Prof A.J. Paulraj’s responses in the interview "drdo must tap private sector" (Oct 25) were very heartening. Here is a person who led a project at drdo that is now regarded as one of the few success stories of that agency. Clearly, he knows what he is talking about and should be taken heed of. I agree with him when he says the existing system can’t be reformed as it is outdated and structurally flawed. The private sector must be leveraged to make the country truly self-reliant in meeting its defence needs.
Amit Sinha, Pittsboro, US
I am sorry to see Dr Paulraj’s name being misused by Outlook ‘interviewers’ who make several outrageous assertions in the guise of asking ‘questions’. It doesn’t take a genius to see the salary levels of government jobs in India, which seem to be dictated by Communist-dominated dimwits, will not "attract" those who want high pay. But certainly they have attracted, and managed to retain, an awesome reservoir of dedicated professionals whom I thank as the entities who keep the nation free and protected. I also note with great curiosity the qualifications Outlook cites for him. Does Stanford University develop the weapons which protect Indians from Pakistan or does drdo? Just curious.
Narayanan Komerath, Atlanta, US
The story Enigma of Arrival (Oct 25) was interesting and essential. Speaking to my Pakistani friends, I am always amazed at how misinformed they are by their media (not that the Indian media is any better). Many of them have no idea about the involvement of the isi in various parts of India or the fact that there are actually a large number of Kashmiri Hindus who’re just as native to Kashmir as the Muslims are. However, I strongly believe that neither country has any moral high ground whatsoever as compared to the other. Both countries have, through a variety of government agencies, committed various atrocities in the region. The priority now must be to make Kashmir secure and stable for Kashmiris. As long as this situation is not resolved, it’ll give unnecessary ammunition to assorted Muslim fundamentalists and saffronites.
Rustam Roy, London
If Pakistani journalists are so clueless about the state of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir, what does it say about the reportage of events in the region, both for their domestic constituency and for the international press of the past 50 years? Despite Mariana Baabar’s protestations, the fact that the Pakistani media has been merely parroting its government’s propaganda shines through clearly. Perhaps now she can return to Pakistan and disillusion the majority of her countrymen who long to see the day when ‘Kashmir banega Pakistan’. I, for one, am not holding my breath for the Pakistani media to grow a spine on this issue.
Anoop Chengara, Naperville, US
If only a group of Indian journalists goes to the northern areas of PoK. Only then will we hear horrendous stories of oppression there. Why isn’t that happening?
Sampath Kumar, Chennai
Aishwarya Rai is an overrated actress (How Hot is Ash, Really?, Oct 25). She cannot act worth her weight and it’s time Bollywood realised this and stopped elevating her to new heights. She has her looks and knows how to carry herself. She is riding on these very factors to attract attention in the media. So, stop inflating her acting abilities because she doesn’t have any. She strikes me as silly and giggly and not someone who takes her acting seriously or even tries to do so. Madhuri Dixit shouldered Devdas; Ash was just an embellishment to the film. The rest of Rai’s films have not garnered much attention or had any substance. To her credit, she is an outstanding dancer and maybe this is her real calling.
Nadia E. Joseph, Chicago, US
We get what we deserve; Aishwarya Rai is arguably the ultimate result of a film industry obsessed with glamour over content which in turn is only magnifying the not-so-latent proclivities of its faithful Indian audience (How Hot is Ash, Really?, Oct 25). Her role in Indian showbiz is not of an actress but of a performer/ star. I can’t help but feel it’s unfair of you to heap disdain on her merely for executing her assigned role so well.
Amrita Rajan, New York, US
Why can’t Aishwarya be judged from a neutral angle just as other Bollywood actresses are? Surely, her stunning looks can be no sound reason to assess her calibre any differently!
Manisha Mishra, Cuttack
It’s just that Aishwarya has too many enemies in the industry. First there are actors like Salman, Shahrukh and Aamir with whom she has had friction and whose loyalists are going all out to malign her. Then there are jealous actresses. Sadly, she has neither the powerful connections her male counterparts have nor a film family background to help her fight them. Why doesn’t the media ever say anything about a Kareena Kapoor?
A.S. Kumar, Mumbai
Aishwarya has done excellent work in Chokher Bali and Bride and Prejudice. Broaden your Outlook.
