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The Nabard data shows that farm distress is even more severe than averages reveal. The amounts earned by marginal farmers is painfully pathetic. One in every five households “earned Rs 2,500 or lesser per month, which appears insufficient to meet the bare necessities of life.” At the same time the top 20 percent of households saw a quadrupling of income to Rs 48,833 per month.
“The rise in income was much steep in the 99th percentile households which earned more than twice the ones in the 95th percentile and about four times the ones in the 80th percentile,” said the report. In other words, rich farmers got richer. Poor farmers remained where they were, or even got poorer. These disparities may be attributed to existing inequalities in terms of households’ ability to access various resources and opportunities..
The story of inequity is the same as for the rest of the Indian economy. The top 20% of people account for over 90% of the wealth in the country. The bottom 20% barely manages to survive.
It should have been different for agriculture and rural communities, given huge government spending and doles. It should certainly have been different for milk producers where a working model exists in Gujarat — thanks to Verghese Kurien — and where farmers get over Rs 30 per litre without state subsidies.
The Nabard findings are reinforced by data from an August 23 report India Rating which showed how farmer incomes have stopped growing significantly during the past three years.
Clearly, doubling of farm incomes is not the solution. Doubling Rs 2,500 a month will fetch the farmer only Rs 5,000. That is still distressful. The best way of ensuring a better deal for the farmer is by guaranteeing him a fair percentage of the market price.
A 50% share of the market price ought to be the norm. It would be a bit lower than the 80% share of the market prices that Gujarat’s milk cooperatives offer their farmers. Anecdotal evidence shows that farmers often get as little as 10% of the market price. That is where the root cause of farm distress lies.
Maybe the current model adopted by the government — of being both the subsidy provider and the procurement price player — has failed to deliver good results. It has made the farmer lose incomes and even self-respect. Could India allow instead a bigger role for market forces, and a system linked to consumer prices? Could the farmers finally get a better deal?
Water-snake place mat, $32, and napkin ring, $10, at Global Table.
Roberto Vascon faux-python bag, $150 at Henri Bendel.
Embossed calfskin envelope by Graphic Image, $38 at Barneys New York.
Men’s python loafers, $690 at Dolce & Gabbana.
Natural python zigzag stitch belt, $55 at East of Eden Leathers.
For more information, see eastofedenleathers.com.
Gold python crisscross sandal with green snake, $675 at Gucci.
Multiple locations. See store profile.
For more information, see gucci.com.
Python-print cowhide Taxi Wallet, $60 at Kate’s Paperie.
Rhinestone snake ring by Kenneth Jay Lane, $95.
Metallic address book by Matthew Williamson for Smythson of Bond Street, $150.
Eighteen-karat-gold snake bangle bracelet with ruby eyes, by Gabriella Kiss, $1,500 at Ted Muehling.
In 1963, the Beatles were exploding in England. Their debut LP, Please Please Me, came out in March, followed by their megahit single “She Loves You” in August. Their second album, With the Beatles, and another hit single, “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” followed in the fall. Screaming girls, throngs of fans, bushels of albums being sold—this was when it all started.
But the Beatles were also a veritable human jukebox that year. One of their many commitments was to turn up semi-regularly at the BBC, horse around on air, read requests, make fun of each other, make fun of the presenter, and play live versions of whatever people wanted to hear, whether that was their own material or a vast range of covers: Elvis Presley numbers; obscure rhythm-and-blues songs by lost-to-time bands like the Jodimars; Broadway show tunes; Americana; vamps on Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry; rearrangements of girl-group cuts; torch songs. If you wanted to hear what made the Beatles the Beatles, here is where you would want to start.
My wife and I saw The Who on four of their first seven farewell tours, 1982 to sometime in the 1990s. At least twice, their encore was “Twist and Shout.” Pete Townshend called it “the best song we know,” or words to that effect.
