Regarding your interview with the Cuban ambassador to India (USA wants Cubans to kill each other, March 27), how can you be so sure that the two downed US civilian planes violated Cuban airspace. Are you a communist SOB?
Anonymous, Mattancheri
The article Disadvantage Rao (April 3)analysed well, in the light of attendant political aspects, Shankar Dayal Sharma’s decision not to give assent to the two ordinances sent to him on the eve of the general elections. Looking at it in the constitutional perspective also, the presidential act was perfectly justified and within his competence.
The office of the President is a constitutional one and the presumption is that the incumbent never acts politically. It is gratifying that except for aberrations here and there, the occupants of Rashtrapati Bhawan have not distanced themselves from the letter and spirit of the Constitution. The President has set a healthy precedent by not permitting Prime Minister Narasimha Rao to gain political leverage by getting the ordinances promulgated at the 11th hour. He has redeemed the image of Parliament as a whole, of which he is a component. When the political pundits and surveys have spoken about a hung Parliament being in the offing—in which event the role of the President will assume significance—Sharma’s uprightness is all the more encouraging.
Nilay V. Anjaria, Ahmedabad
It is indeed ironical and shocking that in a country where millions of dollars are spent on defence, seven million people are homeless (The Bag People, March 27). It betrays the US Administration’s cold approach towards genuine problems of its citizens and is even more ironical in the light of the statistic that the per-capita income in America was $14,096 in 1994.
Bichu Muttathara, Pune
This is with reference to the review of V.P. Singh’s poems (Verse Politician, March 20). Among politicians in India, three stand out as being particularly ambitious: Charan Singh, Chandra Shekhar and V.P. Singh, whose single ambition was to become prime minister even for a short time. They utilised their clean image to become prime ministers. I recall sending a telegram to Singh on his becoming chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, congratulating him. I was impressed when he responded to my telegram by sending a letter of thanks in his own handwriting with a dig at the BJP by referring to its measly representation in Parliament at the time. He said, "Ham do, hamare do." As a poet in his new avatar, he has been showered with praise by celebrated critics of Hindi literature.
Alok Rai in his review questions his greatness as a poet. I am reminded of Dean Inges’ remark about ambition: "Ambition may be the sin by which the angels fell."
S.N. Sriwastava, Balrampur
Apropos Life After Hawala (March 20), the BJP’s prospects in the coming elections are good if it can keep its house united. The chargesheet against L.K. Advani will not affect the electoral prospects of the party as the hawala scam has crippled the party’s main rival, the Congress. With the National Front-Left Front combine failing to get its act together, the BJP stands a bright chance of forming the next government at the Centre.
Manash Baruah, New Delhi
In his perceptive analysis ( Blame it on the Pitch, March 27), former all-rounder Roger Binny writes: "Obviously they did not consult the ground staff about the state of the pitch." In his report (And it Rained Mineral Water), your correspondent says: "While Azhar’s decision (to bat first) all foxed, none was more than Eden Gardens’ curator Maheshwar Sahu. Says he: ‘I watered the pitch to slow down and had warned the the ball would turn a lot in the second session. I thought they appreciated my advice but they went and did opposite.’" This proves beyond an iota of doubt that Azharuddin and company anted to lose the match.
M.S. Kilpady, Bombay
Bengalis are not only ahead of other fellow Indians in culture, art and literature, but o in rowdyism, misbehavior and a lack of sportsmanship (Oh Calcutta!, March 27). this was more than evident ring the India-Sri Lanka match in Calcutta.
Kanwar Yogendra, Shimla
The way the spectators at Eden gardens behaved, leading to World Cup semi-final tie being abandoned, does not behove the Indians, particularly Calcuttans, who have so far en reputed to be good sports-men. They should have suported and cheered the Sri Lankans towards the end. Had situation been just the reverse—that is, Sri Lanka needing 130-odd runs in 16 overs with only two wickets in hand, the celebrations would have made the entire world envious. The West Indies and Australia refrained from playing in Sri Lanka, citing political turbulence over there but we are not better off ourselves. When will we come of age and go by the spirit of the game? We Calcuttans always make history, but this time we’ve done it in a manner for which we should be ashamed.