Satya Shaman, New york, US
Meenakshi Shedde seems to be looking for sexism in every frame (iffi Diary, Oct 18). A jury member and/or critic is expected to be impartial but Ms Shedde’s opinions (especially her deconstructed views on Virumaandi) resound with ignorance (or prejudice?). Male dominance, sadly and despicably, does exist in society. Women’s empowerment won’t spring from having more women on screen toting guns, bashing men, bad-mouthing, the same as the subjection of women did not germinate from men insulting or beating women on screen.
Arun S., Madurai
Bush or Kerry? Ideally, it should not matter a great deal to India, except for the government. Still, you cover (Rex Americana, Oct 25) was substantially biased in favour of Kerry and contained more views than news. Having dealt with the Bush administration will surely make it easier for the Indian foreign establishment to pursue their agenda with the US. A known devil is better than an unknown one. Regardless, Indians must be ready to kill the fatted calf.
Siddhartha Shukla, New Delhi
President Bush’s war on terror is actually an exercise in cutting the violent Islamist crowd down to size. In this respect, the war is beneficial to India as far as Pakistan is concerned, however much Musharraf is propped up by the Americans. Hence, more and more thinking Indians should support Bush and wish he is re-elected. John Kerry, on the other hand, is too academic to be as decisive as Bush in the war on terror.
A.M. Digamber, Chennai
The answer to Bush or Kerry would depend on what new (if any) events overshadow the current mood. Clinton shifted from anti-India to pro-India moves; Bush from ‘humbleness’ to ‘arrogance’ not on convictions or stated positions but in response to events. Such events apart, the only other thing is that India ‘manages’ the fears and hopes of Americans to its benefit. Both India and Pakistan are today applying themselves to this aim with great effort and thought. This is only correct, for are not the ‘terrorists’ doing just that in their own way—petulantly demanding attention from the Lords and Masters?
Atul Chandra, Mumbai
In spite of being another one exhibiting Photoshop trickery, a superb cover!
Sumant Bhattacharya, Ghaziabad
Bush or Kerry, neither is better for India. India would always figure after Pakistan in America’s scheme of things.
Anusha Singh, New Delhi
One just can’t understand why the Indian media is so enamoured of elections in the US, particularly in relation to India, as its foreign policy has remained static despite successive changes of guard. Whatever India gets is nothing but quid pro quo to further US interests, that too under pressure by American business lobbies vying to tap the potentiality of the Indian market.
Siddhartha Raj Guha, Jabalpur
Gita Mehta’s is a most petulant and childish argument (Only the Paranoid Survive?). Al Gore won the popular vote (actually) in the last election. And he was not a conservative by any standards. That tells us something about where the Americans (not Indian-Americans) stand on the issue. And yes, there are many more liberals on their way in—including Kerry and Edwards. So, liberalism is alive and well. It’ll take more than one George Bush to destroy that permanently. And hey, Bush Sr lost too despite the first war in Iraq, because he did nothing for America. So stop counting the chickens before they hatch. One anti-liberal vote isn’t going to matter in any of the West Coast states. The West Coast is going to go Liberal, as always.
Smriti Mishra, Mumbai
Gita Mehta is absolutely right when she says that it is George Bush who has misgoverned and isolated the US from the rest of the world. If he gets re-elected, it will be a shame for the US as well as the rest of the world.
N.D. Fais, Delhi
Every now and then Gita Mehta refers to "the Americans I talk to", "the people I talk to" and so on. Pray, if she is writing an ‘opinion’ piece, why does she have to prop it up with people she talked to? If your opinion needs a crutch, then do not write it. You only show your own insecurity.
Madan Bharadwaj, Orlando, US
Gita Mehta misses two key aspects. First, the real ‘America’ is not the intelligentsia sitting in the democratic strongholds of New York and California but in the heartland where people are more concerned about jobs, faith, abortion, gay rights, healthcare, veterans, etc. The American voters have never viewed their international role as a priority except during World War II. Bush still stands tall among the loyal base of this heartland America. Another aspect is the class warfare. This is the most polarised election ever in the US where rich white Americans, ‘Christian’ Americans and immigrants who subscribe to their agenda constitute half the country while liberal, poor and middle-class people and immigrants who want to protect their identity constitute the other half. This election will be close but America will remain divided in its loyalties.
Aravind, Newmarket, US
Gita Mehta misses the following important fact: the US has never sheltered ltte followers, Khalistan supporters, Northeast militants groups or Kashmiri separatists. In the name of civil liberties, European countries have given shelter and encouragement to these groups. The US, additionally, is taking on Islamic terrorism. A paranoid America is thousand times less harmful to India than friendly European countries.