I love the Goldberg Variations [posted Sunday]—especially the Rosalyn Tureck version. She repeats the returns, as written, which makes the recording longer—over 70 minutes, I believe. I know of no better music in which to get lost in contemplation.
Strictly speaking, all classical music is a cover. The originals occurred long before any of us were around.These two tracks are unusual, however, in that it’s the same composition performed by the same musician to very different effects. “The Goldberg Variations” was the first recording Glenn Gould made, done in 1955. Showcasing astounding technical brilliance, the piece rushes head forth over in a scant 38 minutes, bursting with energy.
Gould recorded the Variations again in 1981 [embedded above]. It turned out to be the last piece he ever recorded before his untimely death at 50. This time the pace is considerably slowed (it clocks in at 51 minutes). There is a stately grace to the piece, a maturity found. It’s always seemed to me the two versions are the perfect expression of how we start out and how we end up—different temperaments, but no less impressive on either end.
A couple of words about Gould: A true eccentric, he was a hypochondriac and likely somewhere on the autism spectrum. He hummed while he played (listen closely, you can hear him), often had his nose almost touching the keys and stopped playing concerts in 1964. He had a profound impact on how classical music was recorded and had an equal impact on how Bach and his music was regarded.
When I first heard Devo’s version of the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction,” I couldn't believe it was the same song. Over the years I’ve come to see they’re both expressing frustration. The Stones do it almost languorously, while Devo give the song a frenetic, postmodern twist. Plus Scorcese used Devo’s version in Casino, if I’m not mistaken. Teen-tested, Scorsece-approved!
Two of the people who were most generous to me in journalism and writing died in the past two days.
Robert Manning was the editor of the Atlantic when I first started here, in 1979. Which is to say, he is the person who hired me. This is a photo of him in that same year, from Mark Feeney's obit today in the Boston Globe. He is in the middle, between John Updike and Justin Kaplan.
Bob Manning was a very graceful writer and a talented editor, a proud and witty man, a gregarious and devoted and big-hearted friend. During his nearly 15 years as the Atlantic's editor, he brought the magazine into the center of covering the big events of that time, notably the Vietnam war, civil rights progress and tumult, the economic transformations of the oil-shock and stagflation era, the cultural rending and refashioning of American society, the Watergate-induced changes in DC politics, and much else. He also led a very strong Atlantic team -- including Michael Janeway, Richard Todd, Louise Desaulniers, C. Michael Curtis, and others. Mark Feeney's appreciation conveys Manning's achievements and his edge.
When I am back in the U.S. and the DC office on Monday I'll show the wonderful portrait of Bob Manning that we have on our office wall, as part of the long line of Atlantic editors.
Also this past week, Wendy Weil, who has been my literary agent on all the books I have written, died suddenly while doing what she did most often, and best -- reading manuscripts. This is the photo from her agency's site. I met her when I was in my mid-20s and she in her mid-30s, and we worked happily together ever since. I was grateful for her combination of patience and prodding, and her complete loyalty to her flock of writers.
I don't mean to be morose, but these are two people whose generosity and heart made a big difference in my life, and whose passing I felt obliged to note. Best wishes to their colleagues, their many friends, and their family members. I will miss them both.
The purpose of this study was to find out the problems which would be met and their solutions if the Indonesian National Library applied the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, second edition (AACR2).
Comparison between AACR2 rules and those of its predecessor's as well as international cataloguing and cataloguing practice in Indonesia was conducted. AACR2 rules were analyzed and examples of their application were shown.
The findings indicated that the translation of the terms used in AACR2 to Indonesian language and the choice of the option rules would become the main problem. But it was predicted that the Indonesian people would easily adjust to AACR2.
Wirawan, Wirawan, "Formulation of the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Second Edition for Indonesian National Library Cataloguing: An Analytical Study" (1981). Master's Theses. 1788.
CHITRAL: Prince Karim Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, on Saturday said that peace was a must for the development of the region.
