Jophin Mathai
@jofmat.bsky.social
philanthropy, education, social mobility, careers, social change | I read, write, listen
Pinned
Jophin Mathai
@jofmat.bsky.social
· Nov 18
Books I read/finished reading in 2025 🧵
This is a yearly ritual. I shall be adding to the thread every now and then. May you happily stumble upon something worth your time:
#booksky
This is a yearly ritual. I shall be adding to the thread every now and then. May you happily stumble upon something worth your time:
#booksky
Reposted by Jophin Mathai
By one of Fernando Pessoa's alter egos.
February 10, 2026 at 4:02 AM
By one of Fernando Pessoa's alter egos.
Reposted by Jophin Mathai
In India, droughts made more severe by climate change are making it harder for farmers to earn a living and, as a result, to find partners and marry. By Karan Deep Singh and Elke Scholiers for Deutsche Welle…
How climate change forces Indian farmers to stay single
Anil Jadhav is an Indian farmer. He had always dreamed of having a large family. But as droughts in his homeland increase, his income — and marriage prospects — are dwindling.
buff.ly
February 8, 2026 at 1:31 PM
In India, droughts made more severe by climate change are making it harder for farmers to earn a living and, as a result, to find partners and marry. By Karan Deep Singh and Elke Scholiers for Deutsche Welle…
Reposted by Jophin Mathai
"we've got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen."
d.h. lawrence
d.h. lawrence
February 7, 2026 at 4:06 PM
"we've got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen."
d.h. lawrence
d.h. lawrence
““Most of the women in this economy are shouldering responsibilities all on their own,” Seema said. “Ninety-nine percent of them are single women and mothers, and the ones that are married usually come from households where they don’t have much support from their husbands or families.””
A women-led union gives voice to India’s gig workers
Besides organising strikes, the Gig and Platform Service Workers Union enables coordinated media outreach, legal advocacy and public pressure, foregrounding the experiences of women.
caravanmagazine.in
February 8, 2026 at 12:27 PM
““Most of the women in this economy are shouldering responsibilities all on their own,” Seema said. “Ninety-nine percent of them are single women and mothers, and the ones that are married usually come from households where they don’t have much support from their husbands or families.””
Reposted by Jophin Mathai
A profile of Anke Gowda, retired sugar factory worker from Karnataka, and his library of two million books free for anyone to borrow and read.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Anke Gowda: The Karnataka man who built a library of two million books
Anke Gowda, whose library is open to everyone, recently received an Indian government award.
www.bbc.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:16 AM
A profile of Anke Gowda, retired sugar factory worker from Karnataka, and his library of two million books free for anyone to borrow and read.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Jophin Mathai
I read Stephen Markley's ambitious novel 'The Deluge' at the fag end of 2025. Sharing my reflections on this excellent piece of speculative fiction.
#booksky #bookreviews
joph.in/book-review-...
#booksky #bookreviews
joph.in/book-review-...
Book Review: The Deluge by Stephen Markley – Jophin Mathai
joph.in
February 1, 2026 at 7:53 AM
I read Stephen Markley's ambitious novel 'The Deluge' at the fag end of 2025. Sharing my reflections on this excellent piece of speculative fiction.
#booksky #bookreviews
joph.in/book-review-...
#booksky #bookreviews
joph.in/book-review-...
“India has witnessed a fivefold surge in waste tyre imports from developed countries over the past few years.”
Excellent reporting uncovering yet another ‘value chain’ of an anti-care global economy.
#climate #environment
www.reporters-collective.in/trc/india-is...
Excellent reporting uncovering yet another ‘value chain’ of an anti-care global economy.
#climate #environment
www.reporters-collective.in/trc/india-is...
The Black Wind: How India is becoming the World's Waste Tyre Furnace
India has witnessed a fivefold surge in waste tyre imports from developed countries over the past few years. Despite strict regulations for controlled imports and scientific disposal, enforcement gaps...
www.reporters-collective.in
February 4, 2026 at 2:51 PM
“India has witnessed a fivefold surge in waste tyre imports from developed countries over the past few years.”