Kamal Sen, Chandernagore
This refers to the article No Laughing Matter (March 27). It goes without saying that the quality of comedy on Indian television is very poor. A handful of serials like Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Zaban Sambhal Ke, Full Tension, Filmi Chakkar (the earlier version) and Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Woh stand apart as good comedy. I think in the list of good comedy actors, Dilip Joshi (Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Woh) deserves mention.
Even a good actor needs a good script and a good director. I think most of the serials are made in a hurry, with no consideration for the quality of the end-product. I wonder how the actors must be feeling while delivering ‘sick jokes’, knowing full well that the audience won’t appreciate them.
Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava, Bombay
Amita Malik has not done her homework before writing Assam Diary (March 13). The Guwahati-based editor of Sentinel (not Assam Sentinel as she writes) is D.N. Bezbaruah, not B.N. Bezbaroah. Further she writes: "A Bengali aristocrat ...married an Assamese writer, L.K. Bezbaruah." It was Lakhmi Nath, not L.K. Bezbaruah. To term this Assamese poet—humourist, short story writer and novelist—as "an Assamese writer" is a gross understatement.
R.N. Chakravartty, Guwahati
Apropos Vinod Mehta’s Delhi Diary (Puerile Puppet Shows, March 6), instead of asking for the "one TV serial you hate most", you could have asked for the "one decent programme which comes on TV". I am surprised that a person of your stature has the time to watch the trash on TV. Nevertheless, you make a valid point about the standard of our serials. For me, the programme which tops the hate list is Jaspal Bhatti’s Flop Show.
Pervez Sethna, Allahabad
Cricket matches broadcast live for somebody who hates cricket can be terrible. It is frustrating to have the regular programmes rescheduled or taken off the air just to show the stupid cricket matches.
Krishna Nair, Thiruvananthapuram
My pick is Samachar and all other news programmes on DD. Not only do they leave you misinformed, they also confuse you with corrections. And they hit you where it hurts most when they come in between a tense cricket match. With nothing but official coverage, it leaves one grinning when they are followed by the "nothing official about it" ad.
P.V.R. Satyanarayana, Vishakhapatnam
This is the great age of competition. Those who can’t compete in their studies are doing the same in your most hated programme, Antakshari. What’s wrong in it? You will find even brilliant students participating in Antakshari. They enjoy it. It is a hobby. I hate you the most.
Laxman Sharma, Baroda
The serial I hate most is Samachar. It is nothing but the Government’s loudspeaker. Devoid of credibility, read by dull readers in dull language, in a dull manner, prepared by dull persons.
M. Padmakar, Jaipur
My most hated programme on DD. It is called "Sorry for the interruption".
Baldev S. Chauhan, Shimla
Krishna! Haven’t we had enough of the Almighty already? Ramayana, Mahabharata, Uttar Ramayan, Jesus Ki Kahaniyan and what not. Although the special effects are almost on par with those in Jurassic Park or Terminator II, I still cannot solve the mystery of the disappearing arrows. Also, I don’t need another serial to tell me if Krishna was born in Mathura or Mecca or if Kans was his maternal or paternal uncle. Do these hypocrites really believe that listening to the Gita will open their doors to heaven?
Rajnesh Kathuria, Delhi
The programme I hate most is
Antakshari.
Pritish Kumar Dubey, New Delhi
I hate Film Deewane on Zee. Starting from unaesthetic sets to the hopelessly hamming host, everything jangles the nerves.
B.V. Ramana Rao, New Delhi
I hate serials like Alif Laila and some other bizarre and nonsensical comic book-based soap operas.
Kanwar Yogendra, Shimla
My choice is the "Saturday night superhit film" on DD. Many a good movie is stripped (of its essence), sliced (into half-hour slots to accommodate news headlines), cut (into pieces) and served over three tiresome hours with around a 100 advertisements for dressing.
R. Atchyut, Vishakhapatnam
I hate that serial based on Arabian Nights, Alif Laila.
Vinay R. Iyengar, Bangalore
My choice for the most horrid programme on DD is Parliament News.
K. Satyanarayana, New Delhi
I was vacillating between Kavi Sammelan, Mushaira and Parliament News, but on March 13 I got to see a programme which simply overshadowed everything else: the light, sound and bottle show put up by a section of the 110,000 people present at Eden Gardens in Calcutta when India were on the sure road to a rout in the much watched World Cup semi-final. No television programme merits the most hated categorisation more than this.
V. Dinesh Kumar, Kochi
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