issue #9

The entire EU crying itself hoarse against a symbol that's been in use throughout history in Hindu and Buddhist rituals just because it happened to be adopted by the Nazi regime; protests against a Sikh play and then an English one; an outcry against certain words used in the Indian national anthem that supposedly "trespasses" the rights of another country - all this in the name of religious and social sentiments.

Sentiments my foot, these guys just need a reason to occupy their idle brains. If a religious guru is jailed- it's breach of human rights, if he gets a bail, it's religious bias; either way protesters will make a field day out of any event.

On the other end of the spectrum, crores of debt-ridden farmers, children who live on the streets and millions of daily wage earners, who have more than sufficient reasons to protest against their plight remain silent; they are so busy earning a living that they have neither the time nor the inclination to stage protests.

The only way to counter the wave of meaningless protests is public indifference (and people are already taking to it) which would drive the steam out of media-hungry protesters.

It's really time to stop worrying about concocted petty issues and start acting on things that really matter.

-editor

PS: Check out the vIbe vAlentine cElebration

issue #8

The previous year had all of twelve months and yet when we look back it's difficult to look past the last month and the devastation that it brought upon mankind. If anything, the tsunami and its impact has once again taught us to reconsider mankind's much-touted superiority. We may be sending missions to Mars and boasting of our success at cloning, but when push comes to shove, nature has her own way of letting us know that we are but puny mortals.

Another fact that came to fore is that people all over the world are so very forthcoming with aid for the victims of an unfortunate natural disaster, but we never see such grand gestures for the millions of children who die of malnutrition all over, throughout the year - victims of a deliberate negligence perpetrated by man.

Here's hoping that just as the world has united today in the aftermath of the tsunami, it may stay united forever to support other worthy causes with as much zeal and fervour.

- sumandatta
(editor)