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E-mail from readers the world over
Date: Thursday, April 02, 1998 6:14 AM
Mr Gurumurthy wants the older power structure to be in the place. This means that, for no fault of their own, people will continue to suffer for being born to a particular set of parents. We have seen how the Congress has destroyed political morality. Now, we are witnessing a psuedo-cleanliness political campaign. We are being brainwashed into believing that a political party will be able to correct the errors of the past. It's like Italy before World War II, where it was said that Mussolini made trains run on time. Are we going to enter another era of darkness as against the promised golden era? Will we have to take certificates from some authority so that we can practise our religion? Will it have to fill somebody's requirements ?
Govind
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 1998 11:13 AM
I am a active reader of Rediff's column. I am a very proud Indian working in Europe. I agree with Panicker that one can't use the nuclear bomb. But a country should have it, if all its enemies are nuclear powers. Because it would take only 30 minutes, at the most, to hurl a nuclear bomb into India. Let's see if we can rely on our enemies! First take Pakistan, which is already equipped with a nuclear weapon. Moreover, all three Indo-Pak wars have been initiated by them. Next, take China. This is the same country which betrayed India in 1961. It is well known that when China attacked India, we were still considering them our brothers (Hindi-Chini bhai bhai). So, if "brother" China can attack India, then a "supporting" China can do lot more. When it come to our security, we should not climb high moral horses. This has been a great weakness since the era of Prithviraj Chauhan. He defeated Ghauri 17 times and let him live. Finally, the 18th time, the same Ghauri defeated, blinded and killed him. Does Prem want a repeat of that scenario? Coming to national euphoria, why should we hide our pride and happiness to please anybody? Was it in good taste for Pakistan to name its IRBMs Ghauri? In today's world, the concept of peace, honesty and morality is just a mirage. Krishna himself has said in Gita that if one has to do seemingly immoral things for the betterment of society, then such acts are not considered immoral.
Chirag
Date sent: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 19:04:39 -0600
India should not sign the CTBT, since the US has already agreed to sell F-16 airplanes (which can be used to deliver atomic bombs) to Pakistan. They have also assured them of satellite data on India's military/political activities. If US wants to play cold war games of old fashioned containment (cat and mouse policy), then building Agni missiles tipped with H-bombs is not a bad idea! In addition, develop ICBMs too since aircraft carriers are sitting ducks and N-submarines can be very expensive.
M Joshi
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 1998 11:06 PM
With the nuclear tests, India has made it clear that it is not difficult to attain nuclear status; it is difficult, though, to control this power once you have it. And maintaining this control is vital for world peace. This exploration of inner power through human development started in ancient India. The story below will explain what I am saying: Alexander had lost his way in India. Frustrated, he told an Indian yogi to guide him to the right path or die. The Yogi said, "Do not kill me until you find your way." Then he asked Alexander, "Do you want to conquer the world? Please remember the cycle of day and night are never at the same time in both halves of the globe. So you will lose it. Try to conquer the mind, then you will never feel the need of conquering the world." India was never interested in material conquest. She never will be. But the world never paid attention to that message. The story of Durga, or the Mahabharata, always talks about having power so as to protect goodness, or peace. India's path, even today, has not deviated from the same ancient wisdom. Clinton, attending a group of eight industrial powers' summit in Britain, said it was unrealistic to believe a country could build a nuclear arsenal and not use it under any circumstances. I do not know why Clinton never applied the same logic for China. I do not want to criticise Clinton, I want him to open his eyes to the fact that we don't have any other option. Clinton will find it difficult to realise the Indian spirit since he never grew up there. I do not disrespect Clinton for the statements he has made, since I practise Indian ancient wisdom of Yoga every day of my life. I also understand Clinton's situation as a political leader, faced as he is with several personal problems. But to remain critical and rational even in the most difficult situation shows real leadership. I have full respect for the Pakistanis and the Chinese, but it does not mean I will not follow the truth in a critical discussion. The world needs to see nuclear tests from the Indian point of view, and not through the eyes of any conquering race. Once people will do that, they will realise India's deep commitment to peace. India is for total nuclear disarmament and total destruction of weapons from every part of the world in a phased manner. Some of the countries which are unhappy with India's nuclear tests don't like the idea of total nuclear disarmament. They would like to retain