R. Srivatsan, Newport, US
I’ll vote for Bush purely on principle and philosophy. And because I know liberals destroyed India (or froze it for 50 years anyway) and want to do the same to the US. I’m not here to provide a self-esteem mechanism for unsuccessful people who want to live on the backs of poor and coloured people all over the world.
Ashwani Sirohi, Seattle, US
Your cover kicker should have read,
‘Curry or Boost, Who is Butter for India?’
Nilesh L. Shah, Hubli
Contrary to the renaissance of Muslim women in your October 4 cover story on The Other Face of Indian Muslims, 80 per cent of Muslim girls of the riverside area of lower Assam are school dropouts, married at the age of 12-13 years, and have more than five children by the time they are 25 years of age. Kudos to the health department, political leaders and religious clergy.
Amrit Krishna Bora, Goalpara, Assam
A thought-provoking article Sachin Endulkar (Oct 25) was as it reminded us that Sachin is not eternal. However, the piece has been written six years too early; Sachin will play at least till he is 38 and set many more records till then. Many more such ‘ends’ had been predicted earlier but all were followed by some wonderful innings by Tendulkar. Let’s hope the trend continues.
S. Sudharshan, Chennai
Inferring from an injury that a player’s career is over is unfair and a case of alarm bells ringing too soon. Sachin is in fact younger than Rahul and Saurav. A time will inevitably come when they all take a bow but it isn’t now. So please stop putting people down unnecessarily.
Suresh Kumar Sharma, Patiala
Though your concern for Tendulkar may have been genuine, it was a tad premature. Sachin is back and even if he wasn’t for this Test, he is just 31 and were he to take a year off, he’d still just be 32.
Harsha, Bangalore
Apropos Vinod Mehta’s Delhi Diary (Oct 25), congratulations on nine years of "both critical and commercial" success, though lately the second C seems dominant. These must be very good times for you, with a friendly government at the Centre. The Marxists may or may not give unconditional support to the upa government but Outlook certainly does. By the time you turn 10, you may well be another worthy journalist-turned-politician in the Rajya Sabha. This would have two major consequences: 1) Vinod Mehta’s pet, Editor, will have to take over his seat in Safdarjung Enclave, and 2) Debonair’s place in the history of Indian journalism would be secure.
Shivam Vij, Delhi
A tough job well done, Mr Mehta. Wishing you a silver, golden, why even a platinum jubilee!
Prakash Vyas, North Carolina, US
Why only Gujarat, you committed many more blunders like the recent Lok Sabha and assembly election. You predicted a tdp victory in Andhra Pradesh (the Congress swept the polls) and the bjp coming back to power with a comfortable margin!
Abhay Verma, New Delhi
B’day greetings to Outlook and bouquets to Vinod Mehta. It is nothing more than a coincidence that the day also belongs to two of the greats of our times—Jayaprakash Narain and the Big B.
M.C. Joshi, Lucknow
Congratulations to Outlook for completing a laudable nine years. Carry on the good work.
Asadha Arul, Mugaiyur, Tamil Nadu
The era in which Outlook is published will be remembered as a dark period in the history of Indian journalism. The sheer audacity to pass off political messages and propaganda as news is an art mastered by Vinod Mehta et al.
S.K. Sharma, Delhi
May the force be with you and multiply with each fanatic’s poisonous outpouring on the Letters page.
G. Ansami, Hawaii, US
Have you hugged your dog, dear editor (Advantage Ed)? Go ahead, do it, we need you around for the next nine years at least and nine more maybe.
Achal Madhavan, New Delhi
Vinod Mehta’s nine-year-old product has emerged as a free, fearless and forceful forerunner in the media.
Mahesh Inder Sharma, New Delhi
I’m not a diehard cricket enthusiast but do enjoy watching it and do understand its nuances. I’ve never had a problem understanding either Dean Jones or Michael Slater, who, in fact, are doing a great job of analysing the game, and never has their talk sounded like mindless drivel to me, notwithstanding the objections Vinod Mehta has regarding their accents (Delhi Diary, Oct 25). Talking of mindless drivel, that singular distinction goes to our honourable MP, Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu, which makes it clear that substance (and not accents) makes for a good commentator. Besides, we better have the ability to take comments regarding the Indian accent sportingly, before we return the gesture!
Dr Aradhana Kadekar, on e-mail
In the article Madrassa Kids Need Zero-Terror Seal (Oct 25), we quoted a Hamidullah Bhat as the director, minority welfare. He is just Mr Hamidullah. We regret the error.