Excellent reporting uncovering yet another ‘value chain’ of an anti-care global economy.
#climate #environment
www.reporters-collective.in/trc/india-is...
Excellent reporting uncovering yet another ‘value chain’ of an anti-care global economy.
#climate #environment
www.reporters-collective.in/trc/india-is...
The study “warns that a precipitous drop in global aid could lead to 22.6 million additional deaths by 2030 across 93 low- and middle- income countries, including 5.4 million children under the age of five”.
www.asiaresearchnews.com/content/21-a...
www.asiaresearchnews.com/content/21-a...
21 Asian Countries Among 93 Worldwide at Risk of Losing Nearly 23 Million More People by 2030
ISGlobal, supported by Rockefeller Foundation, analyzed impact of severe global aid cuts in 93 countries, with 21 in Asia. New study published in The Lancet finds slashing global aid, particularly by ...
www.asiaresearchnews.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:21 AM
The study “warns that a precipitous drop in global aid could lead to 22.6 million additional deaths by 2030 across 93 low- and middle- income countries, including 5.4 million children under the age of five”.
www.asiaresearchnews.com/content/21-a...
www.asiaresearchnews.com/content/21-a...
I read Stephen Markley's ambitious novel 'The Deluge' at the fag end of 2025. Sharing my reflections on this excellent piece of speculative fiction.
#booksky #bookreviews
joph.in/book-review-...
#booksky #bookreviews
joph.in/book-review-...
Book Review: The Deluge by Stephen Markley – Jophin Mathai
joph.in
February 1, 2026 at 7:53 AM
I read Stephen Markley's ambitious novel 'The Deluge' at the fag end of 2025. Sharing my reflections on this excellent piece of speculative fiction.
#booksky #bookreviews
joph.in/book-review-...
#booksky #bookreviews
joph.in/book-review-...
Reposted by Jophin Mathai
For the 1st time, archaeologists have direct proof of far-flung social networks during the last Ice Age. “In times of climate crisis, cooperation—not conflict—was a successful strategy,” says @cnrs.fr's @solangerigaud.bsky.social. “It’s good to recall that as a lesson from our past.” 🏺 @science.org
Ice age Europeans imported tools from distant lands, perhaps as souvenirs
Mementos may have reinforced vast social networks during turbulent times
www.science.org
January 21, 2026 at 9:22 PM
For the 1st time, archaeologists have direct proof of far-flung social networks during the last Ice Age. “In times of climate crisis, cooperation—not conflict—was a successful strategy,” says @cnrs.fr's @solangerigaud.bsky.social. “It’s good to recall that as a lesson from our past.” 🏺 @science.org
Reposted by Jophin Mathai
"In the male-dominated online communities, women become the target of misogyny, because they are seen as standing in the way of their success — but this hostility could just as easily be directed toward another marginalized group."
Are ‘hyper-meritocracy’ and feminist backlash driving South Korean young men to the right?
One interviewee said anonymous online forums have fostered a culture in which blatant misogynistic, racist and sexist jokes and comments are normalized.
globalvoices.org
January 13, 2026 at 2:40 PM
"In the male-dominated online communities, women become the target of misogyny, because they are seen as standing in the way of their success — but this hostility could just as easily be directed toward another marginalized group."
“The world’s richest 1% have used up their fair share of carbon emissions just 10 days into 2026, analysis has found.
Meanwhile, the richest 0.1% took just three days to exhaust their annual carbon budget, according to the research by Oxfam.”
Meanwhile, the richest 0.1% took just three days to exhaust their annual carbon budget, according to the research by Oxfam.”
World’s richest 1% have already used fair share of emissions for 2026, says Oxfam
Richest 1% took 10 days while wealthiest 0.1% needed just three days to exhaust annual carbon budget, study shows
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:56 AM
“The world’s richest 1% have used up their fair share of carbon emissions just 10 days into 2026, analysis has found.
Meanwhile, the richest 0.1% took just three days to exhaust their annual carbon budget, according to the research by Oxfam.”
Meanwhile, the richest 0.1% took just three days to exhaust their annual carbon budget, according to the research by Oxfam.”