the nuclear monopoly in few hands. India is not interested in monopolising power either in Asia or in the world. India does not want to use her nuclear capability to threaten anyone, nor does she want to use it first. Her interest in nuclear weapons is limited to self-defence and global peace. This approach will never interest those who want to use nuclear power to fulfill their own interest, even though it contradicts the true view of democracy. To understand the whole truth, one has give up one's ego, limitations or biased attitude. If the majority of the people in the world do not really care, then I do not think India needs to put herself in a conflict with other nuclear powers. India should rather join the monopoly by signing the CTBT or NPT. There is a huge difference between Pakistan, China and India. India has always been for peace, but Pakistan's terrorist activities have led to daily loss of innocent Indian lives. For how long can the Indian government just sit and watch? My aim is not to irritate Pakistan. But when there is no sign of understanding from Pakistan's government, I have no other choice. Still I believe we can bring peace because India is committed to long-term peace with anyone who understands the meaning of the word. Pakistan depends on others for nuclear and missile technology. China, which does not believe in democracy, is our other neighbour. Though Indo-China relations were improving, their assistance to Pakistan in the nuclear weapons programme violates the international treaty and the US never did anything. Instead, the US is giving them missile technology. China conducted 45 nuclear tests, out of which 23 were atmospheric. The last test was conducted in 1996. China said the number of tests they conducted was limited. So why does the world's reasoning change when it comes to India? If India were located next to the US, like Canada is, then there would be no need for nuclear power. But India is surrounded not only by nuclear powers, but also by some countries who do not believe in real democracy. The US media has already revealed how China lobbied with the Democratic Party by contributing to their campaign funding. It may be the reason why Clinton has a soft corner for China even though she occupied Tibet and has been accused of several human rights violations. China has a keen love for new missile technology and, in 1997, the US transferred missile technology to China. I do not know why the world does not criticise China's aggressive attitude. I still have lot of respect for the common American people. My wife is American and I have seen enough good people in the US who strongly support India's total nuclear disarmament stance. Even though Clinton signed sanctions against India, I still love the Americans -- this proves India's heart is much bigger than what people think. I have experienced greatness of both the US and India and I strongly believe India deserves a lot more respect from the US and the UN. The UN can never justify why they did not make India a permanent member in the Security Council. There is no reason to compare India with Pakistan. India is a democratic country which understands the meaning for freedom and is equally developed in the fields of computer science, science, technology, arts, music, and health. The US media often describes the Indian ruling party as a Hindu party. The BJP and the coalition may have several leaders whose religion may be Hindu, but the Indian Constitution is still secular and represents the voice of every single Indian with any belief system because it is a democratically elected government. It's like calling the US government a Christian one because the White House celebrates Christmas. And that atheists have no freedom because the currency says "in God we trust". So the media needs to be careful what they say. I do not want to look down on Pakistan, but I cannot change the truth. If anyone lives under fundamentalist law for a long time it becomes very hard for them to realise the value of democracy and freedom. Democracy allows for human development and a clearer perception of peace. Pakistan's constant terrorism has created an attitude of dislike and mistrust among Indians. But, deep down, Indians do not hate Pakistan. I hope Pakistan will, someday, understand the Indian spirit and, that day, peace will prevail. India is not against Pakistan's development, but strongly objects to the transfer of nuclear technology from other countries. If they independently develop nuclear and missile technology, India does not see any problem. India will never threaten or start a war with anyone, it is against the Indian spirit. Peace resides in India's soul but until the lust for power exists among others, India needs to be equally powerful. The United States has been hinting at concessions and a lifting of longstanding sanctions, including the blocked sale of F-16 fighters, if Pakistan shows restraint on tests. But this attitude of the US government and the supply of arms and missile technology to China changed power equations in the Asian region much before the Indian tests. It again shows the US has always created imbalance in that region by its wrong policies. The US, and the UN, need to prove to India that they really care about her security. Until India has proof of impartial decisions from the US and UN, India cannot sign any treaty. With no one really caring about India, it was her duty to protect herself and she did this by testing.
