islam 100 per cent converted to Islam within two decades of the Islamic invasion. Undivided India in 1947 was 75 per cent Hindu even after 800 years of brutal Islamic rule. That is jarring for the fanatics.”
Dr. Swami prescribed strategies to defeat the political goals of Islamic terrorism. Among them: “Implement the uniform civil code, make learning of Sanskrit and singing of Vande Mataram mandatory, and declare India a Hindu Rashtra in which non-Hindus can vote only if they proudly acknowledge that their ancestors were Hindus. Rename India Hindustan as a nation of Hindus and those whose ancestors were Hindus.”
“Enact a national law prohibiting conversion from Hinduism to any other religion. Re-conversion will not be banned. Declare that caste is not based on birth but on code or discipline. Welcome non-Hindus to re-convert to the caste of their choice provided they adhere to the code of discipline. Annex land from Bangladesh in proportion to the illegal migrants from that country staying in India. At present, the northern third from Sylhet to Khulna can be annexed to re-settle illegal migrants.”
My Comments:
I sent a comment, pointing out that Dr.Swamy's knowledge of Indian history was poor as he did not show any knowledge of when the Hindu label was applied to all the castes, and at least the disabled castes would not feel any "pride" in remembering their "Hindu" ancestors; and that his suggestion to de-link caste from birth and link it with code or discipline was naive as birth is the only determinant of the caste.
The Hindu, I feel, may edit it out.
So, I sent another comment: Perhaps, Dr.Swamy's article is not worthy of any comment, as remarked by Prof.Dipankar Gupta, and by extension, also any comments on Dr.Swamy. So, please moderate my previous comment out. Thank you.
Here is the url: http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/comment_analysis-how-to-wipe-out-islamic-terror_1566203-all
I cannot copy and paste the article as it is prohibited if done without permission.
The Hindu, on 16 July 2011 published the following news item, the gist of which was: Subramanian Swamy advocated disenfranchisement of the offending community
The following is the text of what The Hindu published on 30 July 2011.
The Hindu, Published: July 29, 2011 23:48 IST | Updated: July 29, 2011 23:48 IST http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2306235.ece
"Offended minorities' panel to decide on Swamy's article"
Special Correspondent
Subramanian Swamy had advocated disenfranchisement as a punishment for Muslims refusing to acknowledge their Hindu ancestry
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) will take a final view on Tuesday on an article written by Subramanian Swamy where he advocated disenfranchisement as a punishment for Muslims refusing to acknowledge their Hindu ancestry.
The NCM had taken suo moto notice of the article at its meeting on July 19. The article appeared in the Daily News and Analysis (DNA) on July 16 – three days after the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai. NCM chairperson Wajahat Habibullah told The Hindu that while the NCM found the article offensive in the extreme, a final decision on the commission's response would be taken when the full bench reconvened on Tuesday. He said the NCW will go by legal advice it had procured from within the government: “There are no two opinions that the article is highly offensive and violative of the law. I'm fairly clear about the course the NCM should follow, but the decision has to come from the full Bench.”
Since its publication, Dr. Swamy's article has been hotly debated on Twitter and Facebook, and last week it raised a storm in Harvard, where he taught Economics in the 1960s. In an online petition, students and faculty members demanded that Harvard end its association with him. The petition said: “While free expression and the vigorous contest of ideas are essential in any academic community, so too are respect and tolerance for human difference. By advocating measures that would grossly violate freedom of religion and the unqualified right to vote for different religious groups, and by aggressively vilifying an entire religious community, [Mr.] Swamy breaches the most basic standards of respect and tolerance.”
In the article titled, ‘How to wipe out Islamic terror' Dr. Swami, who is also president of the Janata Party said that by 2012, he expected Islam to confront Hindus to “complete unfinished business.” He said: “Fanatic Muslims consider Hindu-dominated India an unfinished chapter of Islamic conquests”. All other countries conquered by Islam 100 per cent converted to Islam within two decades of the Islamic invasion. Undivided India in 1947 was 75 per cent Hindu even after 800 years of brutal Islamic rule. That is jarring for the fanatics.”
Dr. Swami prescribed strategies to defeat the political goals of Islamic terrorism. Among them: “Implement the uniform civil code, make learning of Sanskrit and singing of Vande Mataram mandatory, and declare India a Hindu Rashtra in which non-Hindus can vote only if they proudly acknowledge that their ancestors were Hindus. Rename India Hindustan as a nation of Hindus and those whose ancestors were Hindus.”
“Enact a national law prohibiting conversion from Hinduism to any other religion. Re-conversion will not be banned. Declare that caste is not based on birth but on code or discipline. Welcome non-Hindus to re-convert to the caste of their choice provided they adhere to the code of discipline. Annex land from Bangladesh in proportion to the illegal migrants from that country staying in India. At present, the northern third from Sylhet to Khulna can be annexed to re-settle illegal migrants.”
