Understanding the brown haze

In the world of climate change, Veerabhadran Ramanathan’s name is synonymous with research on South Asian atmospheric brown clouds (ABC) -- the thick brownish layer of haze, that is creating a dimming effect over many cities like Karachi, Beijing, Shanghai and New Delhi. It is also creating complex regional impacts on temperature as well as contributing to health problems. I recently spoke with Ramanthan, who chairs the Project ABC sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP) on the implications of this problem and what can be done about it.

Click here to read what he had to say.

The modern day pirates

Recently, a massive oil tanker was held hostage by Somali pirates in a daring daylight attack, carried out in the deep sea. The incident not only signified the growing boldness of modern day pirates but also brought home the uncomfortable truth that piracy on the high seas, once rampant in the ancient and middle ages, still continues to be a curse of the oceans even in the twenty first century. Incidentally, the Somali pirates too have moved with the times and have advance information about ships, communicate using satellite phones, carry sophisticated weapons and travel on fast speed boats although like their earlier counterparts, they too operate stealthily and are guided by greed.

Click here to read how piracy has changed over the centuries and the role India can play in curbing it.

Kiss and tell writing

Can the confessional genre of writing succeed in India? Opinion is divided on the issue. In the US, for instance, the confessional genre has been quite popular, with many blockbusters in recent years. However, not many authors in India have attempted it, preferring to instead fictionalize their experiences. In this context, does the confessional memoir have a future in India?

Click here to read how confessional books are faring in India.

The past life of Barack Obama

Barack Obama, who swept the U.S presidential elections to emerge as the next President of the United States, may have been, in his previous life, a close associate of former American president, Abraham Lincoln. Walter Semkiw, an American doctor, who specialises in past life research claims that Obama is the reincarnation of Lyman Trumbull, a senator from Illinois, who was extremely close to Lincoln. Trumbull, incidentally was also a lawyer, who fought against slavery and was the principal author of the Thirteenth Amendment, which put an end to slavery in the United States. Could Obama be Trumbull reincarnated?

Click here to read more on who Obama was in his past life.

Click here to read a whacky take on Obama's ascension to the presidency.

Dismissing the batman

Is the centuries old sahayak (batman) system in the Army on its way out? It would seem so, if the recent recommendations of the parliamentary committee on defence are anything to go by. The committee, in its report strongly advocated the "abolishing of the sahayak practice", pointing out that “jawans are recruited for serving the nation and not to serve the family members of officers in household work, which is demeaning and humiliating.” Incidentally, opinion is divided on whethere there is a case for dismissing the batman. While some people feel that it's time to put an end to what is perceived as a "colonial hangover" and an "anachronism of the past", many officers in the army believe that the whole thing is being blown out of proportion and that the sahayak is more of a "buddy" to the officer and that the whole Army should not suffer because "a few black sheep had misused the practice."

Click here to read the pros and cons of the whole issue.