Author Archives: rgeeta

Thakkali Vattal and Manga Thira

Posted on June 22, 2021 by rgeeta

Inspired by the abundance of cheap tomatoes and the intensely hot days of May during a COVID-19 lockdown, I decide to make sun-dried tomatoes. Definitely worth it, despite the spells of rain (naturally) that threatened the enterprise. “Thakkali vattal-aa?” exclaims Maheswari. … Continue reading →

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COVID-19 Treatment

Posted on May 18, 2021 by rgeeta

In general, there are no known effective anti-viral drugs — not for the common cold, not for influenza, not for HIV, and not for COVID-19. Antibiotics do not work. For mild disease in the case of COVID-19, symptoms are treated … Continue reading →

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COVID-19 Vaccination: A Paean to the Public Health System

Posted on March 10, 2021 by rgeeta

The first dose After cogitating about vaccines – which vaccine, where vaccine, when vaccine, what time vaccine, free/paid vaccine, what-about Cowin: whether register, whether schedule – for some days after vaccination was opened up on March 1, 2021 to the general public … Continue reading →

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COVAXIN information

Posted on January 17, 2021 by rgeeta

Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR, New Delhi) Information on the vaccine (Bharat Biotech) Trials Pre-clinical (1) Immunogenecity and protective efficiency in hamsters iScience proof (pdf) (2) Immunogenecity and protective efficiency in rhesus macaques (preprint pdf)m (3) Safety immunogenecity (preprint bioRxiv 2020 Sep; … Continue reading →

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Cats!!!

Posted on July 5, 2020 by rgeeta

Cats long have been part of my mother’s household, but only in the past 30 or so years of her life, after my father moved to Madras on retirement. It is mostly the case that she and/or various household help … Continue reading →

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Dengue and Nilavembu kudineer (incl. Andrographis)

Posted on October 12, 2019 by rgeeta

A Siddha medication, nilavembu kudineer, is being distributed by the Tamil Nadu government to control dengue in the state. What is it, and what is the scientific support for the practice? Nilvembu kudineer is a concoction of nilavembu நிலவேம்பு, Andrographis paniculata,  the chief … Continue reading →

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Primers – PepsiCo, potatoes, Indian IPR

Posted on May 17, 2019 by rgeeta

Cottage Industry of write-ups and videos on the topic The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001, in context 2019 25 April PepsiCo and potato farmers case  2019 07 May What is seed sovereignty? PepsiCo case 2019 16 May  … Continue reading →

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GM Brinjal, Haryana

Posted on May 14, 2019 by rgeeta

What we do know:  Where? Sirsa and Fatehabad Districts, Haryana What we do not know: What? – GM brinjal – not Bt brinjal?? Whose? – Mahyco? TNAU Coimbatore? UAS Dharwar? Bangladesh? Other? 2019 05 18 Illegal GM brinjal was second crop, officials destroy … Continue reading →

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PepsiCo, Potatoes – and Reuters (BAD BAD BAD)

Posted on May 12, 2019 by rgeeta

I have no idea how much pressure the BJP government applied on PepsiCo to withdraw its lawsuits against Gujarat farmers (I do know that RSS was involved via its Bharatiya Kisan Sangh), but REUTERS! it is surely misleading (to put … Continue reading →

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PPV&FRA – Extant variety (VCK); Farmers’ rights

Posted on May 3, 2019 by rgeeta

THE PROTECTION OF PLANT VARIETIES AND FARMERS’ RIGHTS ACT, 2001 (pdf) Extant Varieties Chapter I – 2j “Extant variety” means a variety available in India which is— (i) notified under section 5 of the Seeds Act, 1966 (54 of 1966); or … Continue reading →

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