Pulling together all #KeralaSOS donation links here. (Will try to update through the day) Firstly there is the CM's Relief Fund website: donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/#donation Link also features UPI QR codes.
Alternately you can use the Kerala Government Portal route to also donate to the CM Disaster Relief Fund: kerala.gov.in/web/guest/CMDR…
PayTM users can directly make donations via the app or the PayTM website here: paytm.com/helpinghand/ke…
UK residents if you google 'Kerala Flood Donation' you get a link to easily send donations via the Center for Disaster Philanthropy NGO. Easy peasy.
My friends @TheRestlessQuil (Bengaluru) is raising funds and emergency kits in Bangalore, and @kushanmitra (Delhi) is putting together a despatch of water purification tablets. Reach out to these tremendous people.
The @anbodukochi handle is also coordinating and communicating relief collections and shipments in Bengaluru, Chennai and other places. The #anbodukochi hashtag is worth a look as well. (Though many rescue requests.)
SEWA International has details of their fundraising activities here: sewainternational.org/appeal-for-ker… Including an option to send money from overseas to their branch in Delhi.
A million ways to help Kerala in this difficult time. Every rupee counts. Every mosquito net, every torch, every bag of onions.
The @udayfoundation in Delhi is collecting material for shipments. Get in touch.
Friends, through the last few days I have tried to spread the word on donations without specifically responding to any of the political points or quite blatant falsehoods that have sadly become part of any social media mobilization.
For a number of reasons. 1. The victims need help. And I don't care where it comes from. 2. The entire point of such falsehoods is to mire good people in the pointless act of fact-checking bullshit 3. Loyalty-signalling + performative platforms = people become assholes.
However, there is a clip making the rounds that I think needs a response. Because even well-meaning people find WhatsApp irresistible. I will respond to three points: 1. Largely rich people affected 2. Donations will not go to the poor 3. Kerala needs services instead. Responses:
One very quick I-day thread with some constitution-media-citizenship thoughts. Noob disclaimers apply of course. So I encourage people who know better to chip in. Also I am an NRI and it is easy for me to say etc arm chair etc. I know. Still...
So for some years I have been working on a podcast history of the Indian constitution. It went on abrupt hiatus in 2015 after 14 episodes. (I went to do a Masters.) But it will resume this year with production help from an Indian media company. Details soon.
Working on this podcast it is impossible to miss the peculiar federal structure of the Indian state. And while it is important for politicians and agencies to be cognizant of this, it is also good for citizens to know this. That there are lists...
Good morning my friends. Let me start the day by sharing a small story from my academic work in medieval numismatics. For your enjoyment. Kindly peruse this coin. (Those in the know kindly do not spoil for others. Non-expert-so-far disclaimers apply.) 1/n
At first glance this is a Persian coin. A ‘Sassanian’ Persian coin to be more precise. There are numerous signature features. On the obverse (the front) you can see the king with his bearded face and winged headgear, ornaments around the neck. All standard Sassanian features.
On the reverse is the fire altar, of Zoroastrian fame. The Sassanians, on the eve of Islamic conquest, were Zoroastrians of course. Note attendants on either side of the altar holding swords or staffs of some kind. Again pretty standard for this kind of coin. So far so good. 3/n