Steam Center Blog

A newspaper report today in Times of India described how the problem of stray dogs has become huge in India even in previously pristine places like Nainital. Children face the gravest threats from them and some are killed from time to time in an attack. These dogs roam free and fearless in cities and enter all public areas including hospitals. Recently one was found feasting on a dead body in a hospital in Lucknow the capital city of the largest province of India. In Nainital the municipal body said that they had caught hold of some and sterilized them. Municipal bodies have said that for the last thirty years and the problem has only increased. Not only are these dogs a danger and nuisance in urban areas they also create a huge noise problem when they get into long barking matches. They are disrupting the sleep and therefore also the health of hundreds of millions of Indians. The simple question that needs to be answered is that are stray dogs compatible with human li...

Today the daily newspaper - Times of India - described an excellent plan to revive India’s rivers by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev of the Isha Foundation. The plan involves planting trees for up to one kilometer on either side of rivers. Applying an engineers mind to the proposal, this author is adding some more suggestions and clarifications for consideration and debate in this note in brief bullet form: The center-line of the river may be used to measure the one kilometer distance, and demarcation pillars similar to road distance signs at similar spacing may be put at this one kilometer point with a twenty feet wide paved road running along the length on either side. The road will help to make the demarcation permanent as well as serve to maintain the area and facilitate movement for villagers and others living nearby. As suggested by Isha foundation, existing farms falling within these limit may plant fruit orchards only whereas in v...

F rom time to time, irrational fears of supernatural spread through human society. There is one going around presently in northern India about a demon that cuts of the hair of women in secret without their knowledge and indeed many such cases have been reported from several northern states of India. One can only guess how this is happening short of an actual demon playing a prank or some weird ritual of their own. It is likely that women are cutting their own hair to adapt the look of some fashion models on TV and using this rumor as a pretext. Most families would not approve the short hair look otherwise or it may be to get attention. Whatever is the reason, the fear is widespread and newspapers report some women going to bed with helmets on. In time the demon will get tired and go away as other such have before in history. In the meantime the possibility of utilizing this fear for public good arises. While the women are busy at prayers to keep the hair loving demons ...