Short Takes
Rights, lifestyle and technology
Randeep Wadehra

Human Rights in India and Pakistan
by Indu Singh & Ajay Saksena Deep & Deep. Pages: viii + 219. Rs 350

Human rights go hand in hand with the march of civilisation. A dignified life free of fear and want forms the bedrock of a civil society. The authors of this volume tell you that not all is well with India’s human rights record. Be it Kashmir, the North-east, Gujarat or even places not considered communal hotspots, police brutality and excesses by other security forces have been documented by our media. This runs counter to Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which, among other things, states, "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights."

Quality of Life in the Himalayan Region

edited by Prof. LR Sharma Indus. Pages: 296. Rs 600

Several factors go into determining quality of life, viz, material wellbeing, healthy social environment and a rewarding personal lifestyle. The contributors to this volume have tried to assess the quality of life enjoyed by people in the Himalayan region. The region’s socio-economic profile is complex and quite different from that in other parts of the country. Obviously, the region has unique developmental problems. There are thirteen essays in this volume that deal with such aspects of human living as education, healthcare, sustainable production systems, culture etc. A rewarding read for students and research scholars.

Asia Unplugged

edited by Madanmohan Rao & Lunita Mendoza
Response Books. Pages: 464. Rs 850.

Internet has transformed the world in an amazing manner. The speed and manner in which information is being collected, collated and retailed would have been beyond the imagination of people just a few decades back. This IT revolution has impacted world economy, education and lifestyle in unprecedented ways. And, remarkably, it is severely testing the jurisprudential superstructures of different nations. This book attempts to put this post-modern, futuristic phenomenon in perspective. The volume is divided into three parts: Overall Themes deals with wireless-based services and m-government, etc; Country Profiles studies wireless and mobile environments in different countries of the Asia-Pacific region, including India, Nepal and Bangladesh; and Resources has reviews by Rao of books dealing with subjects pertinent to this volume. Great value for your money.

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