India will sign the treaty if:
India cannot trust a non-democratic country like China which occupied Tibet or a fundamentalist country like Pakistan which has constantly has been involved in acts of terrorism. My statement does not refer to the individual Pakistani or Chinese people, but to the current political attitude in those countries. I strongly believe that there are good people too in every country. To understand the real Indian spirit, people need to live in India for 10 years or at least visit India. I am talking from experience. India's will is like a mountain, and her wisdom is as open as the sky. Sanctions against India will affect American economy in the long term. I care about the US and India, both countries have given me a lot. But America's one-sided policy is detrimental to her image in the world and against the American spirit. India does not need to prove her commitment to peace any more. It is now time for the US and the world to recognise India as a potential catalyst for improving peace and democracy. India is self-sufficient in food, has enough intellectual resources to educate her whole population and enough scientists, engineers and doctors to serve her people. They have rich natural resources and a great history of spiritual power. India will not suffer from any biased decision but will learn to be self-reliant. Any evolved human with a rational mind will understand my opinion and why I prefer the ancient Indian wisdom of peace. But we are living in a world that faces the danger of evil technology and unevolved mentality; it is now important for India to utilise the power of Dharma. The Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma, developed the Indian martial art so that he could defend himself and improve his self-control. Similarly, India possesses nuclear power but will not use it first. Yoga is a science of human development which also offers this same objective of self-control. It is now the Indian government's job not only to improve security, but also use Yoga, martial art, research on Indo-art, Indo-music, Indo-medicine and spirituality to vitalise the nation before the 21st century. People might still think India is a poor country. But India is an old country, so it is natural to have some poverty due to a big population. These people may be materially poor, but they are rich otherwise since they have the value of tolerance and know how to prove their point without resorting to violence. Though only 30 per cent (a rough estimate) of the population is educated, it is larger than the entire population of the US. This does not mean the rest of the population is uneducated. They may not be able to speak English or write properly, but they are peaceful people with basic knowledge of humanity. These poor people can give much more love and friendship than many of the rich people. They might beg, but not bug, people. India should now use her human and natural resources to improve -- irrespective of race, religion, culture, colour and sex -- the life of her common people. The government needs to explain to all Indians, including the people of Kashmir, that they are equal contributors to the progress of the nation. If India expects impartiality from the world, she has to prove that she is impartial to her own people. If India becomes united, no one can stop her from becoming a major world power that focuses on improving human life in the 21st century. Only a crisis can unite the people of the world. But the need of a united world has always existed in the evolved mind. To achieve this blissful state, every nation has to commit to total nuclear disarmament and use science and technology to improve human life. This will not happen unless partiality, ego, limitations, etc, are removed from the minds of the people holding powerful positions.
Surajit Sengupta
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 1998 5:23 PM
The first thought that came to mind when I heard that Japan has stopped $ 1 billion worth of aid was that it will reduce corruption by at least $ 0.5 to $ 0.7 billion. Because, in my opinion, at least 50 to 70 per cent of any expenditure in India goes into corruption. I am sure most people will agree with this. I believe that most of India is not corrupt. A majority of the people, in my opinion, DO NOT TAKE bribe although many may be involved in GIVING it, by choice or otherwise. This is a pointer as to how we can overcome sanctions. We should decide that enough is enough. Let us start with a clean slate. Let's not talk about what happened in the past, let's talk about what is going to happen in the future. Let us STOP corruption today onwards. This will give us enough strength, economically and otherwise, to ride out any amount of sanctions. This alone will make India a superpower and a great democracy. I know this is easier said than done. The question is -- who will take the first step?
