Start at Siachen (March 19) was extremely topical. Unfortunately it gave a very one-sided view. While I agree that we must improve relations with Pakistan, a special effort should be made towards a ceasefire in Siachen and towards improving trade. Geostrategic factors like control of our headwaters and communications have to be kept in mind during discussions.
Water is vital for our agricultural society. Control over the ‘ice cap’ in our northern territories is consequently not open to negotiation. To ensure Pakistan’s supply of irrigation water, we had signed a river-water sharing pact and paid towards the cost of the Chenab-Beas Link. This position can’t be disturbed. We can’t give away Siachen, but could agree to making the ‘trackless waste’ a field firing range for our air force.
The author rightly stresses the importance of commerce. While Pakistan built the Karakoram Highway from Gilgit, and China built the Askai Chin Highway through Ladakh, we were left without suitable access to traditional trade routes to Russia. The reopening of communications to the CIS states—Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyztan, rich in hydrocarbons and in need of consumer products—is a strategic and economic necessity.
Maj. Gen. P. Narain, New Delhi
With reference to A Four Letter Word Called Hype (March 19), I’d like to point out a couple of things that people seem to have missed about Bill Gates’ visit to India.
Firstly, Gates didn’t become a billionaire by donating money to needy institutions. It would be foolish to evaluate his objectives based on what he donated to the IIMs and the IITs. It was a token gesture to mark his visit and nothing more. Secondly, Gates never intended to act as a messiah. As rightly put in your article, it’s the problem of the media if it projects him as one.
Amit Kumar’s letter (in the same issue) is amateurish. Apple may have been innovative but it lacks Microsoft’s vision and killer instinct. Vikas Chaudhry says: "I had ‘suspected’ all along that he is coming here not because he is impressed by our technical workforce but...". What does he expect anyway? Gates has better things to do than go about countries singing praises of ‘innovative young software geniuses’.
P. Sandeep, Hyderabad
I was aghast to read the hatemail against Bill Gates. The remarks about Microsoft and Gates running Apple out of business are absurd. Microsoft is Apple’s largest software supplier. Secondly, Microsoft is a software firm unlike Apple which makes both hardware and software. If Apple is running out of business, it’s because of stiff competition from IBM and other ‘Intel-inside’ computer manufacturers. Thirdly, Apple’s predicament, as admitted by Scully et al, is their own mistake of not letting out the Macs like Microsoft did with Windows ’95. Fourthly, both MS and Apple have their own distinct markets. While Apple has carved out a niche in desktop publication, MS has its own market in the Soho area.
Maneesh Sahu, Suratkal
For a good number of Indians the colour of money is black (A Sea of Black, March 26). It is said that the Budget of 1997-98 presented by the Union finance minister is masterly and with it he has given a new lease of life to the rainbow coalition ministry for another six months at least. Chidambara Rahasyam (Chidambaram’s secret) is nothing.He wants to kill two birds with one stone, namely, to flush out black money and to improve the economy of the country. But the path he has chosen is just like asking a peacock to drop its fine feathers.
Dr K.S. Narayanan, Tirunelveli
Your cover story has rightly questioned the success of the new disclosure scheme launched in this year’s Budget by the finance minister. We Indians devise ways and means to hammer the law even before its enactment. When we know the names of tax-evaders, why don’t we arrest them and auction their properties? Obviously our income-tax system gives too many discretionary powers to income tax officers, resulting in extensive corruption and emergence of black money. In these circumstances, the new VDS will attract only hundreds out of tens of thousands of crores worth of black money floating in the economy.
Zigyasa and Him, Muzaffarnagar
While Romesh Bhandari and Indrajit Gupta have brought disrepute to their respective offices by publicly confronting each other on the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, Lok Sabha Speaker P.A. Sangma set a healthy precedent for parliamentary democracy by admitting the BJP’s notice of motion for the Governor’s recall (Collective Chaos, March 19). The Speaker’s ruling on the motion was not only impartial, it also upheld the cardinal principle that in a cabinet system of governance the council of ministers is collectively responsible for the conduct of individual ministers.
