Apropos For Whom the Poll Tolled (July 17), the fearless statement by the Bihar DIG Kishore Kunal should be an eye-opener to all thinking people. "Where a person with alleged criminal antecedents of rape, kidnapping and dacoity becomes a minister of state for home and where a man who allowed the plundering of the treasuries of Bihar to the tune of hundreds of crores, and was engaged in systematic rigging of elections, dictates terms to the Union Government." This is a disgrace to Indian democracy as well as the Government. Will the new home minister, who is known for his honest reputation, please rise to the occasion and cleanse the administration?
Kusum Mitra, Bangalore
The timing of your cover story Azhar Pass on the Baton (July 10), which suggests that Azhar should pack his bags, coincided with the third Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. After the drubbing in the first Test, there was a dramatic improvement at Lord’s where India got the upper hand. But Azhar did not get any credit. Even in the best of times, Azhar’s captaincy has been brushed under the carpet. Tendulkar should be made captain, but in due course. A change in the captaincy at the start of foreign tours could prove disastrous. Ultimately, it should be borne in mind that a captain is only as good as his team.
C.R. Ramaswamy, New Delhi
For some time there has been talk about Azhar’s miscaptaincy. Everything ugly about Indian cricket is being blamed on him. However, changing
India’s controversial captain isn’t the answer. It is he who must change his style and show that he can lead. If cap-tains must be held responsible for everything, they must conversely be vested with every authority. Crucify Azhar if he mocks players (Sidhu), but also empower him to throw out anyone who upsets the team’s equilibrium or abuses him.
Tushar Verma, Bombay
The time has come to drop Azharuddin from the Indian cricket team. If we analyse his performances in the last couple of months, we will find that Azhar’s contribution as a captain and a player towards his team is nil. If he gets another chance to be the skipper in the forthcoming series against South Africa, it will surely be disastrous for the Indian team.
Debanjan Banerjee, Calcutta
Ramachandra Guha, a cricket historian, makes the (elitist?) point that Azhar’s fate should not be decided by the ignorant ‘public at large’. Guha’s unabashedly superior attitude is all the more idiotic considering the sports correspondents of the Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph, The Hindu and most other publications have nothing but criticism for Azhar’s inept handling of the team. I feel nobody knows the game as well as the Indian public. Anybody who disagrees is free to read through cricket history.
Premkumar Natarajan, New York
The article How Safe are our N-Reactors? (July 10), based on the statement of the former chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Dr Gopalkrishnan, has nothing new. Of late, it is a fad among retired officials to either voice anti-establishment views or write ‘memoirs’.
Doubts regarding safety have been raised by anti-nuke groups many a time and, of late, by journalists-turned-‘scholars’ who have declared themselves masters of the universe. One must understand ‘how safe is safe’. It is not too late even now to set right the omissions and commissions by the Department of Atomic Energy with proper coordination and correlating the issue pragmatically.
A.S. Raj, Bangalore
The article Probe Hamstrung (July 10) is incisive and confirms Indira Gandhi’s averment that corruption is an international phenomenon. But what is disgustingly striking is that now there is no accountability as in Jawaharlal Nehru’s rule. The Congress is the fountainhead of corruption and is presently sinking into its cesspool. Accountability needs to be fixed in order to get rid of corruption in public office.
M.S. Kilpady, Bombay
With reference to Indiscreet Liaisons (July 10) relating to Madhubala’s biography, calling one of Indian cinema’s most beautiful actresses a nympho and harlot is not in good taste. Her biography is written by a ‘distinguished gentleman’ who was in his teens when Madhubala reigned over the silver screen. It is an attempt on his part to gain publicity and a few fast bucks riding piggyback on a famous personality’s life. It’s the lure of money which leads to such shameful acts.
Bindi, New Delhi
The fact that travel entrepreneurs are ready to cash in on Kumaon’s unspoilt environment, makes sad reading in Kumaon Charisma (July 10). Hordes of tourists descend on the hills to the worry of environmentalists. Roads are choked with traffic, spewing smoke into the clean, pure mountain air. We need to strike a balance between tourism and protection of the Himalayan environment.
D.B.N. Murthy, Bangalore
This refers to the article Clutching the Last Straw (July 10). All the political parties had failed to organise the Dalits and fulfill their expectations. The growth of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the Hindi belt, therefore, was hardly surprising. Even now it is only to strengthen their vote banks that all major political parties, including the BJP are offering to join hands with the BSP. Babu Jagjivan Ram’s death had left a vacuum in Dalit leadership. That gap is now being filled by Kanshi Ram. But one thing is still clear. Without an alliance with major parties, the BSP cannot hope to come to power in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
S.A. Sundaramurthy, Munnar
The chronology of A Judicial Quagmire (July 10) stated, "6th December, 1992: Babri Masjid demolished". The status of the structure demolished was that of a temple where the idols of Ramlalla were installed. At the most, it was a disputed structure. It was definitely not a masjid. Hindus do not believe in destroying or demolishing mosques but at the same time our right to re-construct a grand temple at the birthplace of Lord Rama cannot be denied. The continuous denial of this right resulted in the events of December 6. I hope you will not describe the event as a demolition. Such a description, besides being incorrect, is an attempt to denigrate and defame Hindus.
C.J. Thakar, President, VHP, Nagpur
Apropos Dignity vs Discomfort (June 12), as a designer I am amazed that the proposed dress code for lawyers is western for men, while an Indian option is offered for women. If comfort and dignified looks are the issue, nothing is more elegant and practical than a kurta set with sandals for men. A tie with the bar council logo smacks of colonial overtones and western feudal symbolism.
Wendell Rodricks, Goa
The appreciation of music may be subjective, but I was still taken aback by the article, Fusion Failure (July 24), on the ‘fusion efforts’ of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Eddie Vedder. First, some basic observations in the article were wrong. Grunge music (Pearl Jam and Kurt Cobain included) is more than ‘stylised monotony’, Khan is more than just a ‘quawwal’. Second, Eddie Vedder’s performance is barely recognisable as that of a Grunge frontrunner. Nor is Khan singing a quawwali in The Long Road. The tonal mellowness and theme of death and retribution (the theme given to them by Tim Robbins, director of Dead Man Walking) were lost in your story. Third, in these two tracks, two worlds meet but without losing their identity and not because "they can’t relate to each other’s musical style" or because they’re "inflexible" or "reluctant to compromise".
Jaideep Verma, Bombay
This refers to your article on the Punjab Police, After the Highs, the Lows (July 24). Most of my relatives live in Punjab and they all know at least five or six families whose relatives have been killed by the police under K.P.S. Gill in an ‘encounter.’ What could you expect from a DGP who places himself next to god in an interview in Newstrack, is fond of Scotch and ‘posteriors’?
Vicky Bhatia, Agra
