Senator Barack Obama, the democratic presidential candidate wished U.S. hindus a Happy Diwali. In his note to the South Asian Journalists Association, he writes that in this time of lights, he seeks to bring positive change if he’s the president.

Read his note here.

A woman in her 70’s gave birth to twins in a quest for a boy in Uttar Pradesh, India, reported BBC today. The woman’s husband, a farmer, also in mid-70’s said he wanted a boy to take care of his property. They conceived using the method of In Vitro Fertilization. 

On one hand, India is making a mark in the world by its fast paced developement. Ironically, the same advancement is being used (in this case, IVF) to continue its inflated importance on males. A practice that puts an eldery woman’s life in danger to advance a culture that stresses male supremacy, is really sad and a slap in the face of 21st century’s “development”.

The divide between the poor and the rich is stark in most developing countries. It is clearly seen in the photographs, taken by Suraj Shakya, of a commuter steamer-boat going from the southern city of Barisal to Dhakka, the capital of Bangladesh.

Boats are often the mode of transportation in a country veined by rivers flowing from Himalayas of the neighboring countries. Waterway is well net-worked and hundreds of passengers traveling from one city to another, do so by paddle-boat steamers. The system is old as the trains in India, both of which were introduced by the British during the Raj.

The luxury room is a double bed, with TV and attached bath. It accomodates up to five people. It sits right above the deck, on which about a hundred Bangalis accomodate themselves. The suite costs up to 3,000 takkas, and the deck, up to 50 takkas.

“Hundreds of passengers accommodate themselves in the deck class of the steamer headed from Barisal to Dhaka, risking their lives as they travel in hazardous conditions,” said Shakya via e-mail.  Check for travel reviews.