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E-mail from readers the world over
Date sent: Wed, 06 May 1998 12:55:34 -0800 Of course, it is a big threat to India in many ways. Fernandes spoke only in the interest of the country's statement. The Communists and the Congress want to politicise the issue to take some advantage to assail the BJP government. I am glad that we have now got a government which cares for the country's security. Fernandes is a seasoned politician and a mature statesman. As an Indian citizen, I am now confident that India is safe under the protection of stronger patriots. Maraimalai
Date sent: Wed, 06 May 1998 10:37:33 -0400 The BJP has done yeomen service by appointing Fernandes as defence minister. Being a peacenik he has now realised that Bharat Mata's security interest is really threatened by China and the US. If India can develop a deterrent against the Chinese threat, it can more than take care of any threat posed by Pakistan. As a matter of fact, having missiles of 5,000 kms range can take care of not only Pakistan but other unseen hands such as the Saudis and Iran supplying weapons to Pakistan. Better still a 10,000 km missile would let Uncle Sam know that it is counter productive to threaten India with the ultimate weapon. This is precisely what China has done vis a vis the US. They are reaping the benefits of their strength by having all kinds of US companies investing and manufacturing in China -- ignoring their human rights and other records. If India cannot make a 10,000 km missile in a short time span, the purpose may be served by a 5,000 km submarine-launched missile. Santanu Ghose
Date sent: Wed, 06 May 1998 20:51:36 +0800 It is true, we should not compare our self with a small fry like Pakistan. It is nothing compared to India. Its own existence is dependent on the smuggling of nuclear weapons from Western countries and missiles from China and North Korea. Despite having tasted the brunt of State-sponsored terrorism of Pakistan, the US still cannot see beyond its narrow foreign policy. It cannot see any nexus between Pakistan and China on nuclear delivery weapons. India's security concerns are a true evaluation of the current defence situation. We must wake up and start working on protecting ourselves and others. ONLY THE BRAVE CAN BE NON VIOLENT. Renu Tyagi
Date sent: Tue, 5 May 1998 11:03:18 -0700 I am not knowledgeable enough to say if issuing such public statements by the defence minister about India's policy and opinion towards China would help our defence strategies in anyway. But they will generate sympathy and support towards the present government for two reasons : 1. We were badly bruised by China in the 1962 war. 2. Despite such a wish, there wasn't enough courage in the earlier governments to be decisive, at least in words, till now. Remember it took 10 bloody years in Punjab before our previous governments could clearly say in various fora that Pakistan is creating all these troubles. Till then we were always saying that there is a "foreign hand" in these terrorist acts. So in this context, if the BJP-led government is able to say such a thing, it definitely is an encouraging one. I say encouraging one because it builds some hopes in public that proactive steps will be taken to make India safe and secure -- free from insurgence, terrorism etc. But seen practically, these statements all of a sudden won't destroy the relationship between the countries. Each government will know to an extent what's behind these words and they will act accordingly. So while I welcome our defence minister's statements, I also look forward to some concrete action to support them. Else it will become another paper tiger and will lose its respect among people.
Date sent: Tue, 05 May 1998 12:56:49 -0400 It is wrong to say that Fernandes is being used to test the waters. India would be gullible and naive to ignore and explicitly state the threat from China. China is not a democracy where public opinion counts. The People's Liberation Army uses only brute force. The growing Blue Water Navy, electronic surveillance, export of missile technology are not something that Fernandes just invented!! Let's say, the time for sweet talk is over and India has emerged as a weak country --- just what its enemies are looking for. Years of financial neglect and lack of defense modernisation have taken their toll. The Indian army has too many people and too little weaponry. The time has come to launch some defence projects in the private sector which are time bound. The "Ghauri" is only one in a series of missiles that Pakistan has. Let's not relax in the perceived superiority of Agni. Let's prove it. Fernandes is doing what no past defence minister has done --- to issue a wake up call and help us all realise the real threat. He deserves to be commended.
