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E-mail from readers the world over
Date sent: Sat, 09 May 1998 21:24:12 +0530 If anything like justice exists in this country, people involved in building the story of the ISRO spy scandal in magazine/newspapers, the highest investigative officials who filed charges against these six innocent lives and political leaders like the most honourable CMs of Kerala -- directly or indirectly involved in these innocent people should be publicly divested of the citizenship of this country. If this is not possible right thinking people should take some action. If this is not possible, it is shameful that we are born in a country where innocents are tortured. Today they, tomorrow us. Dr Madhu
Date sent: Sat, 09 May 1998 16:29:27 +0800 It is shameful that we can be irresponsible to such an extent, especially the media which needs to be more mature and responsible. It must realise what they are doing to the country, and what the country is going to miss because of them. It brings tears to my eyes. How insensitive can we be. Why doesn't ISRO sue the Kerala police for damages to their reputation, work and progress? Anurag
Date sent: Fri, 8 May 1998 12:03:18 -0700 (PDT) Bull's-eye!! After the SC judgment was passed I was amazed that I didn't find a single report questioning whether the Maldivians got justice at all. Four years of their lives were literally wasted in prison for a crime they didn't even think of! Prem Panicker has finally broken the media's silence. In fact I think even the one lakh compensation given to them is like a departing kick. One lakh for four years of torture and hell? As Prem very rightly points out, have they really got any justice? Is there any justice in India for the weak?
Date sent: Tue, 05 May 1998 15:01:29 -0700 It is indeed a travesty of justice that innocent people were dragged through India's notorious police system and it took four long years for their acquittal. It is, however, even more amazing how even journalists, who should be the ones to keep issues in the forefront of its reader's mind failed to follow up the so-called leads. Even though Prem Panicker has taken a slightly holier than thou attitude in this article, it must be said his report was honest in The Sunday Observer as opposed to some appearing in reputed Indian newspapers and periodicals. Why was he not trying to get the story out to may be help influence the powers that the accused were innocent? In the open world of the Internet, there is no need for Prem Panicker not to identify the vernacular dailies that threw all journalistic norms aside and "reported" falsehood. Such irresponsible journalists and their publishers should be identified because they have a moral responsibility to print the truth.
Prem Menon
Date sent: Wed, 6 May 1998 19:32:31 -0700 In the above matter there are two questions. Is new China -- post Mao China -- really the number one threat to India, and whether announcing that perception was rushing to judgement? China under its current leadership is vigorously trying to be economically and militarily powerful. In fact with the fall of Soviet Russia, the West considers China as its most powerful competitor and adversary. Learning from its Cold War experiences, the Western countries are not creating enmity but trying to follow the strategy of containment. Both China and the Western countries have stockpiled nuclear weapons which can destroy the whole world many times over. That is also a guarantee for each block against an attack from the other side. But how about the threat to other nations who have no nuclear weapons? As far as the West is concerned, the days of annexation of any additional land is over and out. Their democracy, their accountability to their people, their invincible technological and economic power, their need for stability and peaceful enjoyment of their well earned prosperity ensures freedom of smaller countries. But how about China? China forcibly annexed Tibet and part of India -- irrespective of the fact that there was a genuine dispute as to the borders in that region of India. As India had not claimed Tibet, India's military action on the border of Tibet was not for annexing any territory of any other country but China's claims on India's regions on the eve of forcible occupation of Tibet can seriously raise the question of China's medieval concept of conquest and annexation of foreign territories. But the new leadership is different from the leadership of Mao's time. I think China is gradually understanding the futility of medieval concepts and benefits of accountability to people for good governance, benefits of betterment of people for advancement of civilisation, thousands time more power of concepts like science and spiritualism or inspiration than adventurism which Indian leaders had understood even during Ashoka's time. While modern China seems to understand commerce and economy as against war and adventure, that is not sufficient to inspire trust in the world for its renouncement of annexation because there is no accountability of China's leaders to its people. More importantly there is no cultural restrain in China unlike in most countries because the common culture which Chinese people share with the Indian people for more than 5,000 years is weak and artificial even in new emerging China. This does not inspire trust in the world. New China has not granted regional autonomy to Tibet and reconciled with its respected leader. Also, there is no urgency in settling the border disputes with India which is no threat to any country in the world for the reasons of its peaceful culture, trust in fair play and justice its ability to change history if forced to defend its values, its foresight in the intangible peace, inspiration and compassion not limited to all human beings but beyond. Then is new China the number one threat to India? The answer should be no. Should we remain complacent? The answer is no. I think we should follow new China and should try vigorously to prepare ourselves in the areas in which we were careless -- the economy and military in defence of our values.
Rasik Sanghvi
Date sent: Tue, 05 May 1998 15:01:29 -0700 The nature of Chinese response shows that Fernandes's comment has hit the right place and the intended job is done. But just comments like these are not enough. They should be backed by good amount of preparation from our armed forces.
