🕉️ ❌ Hinduphobia at Azim Premji University? | ⛈️ ☁️ And did Cloud seeding put Dubai underwater?
A hinduphobic poster at an event at Azim Premji University has caused outrage on social media. Meanwhile, cloud seeding technology is being blamed for Dubai's unprecedented floods.
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Market Watch
The markets were closed today on account of Ram Navami.
Why is Azim Premji University at the center of a Hinduphobia row again?
It began with a picture of a lecture at Azim Premji University depicting Dr B R Ambedkar holding a burning copy of Manusmriti with the text 'Annihilate Hinduism'. 👇
The institute started by Wipro Chairman Azim Premji, has not yet issued a statement and there is no confirmation of when the event took place or what was being said.
However, the picture which essentially insinuates genocide against Hindus has since gone viral on various social media platforms, triggering a wave of outrage, with many pointing out how the university has had a history of platforming such content, under the guise of “freedom of speech.”
The intrigue: Many were quick to point out who the creator of the original poster was, and then proceeded to attack her character on social media, dissecting her pictures and body shaming her too. (She has deleted the poster now, but you can see a screenshot of the post here 👇)
However, this conveniently shifts the center of the outrage to one individual, who does indeed have freedom of expression (however crass it may be in this case); while obscuring the fact that the university should be held accountable for platforming her content.
Of note: When Udayanidhi Stalin made similar comments on “eradicating Sanatana Dharma” the Supreme Court was quick to condemn his comments, saying he was abusing his rights by saying such things. Azim Premji University should ideally be held accountable on similar grounds.
Clip du jour
This timelapse showing the unprecedented rain that hit Dubai
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Dubai rain: Airport flooded, India flights hit; schools shut, cars under water
Torrential rain - an entire year’s worth in one day - in Dubai led to significant disruptions, including at the Dubai International Airport, with flights delayed or cancelled and operations temporarily suspended.
Flagship shopping centres and a Dubai Metro station were flooded, with social media images showing water ankle-deep and cars submerged, indicating widespread infrastructure disruptions.
The intrigue: Many articles speculated that cloud seeding may have been the cause as the country has been experimenting with the technology in the recent past.
This couldseeding was primarily being conducted in the east of the country, and convective clouds that formed in the northern and eastern parts of the country are being blamed for the deluge.
Yes, but: Cloudseeding has a limited sphere of influence, and only affects the immediate area that it is being conducted in. This deluge however, happened across the country and in neighbouring Oman as well.
So what is the cause? Many point the finger at climate change, saying Dubai has been receiving increasing amounts of rainfall in recent years. However, the country’s infrastructure is said to be woefully inadequate to handle such large amounts of rain.
Dubai has expanded rapidly in the last few years (mostly concrete and glass), with little attention paid to things like stormwater drains that deal with a sudden influx of water. A lack of adequate green spaces that could soak up the water also compounded the problem.
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