He was addressing his followers in Booni and Garum Chashma. In his address, Aga Khan stressed the importance of education and linked peace to the development of the region. He said that Islam was the religion of peace and its followers must follow the instructions of Islam for the progress and prosperity of the entire Muslim world.
Around 60,000 followers had gathered at Garum Chasma and 80,000 in Booni to listen to their spiritual leader. The spiritual leader of Ismaili community said that he had a strong bond with Chitral and was aware of the problems of the area.
Earlier, Member National Assembly Shahzada Iftikharuddin, District Nazim Maghfirat Shah and government officials received Prince Karim Aga Khan at the Chitral Airport. He was scheduled to reach Chitral on C-130. However, his arrival was delayed by three hours due to inclement weather and he reached the district via helicopter.
Emerald Waste Services will take over service to some areas and a transfer station.
Waste Management has entered into an agreement to sell its Gainesville business unit to Emerald Waste Services, headquartered in Freeport.
The unit includes service to unincorporated Alachua County, Starke, Keystone Heights, Waldo and McIntosh, and a transfer station in Gainesville.
Government affairs manager Dan McGinnis said the companies are in a due diligence period and if everything goes as planned the deal would conclude sometime between July 1 and Aug. 1. He said he could not discuss terms of the agreement.
EWS would assume the current operating contracts with municipalities, as well as individual contracts with local businesses in the service area.
EWS owns and operates landfills, transfer stations and hauling companies in northwest Florida and southeast Alabama, provides residential waste pickup in Bay and Walton counties, and commercial pickup in 13 counties in Florida and two in Alabama. Company officials did not return calls for comment.
Hops Grill rumors exaggerated: Rumors of Hops Grill Brewery's demise in Gainesville are greatly exaggerated, according to manager Scott Royals.
Royals said rumors have been circulating for months that the Archer Road restaurant would be closing, since the original parent company, Avado Brands Inc., went bankrupt and sold or closed its restaurants.
Complicating matters is that different owners bought Hops restaurants and don't display each other's stores on their Web sites. Steakhouse LLC of West Palm Beach bought 10 Florida Hops, including the Gainesville store, while Rita Restaurant Corp. bought seven others.
The Rita Web site for Hops does not include the Florida restaurants, which has helped fuel the rumor, Royals said.
One Avado-owned restaurant that did close locally was the Don Pablo's Mexican restaurant in front of The Oaks Mall.
Watermelon court appearing at Wal-Mart: The court of the 2008 Florida Watermelon Queen will be at the new Wal-Mart Supercenter from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday to pass out recipes and samples of Florida watermelons and discuss the fruit's health benefits.
Watermelon is a source of vitamins A, B6 and C, and potassium, according to the National Watermelon Promotion Board.
Florida Queen Kaley Jo Harper, crowned at the Florida Watermelon's 40th annual convention March 15 in Orlando, will be at other Wal-Marts in Florida that day, but queens from surrounding areas, including Chiefland Queen Meagan Marsh, will be in Gainesville.
Wal-Mart buys produce from local growers to ensure freshness and to save on distribution costs, the company said. The retailer spent $5.5 billion in Florida for merchandise and services last fiscal year.
The Supercenter is at 1800 NE 12th Ave., off Waldo Road.
"I would give a hundred guineas, if I could say 'Oh' like Mr. Whitefield."
Largely forgotten today, George Whitefield was probably the most famous religious figure of the eighteenth century. Newspapers called him the "marvel of the age." Whitefield was a preacher capable of commanding thousands on two continents through the sheer power of his oratory. In his lifetime, he preached at least 18,000 times to perhaps 10 million hearers.
As a boy in Gloucester, England, he read plays insatiably and often skipped school to practice for his schoolboy performances. Later in life, he repudiated the theater, but the methods he imbibed as a young man emerged in his preaching.