Jayant Mehta
Date sent: Wed, 6 May 1998 12:48:03 -0700 (PDT) I wholeheartedly congratulate the judge for throwing out Jayalalitha's frivolous petitions aimed at nothing other than to delay the progress of the cases. All attempts made by Jayalalitha to hoodwink the people should be similarly dismissed. Just because she was voted into power (I strongly believe it was a vote for the BJP), one should not dismiss the charges against her, by statements like "the people have forgiven her", etc which are being mouthed by her sycophants. I hope the Indian judiciary, which is our last hope to clean up the act of the politicians, will hack through all her stupid objections and get the truth out. P Das
Date sent: Wed, 06 May 1998 16:44:07 -0700 First of all, I never knew that Prem Panicker extends his writing talents outside cricket. I enjoyed reading this article very much. Just some thoughts I had: after living in and studying at an American university for the past three years, I find that my perception of our culture and its importance has changed. Human beings are the same all over the world, when you take away the externalities. We always have this perception of Indians being so morally correct while at the same time castigating Westerners for their lose morals. But we are just as depraved as any other race. Maybe just a little more hypocritical. When Bill Clinton has an affair, we smirk and put it down as just one other instance of the Western trend of infidelity, divorce etc. Yet, we conveniently forget that many of our own political leaders do the same thing, and without any fear of retribution too! Ultimately, it is only the individual who matters, regardless of nationality. Whether you're an American, Indian, Chinese, or whatever, you ultimately live by what you feel is right, and you answer to yourself. So, to tie this all in with the topic of the article (whew!), of course, these rock groups make all sorts of obscene gestures on stage, but the author rightly points out that it's more important for the people in office to concentrate on providing basic amenities for India's citizens. Once they have the ability to think for themselves, maybe these youth themselves would prefer Tujhe Dekha To Yeh Jaana Sanam and Ruk Jaa O' Dil Deewane type songs over Savage Garden and Chad Gaya Oopar Re. Anand Krishnaswamy
Date sent: Wed, 6 May 1998 10:50:18 -0500 I read your article on the Maharashtra government policy. This guy Shantaram Nandgaonkar was a poet. It seems to me that he lost all his poetic sense. If the Maharashtra government continues to go for these stupid policies, then it will not be long before the Congress will be in power next time with majority. I just cannot understand what the government has to do with parenting. Just look at the morals of these people. They leave nobody for self gratification and now they teach people how to live. My friends truly said that this is nothing but fascist's government. There is no record of worst things these people are doing. They have Shantaram Nandgaonkar as the havaldar who is saying he had never been to a concert. So he has no clue to what that world looks like, and now he teaches them. He also says that the West is changing. He should be told very clearly that the basics of society is *freedom*. There is no such thing as governmental parenting. I am very confident that there is no plan here in the US for the government to get into people's personal lives. The culture of India -- at least what he indicates should be preserved -- is the one which needs to be changed. Ajit
Date sent: Wed, 06 May 1998 20:19:26 +0800 Thanks for publishing this article and highlighting a totally stupid, childish and outdated attitude of the so-called "Moral Policeman" of Bombay. What Shri Shantaram Nandgaonkar has said leaves me so angry and disgusted that I am at a loss for words. Who are these people to decide what is right and wrong? Who are they to decide where the line is to be drawn? Why don't they mind their own business and concentrate on more important issues facing the city? At this rate dear Nandgaonkar will soon dictate what kind of clothes should be worn , how long skirts should be, how deep necklines should be... Please Mr Nandgaonkar, WE DO NOT NEED YOU to interfere in the private lives of individuals and restrict thus their personal freedom. You may take action against hooligans and trouble makers, but please be honest with your conscience and ask yourself -- what are you achieving by enforcing such ridiculous rules? How does hugging harm your so called morals and cultural values? And Mr Nandgaonkar, please think before you make foolish statements in public. It is better to keep quiet and let the world think -- you are a fool rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt. Dear Rediff, please start a signature campaign or a mass movement in Bombay. to protest against these ridiculous rules.
Date sent: Tue, 05 May 1998 16:29:52 PDT In 1947, one country which opposed the division of India was Afghanistan. Somehow that country had a premonition of its fate at that time. Now 50 years down the line thanks to the Paks, the country is going through today what possibly humans did not do when they were troglodytes (chopping hands, flogging, slitting throats in front of a cheering crowd of women and children, ordering women (many of them widows) inside, stopping basic amenities to women and so on. What's wrong? So, Gandhi and Nehru go to hell while Jinnah goes to heaven. What's wrong? The lines to heaven are crowded with faithfuls like Dawood, Madani, Talebans and countless others. And Jinnah. Where was he during the freedom movement? Every known freedom fighter has been jailed or subject to repression. Like the cops in Hindi films, he makes a last minute entry in the freedom movement. Akbar Ahmed says that Jinnah did not go to jail because he was fighting the British within the rules of the constitution. Wow! who set up that constitution and who was the head of it? That in essence means that all the freedom fighters in undivided India were criminals. Great was a man like Gandhi. Just one violent incident in Chauri Chaura and he cancelled an entire nationwide agitation. Gandhi had principles. So what does our heavenly hero do? He calls for "direct action." So thousands die in one day with many caught unawares. Still he is not repentant. Two million die and 20 million are displaced during Partition. But our heavenly hero goes to Karachi in a car and steps out -- to the applause of a crowd. No wonder his role has been played by a man who is famous for his role as Count Dracula. Nature definitely has its own twists. And when the Indian government plans to demolish his house in India, he cries "Don't. It'll break my heart. My childhood