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Is epilepsy truly an 'African ailment'? We aimed to determine this, since international health agencies often refer to epilepsy as an African disease and the scientific literature has spoken the same tone. Various published materials, mainly reports, articles, were used to gather Asian and African evidence on various aspects of epilepsy and many of its risk and associated factors. Our results suggest that in no way can epilepsy be considered as an African ailment and such characterization is most likely based on popular beliefs rather than scientific evidence. In comparison to Africa, Asia has a 5.0% greater burden from all diseases, and is 17.0% more affected from neuropsychiatric disorders (that include epilepsy). Given that more countries in Asia are transitioning, there may be large demographic and lifestyle changes in the near future. However these changes are nowhere close to those expected in Africa. Moreover, 23 million Asians have epilepsy in comparison to 3.3 million Africans and 1.2 million sub-Saharan Africans. In comparison to Africa, Asia has more untreated patients, 55.0% more additional epilepsy cases every year, because of its larger population, with greater treatment cost and possibly higher premature mortality. Of several associated factors discussed herein, many have more importance for Asia than Africa. The current state of epilepsy in Asia is far less than ideal and there is an urgent need to recognize and accept the importance of epilepsy in Asia. In no way can epilepsy be considered as an African ailment. This is most likely based on popular beliefs rather than scientific evidence. A PowerPoint slide summarizing this article is available for download in the Supporting Information section . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that Jawaharlal Nehru’s vision of Asian identity was central to his view of India’s foreign policy. His vision enthused many in the last phases of World War II but the seemingly contradictory elements inherent in this vision ensured that it also had its critics within India, Asia and the world. However, by century’s end, the ideational framework that Nehru had so assiduously constructed since 1920 gained meaning in different contexts after Nehru’s demise. The vision of Asian identity that he put together began to inform Asian regional and subregional institutions and organisations. The analytical framework that he evolved, through non-alignment and the Panchsheel principles, presented an alternative to Cold War binaries. As a result, his view of Asian identity had positive implications for issues of conflict management, economic interdependence and community, the maintainence of peace by abjuring military alliances, guarding against the surrender of sovereign rights and, more recently, for a definition of security as human security. At home the task remains to reinvent his vision for a new phase in India’s foreign policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]