This is with reference to your cover story (The Raisina Cooperative, May 27). It was relevant to focus on the ‘charismatic’ role of prominent regional leaders in national politics. But roughly around the same time, the ‘exit polls’ simply baffled us all. Now, the result of the mandate has made it amply clear that all calculations of the Opposition have gone to dust. In UP, even the ‘formidable’ SP-BSP alliance has failed to thwart the BJP’s second wave. The bewildering electoral result is likely to cause sudden and sharp decline in the appeal and impact of leaders such as Mamata Banerjee of the TMC. The road to revival would be difficult for them, requiring strenuous efforts at the grassroots. Opposition leaders will have to reinvent their parties which can’t be sustained by the age-old formulae of social engineering of mobilising electorate on minority community and caste lines. It will be difficult to do so, especially when master strategists like Modi and Amit Shah are leaving no stone unturned to undo any such efforts. The debacle, therefore, in all likelihood could prove to be the beginning of the end of these parties. Leaders of all regional parties, leaving aside their personal ambitions and antagonisms, should strategise to mobilise around the Congress, which still has a semblance of a pan-India presence, to shape a strong Opposition invariably required for the survival of the democratic nature of our country.
Jaideep Mittra, Varanasi
Refer to “Power is poison but you can’t run away from it”, your interview of Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi’s family history itself points to the observation that power is poison. You won’t be having him on your cover for a long time, or maybe never again, now that the election results have proved the increasing irrelevance of the Congress. Incidentally, a recent issue of international edition of American magazine Time carried Modi’s picture on the cover page with the caption ‘India’s divider-in-chief’ with a cover story written by Aatish Taseer who has a very interesting lineage: his paternal side of the family is Pakistani, while his maternal side is Indian. His mother, as a matter of fact, is an open Modi supporter. The author asked if India can endure five more years of Modi government and was critical of the Opposition, which he called a “weak”, “ragtag” coalition. Significantly, he said that the Congress has “little to offer than the dynastic principle” and described Rahul as “an unteachable mediocrity”.
M.C. Joshi, Lucknow
Your cover interview suggests that Outlook also indulges in selective protests and selective amnesia just like the party it supports, that is, the Congress. It is well known that right from the Vinod Mehta days, the magazine has been a mouthpiece of the Congress, a stand it has not changed over the years and despite several changes of editors. I can say this from my own experience; I have been a subscriber for more than 25 years. While a mandatory reference is made to Akhlaq of Dadri—who was lynched by the people of his own village in front of his family over the suspicion of having beef in his fridge—in many stories, you have failed to give ample attention to the murders of scores and scores of RSS workers in Kerala, Karnataka and Bengal.
As for the Rahul Gandhi interview, either the interviewers had not done their home work or deliberately did not ask him tough questions. This rightly casts doubt on the integrity of the editorial board. But it took me a while to realise these facts about the magazine’s policy. Well, better late than never—I am waiting for my subscription to end and I have no intention to continue my patronage to Outlook.
Hemant D. Pai, Bangalore
Rahul Gandhi’s only mission is to knock down Prime Minister Modi. One wonders how his party people and others can ‘agree’ with this bitter attitude of their leader. The Supreme Court has pulled him up on remarks he made thoughtlessly. Ambition to become great must be pulled along by the four wheels of virtue: truthfulness, dedication, patience, and humility. Gandhi lacks in these areas.
Salil Gewali, Shillong
In his interview, Congress president Rahul Gandhi sounds thoughtful and eloquent and comes across as a man with the plan to restructure the Indian socio-economic condition. But a curious problem appears when you put his words vis-a-vis the current political situation in the country—he comes across with a plan that’s too good to be true. He has a proposal that’s very close to the dream of basic income in his Nyay policy proposal, he hopes to de-escalate the conflict situation in Kashmir and he constantly talks about working for the poor and downtrodden. These are all great promises to put your weight behind in theory, but winning a mandate requires more than just good socialism type talk these days. As the election results proved, Rahul and his party workers lost the plot when it came to spreading their message. Putting an idealistic roadmap on paper is easy but convincing the people about it is much more difficult. Now he has gone again into introsepection mode. There is even talk of him wanting to democratise the dynastic party by stepping down as the Congress chief. Now that may be a good step. Rahul needs to prove his credentials independently and not just as a default Modi critic. He has not done that so far. That he lost Amethi to Smriti Irani of the BJP shows that he is lacking in charisma even on home turf. There is a chance at redemption still. If Rahul can manage to convince his critics that he is not an out-an-out dynast who did not earn the power he was given, he needs to take that step of stepping down as the party’s leader and actually sweat it out in his constituency. And he needs to cultivate leadership within the party.
