Conversation

Only time I read paper newspapers now is when I’m in India. First thing that caught my eye was the kerfuffle around statues of regional atheism-positive party’s founding father Periyar. Good question. Is active atheism a religion to be separated from state?🤔
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The current leader of same party (or main fork DMK rather) was also named for Stalin during a Stalin-positive era. I’m for atheism-positive state affirmative action but not so sure about this.
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We conclude today’s India news bulletin with some Chola history snippets. Timely for me since I’m headed to Thanjavur tomorrow with family for a quick tour of the famous Chola temple there, which I haven’t seen before. TIL copper for chola bronzes came from Jordan.
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Just noticed this detail: the Indian penal code section 428 under which the poisoners of the stray dogs are charged is “mischief by killing or maiming animals” … Indian legalese always seems to contain weird language like this. Mischief???
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Sounds funny, but the word has been historically used to describe various categories of criminal offenses in English-speaking countries' penal codes. In the US for example it commonly covers vandalism.
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That's not Indian, that's British, I'm afraid (or maybe it is both?). The colonies all have similar phrasing in their old laws, and mischief is a favorite word. I haven't looked yet, but before I google, I'm guessing a Norman heritage, given the spelling...
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Mischief is a term in the US criminal law too. Intentional and reckless defacement, intrusion of other”s property is mischief. Vandalism,graffiti are examples.