My Comments:
I sent a comment, pointing out that Dr.Swamy's knowledge of Indian history was poor as he did not show any knowledge of when the Hindu label was applied to all the castes, and at least the disabled castes would not feel any "pride" in remembering their "Hindu" ancestors; and that his suggestion to de-link caste from birth and link it with code or discipline was naive as birth is the only determinant of the caste.
The Hindu, I feel, may edit it out.
So, I sent another comment: Perhaps, Dr.Swamy's article is not worthy of any comment, as remarked by Prof.Dipankar Gupta, and by extension, also any comments on Dr.Swamy. So, please moderate my previous comment out. Thank you.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Female feticide in India
Sent to Psychohistory to start a new topic:
Here is the link to a Guardian article on female feticide in India:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/24/india-families-aborting-girl-babies?CMP=EMCGT_250511&
The study based on the 2011 census shows that female feticide is prevalent more among the upper sections of the society, who can afford the expensive gender determination tests and selective abortions, than among the poor. It suspects that expatriate Indians living in the U.S. may also be practicing it.
One obvious differentiator between the Indian/South Asian people, wherever they live, and those of the rest of the world is the caste system. Parental practices among the lower castes are certainly less advanced than those among the upper castes mainly for two reasons: poverty and lack of education, which generally run along caste lines. But female feticide does not appear to follow this divide.
What is it then that drives the Indian parents to prefer boys over girls? It ought to be something that permeates the whole population. Could it be dowry?
Suzarin
Here is the link to a Guardian article on female feticide in India:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/24/india-families-aborting-girl-babies?CMP=EMCGT_250511&
The study based on the 2011 census shows that female feticide is prevalent more among the upper sections of the society, who can afford the expensive gender determination tests and selective abortions, than among the poor. It suspects that expatriate Indians living in the U.S. may also be practicing it.
One obvious differentiator between the Indian/South Asian people, wherever they live, and those of the rest of the world is the caste system. Parental practices among the lower castes are certainly less advanced than those among the upper castes mainly for two reasons: poverty and lack of education, which generally run along caste lines. But female feticide does not appear to follow this divide.
What is it then that drives the Indian parents to prefer boys over girls? It ought to be something that permeates the whole population. Could it be dowry?
Suzarin
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Lokpal Bill, Civil Society and India's robber barons
The following was sent to Deccan Herald on 10.4.2011 and was published on 11.4.2011
Sir,
The victory of civil society over government’s filibustering of the Lokpal Bill has to be channelized now into making our political system truly democratic. What had corrupted Indian political establishment over time was the appropriation of power without accountability by an extremely narrow section of the so-called ‘public servants’ comprising of political leaders and bureaucrats abetted and supported by big industrialists and corporates. This powerful group of ‘robber barons’ has become a self-serving, self-sustaining narrow group, and entry into it by any route other than blood-bond or cronyism is almost completely blocked. It pampers the real repositories of power, the people, through entreaties and enticements during the election, but immediately after that, makes them cringe before it even for their legitimate rights. To make its strangle hold on power unhampered, it blocks all election reforms including the right to recall. Even in a representative democracy, the ultimate political power is never forfeited by the people. But through treating the election as an absolute license to do whatever they and their henchmen want, the ‘representatives’ turn themselves into masters and the real masters are turned into slaves. This needs to be corrected.
The civil society, now flushed with victory, however, has to be vigilant to see that its leaders do not ever become another power lobby and get sucked into the corrupt system.
P.P.Sudhakaran
Bangalore.
-_
Sir,
The victory of civil society over government’s filibustering of the Lokpal Bill has to be channelized now into making our political system truly democratic. What had corrupted Indian political establishment over time was the appropriation of power without accountability by an extremely narrow section of the so-called ‘public servants’ comprising of political leaders and bureaucrats abetted and supported by big industrialists and corporates. This powerful group of ‘robber barons’ has become a self-serving, self-sustaining narrow group, and entry into it by any route other than blood-bond or cronyism is almost completely blocked. It pampers the real repositories of power, the people, through entreaties and enticements during the election, but immediately after that, makes them cringe before it even for their legitimate rights. To make its strangle hold on power unhampered, it blocks all election reforms including the right to recall. Even in a representative democracy, the ultimate political power is never forfeited by the people. But through treating the election as an absolute license to do whatever they and their henchmen want, the ‘representatives’ turn themselves into masters and the real masters are turned into slaves. This needs to be corrected.
The civil society, now flushed with victory, however, has to be vigilant to see that its leaders do not ever become another power lobby and get sucked into the corrupt system.
P.P.Sudhakaran
Bangalore.
-_
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