He put himself through Pembroke College, Oxford, by waiting on the wealthier students. While there, he fell in with a group of pious "methodists"—who called themselves "the Holy Club"—led by the Wesley brothers, John and Charles. Under their influence, he experienced a "new birth" and decided to become a missionary to the new Georgia colony on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
When the voyage was delayed, Whitefield was ordained a deacon in the Anglican church and began preaching around London. He was surprised to discover that wherever he spoke, crowds materialized and hung on every word.
These were no ordinary sermons. He portrayed the lives of biblical characters with a realism no one had seen before. He cried, he danced, he screamed. Among the enthralled was David Garrick, then the most famous actor in Britain. "I would give a hundred guineas," he said, "if I could say 'Oh' like Mr. Whitefield."
Once, when preaching on eternity, he suddenly stopped his message, looked around, and exclaimed, "Hark! Methinks I hear [the saints] chanting their everlasting hallelujahs, and spending an eternal day in echoing forth triumphant songs of joy. And do you not long, my brethren, to join this heavenly choir?"
Whitefield eventually made it to Georgia but stayed for only three months. When he returned to London, he found many churches closed to his unconventional methods. He then experimented with outdoor, extemporaneous preaching, where no document or wooden pulpit stood between him and his audience.
In 1739, Whitefield set out for a preaching tour of the American colonies. Whitefield selected Philadelphia—the most cosmopolitan city in the New World—as his first American stop. But even the largest churches could not hold the 8,000 who came to see him, so he took them outdoors. Every stop along Whitefield's trip was marked by record audiences, often exceeding the population of the towns in which he preached. Whitefield was often surprised at how crowds "so scattered abroad, can be gathered at so short a warning."
The crowds were also aggressive in spirit. As one account tells it, crowds "elbowed, shoved, and trampled over themselves to hear of 'divine things' from the famed Whitefield."
Once Whitefield started speaking, however, the frenzied mobs were spellbound. "Even in London," Whitefield remarked, "I never observed so profound a silence."
Though mentored by the Wesleys, Whitefield set his own theological course: he was a convinced Calvinist. His main theme was the necessity of the "new birth," by which he meant a conversion experience. He never pleaded with people to convert, but only announced, and dramatized, his message.
Jonathan Edwards's wife, Sarah, remarked, "He makes less of the doctrines than our American preachers generally do and aims more at affecting the heart. He is a born orator. A prejudiced person, I know, might say that this is all theatrical artifice and display, but not so will anyone think who has seen and known him."
Whitefield also made the slave community a part of his revivals, though he was far from an abolitionist. Nonetheless, he increasingly sought out audiences of slaves and wrote on their behalf. The response was so great that some historians date it as the genesis of African-American Christianity.
Everywhere Whitefield preached, he collected support for an orphanage he had founded in Georgia during his brief stay there in 1738, though the orphanage left him deep in debt for most of his life.
The spiritual revival he ignited, the Great Awakening, became one of the most formative events in American history. His last sermon on this tour was given at Boston Commons before 23,000 people, likely the largest gathering in American history to that point.
Whitefield next set his sights on Scotland, to which he would make 14 visits in his life. His most dramatic visit was his second, when he visited the small town of Cambuslang, which was already undergoing a revival. His evening service attracted thousands and continued until 2:00 in the morning. "There were scenes of uncontrollable distress, like a field of battle. All night in the fields, might be heard the voice of prayer and praise." Whitefield concluded, "It far outdid all that I ever saw in America."
On Saturday, Whitefield, in concert with area pastors, preached to an estimated 20,000 people in services that stretched well into the night. The following morning, more than 1,700 communicants streamed alongside long Communion tables set up in tents. Everywhere in the town, he recalled, "you might have heard persons praying to and praising God."
With every trip across the Atlantic, he became more popular. Indeed, much of the early controversy that surrounded Whitefield's revivals disappeared (critics complained of the excess enthusiasm of both preacher and crowds), and former foes warmed to a mellowed Whitefield.
Before his tours of the colonies were complete, virtually every man, woman, and child had heard the "Grand Itinerant" at least once. So pervasive was Whitefield's impact in America that he can justly be styled America's first cultural hero. Indeed, before Whitefield, it is doubtful any name, other than royalty, was known equally from Boston to Charleston.
