The anniversary special issue (December 2) to commemorate Outlook’s 24th birthday, with its novel idea of covering 24 famous and not-so-famous people over 24 hours, has, in the editor’s words, remarkable and riveting stories. The piece on Ruskin Bond was as delightful as his work and revealed many unknown aspects of his life. He is rightfully at the beginning of the profiles. I loved the stories of women doing unconventional jobs, such as cremation and burial facility supervisor Esther Shanthi, bouncer Shivani Rajput, Flipkart delivery girl Priyanka Behera, and ordinary men—Brahmaputra boatman Siddique Ali, Wayanad farmer Vancheeswaran and snake-catcher Shravan Krishnan among others. Happy birthday and many, many happy returns of the day, Outlook!
M.C. Joshi, Lucknow
What distinguishes Outlook from other magazines is that it does not have a sleepy conscience, the curse of the times we live in. Your choice of 24 people—an eclectic mix from all shades and stations of life–confirms that. The story of the Brahmaputra boatman who crisscrossed the mighty river was extraordinary in its ordinariness. That he didn’t charge money to ferry students was a refreshing peep into the mind of a man interested in lives beyond his own. He wants to see the new generation educated, something that he had been deprived of and was ready to do his bit for. Clearly, a man ready to give much of the little he has. That you delved into the life of a non-newsworthy, insignificant man, who just follows the ebb and flow of the mighty river, is indicative of your meaningful choices and meaningful existence.
Sangeeta Kampani, Delhi
How could you forget to mention the editor Vinod Mehta in the anniversary issue? Why do you think Outlook exists today? Why do you think people like me are readers today? We subscribe to Outlook because we subscribe to Vinod Mehta’s ideology. Outlook is the only magazine where the first editor still looms larger than life. It would be nice if you had mentioned him, even if in passing.
Shilpi Majumdar, On E-Mail
It is thrilling that a magazine with a difference has completed 24 years. The contents of Outlook are informative, bold and relevant to the masses and classes. On the occasion, choosing to document 24 people from different walks of life across the country is a great idea. It was a special treat for all readers. I hear that the electronic media is reluctant to question the mighty. May your magazine remain fearless, keep asking questions and share interesting stories.
Santosh Kumar Tripathi, On E-Mail
This refers to your cover story on the Ayodhya verdict (Faith Accompli, November 25). The Congress has always pursued soft Hindutva. No wonder they are not able to take a firm stand against this travesty of justice that is contrary to both the letter and spirit of the Constitution. While accepting that the destruction of the mosque was a criminal act, the august court doesn’t punish anyone for this crime, gives the land to the very same criminals and asks the Indian state to build a temple through a trust. According to the Constitution, our state is secular; its job is not to build temples, mosques, churches and gurdwaras, but ensure jobs, education and good health of citizens. Some expected that by putting an end to this decades-old case, policymakers would move on to other pressing issues the country is facing. But that does not look likely as there are already talks of temples in Mathura and Kashi. It proves that the Congress and BJP are just two sides of the same coin. Both are communal—the former pragmatically, when the situation demands, and the latter ideologically and dogmatically.
Rakesh Agrawal, Dehradun
The sobriety and restraint shown nationwide in the wake of the Ayodhya judgment is commendable. However, despite the universal acceptance of the judgment, there are some who have expressed disappointment. Furthermore, we still hear voices exhorting the Sunni Waqf Board to refrain from accepting the five acres of land directed to be given to them. This is a myopic stand and detracts from the moral capital the Muslim side has gained during the course of the judgment.
K.S. Jayatheertha, Bangalore
The SC deserves the highest commendation for bringing an end to the legal battle. Ayodhya was a contentious issue and required some out-of-the-box thinking to arrive at a fair decision. It was a unanimous verdict and welcomed by all political parties. Even as the aggrieved parties reconciled to the situation, the media tried to pick holes in the decision. The SC may not have applied the rule of law in toto to arrive at its verdict, but it has struck a good balance between legal validity and faith. The important thing now is to bury old prejudices and move on with a spirit of bonhomie and goodwill. Some aberrations are bound to be there in a country as diverse as India, but a healthy spirit of tolerance will go a long way in setting a worthy agenda for nation-building.
J.S. Acharya, Hyderabad
November 9, 2019 will always be remembered for the landmark verdict. A close reading of the judgment reveals that an exclusive right to the entire property has not been declared in favour of Hindus, even though they have been awarded exclusive possession. People hope the decision will bring a sense of closure. But this can only be possible if sympathisers of the Hindutva fraternity choose to act responsibly. The judgment should not be used as a licence for polarisation and violence. The PM’s appeal to view the verdict beyond the prism of loss or gain needs to be honoured.
J. Askhobhya, Mysore
This refers to the article Swamped With Bites (December 2). According to the journal Nature, a world without mosquitoes would be more secure for us. Countries like Sri Lanka have successfully eliminated malaria. We need to deploy newer technologies against this ancient scourge, such as releasing bacteria-embedded or genetically modified mosquitoes to reduce their numbers and bring an end to this crisis.
H.N. Ramakrishna, Bangalore
This refers to the story Friendly Hoots in Hambantota (December 2). The return of the Rajapaksas has raised eyebrows due to their role in the massacre of Tamil civilians during the Eelam War. Having been elected by the Sinhalese majority, Gotabaya Rapaksa will adopt policies most suited for the Sinhalese population. There are apprehensions that Gotabaya might encourage Sinhalese settlements in Tamil areas, triggering migration of Sinhalese Tamils to TN. Regardless, Tamil politicians in India must be responsible and avoid provocative statements.
R. Narasimhan, Chennai Kangayam
