Bishen Singh Bedi’s was a rather unfair review of the just concluded Indo- Pak series ( Lean Side of Leadership March 8). He laid the blame squarely on our ‘cocky’ captain, claiming that ever since Azhar began his second stint as skipper, Indian cricket has been going downhill. I feel the opposite is true. Bedi, who lost his job not only as captain but from the playing eleven after being humiliated by the Pakistanis (even though it was over six years before Azhar began his career), is, like all Azhar critics, setting himself up to be proved wrong once again.
Samir M. Mahajan, New Delhi
I remember Bedi’s suggestion some 10 years ago that the Indian team be dumped in the Pacific after their poor show in New Zealand. Where do we dump them now? The Bay of Bengal or the Hooghly?
D. K. Vasudevan, Mhow, MP
It’s sheer folly to persist with Azhar as the captain. He was never captaincy material but forced on the team and the country by a few petty officials masquerading as selectors. This is the best time to rid of him and correct the perfidy of some ignoramus who shockingly removed the king of cricket, Tendulkar, from his rightful throne in rather suspicious circumstances. The statements of Bedi, Pataudi, Gavaskar, Vengsarkar, among others, that two to three players never supported Tendulkar lea- ves no doubt as to who the main culprit among them was.
Vikram Poddar, Bangalore
I thought cricket boards were subject to the law like everyone else ( Bets, Lies, Deceit , February 22). Why should they constitute enquiry commissions on what’s essentially a fraud on the paying public? Bribery and trading inside information are cognisable crimes in the laws of any land— India, Pakistan or Australia— and should be investigated by appropriate agencies. Who’s the ACB to impose a fine on players? Or the PCB to decide whether Salim Malik will play cricket, having cheated sponsors and millions of spectators?
Javid, Madurai
I’m a Kashmiri Muslim studying in Karnataka who till date thought accession to Pakistan was my birthright and who supported its cricket team ardently. All that has changed after reading Damning Disclosures . Through Outlook I wish to reach out to every Kashmiri youth and ask him to open his eyes blinded by religious fanaticism— do they really want to go to a country, supposed to be an Islamic one, but where Muslims are ready to sell themselves, swearing by the Holy Quran?
Ali (not my real name), Sopore, Kashmir
Look who’s talking now ( The Innocent Need Not Worry , March 1). Before commenting on Saurav, Miandad should realise that Saurav himself was declared out the same way at Chennai when Moin Khan had scooped the ball from the ground, appealed and got away with it. Had the decision been referred to the third umpire, the result could have been different. Miandad should thank the Almighty it wasn’t. And if Tendulkar had indeed been called back and Pakistan had won the match traight, the Calcuttans would have cheered, not jeered.
Manoj M., Chennai
It’s indeed a paradox that states which have reduced the size of their families will be penalised in terms of Lok Sabha seats as well as a reduction in financial assistance from the Centre ( Fertility is Power, March 8). Of course, the Lok Sabha can’t be representative without a link to population. But the priority must be to reduce numbers by persuasion, not coercion. Otherwise the population bomb might prove more explosive than any of our atomic devices.
D. B. N. Murthy, Bangalore
Sadia Dehlvi’s Lahore Diary (March 8) took me back to ’87 when I was in Pakistan for my honeymoon. I’ve been all around the world, but the memory of the three weeks I spent there remains fresh till date.
Memories of stealing the limelight from the minister inaugurating Enver Shafi’s exhibition at Alhamra Art Centre. Of being photographed by Dawn reporters who couldn’t fathom why a young Sikh couple would visit Pakistan for their honeymoon (the clipping is still a treasured possession). Of visiting my grandparents’ home and being welcomed by strangers. Of visiting Murree and comparing it to Shimla; of visiting Swat and comparing it to Kashmir; of visiting Darra Dham Khel and evoking visions of Louis L’Amour and Sudden; of visiting Hasan Abdal, Mardan, Shangla, Malam Jaba, Marghazar, Dargai, Peshawar and Abbottabad, the land of my forefathers. And finally of being held up by Pakistan Air-lines at Lahore airport for excess baggage and the Customs for a smuggled Sony system. On being asked about the chura my wife was wearing and realising we were on our honeymoon, of being escorted to the aircraft and wished bon voyage.
Preet Ranjan, on e- mail
A regular reader of Outlook, I was pained to see you declare Swadeshi But Smart (March 8) on your cover. Can’t swadeshi be smart? Do refrain from making such comments by using ‘but’ and ‘if’. ‘Smart Swadeshi’ would have been better.
