The Indian Supreme Court has ruled that narco-analysis on suspects is illegal and violates their liberties. Critical Stew had written a post about this earlier, while the media had been gushing about technology’s role in fishing information out of enemies of the state and criminals. Link
Mary Roy, an educationist from Kerala, India writes about the debilitating impact of the mania for English language education for school children in India. Using Kerala as an example she argues that learning in English comes at a price — not understanding what one is learning leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self esteem. [...]
We have been reporting on the crisis in the University (read here and here). A petition asking the prime minister of UK to reverse the Research Councils and HEFCE policy to direct funds to projects whose outcomes are determined to have a significant ‘impact’. Details: We request the reversal of the Research Councils and HEFCE [...]
Slavoj Zizek appeared on Democracy Now to critique the ideology that provides scaffolding for capitalism to go on doing what it does, even when we know its consequences. He cites the example of the openness of cynicism in democratic societies with no room for radical emancipation. “That’s ideology today. We don’t believe in democracy—nobody. You [...]
Judith Butler writes about what is going on in the University, or the disastrous results of managerialism in the University (link), which has eroded whatever remained of the public character of the University. This article should be read as a precursor to the more substantial critique of the idea of the University and its future [...]
Following Jimmy Carter’s comments referring to the undelying racist dimension of the critiques against Obama’s new health reform policy proposals, this article by Barnor Hesse and S. Sayyid discusses the paradoxes of racism (here). Along the same lines, Katy Sian presents and offers her view on a recent BBC interview between Jeremy Paxman and Spike Lee [...]
A scathing critique of the death of the University (from the UCSC occupation barricades) — to article (Here) and link to news report (here). Via edu-factory mailing list.
According to the Daily Telegraph, “sales of Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler’s autobiography and apologia for his anti-semitism, are soaring in India where business students regard the dictator as a management guru.” (Link)
Thanks to the various laws in India, which are archaic… bloggers have to face the wrath of all and sundry. According to a Times of India report, a Supreme Court bench consisting of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam ruled that it could not quash criminal proceedings against Ajith D brought about [...]
A Hindustan Times report says Indian government officials have been ordered not to use free webmail, online photo sharing, social networking and other such services that might compromise security. Chinese hackers are believed to be one of the sources of intrusions into government computer networks. Read here