Ram Avadheesh, On E-Mail
Rahul Gandhi should go on a long vacation and let his party organically produce some leaders.
Anil S., Pune
It appears that Outlook has run out of topics on economy, industry, trade, healthcare, education, poverty alleviation, employment etc. Is this the reason why it chose gambling in sports as its cover story (Rummy Cricket, May 20)? Readers want to know how people are governed, the real achievements and shortcomings of the incumbent government and news from various states and segments of society. There was a time when the magazine was full of absorbing articles bolstered with brilliant statistics and numbers. Now, it often crams the pages with topics of less importance and relevance. The letters to the editor pages used to have four pages to it; now it has only two. Similarly, the opinion of the editor on the first page is also missing. While the articles do still help the reader to feel the pulse of the nation, the letters column helps to convey the opinion of a cross-section of readers who, after all, represent the people. The May 20 issue has about 48 pages of reading material out of 66 pages. Readers aren’t averse to multiple advertisements because they know the magazine has to survive financially. But they do want a full quota of news related to governance, economy and politics. Also, thick sheets of advertising inserted within the letters pages are an irritant—they disrupt continuity. Outlook is a reputed magazine—the preferred news magazine of us all, and I want it to be regarded as such for a long time.
M.Y. Shariff, Chennai
Refer to Spacebooked Prachar (May 27). Digital Bharat has been made a reality by PM Modi, say what you will. It’s perhaps the only goal that the Modi government has substantially achieved. But, like most government goals, it comes with a conditions apply disclaimer that is invisible to the common gaze. Digital Bharat for the BJP means it has figured out the positives of having a formidable social media presense, and as in love and war, all’s fair game—from abusive online trolls to the takeover of pages initially cultivated around religious and nationalistic themes. Even corporates are lagging behind the ruling party in the Facebook ad space, forget about the Congress which appears to be hardpressed for funds. If hate is the most important weapon for mobilisation on social media, so be it. Modi’s massive victory has made it clear that social media, including WhatsApp, has a central role to play in India’s politics today.
Archit Gupta, Saharanpur
This is about Outlook’s story on Cyclone Fani, the destruction it wrought and the Odisha government’s response (Battered, Not Broken, May 20). I would like to congratulate the administration of Odisha for the timely and efficient handling of relief and evacuation of a record number of people before the cyclone struck. Thanks to CM Naveen Patnaik’s foresight and astute planning, a major catastrophe—in terms of loss of human lives—was averted. Even the United Nations and other organisations have spoken highly of the chief minister. Thanks must also go to Airtel and Jio, who helped in early restoration of communication. In fact, such cooperation and administrative excellence should be the goal of all governments. Instead, they spend their time sharpening their knives to attack their opponents.
Ranjit Sinha, New Delhi
Ruben Banerjee’s piece on Odisha’s cyclone Fani was excellent; the nation should heed it. Understandably, our attention was fixed on the drama of the general elections. Of course, elections would continue to come and go in our country, they have to happen every five years. It is the tragedy of natural disasters—the devastation and the common victims and survivors that need our sympathy and help.
Bidhu K. Mohanti, Delhi
Refer to Dream Betsmen (May 20). Gambling on sports, especially cricket in India isn’t a new phenomenon. People were placing bets on matches since the 1990s. Only, at that time, the landscape was very murky and secretive. Now, as communication systems have become sophisticated, so have betting forms. The fantasy game apps facilitate bets with one foot on legal ground and the other in shadows of ambiguity—while they are legal in most states, some states have banned their use. For now, they are raking in good revenue and not really raising moral or legal issues. Let’s see how long the good run lasts.
Vedant Petwal, On E-Mail
“Cricket owes much of its appeal and enjoyment to the fact that it should be played not only according to the Laws, but also within the Spirit of Cricket,” Vikas Swarup rightly observed. The game has undergone great modification since IPL started—it is the commercial heart of cricket. Just as Who Wants to be a Millionaire changed the ground rules for quiz shows by injecting a massive dose of money into the equation, IPL has changed the dynamics of the cricket economy.
