Arijit Barman et al, on the arrival of the supermarket: Imagine driving into a self-contained shopping area with valet parking and for the next two hours shunning the daily humdrum completely. Then stack the world in a buying orgy. Tired doing that? Munch a burger at the food court or hang loose at the video parlour. Welcome to shoppertainment. That mall-mania is the next free-market deluge in our megapolises is obvious: India will have over 22 malls in the next two years, up from a paltry three today. http://bit.ly/1LguyIn
M.K. Kanimozhi, on the moral police in Tamil Nadu: The media-triggered public debate on women and Tamil culture is depressing and distressing. From clothes to sexuality to social norms, why is it that only women are made to bear the burden of morality and what gets defined as ‘Tamil culture’? The media abets the process by using women’s ‘honour’ to sell newspapers and magazines. The same Tamil press thrives on splashing pictures of semi-nude women from all parts of the world to boost sales. http://bit.ly/1KZZ1rS
David Headley confessions to NIA officials in the US: The ISI, I believe, had no ambiguity in understanding the necessity to strike India. (It was under) tremendous pressure to stop any integration of Kashmir-based jehadi organisations with the Taliban-based outfits. It’s always in ISI interests to keep these two sets of outfits poles apart. http://bit.ly/1GbQjBx
