This refers to your cover story (Return of the Taliban, August 30). The US occupied Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 terror attack and promised to create a sovereign democratic country that is at peace with itself. It promised to ‘modernise’ the country riven by warring warlords and conflicting loyalties. After nearly two decades, it chose to strike a deal with the Taliban without extracting concessions towards a political settlement. What is currently unfolding in Afghanistan attests to the US mission’s manifest failure as the land-locked, mountainous country is back to square one. One key learning is that it is futile to intervene militarily in another country citing geo-political reasons and lofty principles. The Taliban do not represent the entire people of Afghanistan and are likely to show scant regard for human rights, curtail education and jobs for women, and radicalise young people in the name of putting in place a ‘pure Islamic system’. They could join hands with like-minded militant groups, intensify jihad and accentuate the ‘clash of civilisations’ underpinned by religious, cultural and geopolitical faultlines.
G. David Milton, Maruthancode (Tamil Nadu)
Neighbouring Iran has high stakes in Afghanistan’s future, and Tehran’s approach is determined not just by regional factors, but also by its fractured relations with the US. The seat of Shia Islam has historically been at ideological odds with powerful Sunni forces, and craves to expand its political and religious hold on Talibanised Afghanistan.
Seetharambasaani, On E-Mail
Congratulations for your Independence Day special issue (Generational Shift, August 23). The views expressed regarding the sweeping changes, liberalisation, consumerism and farmers are convincing and thought-provoking. We must celebrate and feel proud to be part of such a historic occasion, but, at the same time, we need to ask ourselves whether we have won the fight against our prejudices. If not, we should analyse the reasons and review our actions so that we can put up a better fight. Independence makes us responsible for our actions. There is no freedom without responsibility. Let’s hope that our sense of responsibility and our conscience would pave the way for the joy of independence to reach every door.
Devendra K. Mishra, Mumbai
This refers to your story on the seven finance ministers who remade India (Remaking of Free India: Dial 7 for FM). There is no doubt that all our seven FMs since 1991 have been intelligent and tried their best to uplift our economy. They have all contributed to growth in the GDP. In fact, regardless of which party or ruling coalition they belong to, they are all wedded to the ideology of economic growth. Although all of them have said in different ways that growth is not an end in itself, but a means to the end, the kind of growth we have seen so far has not benefited all sections of society equally. During these years, inequalities of income and wealth have increased, and so has unemployment. These, in turn, have exacerbated many social problems.
D.B. Madan, New Delhi
The Independence Day issue begins on a deeply grounded note with the editor’s take on India’s progress (Rich India, Poor Nation), reminding us of realities we would much rather forget. But as I navigated through the issue, there was an overarching deviation from the reality of post-1991 India through the quasi-deification of our capitalists. Terms like ‘digitisation’, ‘wealth creation’ and ‘innovation’ were bandied about as if they were meaningful indicators of economic development. The most absurd articles were the ones that proclaimed the Ambani family as the champions of India’s growth story, and described Gautam Adani as a nation-builder. Even as a fairly open-minded reader, I was disappointed to see this clear endorsement of the malevolent alliance between capital and the state. This attempted portrayal of 1991 as a ‘second independence’ is very unfortunate, given what the working classes have been subjected to since that year. If there has to be a ‘second Independence Day’ in the history of India, it will be when the working classes rise up to claim their rightful place in our structures of power.
Aahir Ghosh, On E-Mail
While 30 years of economic reforms have created substantial wealth across the country, its benefits have not been shared equitably. The rich have become richer and the poor poorer. The middle class has been hit hard. Large components of middle-class expenses—college education, healthcare, housing etc—have increased faster than incomes. Much of the middle class has slipped back to poverty. The living standards of senior citizens were far better before liberalisation than after it. Senior citizens for whom government pension and healthcare benefits are not available have been hit the hardest. We need tax reforms that would increase the taxes paid by wealthiest. We also need more labour and community influence over corporates and restrictions on their ability to fund politicians.
Kangayam R. Narasimhan, Chennai
It is so disturbing that despite living in the world’s largest democracy we are fearful and hesitate to openly express our views and opinions. On whatever is wrong, we should have the spine to take the bull by the horns. It may be an unpleasant and arduous task, but it needs to be done. Raising issues against the government is not an easy task. Truth hurts, but it is only truth that should ultimately prevail. We should never ever surrender our fundamental right to speak out openly and candidly against anything that we feel is wrong.
Aires Rodrigues, Goa
This refers to White Paper, Black Matter in Poliglot (August 23). It would not be an exaggeration to say that Kerala and Tamil Nadu, neighbouring states in South India, have each in its own way attracted much attention from development economists in India and abroad. Kerala is known for its development record, illustrated by high levels of literacy and health-related development indictors. It seems Tamil Nadu may soon overtake Kerala in many aspects. Undoubtedly, Tamil Nadu is a state where people’s voices are heard and acted upon. The DMK government has made a good start in correcting the loss of fiscal discipline. It’s a welcome step as hard decisions and remedial measures are urgently needed. Transparency is powerful weapon. If transparency is practised, Tamil Nadu will become a model for other states to emulate, attracting technology, skills and capital.
Uzair Ahmed, Muzaffarnagar