Nilay V. Anjaria, Ahmedabad
The public’s aversion to politics and politicians is clearly evident from the low percentage of voting in elections. Vinod Mehta’s opinion, In Defence of Politicians, and Loot or Largesse? (March 12) were real eye-openers. Politicians work for their own welfare, amass wealth and live in splendour. They love to talk about the poverty of the people, but it is mere lip service. Even after 50 years of Independence, people strive for two square meals a day. But the standard of living of politicians has improved considerably. If this trend continues, people will lose faith in a democratic system of government. Something has to be done to restore the health of democracy in India.
R. Sivakumaran, Chennai
The acronym MPLADS had the word ‘Area’ missing from it. It should have read Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme.
Aalok Vidyarthi, Secunderabad
This refers to the box item EC ‘Uninvolved’. Our politicians seem to have taken advantage of the present CEC M.S. Gill’s soft-spokenness. This was evident during the recent elections in Punjab. There were far more banners, posters, handbills and polythene rolls bearing party symbols this time. If not otherwise, the powers of the EC must be felt during elections so that its augustness is retained.
J.M.K. Handa, Batala, Punjab
The Kannada Development Authority’s decision to implement the Sarojini Mahishi Committee report is confused (For Kannadigas Only, March 12). If every state implements similar rules, India’s soon going to lose its identity and will be divided into smaller countries like the CIS. Would Kannadigas like Karnataka to be known as a country instead of a state?
Raghwesh Ranjan, Jaduguda Mines, Bihar
Apropos the Madras vs Chennai controversy (Everything In a Name, March 12), the name Madras is not European but actually antedates the arrival of Europeans as well as the emergence of Chennapatnam. The Telugu Chennapatnam means ‘elegant town’ and predates Madraspatnam. Chennai is derived from a Telugu root and has no Tamil authenticity.
Rev. Philip K. Mulley, Kotagiri, The Nilgiris
Kudos to the Outlook team for giving its readers an honest and unbiased cover story on the North-east (Big Brother and Seven Sisters, March 5). If New Delhi really cares about the people of this region (they show their concern by sending more and more troops), they should stop sending the army and try to solve the problem politically. The army has been in the three states for years now but things have yet to improve. New Delhi and people from other parts of the country should remember that India exists beyond Calcutta and people from these states do rejoice every time India wins a cricket match.
Gautam Hindrom, Bangalore
A few decades back the Indian communist movement had seen many great leaders who gave up their life and property without hesitation for the cause of the downtrodden. Your story on how the communist chief minister of Ker-ala is helping his son promote an advertising agency (Son Rises in the South Too, March 26) is therefore revealing. Many communist leaders have now become victims of the corrupt system. Unable to see the revolution on the horizon, many of these leaders are succumbing to narrow, selfish gains. Lenin long back said the real revolutionary is one who stays dedicated to the struggle even when the situation is not revolutionary at that moment. But our mainstream Marxist leaders have long back detached themselves from the great thinkers of Marxism. It seems that Indian communist leaders never believed what they were preaching to others. It is a real tragedy for the oppressed of this country who are left to look at the sky and pray for miracles.
D. Papa Rao, Hyderabad
Gita Mehta’s comments (The Acerbic Touch, March 19) on the political careers of Nehru and Gandhi were uncalled for. Their joining politics was a conscious decision and was reflected in their ability to allocate responsibility. It was they who took India to the forefront of world politics. They were political leaders of international stature. Ms Mehta should refrain from making mischievous comments.
Shinee Elizabeth Jacob, Ranny, Kerala
The touch of genius is yet again in the offing for Gita Mehta’s testimony to modern India. The interview with Mehta epitomises her impeccable wit and intellect. Her focus on the evolution of modern India amidst a hotch-potch of nepotism, violence and incredible instincts for economic transformation is splendid. Her revelations on the myriad aspects of the Indian outlook, cultural upsurge, skewed visions and illusory effects of consumerism are apt.
Subhashis Ray, Rourkela