The article Future Shock (May 8) provides a fund of knowledge the ordinary citizen who is aware of the intricacies of liberalisation policy adopted by the Government. The box under the heading Future of Reforms, furnishing the views of the industrialist and other major political ties, acts like a synopsis enabling the reader to grasp subject at a glance. It would t be an exaggeration to that the article on its n is definitely worth the price.
S. Krishnamurthi Ahmedabad
With reference to the intellectuals’ perception about elections (Cerebral and Cynical, May 1). The most apt comment is from Shekhar Kapur..."I would prefer a corrupt but effective government rather than a clean but ineffective one...." Thank God, nobody has suggested the names of the ‘Royal family’ of India for the prime ministership of the country. Hopefully, we have heard and seen the last of them.
K.B. Gupta, Ludhiana
The BJP has won the highest number of seats in the present election (Which Way Will He Rule? May 15) but fallen short of a clear majority. However, they are staking their claim to form a Government at the Centre despite all parties denying their support to the BJP alleging that it is a communal party.
With all respect to the BJP leaders and their decision to do so, I would say that they should wait till they get a clear majority in the Lok Sabha or else let others try first and be proved failures as in the past.
Kishore Kumar Pahuja Singapore
It is a bit eerie to note what Gavaskar has to offer these days. It all started with the match our protagonist Azha-ruddin missed during the domestic season. He asked for Azhar’s head but Fate would have none of it. Gavaskar being Gavaskar bid his time and fired the salvo when Azhar’s personal life was in a mess and there was no solace coming from on-field-exploits. I think the criticism is biased. The adage still holds good—the captain is as good as his team allows him to be. As far as the failure of the team is concerned, it’s been a collective one and has more to do with lack of application on everybody’s part than with Azhar alone. He is not in the best of form, but is too good a player to be dumped. A hasty decision regarding Tendulkar’s claims to be captain could lead to a battle of egos and another ‘Sunil-Type-Duel’, something Indian cricket can do without.
Jiten Sharma, Gondia
In his review of the book The Trial of Bhagat Singh by A.G. Noorani, J.N. Dixit (Beyond the Myths, May 1) has brought out two important points, namely, the unfairness of the trial and the coercive political chicanery of the British judicial system during the colonial rule; and that neither of the two leaders—Gandhi and Nehru—exerted themselves enough with the British to save Bhagat Singh, and pressurise the Government to desist from vengeful persecution of political dissenters.
All the movements launched by Gandhi from 1920 to 1942 failed so much so that when these leaders were released in 1945, they were completely demoralised. Only the INA trial and the Naval Mutiny of 1946 infused a new spirit among the masses, and forced the British to leave the country. It is a different matter that before quitting the country they divided it into three parts because of the special relationship between Nehru and the Mountbattens and the wrong policies and perceptions of the Congress.
V. Sagar, Yojana Vihar
This is with reference to the article The Second Liberation (April 3) and the subsequent letter by Bichhu Muttuthara. The article was subjective and lacked depth. Hasty generalisations were made and individual choices portrayed as a policy decision and dubbed as a revolution. Further, it had a distinct class bias—targeting those women specifically who could afford to leave their jobs, and in the process neglecting the contribution of millions of women who strive to establish a place for themselves in a male-dominated society. Feminism is a dynamic concept evolving and redefining itself with time. No one is disputing the ‘divine duties’, yet the portrayal of the mythical contemporary biological being as an antithesis to the ambitious, self-centered working woman is absurd.
Sarvar Abbi, New Delhi
It was saddening to learn that people enter the electoral fray revenge (Settling a Score, 1). Nina Pillai has admitted that her husband Rajan had tried to bribe himself of the mess he was mired presumably one of his own creation, by offering Rs 2 crore Chandraswami. Business people like them exploit and a corrupt system to further eir ends and, in the rare instances when they don’t succeed, cry themselves hoarse bout corruption.
Nina Pillai contested the elections not to serve the electorate, but to ensure the down- of Krishna Kumar, who (I be wrong) is one of the Congress politicians who is clean and, what’s more, who proved himself an able administrator and an efficient minister. It is not that I don’t sympathise with Nina Pillai. she has suffered is traumatic. But it is, to a large extent, the effect of the actions of her own ilk that nurtured such a system. The only thing that can be said in her favour is that she is honest and makes no bones about her intentions.
N.J. Thomas, Dehra Dun
Vinod Mehta in his article Tired and More Dangerous (April 24, 1996) has rightly pointed out: "It seems to me that the most important reason for ejecting the Narasimha Rao Government is seldom mentioned in political discourse or commentary. It is more injurious and deliberating for a nation to be ruled by a party which is tired." I would say it is exhausted. Affluence, comforts and the luxurious lifestyle of its leaders has jaded and surfeited the political scenario. The writer has made an accurate diagnosis of the Congress party’s ailment and has also provided a correct remedy "to throw it out in the political wilderness". Five years in the political wilderness will cause a transfusion of energy. I offer my congratulations to the writer for advising the Congress party to have that much needed relaxation and rest for five years or even more. ‘Positive thinker’ Dale Carnegie also offers this solution for tired people as well as for tired groups.
S.N. Srivastava, Balrampur
Besides the retelecast of B.R. Chopra’s Mahabharat at the 11.30 am slot on Sundays on DD Metro, we will have by and large a variant of the same epic on DD-1 as well for the prime 9.00 am slot on the same day—rechristened Sri Krishna now and, what is worse, with Ramanand Sagar’s stamp of mediocrity this time. (Telewise, April 24).
Sri Krishna is aesthetically jarring and in terms of overall production technique the indifference shows up much too often. The cast selected—even to play lead roles—simply does not have the bearing for a convincing portrayal of the epic characters. The make-up is glossy, the settings are cramped and there is a juvenile and mercenary touch to the sequences.
True, anything in the name of Ram and Krishna sells here—more so when you have the indulgence of a captive audience. But if at all we have to put up with an overdose of religion, can’t we at least hope for a little professionalism in packaging it?
R. Sampath Kumar, Bhopal
I enjoy reading Outlook. It carries issues from every realm on this earth, but no news from the ‘stars’ (astrology). The Indian populace still relies on stars and their position. I suggest a page of horoscopes to add versatility to the newsmagazine.
Looking forward to this.
Anil Mahadik, Bangalore