Whitefield's lifelong successes in the pulpit were not matched in his private family life. Like many itinerants of his day, Whitefield was suspicious of marriage and feared a wife would become a rival to the pulpit. When he finally married an older widow, Elizabeth James, the union never seemed to flower into a deeply intimate, sharing relationship.
In 1770, the 55-year-old continued his preaching tour in the colonies as if he were still a young itinerant, insisting, "I would rather wear out than rust out." He ignored the danger signs, in particular asthmatic "colds" that brought "great difficulty" in breathing. His last sermon took place in the fields, atop a large barrel.
"He was speaking of the inefficiency of works to merit salvation," one listener recounted for the press, "and suddenly cried out in a tone of thunder, 'Works! works! A man gets to heaven by works! I would as soon think of climbing to the moon on a rope of sand.'"
The following morning he died.
European stocks closed flat on Tuesday, after mixed data from Germany and reports that struggling carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen had finalized a deal with China's Dongfeng.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 Index provisionally closed flat at 1,337.55 points, after an economic survey for Germany gave a mixed picture for the euro zone's largest economy. The forward looking economic sentiment index showed a fall to 55.7, lower than estimates and below last month's figure of 61.7.
However, the current conditions index rose to 50.0, against expectations of 44.0. This component of the widely-watched ZEW index reached its highest level since the summer of 2011.
Elsewhere in Europe, China's Dongfeng Motor Group and PSA Peugeot Citroen were said to be close to agreeing a 3 billion euro ($4.1 billion) capital tie-up that will help buy the French carmaker more time to turn its business around.
Analysts warned that Dongfeng's cash did not address some of the Peugeot's underlying problems. However, shares of the French car maker pared losses on the news to close down 2.2 percent.
Meanwhile, Europe's car sales rose for the fifth consecutive month, up by 5.5 percent in registrations in January, according to the European Automobile Manufacturer's Association. Euro zone peripheral nation Ireland led the recovery in the auto market, with car sales rising 32.8 percent and 31.8 respectively from a year ago.
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 outperformed its European peers, closing higher by 1 percent, erasing its losses for the year as it rose for a third straight session.
The index was supported by miner BHP Billiton after strong results. Shares in the company closed higher by around 2.1 percent after the mining firm reported a 31 percent rise in first-half profit on Tuesday and signaled it would consider a dividend hike in August.
Meanwhile, U.K. inflation fell below the Bank of England's target in January to its lowest annual level since November 2009. Consumer prices rose 1.9 percent year-on-year last month, below the 2 percent target set by the central bank. Month-on-month prices declined 0.6 percent.
Meanwhile, Italy remained in focus for European investors. Democratic Party (PD) Secretary Matteo Renzi, who is set to become Italy's youngest prime minister, is working to seal a coalition deal before a formal vote of confidence in parliament later this week.
Renzi has said he will present a program for the reform of the country's electoral system before the end of February. This would be followed by changes to the labor, tax and public administration laws by May.
U.S. stocks fluctuated on Tuesday, as an index of construction confidence fell dramatically, adding to another downbeat report on manufacturing in the New York region.
Japan's benchmark index rallied on Tuesday following the Bank of Japan's monetary policy announcement, but most other Asian markets fell.
In China, investors booked profits on the mainland's benchmark Shanghai Composite, after it hit a two-month high on Monday. Caution also set in ahead of Thursday's HSBC flash purchasing managers' index (PMI) for February.
Shares of Delhaize climbed 3.9 percent after the Belgian retailer received an upgrade by Morgan Stanley to "overweight".
Shares in hotel group InterContinental closed lower by around 3.2 percent, following full-year results. Numis Securities downgraded its recommendation on InterContinental to "hold" from "add", due to the lack of news on further returns of cash to shareholders.
Correction: An earlier version of this story referred to the wrong day for this market report.

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