Focus of reservation lost in protests

one of the catch-phrases during the anti-reservation agitation was: "A generation awakens". Actually taken from a popular Bollywood film, the slogan was emblazoned on banners and T-shirts worn by students from elite institutions. Yes, a generation had certainly awakened. Our babalogs who never thought beyond cushy jobs and attendant comforts suddenly organised themselves into forums like the "Youth for Equality".

Theory of evolution under scanner

a body representing the world's leading science academies have issued yet another appeal, albeit veiled, warning against teaching an obscurantist theory about the origin of life -- call it intelligent design or creationism -- in science classes. The eminent evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins made the point much earlier in a trenchant fashion. The argument is simple. Science has to be taught in science classes and courses.

Loopholes in food safety legislation

as parliament gets ready to reconvene for the monsoon session, included in its list of business is a bill that is supposed to protect the health of the entire nation. The Food Safety and Standards Bill (fssb), 2005, is set to be tabled for a second time. It was first introduced in August last year and referred to a parliamentary committee after protests and controversy came along with the bill.

Poor traffic management cause for worry

hell, I'd like to walk to work everyday. Save money and earn a few carbon credits. But just check out how the municipal authorities and old habits let me do it. From home to office is just five kilometres, but there's the heat. So you need the airconditioned comfort of the car. And, of course, the prospect of being gored by an errant bull is not particularly inviting. Other hazards are ubiquitous.

Recalcitrant regime

a silent shift has been taking place in India's malaria profile. The malarial parasite Plasmodium vivax is no more the dominant cause of the disease. Plasmodium falciparum is taking over. This is common knowledge. Even the government knows. But what is not that clued into the public domain is the fact that vivax is relatively easier to treat and is less virulent -- meaning if you get vivax you are unlikely to cop it.

Rivers are flowing off-course

despite a well-funded river-conservation (clean-up) programme set up by the government over a decade ago, our rivers are in terminal condition. Let's take a look at the progress we have made. An increasing number of clean rivers have changed course to join "polluted" stretches. Government is continuously repeating its mistakes. Sewage, which needs to be treated in treatment plants before it can be released into rivers, is being released without any treatment.

Up for sale

when us president George Bush visited Hyderabad in March as part of the Indo- us Agriculture Knowledge Initiative, the Andhra Pradesh state agriculture university put up an exhibition. There, one stall was to exhibit how Punukula village cut its cultivation costs dramatically by adopting non-pesticidal management (npm) of crops.

Another ammunition cache in Ghaziabad

there is a popular saying in Hindi. Loosely translated it means regard the guest as god's incarnate. Most times we do not take such sayings seriously. But sometimes we do, even if there are disastrous consequences. India has played welcome hosts to hazardous wastes of all kind. In the latest instance of its kind more than 60 pieces of missiles, bombs and mortars were found in a factory in Ghaziabad on the outskirts of the capital.

We evolved, thank god

the proponents of creationism are reeling. Science has finally landed a vital clue that will help it demolish the argument that the theory of evolution cannot be valid, because it has not been able to dot all the Is and cross all the Ts. In the first week of April, palaeontologists reported the discovery of the fossil of an animal that had probably planted the first feet on land, literally.

Submerged in rhetoric

the character of our democracy is clear. Irrespective of political brands, politicians representing the affected people in Narmada valley never stood by their electorate. But legislators representing the perceived beneficiaries always had a bigger clout in the debate. Even if we assume that the existence of the Sardar Sarovar Project is beneficial for the nation and society, affected people had no say in this negotiated democracy.