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The Grand Dame at Kolkata’s Fairlawn Hotel

The ringing street sounds of Kolkata had as if melted into the distance to a pleasantly bearable level as I requested a tall brown bottle of Kingfisher beer at the Fairlawn Hotel garden restaurant. At last, respite from the city…

Anti-corruption needs to be among UN’s development goals

“I think that an honest and responsive government should be one of the new UN goals. More transparency and less corruption is what is really needed to create a better and more just world,” says Mushfiqul Haque Mukit, a young…

Occupy Hong Kong – sunset or really sunrise?

As expected, this week sees the start of the clearance of Hong Kong Occupy sites. It began with Admiralty, where the main road has been blocked by protesters for fifty-five days. The bailiffs, with court injunctions and backed by a…

Hong Kong theatre: it’s a gas – Tear Gas!

Tear Gas is a play, a satire or skit I would call it, on the student involvement in the Occupy Protests in Hong Kong that have been going on for 40-odd days and more now and that have highlighted, though…

Bangladesh: ramping it up for the disabled

Students of the department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka organized a human chain and rally on Monday, November 10, 2014 at the premise of Aporajeyo Bangla to demand ramps in all academic institutions in Bangladesh along with the University…

Bangladesh: Social Entrepreneurship contest at BUET

On yet another hartel (strike) day in October this year (2014) in Dhaka, BUET campus was abuzz with the excitement of formally clad youth, many with anxious dispositions, all eagerly making last-minute adjustments to presentation files on their laptops and…

A China lament – what do you really want from us?

What Do You Really Want from Us? When we were the sick man of Asia , we were called the yellow peril. When we are billed to be the next superpower, we are called the threat. When we closed our…

Military supremacy is harmful to mankind

Super power like USA begins to end its occupation in Afghanistan. Still 9,800 US troops remain in Kabul, 1,500 personnel in Iraq, 16,000 in Indonesia, with 200 ground troops in Pakistan. Military supremacy is harmful to humankind. Like the USA,…

Blessings and fun at Jammu’s Jhiri Festival

Jhiri Mela is an annual fair held in Jammu during October – November and is held symbolizing courage, honesty and compassion. It also upholds the values, customs and culture of India. Jhiri Mela in Jammu also brings in a festive…

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