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Software is more than a set of instructions for computers: it enables (and disables) political imperatives and policies. Nowhere is the potential for radical social and political change more apparent than in the practice and movement known as "free software." Free software makes the knowledge and innovation of its creators publicly available. This liberation of code—celebrated in free software’s explicatory slogan "Think free speech, not free beer"—is the foundation, for example, of the Linux phenomenon. Decoding Liberation provides a synoptic perspective on the relationships between free software and freedom. Focusing on five main themes—the emancipatory potential of technology, social liberties, the facilitation of creativity, the objectivity of computing as scientific practice, and the role of software in a cyborg world—the authors ask: What are the freedoms of free software, and how are they manifested? This book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding how free software promises to transform not only technology but society as well.
How philosophy can teach us to be less anxious about being anxious by understanding that it’s an essential part of being human Today, anxiety is usually thought of as a pathology, the most diagnosed and medicated of all psychological disorders. But anxiety isn’t always or only a medical condition. Indeed, many philosophers argue that anxiety is a normal, even essential, part of being human, and that coming to terms with this fact is potentially transformative, allowing us to live more meaningful lives by giving us a richer understanding of ourselves. In Anxiety, Samir Chopra explores valuable insights about anxiety offered by ancient and modern philosophies—Buddhism, existentialism, ps...
"For over forty years, Shyam Benegal has been one the leading forces in Indian cinema. Informed by a rich political and philosophical sensibility and a mastery of the craft of filmmaking, Benegal is both of, and not of, Bollywood. Focusing on its philosophical depth, Samir Chopra identifies three key aspects of Benegal's oueuvre: a trio of films which signalled to middle-class India that a revolt was brewing in India's hinterlands; two sets of movies which make powerful feminist statements and showcase strong female characters; and Benegal's interpretation, 'translation', and reimagining of literary works of diverse provenances and artistic impulses"--
First In The Series Of Books Detailing Wartime Operations Of The Indian Air Force (Iaf) It Provides A History Of The Air Component Of A War Triggered By Pakistan`S Invasion Of Kashmir In 1965. Based On Interviews With Iaf War Veterans, Squadron Diaries And Never Before Published Photographs Including Gun Camera Photos, The Book Is Very Valuable In Understanding The Deployment Of Air-Power In The Twentieth Century.
In Eye on Cricket, Samir Chopra, a professor of philosophy and a long-time blogger at ESPNcricinfo, offers us a deeply personal take on a game that has entranced him his entire life in the several lands he has called home. In these essays, Chopra reflects on a childhood centred on cricket, the many obsessions of fandom, the intersection of the personal and the political, expatriate experiences of cricket, historical regrets and remembrances, and cricket writing and media. Nostalgic, passionate and meditative, Eye on Cricket is steeped in cricket's history and its cultural significance, and reminds the most devoted spectators of the game that they are not alone. It shows how a game may, by offering a common language of understanding, bring together even those separated by time and space and culture.
Cricket as we know it may soon be no more. Thanks to Twenty20, technology, media, and the sheer financial power of Indian cricket, the gentleman's game is on the brink of radical changes. Nation-based cups might give way to T20 professional leagues; umpires might be replaced by technology; and professional franchises, not national boards, might call the shots. Could cricket go the way of professional football? Will Test cricket survive in an entertainment-driven field? Will television rights deals determine the nature of the game? This upheaval has been accompanied by conflict between the old guard - England and Australia - and the new boss, India. If the spirit of cricket is to survive these changes, it requires the balancing of economic, political and sporting imperatives. The game must find a way to remain a financially solvent global sport that caters to the changing tastes of its fans and players by creatively using new media and limited-overs cricket. In Brave New Pitch, Samir Chopra takes a hard look at cricket's tumultuous present, and considers what could and should lie ahead.
War is part of the story of the Indian nation; its presence in India's past continues to shape the Indian present and future. The 1962 China war, the 1971 Bangladesh war and the 1999 Kargil conflict all play outsized roles in the Indian popular imagination. The Indian film industry's war movies play an acute role in representing this aspect of Indian history; Samir Chopra's fascinating book takes a closer look at these movies' emotionally charged depictions of Indian military history. It examines classics of the war movie genre -- from Haqeeqat, Border and Hindustan Ki Kasam to Vijeta, LOC Kargil, Lakshya and The Ghazi Attack to see what they reveal and illuminate about the relationship of the Indian nation to war. Chopra thus enquires into how these movies establish popular Indian understandings of patriotism, militarism and nationalism and reinforce supposed 'Indian' values through their cinematic representations of war. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the relationship of Indian films to Indian culture and history.
The deafening noise in the Wankhede turns to silence so complete that you’d swear you can hear Tendulkar’s footsteps as he begins the walk back to the pavilion. It’s the end of an era, they said. No more switching off televisions when he got out; no more resounding chants of ‘Sa-chi-i-i-n, Sa-chin!’ In November 2013, Sachin Tendulkar played his final Test. Dilip D’Souza builds on close and detailed observation of those two and a half days, capturing all the hysteria it spawned, the love and adulation that showered from the rafters at the Wankhede, the choking emotion, and yes, there was a match on too, against the West Indies. Final Test discusses cricket from the old to the new, as Sachin takes to the pitch one final time.
"This memoir chronicles the author's evolving sense of identity as it finds expression in his cricket fandom. As he migrates among continents and develops his relationship with India's history, nationalism, and diaspora, his enthusiasms for teams, players, and the sport itself change"--