BLIND FAITH                                                When we know nothing about some subject, we put faith - trust - in  someone who is trained and experienced in that field, e.g. when our car stops working we go to a  professional mechanic to get it repaired, Similarly, when we have some symptoms of an illness we go  to a good doctor for its evaluation and treatment. Even in such situation we do not stop using our  rational judgement. If one expert's remedy does not produce desired result we seek another expert's  opinion.                            ...

                                                    CLIMATE CHANGE                 There is a consensus among scientists that greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide,  trap the sun's rays and cause an increase in temperature on earth. This is, to a large extent, caused by  human activity, mostly by burning of the fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas). As a result of climate  change, we are seeing higher sea levels in coastal areas and more severe storms. It is a question of  when, not if, growing areas of some countries become uninhabitable. Bangladesh may well be the first  country with a substantial population to face this problem.                 There are some positive signs that some countries  are making efforts to reduce dependence on ...

                                                            INDIA:  UNFORTUNATE  TENDENCIES                 There is a large plurality of people in India who practice ritualistic religiosity in their daily  life, e.g. time consuming rituals of idol worship and mass celebration of religious festivals (e.g.  Kumbh Mela). Often rules of public safety and health are violated during such celebration. There is  also an ingrained fatalistic outlook among people toward life and death. As a result people  in India are slow to protest  against social and economic injustices of this life      Above all, what is needed is cultivation of scientific temperament among people right from school age, so  that they stop following old superstitious beliefs and heed ...

                                                        INDIA:  A HIDEN POLITICAL CRISIS                Over last few years, India has taken several steps backwards with regard to its economy,  public health, social harmony and democratic functioning. India's GDP has shown negative growth. The  government has been complacent in handling the second wave of Covid-19, causing large number of  tragic deaths. A certain amount of religious bigotry has weakened social harmony of the nation. Those in power have compromised the independence of civic institutions, such as, CBI, ED, Election  Commission, Police and Judiciary in order to serve their narrow political interests. Those from Poor  and lower middle class are going thru a lot of hardship. Unemployment has increased significantly. ...