I entirely agree with Nik Peachey's point that India's attempts at becoming a nuclear power with an ambitious space program is insane. They are trying to raise the peak and not concentrating on the raising the level. That sort of misguided thinking is also evident in the education sector, unfortunately. As I have been consistently saying, I am not against the use of technology in education. I am against using expensive solutions when there are more effective and efficient technology solutions. The fact is that budgetary allocations for education are inadequate for supporting fancy laptops for everyone. It's certainly lamentable and perhaps it is possible for greater support for education. Perhaps it is possible but not probable given the political process. So given the inadequate support by the government, it makes more sense to figure out ways to use to limited resources as efficiently as possible. In this short piece I am merely saying that perhaps one laptop per child is not warranted. The majority of mankind did manage to get to get educated without the use of laptops. That level of education is still achievable in India and it must be the policy goal. These silly attempts at providing laptops to a select few would be funny if not for the harm it does to those who are deprived of even basic education.

Better yet, why don't the Hindus just convert to Islam and change the name of the country from the Republic of India to "the Islamic Republic of India"? Perhaps then the holy warriors of Islam would stop killing the infidels. Actually, the government of India, with a view to getting Muslim votes does make laws that favor Muslims. Time to drop all pretense (and pants) and just bend over.

This news item makes me sick to my stomach.

Hindu gods and goddesses are often depicted with musical instruments. Saraswati, the goddess of learning has a sitar, for example.

Since you mention it: Shiva is called Nataraj, the king of dancers. His dance -- Tandava -- dances the universe into existence, a dance of creative destruction.
www.deeshaa.org/tandava-shivas-cosmic-dance/