Seetharam Basaani, Hanamakonda
This refers to Circle Of Doubt In Ring of Fire (May 20). Masood Azhar’s blacklisting has come at the right time—it may prove a boon for the BJP in this election season. The party will lose no time in attributing the UN’s labelling of JeM chief Azhar as global terrorist to Modi’s diplomatic skills. China has clearly succumbed to the pressure put up by France,US and the UK in the matter. It had earlier refused to brand Azhar a terrorist even after UN had named him in a statement condemning the Pulwama attack, which was openly claimed by the JeM as their doing. India’s stand is well vindicated and the international community has to acknowledge that China was stubbornly blocking Azhar’s listing to appease Pakistan. It is hoped that Pakistan arrests Azhar, freezes his assets and shuts down all outfits linked to him. Only then can it be taken seriously in the international community.
Lal Singh, Amritsar
First of all, the UN’s decision to tag Masood Azhar as terrorist can in no way be called Modi’s diplomatic victory. He had failed to highlight India’s security concerns during his informal Wuhan summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Now, there are efforts by the BJP and Modi to claim credit for the UN decision. As such, it is not Modi’s foreign policy success but his utter failure to convince China and many others to take a decision earlier, more specifically, before the Pulwama attack.
But China’s selfish stubbornness over the months that led to the shielding of Azhar’s status for such a long time has to be responded to in some way. The UN should put out a strongly worded statement about it. Then again, China is too powerful to mess around with, and geopolitics is a heartless game of strategy.
P.L. Singh, On E-Mail
Anyone who denies that Modi’s tough stand after the Pulwama attack—the Balakot air strikes—has not been influential in jolting the international community out of their slumber and branding Maulana Masood Azhar an international terrorist is suffering from deep bias. Credit should be given where it’s due. Modi’s strongman posturing has proved to be strategic. And it doesn’t seem to have come at a cost since China, that was preventing Azhar from being branded terrorist a while back, is still interested in improving bilateral ties with India. The proof of this is the Chinese premier’s congratulatory tweet after Modi’s electoral victory. The BJP might have a tendency of blowing things out of proportion and some of the party’s leaders are outrightly jingoistic and communal. But Modi is smart enough to not get affected by the negativity and take some bold decisions. That is the secret of his popularity among the people.
Aalok Sharma, Delhi
“Our fight is with BJP” says AAP’s Sanjay Singh in his interview to Outlook (Back With A Broom, May 20). AAP was anxious to get Delhi’s representation in Lok Sabha. And why not, it’s the only card left in their deck and Delhi is unique: constitutionally, it is unlike other union territories and states. Voter-wise, Delhiites can be said to represent all corners of India. They have exceptional opportunities for their personal development, having access to the embassies and consulates of the world, the country’s best libraries, exposure to international fairs and exhibitions etc., besides the best higher educational facilities. It has the best connectivity by rail, road and air to all places. Naturally, Delhi-wallahs are a proud bunch and even have an air of superiority about themselves. But the government of Delhi is not that free to manage its affairs as other state governments. It doesn’t have any control over the local police and finds itself in crosshairs of the centre’s representatives, like the lieutenant governor, for routine decisions. In this context, AAP is struggling and fighting to be free from the total surveillance of the Union government. The results on May 23 may testify Delhiites’ intelligence about their concern for freedom in their governance and managing their affairs without hostile impositions of the central government.
Goa M.N. Bhartiya, Alto-Porvorim
This refers to your cover story, Star wars, on the political divide between film personalities (May 13). Indeed, it is a split wide open in Bollywood. And why not? Dissent is central to a plural society and it is alright to have diverse and divergent views. The star wars reflect the zeitgeist of our times where every individual likes to find full expression. So long as we don’t get narrow minded and rubbish other ideas, debate and dissent only strengthen democracy. In this context, the famous Indian parable of six blind men and the elephant rings so true. This is how it goes:
“And so these men of Indostan/Disputed loud and long/Each in his opinion/Exceeding stiff and strong/Though each was partly in the right/And all were in the wrong.” This parable signifies the need to not get overly passionate about our viewpoints nor try to sell them as the objective truth. We are all blinded by our thinking and loyalties and hence our perspective is only limited but at the same time unique. In the carnival that the general elections are, the more viewpoints, the better for us. And thanks Bollywood, for not being indifferent.
