South Asia is going through turmoil -- some inflicted by nature, some by fellow humans. Myanmar's cyclone has mercilessly claimed lives in ways that we can't begin to fathom, no thanks to the Junta and its closed-door policies. Paddy fields in the Irrawaddy Delta have been washed away with bodies, bang in the middle of a global food crisis.

Last heard, the Junta has allowed four Asian countries -- China, India, Thailand and Bangladesh -- to send in disaster relief teams, which tells me the situation there is grim. Very grim and desperate.

Meanwhile, nature and man took its toll on neighboring countries as well.

Here are some of the most significant events that have shaken-up India and its neighbors in recent days and weeks.

Photo credit: Various sources via ifgogo.com

China: A devastating earthquake struck the western province of Sichuan in China on Monday, claiming an estimated 50,000 lives. Like Myanmar, China opened up its rescue operations to experts from Japan and Taiwan. Rescue workers still struggle to reach distant villages buried under rubble. The region is mountainous, making the task arduous. Foreign tourists are reported to be stranded but, safe. Rescue operations continue.
[Aside: Press freedom in China? This report says it's remarkable that China, unlike earlier, has allowed its media considerable amount of freedom to run reports and pictures about the earthquake. Agreed that this is a natural disaster, and not one perpetrated by the government, and the reports still highlight the government's efforts to deal with it, still the change in coverage is obvious. Perhaps it's an attempt to improve China's image in the world post the Tibet fiasco. Or perhaps it's the best way for the government to reach out to its own people and keep the country united in peace. Either way, the openness seems a welcome change.]

China Daily
The earthquake, superstitions and Chinese bloggers (NYT)
BBC
Washington Post
CNN
Blogging the China earthquake
China Confidential
Miss Chiu and Chen Zi at Hong Dou urge you to donate
Ifgogo.com

Photo credit: PTI photo via Rediff.com

India: On Tuesday, a series of eight bomb blasts ripped through the peaceful, historical city of Jaipur in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan, killing over 60 people and injuring nearly 200. Most of the bombs were strapped to bicycles. The blasts are being investigated as a terror attack, but none of the better-known terror groups in the region have claimed responsibility. Plenty of red herrings so far, it appears. The city --- a major tourist attraction --- has remained peaceful since the attacks, and people have turned up in droves to donate blood and offer help. Social networks, including bloggers, Twitter and the Facebook, have been abuzz with news, views and analysis about the blasts. Aaman Lamba has put together list of contact numbers for inquiries and information at Desicritics.
[Aside: (i) The show must go on: Organizers of the ongoing Indian Premier League, which had cricket matches scheduled to be played in Jaipur, said there will be no change in plans or venue, blasts or no.
(ii) Storm kills 90: While the blasts kept the nation engaged, nature made its presence felt and took a much higher toll. In just over a day, more than 90 lives were lost in severe dust storms and showers in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.]


Hindustan Times
Rediff
BBC
The Times of India
Daink Bhaskar (Hindi)
Rajasthan Patrika (Hindi)
OffStumped
Sepia Mutiny
The SAJA Forum
Pass the roti on the left hand side

Pakistan: An assassination, an election and a regime change later, Pakistani democracy's birth pangs are back. The newly-elected government's first jolt came when a coalition partner -- the Pakistan Muslim League (N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif -- pulled out its ministers from the cabinet, angry over the failure of the government to reinstate several judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf last year. It has promised "issue-based support" to the majority party (the Pakistan People's Party formerly led by the late Benazir Bhutto). PPP's co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari (Bhutto's widower) has promised to keep the channels open for further negotiations. But reports point to some serious fissures in the coalition.

The News
All Things Pakistan
KO
Rupeenews
The Pakistani Spectator

BYE-BYE MONARCHY, HELLO DEMOCRACY?

Nepal: Despite a bloody, decade-long struggle that left over 10,000 people dead, the Maoists were elected to power in Nepal, who have promised to abolish the Himalayan country's nearly 300-year-old monarchy. Democracy took its first steps in 1991, but the ride has been rocky since then, with the (constitutional) monarchy taking over the reins twice. The country's economy was brought to its knees by a civil war that Maoists fought for a decade. Time now to give peace a chance.

The Himalayan Times
Kantipur Online
Hamropalo
Blogdai
United We Blog
Archana Srestha (Nepali)
Nepali Journal
Reality, one bite at a time

Bhutan: The small Himalayan kingdom nestled between India and China, also saw an end to its century-long monarchic rule and the beginning of parliamentary democracy. The kingdom has seen much unrest due to ethnic violence and anti-government groups. Two pro-monarchy parties won the recent parliamentary elections. So the kingdom has moved from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one.

Bhutan Observer
Thunderbolt Post
Bhutan: For a Democracy