Date sent: Thu, 07 May 1998 16:30:25 PDT I am surprised, that a journalist like Rajesh Ramachandran writes like Pritish Nandy! His article is one sided. For obvious reasons, the Opposition parties don't want a review. The whole game of horse-trading then ends and one/two MP parties cannot hold governments or countries to ransom like they do now! Where is democracy and secularism or people's mandate when a one/two MP party sets the agenda or holds the whip? Any class X-pass person can tell you that the Constitution is full of flaws. It is time someone did a review. On majority of the issues it is silent. And many of the laws like the Telecom Act date back to the 1890s!! India is probably the only country where there are ministries like civil aviation and broadcasting! Mr Rajesh Ramachandran, I wouldn't mind seeing an article like this from Pritish Nandy because I am used to it. But please don't write one sided articles any more. Anamika
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 08:49:38 +0530 This is a typical "dog in the manger" attitude. VSNL still wants monopoly. "Can't/won't provide better service. Won't let others provide better service." Anyone who has dealt with VSNL's help desk can relate to this. Vijay M R
Date sent: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 10:27:41 +0530 Kudos to Mr Naidu. I think he deserves all the credit. But what I am very unhappy with is the ignorance of power hungry and lazy politicians of Karnataka. They find no time to defuse the infighting within parties and even the parties not in power are least interested in this front, but are interested in coming to power by prematurely terminating this present government. What a pity that a city which got most of its IT firms by sheer quality is now being neglected by the hard work of some other politician. It is a matter of concern. If the people in Bangalore or Karnataka put in as much or even 50% hard work then Bangalore will the unquestioned champion in the IT industry of Asia or of the world. Sad but true that you can mend the ways of politicians. If they have some shame then they should start acting or we will see the death of Bangalore.
Vinod R,
Date sent: Fri, 13 Mar 1998 17:39:35 +0500 You might be interested in the following which I sent to the TRAI: February 3, 1998 The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India New Delhi. Subject: VSNL ban on Internet telephony/fax Sirs, In a message dated January 5, 1998, to all its Internet users, VSNL said: "You are advised not to use the Internet connection for Telephony or Fax applications. VSNL would be monitoring the use of Internet and those subscribers who are found to be violating the conditions of subscription, would be permanently debarred from using Internet services." It is hereby requested that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India declare this ban as null and void. The reasons for this request are as follows: 1. This ban makes it harder for the poor and illiterate to use the Internet. Voice applications are becoming increasingly important on the Internet. This is now making it possible, for instance, for people without access to a personal computer to send and receive voice mail, where sender and recipient only need to have access to a telephone. This has tremendous implications for India, where currently the Internet is effectively usable only by the very small subset of people who are rich enough to own a computer, and are fluent in English. These new developments can open up some parts of the Internet to the large majority of Indians who are poor, illiterate, or don't know English. By banning telephony applications on the Internet in India, VSNL is effectively reserving this vital service only for the elite. 2. It handicaps Indian companies wishing to become globally competitive. International telephony rates from India are prohibitive -- it is much cheaper to call India from the US than vice-versa. Besides lower telephony rates in general, our competitors in other countries have access to even cheaper telephony and fax through the Internet. By imposing this ban, VSNL makes it significantly harder for Indian companies to compete with them. 3. It prevents Indian software companies from developing voice-based Internet applications. According to InfoWorld Electric dated August 29, 1997, analysts have predicted that shortly after the turn of the century, 50% of the world's communications will be carried over the Internet. Since a significant proportion of electronic communications consists of voice and fax, the VSNL ban prevents software companies based in India from developing software to cater to this huge market. Thus, one of the few industries in which India has a competitive edge is being shackled by the VSNL. As a software developer and managing director of a software company, I am personally adversely affected by this ban. 4. VSNL may not have the legal right to impose such a ban. The TRAI is requested to examine whether by imposing such a ban, it is exceeding its competence in telecom regulation, which more appropriately belongs with the TRAI itself. A ban on Net telephony constitutes, in my view, an effort to regulate Internet content. The Internet is a network of networks -- all kinds of services can and do run on it. Telnet allows a user to log into a remote computer, e-mail allows the exchange of textual messages, the web allows the sharing of multimedia content, etc. Internet telephony is simply another application, an increasingly important one. By attempting to prohibit a set of applications, VSNL is seeking to direct the growth of Internet in this country. Does VSNL have the authority to do so? Such attempts at control have been resisted all over the world, and will meet with resistance in this country as well. It is also doubtful whether VSNL can reliably detect the use of Internet telephony. In such a case, VSNL is merely punishing the honest, while being unable to prevent the dishonest from using it. It is hoped that VSNL has obtained legal counsel before imposing such a ban, which it claims is justified under "Indian rules and regulations", and is particularly curious in light of "VSNL's plan to offer Net voice telephony soon" (Business Standard, February 3, 1998). Which rules and regulations? Will private companies be allowed to offer Net telephony? If VSNL will allow Net telephony itself, what objection can it have to software houses using it a little earlier, so that we can start to develop applications for the facility when it becomes available, and not have to rely solely on imported software? Through the good offices of the TRAI, perhaps the Indian public could ascertain what legal opinion was made available to VSNL in this matter, as well as answers to the questions raised above. In light of these considerations, I hope the TRAI will agree that a lifting of this ban is justified. Given the serious implications for Indian companies wishing to develop software for this rapidly changing and highly competitive sector, it is requested that the TRAI stay this ban until it is able to dispose of this matter. Respectfully,
Dr Arun Mehta
Date: Tue, 05 May 1998 20:36:10 -0700 I very much enjoyed this article. It was very well done and very interesting. Kris
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 17:19:31 -0700 Your article was very good and informative. Could you publish little more in-depth information about Kalari? One of my Chinese friends is really interested in these things. We frequently discuss and compare Chinese martial arts and kalaripayttu. Can you throw some light on "otta" payattu and different stages of "ottas?" My dad studied Kalaripayttu from C V Narayana Gurukkal (Tellicherry). He told some stories about this particular payttu. I am interested in gathering more information on "otta." Soman
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 23:09:59 +0000 Nilesh Korgaonkar brought back to life my memories of trekking in the Garhwal Himalayas more than a decade ago. It was a wonderful feeling reliving those moments, some sending a chill (like the one when I slipped on a rock face and only the team bound together with a rope save me), some others bring a smile on my face when I remember that wonderful maiden I met and ... Thank you Nilesh. I would have loved more pictures and bigger ones which I could use as wallpaper on my PC. Tapas
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