Reposted by Jophin Mathai
Fascinating story about how genome-based theories of disease clouded our understanding of exposome-based explanations of disease and how those errors are now slowly being corrected.
“Your exposome is the sum of your own personal environmental exposures, from the womb to the casket.”
“Your exposome is the sum of your own personal environmental exposures, from the womb to the casket.”
“No one knows exactly how much of the world’s drinking water is laced with TCE. The CDC reckons the water supply of 4-18% of Americans is contaminated… In Silicon Valley, where TCE was integral to manufacturing of early transistors, a necklace of underground plumes…”
www.wired.com/story/scient...
www.wired.com/story/scient...
Scientists Thought Parkinson’s Was in Our Genes. It Might Be in the Water
New ideas about chronic illness could revolutionize treatment, if we take the research seriously.
www.wired.com
January 11, 2026 at 5:24 AM
Fascinating story about how genome-based theories of disease clouded our understanding of exposome-based explanations of disease and how those errors are now slowly being corrected.
“Your exposome is the sum of your own personal environmental exposures, from the womb to the casket.”
“Your exposome is the sum of your own personal environmental exposures, from the womb to the casket.”
I’d been reviewing some of readings and saved tweets and came across one by @existentialcomics.com.
“No justice had ever been won without making someone uncomfortable.”
“No justice had ever been won without making someone uncomfortable.”
January 11, 2026 at 6:20 AM
I’d been reviewing some of readings and saved tweets and came across one by @existentialcomics.com.
“No justice had ever been won without making someone uncomfortable.”
“No justice had ever been won without making someone uncomfortable.”
Reposted by Jophin Mathai
Behind Indore deaths, civic collapse, health system struggling with deluge of patients
Behind Indore deaths, civic collapse, health system struggling with deluge of patients
Over 66,000 screened; many first rushed to small clinics barely equipped to deal with crisis
indianexpress.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Behind Indore deaths, civic collapse, health system struggling with deluge of patients
"Among today’s adept practitioners, the lie has long since lost its honest function of misrepresenting reality. Nobody believes anybody, everyone is in the know."
- Theodor Adorno, Minima Moralia
- Theodor Adorno, Minima Moralia
January 4, 2026 at 1:43 PM
"Among today’s adept practitioners, the lie has long since lost its honest function of misrepresenting reality. Nobody believes anybody, everyone is in the know."
- Theodor Adorno, Minima Moralia
- Theodor Adorno, Minima Moralia
“Its 11-year-old Building Institutions and Networks, otherwise known as BUILD, gave grants to 574 social justice nonprofits in 47 countries, via five-year grants ranging from around $2 million to more than $10 million.”
www.alliancemagazine.org/blog/ford-fo...
www.alliancemagazine.org/blog/ford-fo...
Ford Foundation scraps $2 billion global grants programme - Alliance magazine
The US-based Ford Foundation ‘quietly’ scrapped a $2 billion grantmaking programme that provided long-term funding for institutional support. Its 11-year-old Building Institutions and Networks, other...
www.alliancemagazine.org
December 29, 2025 at 1:29 PM
“Its 11-year-old Building Institutions and Networks, otherwise known as BUILD, gave grants to 574 social justice nonprofits in 47 countries, via five-year grants ranging from around $2 million to more than $10 million.”
www.alliancemagazine.org/blog/ford-fo...
www.alliancemagazine.org/blog/ford-fo...
Reposted by Jophin Mathai
There’s a Silicon Valley billionaire freak out happening about a potential wealth tax ballot initiative in California.
I hope everybody understands—the only way to make billionaires pay a similar *income* tax rate as their secretaries is via taxing unrealized cap gains or wealth
I hope everybody understands—the only way to make billionaires pay a similar *income* tax rate as their secretaries is via taxing unrealized cap gains or wealth
December 29, 2025 at 12:07 AM
There’s a Silicon Valley billionaire freak out happening about a potential wealth tax ballot initiative in California.