Suguna Ranganathan, Chennai
At a time when the media is cribbing about the diesel price hike and the 10 per cent surcharge on income and corporate tax, The Twice Born provided a balanced analysis. There has been no real hike in diesel prices since they were reduced by the same amount just two months back. The 2- 3 per cent hike in income tax is nominal and one the upper bracket can easily afford. As for big industrialists complaining about the government doing nothing to rev the economy, it can do little about global recession or its own political instability affecting it. The problem lies elsewhere— Indian industrialists can’t change their mindset of the last 50 years when they asked the government for everything and got it owing to their clout in the government. Post- liberalisation, they can’t cope with MNC competition.
Vivek Maheshwari, Bhopal
At last there was something in Outlook appreciating the BJP . Not that this will win over the anti-BJP brigade, but a bit of unbiased reportage goes a long way towards lending objectivity to your magazine and enhancing its prestige.
B. S. Keshav, Nashik
The cover headline Swadeshi But Smart implies that anything swadeshi is lacklustre, boorish, uncouth... anything but smart. This inferiority complex seems to be a glaring feature of our national disposition. Of course, one expects little else from a glossy, colourful high- profile mag meant for the elite living in ivory towers and feeling guilty about Bharat being their motherland.
M. D. Gaitonde, Mumbai
In Budget 99, Yashwant Sinha seems to have adopted the principle "when the budget proposals don’t match your problems, you modify the problems, not the proposals." Sinha has acted on the rationale that the welfare of many justifies the discomfort of a few and the deception of everyone. In his post- budget meetings, he has said ‘yes’ to many suggestions, ‘no’ to other recom- mendations. Do we then call him "Yes- No" Sinha?
A. S. Raj, Bangalore
There’s no scientific evidence to prove that opium is more dangerous than tobacco or alcohol (Sister Morphine Comes to Opium Country, March 8). According to you, opium growing is a symbol of prosperity and no other crop offers a return of Rs 2 lakh per acre to the farmer. There’s also tremendous scope for value- addition. Our swadeshi government can ensure that bhang usage is promoted, advertised and branded like Scotch whisky and Cuban cigars, and marketed in the free world. This would channelise the multibillion dollars currently controlled by the drug mafia into the coffers of our government. Why should we continue with the antiquated Narcotics Act other than to placate the Americans?
P. J. Thomas, on e- mail?
Apart from betting revelations, your only other pastime seems to be Azhar-bashing— for any reason whatsoever. Now you’ve got Bishen Singh Bedi to do the job for you ( Lean Side of Leadership, March 8). Bedi has got no right to question Azza’s presence in the Pakistani dressing room, he did it openly. It may be because he doesn’t get to see Pakistani players very often. Can’t you ever say something good about one of our best cricketers?
Pramod, on e- mail
As journalists, you have a social and moral responsibility to the public, especially members of the minority. By listing evange- list groups in the article The Zealots Who Would Inherit (February 22), you’ve made them targets for the real fanatics.
You mention the "resistance belt" area and quote selectively from various Christian publications but fail to highlight how 8 out of 10 of the poorest of the poor live here and have the lowest quality of life. Shouldn’t this be our primary concern— upliftment of the poor, not the persecution of Christians?
R. Manuel, Cheshire, UK
Ashok Singhal has rightly differentiated between ‘our gods and their gods’ in his interview "Koran, Bible should be adapted to our culture" (February 22). Over the centuries great and established civilisations have collapsed under the weight of their own contradictions. The Hindu religion is mired in old traditions, mythology and rituals that do not appeal to today’s generation. Therefore, there is no need for Singhal to boast about the greatness of his religion. Does he know whatever progressive thought or development has benefitted mankind has come from the ‘Christian’ West?
Sunder Krishnan, Calcutta
I’ve been working in Calcutta as a public sector employee for only a few weeks but can see how the Leftists have ruined all ( A Kapitalist Solution , February 15). The environment they’ve created, the socio- political evolutionary pattern, has neutralised the Bengali’s creative spirit. A Bengali working in a government office is more interested in discussing national politics, achievements of Bengalis and trends in the fish market rather than doing the job at hand. Bengalis, once known for their tact and practical skills, now justify the proverb: where there is a Bengali, there’s a problem.
Subhendu, Jadavpur, Calcutta
Your article Route to Suicide (February 1) asks why the RAW would support NSCN ( K ) and the Chin National Army. In supporting the NSCN ( K ), the RAW is trying to exploit the ideological differences between the NSCN factions and break the Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front formed in 1990- 91 to seek the secession of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland from India and uniting them with Burma as one nation.
However, South Block’s political laity is confused about their deal with NSCN ( K ) since the latter doesn’t want to compromise its goal of secession and doesn’t subscribe to any political party’s ideology. South Block therefore has had no choice but to arm the Kukis, the NSCN ( K ) and the Chin National Army.
Faisal Sids, Kohima, Nagaland