Deepak S Avasare
Date: Saturday, May 16, 1998 12:10 PM
A seasoned politician like Vajpayee would not have taken a decision to conduct these tests in a vacuum, without considering their political, economic and social implications. Highly secretive consultations with persons that matter would have taken place in New Delhi. Obviously, there are certain things that need to be kept secret and, I am sure everyone will agree, this is one such subject. Talking about the reactions of countries, none of these so-called superpowers have any right to condemn this incident for the obvious reason that they either possess them or come under their umbrella. A debate is still on whether the sanctions will lead to a domestic crisis. With so many versions floating around, it would be best if the Vajpayee government releases a white paper on this issue. Considering the long term implications, it would be advisable to hand over this responsibility to a task force comprising of the FM, shadow FM (I presume this would be Dr Manmohan Singh), top academicians, industry representatives and representatives from other opposition parties (like Mr Madhu Dandavate for eg). I think they owe this to the people of India for their overwhelming support to the government on the concerned issue. From the people's side, I think they should be prepared for some sacrifices and compromises. It will not be a bad idea to set up a contingency fund and seek donations from NRIs; domestic contributions should also be welcomed. It will only be lip service if everyone who praised and felt proud that their country had gone nuclear, backtracks when it comes to building the country for the future. Having scored a point on this issue, the government should set about working for the country, particularly for the poor. The lady from the south should be shown where she belongs and the prime minister should assert his authority by refusing unreasonable demands. It is very heartening to note that the Congress has, so far, extended support to this government in its functioning. With such an attitude, one tends to feel that Indian politicians are maturing, despite certain aberrations like Surjeet, Mulayam and Jayalalitha.
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 1998 2:06 AM
Rediff's coverage of India's nuclear tests has been excellent, in keeping with its usual high standards. India awakened, and she did so at the right time. Kudos to India, and to the BJP government. Let's show the world what we can do.
Seshan Ramachandran
Date sent: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 23:01:34 -0500
An excellent report on a long debated issue. Frozen rent was the cancer that had to be removed, albeit painfully, in order to keep Bombay from dying. Due to the fear of tenants passing rental property to their kids, landlords were not renting their flats. I have many friends who live in the US and have their flats locked. They do not want to rent the flats due to the fear that tenant will never vacate. This will also bring some justice to the rented flats market. It is not fair to pay Rs 200 as rent and live in posh areas just because one's grandfather lived in that area in 1940. The landlord had rented the property to make money... he did not rent it for charity. If the landlord gets only Rs 200 or so for a flat where the going rate is about Rs 15,000, it is not fair. Yes, it will result in violence. But why has the government employed those khaki-clad tough guys, whom we call the police? The judiciary has shown more guts than the government of the last five decades. A great decision, that will extend Bombay's life by at least 50 years. Without this, Bombay would be a dead city within a decade.
Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 06:20:45 -0700
A wonderful idea. Everyone should see it.
Date: Saturday, April 04, 1998 9:21 PM
I was appalled to read the travel article titled Ah Taj by Susmita Das in your issue dated April 3, 1998. The author displayed utter ignorance and moral irresponsibility by writing such a piece. It is an established fact that Taj Mahal is in fact Tejo Mahalaya, an ancient Shiva palace temple complex. This has been proven irrefutably time and time again by P N Oak, the esteemed Indian historian. The fact that the author of this article shows utter disregard for the truth by touting the familiar lie about Shah Jahan and his "immense monument to love" is depraved and insulting to all Hindus the world over (to say the least)! At least the author should have investigated the factual history of Tejo Mahalaya before promoting such insidious gibberish. I demand that the author and your magazine immediately apologise for publishing a piece of crap that insults the Hindu heritage. Our glorious achievements have been belittled and nullified for far too long by ignorant people such as your august author. Not only this, she has glorified a Muslim ruler who is the symbol of repression, cruelty and hatred against Hindus.
Divya Drishti
Date: Friday, May 01, 1998 1:39 AM
I was feeling pretty bored at work. So I decided to log on to Rediff. As I was glancing through the pages, I couldn't help noticing the article on Kalaripayattu. The article was very personal to me for a number of reasons. As a Keralite, I have observed the decadence of this martial art form. My late uncle had started a school to teach it to the youth (including myself). Needless to say, none of us were really interested. We preferred the glamour of Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, etc. The school is listed in the article (Kottaram Rd, East Nadakkavu, Calicut). As one grows older and wiser, I realise the importance of knowing your own culture and the possible impact it could have in one's life. Kalaripayattu stresses the importance of discipline which was definitely lacking during my younger days and which is currently lacking in today's youth. The article also provided an insight about my close friend's (Sashi Kodasseri) writing abilities. We haven't seen each other for about 10 years. We studied together for about eight years and I still can recall the Karate "chops" he practised on me. I would really appreciate it if I could get his address. Reji Nair
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