I hope everybody understands—the only way to make billionaires pay a similar *income* tax rate as their secretaries is via taxing unrealized cap gains or wealth
I hope everybody understands—the only way to make billionaires pay a similar *income* tax rate as their secretaries is via taxing unrealized cap gains or wealth
Reposted by Jophin Mathai
If you're interested in some granular national data on innovative social protection approaches - check out:
greeneconomytracker.org/policies/inc...
UNRISD also have lots of great research 😊
www.unrisd.org/en/research/...
greeneconomytracker.org/policies/inc...
UNRISD also have lots of great research 😊
www.unrisd.org/en/research/...
Inclusive Social Protection
A fair green future needs new laws. Here's the most important policies across 5 themes: Nature, People, Sectors, Finance & Governance
greeneconomytracker.org
December 29, 2025 at 7:12 AM
If you're interested in some granular national data on innovative social protection approaches - check out:
greeneconomytracker.org/policies/inc...
UNRISD also have lots of great research 😊
www.unrisd.org/en/research/...
greeneconomytracker.org/policies/inc...
UNRISD also have lots of great research 😊
www.unrisd.org/en/research/...
According to the ILO's flagship report 2024-26, dealing with climate shocks and implementing just transition policies 'requires comprehensive social protection systems to be in place ex ante". There is already a massive shortfall:
“Asia accounted for four of the top six costliest disasters with flooding in India and Pakistan killing more than 1,860 people, costing up to $6 billion and affecting more than 7 million people in Pakistan alone.”
December 29, 2025 at 6:55 AM
According to the ILO's flagship report 2024-26, dealing with climate shocks and implementing just transition policies 'requires comprehensive social protection systems to be in place ex ante". There is already a massive shortfall:
"If survival always involves others, it is also necessarily subject to the indeterminacy of self-and-other transformations."
- Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing, 'The Mushroom at the End of the World'
#booksky
- Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing, 'The Mushroom at the End of the World'
#booksky
December 29, 2025 at 6:29 AM
"If survival always involves others, it is also necessarily subject to the indeterminacy of self-and-other transformations."
- Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing, 'The Mushroom at the End of the World'
#booksky
- Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing, 'The Mushroom at the End of the World'
#booksky
Reposted by Jophin Mathai
In a statement, the bishops’ association said that it was “particularly shocked” by an incident in Jabalpur, where a visually impaired woman attending a Christmas programme was assaulted by a BJP leader.
Read more: scroll.in/latest/10895...
Read more: scroll.in/latest/10895...
December 24, 2025 at 5:34 AM
In a statement, the bishops’ association said that it was “particularly shocked” by an incident in Jabalpur, where a visually impaired woman attending a Christmas programme was assaulted by a BJP leader.
Read more: scroll.in/latest/10895...
Read more: scroll.in/latest/10895...
Reposted by Jophin Mathai
I think it's sweet that the oldest surviving printed book in the world - the Diamond Sutra - is also the oldest creative work explicitly released into the public domain, with a colophon at the end that says it was created for universal free distribution.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond...
Diamond Sutra - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 23, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I think it's sweet that the oldest surviving printed book in the world - the Diamond Sutra - is also the oldest creative work explicitly released into the public domain, with a colophon at the end that says it was created for universal free distribution.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond...
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS.
I cannot imagine knowing stuff without getting sucked into a citation rabbit-hole / wonderland and then reflecting on how these works engage with each other.
I cannot imagine knowing stuff without getting sucked into a citation rabbit-hole / wonderland and then reflecting on how these works engage with each other.
Am I the only one who gets a real kick out of citation chains? Reading people's writing and footnotes, and making assessments and notes, finding the sources in the footnotes and reading them yourself, and making more notes?
I...love it?
I...love it?
Not for academics it isn’t. You learn by reading and by following citation chains and talking to other people in the field. Letting the AI do the summary is abdicating your job.
December 23, 2025 at 5:32 AM
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS.
I cannot imagine knowing stuff without getting sucked into a citation rabbit-hole / wonderland and then reflecting on how these works engage with each other.
I cannot imagine knowing stuff without getting sucked into a citation rabbit-hole / wonderland and then reflecting on how these works engage with each other.