The enmity between India and Pakistan is nothing but a state-sponsored opera (Clouded by Distrust, July 19). It transmits from defence to cricket. When India won a World Cup match over Pakistan, Indians celebrated with state-sponsored vengeance. It was cricket then, Kashmir now.
Kashmir’s been an ‘issue’ for 50 years. But there’ve been no concrete steps from either side to understand the real issue: how Kashmiris see themselves and their future. War in Kashmir was alienated from the core issue long ago, and reduced to a fight over the land, not about Kashmiri people, their resources or culture.
Karunakaran et al, Kuwait
The biggest tribute to the Kargil heroes would be to give the defence services modern weapons, equipment and war-aids. Any further postponement of the modernisation of the defence machinery would be anti-jawan, anti-India. Modernisation should be an important element in the election manifesto of any no-nonsense political party. Wonder which one that would be?
K.S. Bhalla, New Delhi
It’s indeed heartening that Outlook’s started a relief fund to express its debt of gratitude to the defence services by contributing a day’s salary (0.003 per cent of the annual salary). More than this tokenism, Outlook should take the lead and start a movement to exhort tax evaders, of whom there’s no dearth, to voluntarily come forward and pay their dues. Even a 25 per cent success rate will ensure that there are enough funds to modernise and equip the defence services.
Anuraag Singh, New Delhi
The fact that Pakistan left its dead soldiers to rot, and that India gave them a decent burial according to their (Pakistan’s) religion, speaks volumes of the essence that is India and the essence that’s Pakistan.
Nandita K. Baig, via e-mail
Not that the soldiers knew, Someone had blundered/Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die’—It seems Lord Tennyson wrote The Charge of the Light Brigade with the brave Indian jawan in mind. The Kargil fiasco was an intelligence failure—somebody blundered, but the Indian army didn’t ask why it had to become cannon fodder for somebody else’s fault.
Kapil Rana, Sikkim
All the G-8 countries have been taking us Indians for a ride, and all our 543 politicians like old fools are deliberately refusing to see through the smoke screen. None of these countries have named Pakistan as aggressor but have made ambiguous statements. Our politicians just love to play Gandhi as long as it doesn’t affect them personally.
N. Karnad, Mumbai
While travelling from Koramangala to the airport in Bangalore recently, I was moved to tears on seeing ‘Ajay Ahuja Road’ etched in charcoal by a local on a large new cement board between two sections of a new eight-lane road.
Though a lot is being done to perpetuate the memory of our martyrs, I suggest that we grow a grove of trees in the name of each hero. The number of trees in such groves should correspond with the martyr’s age. In the shade of these trees children will play and birds will sing the glory of our soldiers.
Dr A.J.T. Johnsingh, Dehradun
Now that the Kargil affair is over, it’s time to assess why our armed forces are in such bad shape. Various pictures viewed over mass media showed our soldiers attired extremely shabbily in contrast to what we see at the Republic Day parade. It’s only because our politicians and babus have robbed our country naked.
Capt A. Sinha, on e-mail
While the houses of our VIPs, be it the president, the PM or other ministers, are guarded efficiently—with metal detectors and army, police and CID personnel stationed all around the homes—to prevent intruders from getting in, the government itself left our northwestern borders completely open to enemy intrusion!
Prakash Vyas, via e-mail
Politicians have been heard paying glowing tributes to the Kargil martyrs but do these grandiose statements get translated into significant measures of relief? No compensation package or ex-gratia payment can bring back a dead son, father or husband but it makes a significant difference to the life of a family whose sole earning member has died on the front.
Archana Adnani, New Delhi