house." For God's sake, don't compare him with Gandhi. When I was in Detroit, I happened to watch a demonstration by peace lovers who were expressing concern at a rally in Ann Arbor by the KKK (Ku Klux Klan). Among the banners were sayings by Gandhi, King etc. No political overtones. Just a spontaneous reaction by the whites and blacks. We don't require certificates from people across the border. Even Einstein -- definitely one of the greatest thinkers in this century says of Gandhi: "Generations to come will hardly believe that such a man in flesh and blood ever walked this Earth." Jinnah. We can ask the guys who lost their blood during Partition and his 'direct action' days. To end this note, please do the Indians a favour. Jinnah is the founder of one of the most illiterate nations in the world (30% literacy), whose economy is heading towards bankruptcy and which has seen military rule for a major portion of her existence. Do not write further on him. Look beyond. There are more gems in South America, South East Asia, Japan or Europe. We can learn more from them. Anand Prabhu
Date sent: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 21:14:31 +0530 I am sending this e-mail with great sadness. I just accidentally surfed your site. I am one of those self made, well travelled south Indians who has been very unfortunate. I had to surrender to the desire of my parents and leave my Christian girl friend. Hence I vanished from this country to elsewhere because I could marry her, only to marry someone seven years ago. I have two sons and do not have a happy married life. I am an alcoholic and a workaholic. I envy all of you. God gave me everything except a life. Please pray for me that I can settle down one day. I am good by heart but am drunk as I write this. I hate females. When I like someone it always boomerangs. I have money, own a three-storeyed house, car, good job, several credit cards and am just 32 years old -- all because of my hard work. Believe me, when I came to Delhi, I worked in a provisional store weighing wheat, rice, maize etc. Today my salary is in good five figures and my travelling expenses amounts to six figures, but inside I am crying. Why did god gave me everything except a perfect partner? You people have been talking about inter caste marriage. I went for a south Indian from the same caste due to pressure but despite everything I am demoralised. Please someone be a good friend of mine -- just give your shoulder to pacify me. I am not a psycho, just sentimental. Can I hear from all these lucky couples? I am sure someone, somewhere can save me from this situation. Please do not misunderstand me.
Date sent: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 19:55:39 +0400 With dynamic CMs like Naidu breathing down their necks, the politicians currently in Karnataka, who seem to be in intellectual hibernation, will find themselves left behind, soon, if not already. As a resident of Bangalore in the mid 70s to early 80s, and with part of my family still resident there, I was able to see the gradual decline of a beautiful city. The general attitude of the typical Bangalorean is one of laziness. The infrastructure was strained even then, not to speak of today. Water and power shortage was evident and the climate was getting hotter because of the erosion of the green belt all around the city. A beautifully planned city, by Sri Viswesvariah, has been systematically ruined by the totally corrupt BDA and the municipality. There is no sign of any awakening even now. The people are also too laid back and apathetic to take politicians by the scruff of their necks and make things happen. Madras, despite already having a much better road and rail transport system, has gone in for further upgradation of the network with the construction of the overhead rail. Whether it works or not maybe is questionable, but the vision and will to do things is evident there. Bangalore has gone from bad to worse. Look at the bus service, it is a big joke. No wonder the streets are full of smoke spewing auto rickshaws and two wheelers. No city with this kind of infrastructure will ever be able to progress beyond a stage. That stage has been reached and bypassed long ago. The lack of a reliable bus service and absence of a metro rail system is the biggest drawback. This is evident to even a high school kid, but what is the self-serving government doing about it??? They are too busy fighting each other and like Nero, watching the ruining of a great city. Unless the PEOPLE of Bangalore wake up and shake the politicians out of their deliberate stupor, this great city will be wasted away and will end up as a mess very soon. Madhusudhan
Date sent: Thu, 6 Nov 1997 00:47:23 +0530 It is a shame. Can't organised bodies or people like yourself create sufficient pressure on these dumb (Oh no, they are not dumb for sure, they do know which side is buttered) politicians/bureaucrats? Can we help in anyway?
Date sent: Wed, 05 Nov 1997 14:54:18 +1000 I have been following Shobha Warrier's story on Professor Jhunjhunwala and his technology. It is really disappointing to know that DoT acting in a funny way. I am an academic researcher myself and can understand Prof J's problems. I also commend his tenacity to keep on going inspite of all problem. I think something can be done to salvage the situation. My suggestion is as follows: Create a web page describing briefly the advantages and disadvantages of each of the schemes in question. This has been stated by Prof J in his interview. On this basis call for a signature campaign through the web. This list of signatures be sent along with a letter to the prime minister and the minister for telecommunication asking them to look into the matter. I am sure there are a lot of people who would like to support the cause given all the facts. I thank you and Shobha Warrier for bringing us this story.
Date: Wednesday, April 29, 1998 7:06 AM To The Producers of the new Chhota Chetan! My Dear Kuttichathan's (alias Chhota Chetan's) success was in no small measure to the high class of background score and music composed by Ilaiyaraja. The three dimensional visual effects could be enhanced only by the sound effects given by the legendary composer, without such music all 3-D movies cannot be lifted from an abyss. This ambitious producer has to realise that throwing away the heart and soul of a movie never brought Gold. Nithin Sreedevan
Date: Saturday, April 25, 1998 10:48 AM It was a nice melodious piece of work. Amitabh is really great and the literary stuff is enjoyable.
Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 23:18:18 +0800 Brilliant, well written, highly informative, and relaxing. Thanks.
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