How quickly the world changes. At the end of August I wrote about a &ldquo;mid-list&rdquo; author &mdash; that is, one with steady but unspectacular sales &mdash; in the UK who was saying, to only a little controversy, that published writers today are unlikely to earn enough money from their books to live on. The reason Ewan Morrison gave was the shift to ebooks. It is very difficult to get customers to pay &ldquo;reasonable&rdquo; sums for digital content, as the music industry long ago discovered.

Author as salesman

Business Standard

There is a word in Great Andamanese, raupuch, that means &ldquo;one who loses his sibling&rdquo;. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think any other language &mdash; English, Hindi &mdash; has a word for this relationship,&rdquo; says linguistics professor Anvita Abbi. When she told her Great Andamanese informants this fact, they were perplexed.

Saving a world

In late October the winter migratory season for birds begins in India. In and around Delhi the lightly forested Ridge and the Yamuna and various water bodies attract birds from Europe and northern Asia. They come to escape the winters of the northern latitudes. Here they find food, a mild climate, and dedicated birdwatchers. Some flocks stay till March.

Going missing

The Aakash, called the world&rsquo;s cheapest tablet, has faced a barrage of recent criticism. Reviewers and others say it is not good enough, but the few who have used it are not so sure. Is it a washout?.

Rrishi Raote

Rrishi Raote

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Author as salesman

Saving a world

Going missing

Broken promise?