SK, Delhi
Bollywood stars are surely entitled to an opinion. As in society, ideologies matter in the film world as well. In fact, films being art, ideologies affect actors and filmmakers even more than the common folk. It is a mark of courage to wear your opinion on your sleeve, especially when you are under scrutiny of the public. But the problem arises when film personalities use political trends as a way to further their careers and when political parties exploit this. Your story doesn’t pay much attention to this aspect. Just look at the Cobrapost sting that showed a number of actors (most of them not so popular anymore) taking money on camera to write tweets in favour of a party. Then, there are those actors who haven’t done a movie in years but are launched once again into mainstream space because of supporting a politician. Vivek Oberoi is the best example of this. When such things happen, it’s the art of films that suffers.
Gaurav Prakash, Chandigarh
For some in India (psst…some Bengalis in particular), May Day has an added cause for celebration in being Prabodh Chandra—Manna—Dey’s birthday (May 13). Outlook’s tribute on the legendary singer’s centenary birth year touches many delightful nerves. More than five decades ago, I had attended a Manna Dey night at Barasat, North 24 Parganas. His “Lal paguri bedhe mathe…”— from the film Dak harkara—still rings in my ears. Dey’s ‘everyman voice’ made him a loved singer in many languages. Dey’s voice had a certain sophistication which made him a versatile singer, a master: from qawwalis to spirituals to folk and western numbers.
Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad
This refers to Crossed Out In Red (May 13). The catastrophic evaluation of answer sheets of intermediate examinees by the Telengana State Board is a criminal breach of trust and responsibility. The article brings out important details of the grossly inefficient education system in the state. The blunder has resulted in 25 suicides and innumerable careers have been put in jeopardy. In fact, it is a fit case for the human rights commission to intervene and provide justice to all examinees. The least corrective action called for is comprehensive re-evaluation by a new set of experts in the field. Those who are responsible for the lapse must be investigated and punished for abetment to suicides and other appropriate acts of omission and commission.
Vinod Ohri, On E-Mail
The stress that students go through during exams has been experienced by most of us. They consider exams to be the altars of education. Thus, never do they even think about questioning the examination apparatus. It is betrayal of the worst kind to make students lose their faith in the exam system like it happened in Telangana. The guilty should be punished for playing with the lives of students.
Ravi Boyna, Hyderabad
This refers to the article Twirlymen Will Crash The Party (May 27). England doesn’t have bouncy pitches conducive to fast bowling. Moreover, the once effective seam and swing movement is no longer very pronounced. With very high scores expected in these batting-friendly pitches, it’s the spinners who’ll play a crucial role in putting some sort of brake on the run loot. Small wonder then that every team has some twirlers in its rank. It’s going to be a spinner’s cup in the end.
Vijai Pant, On E-Mail
This refers to Dharma In The Dock (May 27). Whenever the judiciary comes under the scanner for any reason, good or bad, it is quite a disturbing matter. But does it not appear strange that verdicts in allegations of sexual harassments usually take months or even years to materialise, but when the Chief Justice was accused, he was declared innocent in a few days. The complainant, a former staffer, had alleged that she was denied any access to a lawyer during proceedings and she had no alternative but to walk out due to lack of proper procedure. Since the proceedings were conducted ex parte, without the presence of the aggrieved party, isn’t the disappointed complainant right in saying that a great injustice has been done to her?
L.J.S. Panesar, On E-Mail
There indeed seems to be a credibility crisis gnawing at the top court. And yet, this is not about the judiciary alone. In its current form, the POSH Act seems to offer no solution when the accused is the senior-most in an organisation. The internal committee system seems to be inherently flawed, as we have witnessed in this case. I am not a lawyer, nor do I understand legal procedures. But I am a woman and I understand the simple fact that when a woman complains of sexual harassment, it is no trivial matter and the accused cannot be his own judge. There is a popular ghazal of Sudarshan Fakir: Mera qatil hee mera munsif hai, Kya mere haq mein faisla dega (What justice can I expect when my assassin is my judge?). When the accused is so formidable that a complaint against him is projected as an attempt to destabilise the judiciary itself? When he is the master of the roster? When he constitutes the bench himself? Yes, dharma is indeed in the dock as the simple maxim ‘Be you ever so high, the law is always above you’ has been given a quietus by our highest court.
Sangeeta Kampani, New Delhi
