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'Pakistan, which holds a begging bowl in one hand and an AK-47 in the other...'
E-mail from readers the world over
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Fri, 2 Jul 1999 22:41:00 -0400 A great job by Arvind Lavakare and rediff.com Although, there are several books on this subject, what shines through in Lavakare's work is the skill with which he brings together scattered facts from different sources before the reader. He also handles well the embarrassing points faced by Indian leaders over the past 50 years due to their mixing personal opinions in matters dear to the nation. I have seen at several places the hollow criticism by Left intellectuals and journalists that the intellectuals, historians and authors labelled by them as pro-Hindu do not have any intellectual depth, sound logic, good research etc. What I have pleasantly discovered in the past couple of years is that these charges apply to the Left intellectuals themselves more than anyone else. I see them (read Kuldip Nayar and party) just accusing and not bringing forth any valid points. On the contrary, the pro-Hindu-labelled intellectuals, many of whom really are not wedded to any ideology and in fact were part of the leftist bandwagon earlier, are doing good research and raising a point-by-point rebuttal of Leftist charges. These people are doing the late Ram Swaroop proud. Their's is a "kar seva by scholarship" in the words of columnist A J Philip. Mukund Kute
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Fri, 02 Jul 1999 22:47:20 -0400 When a state guided by Islamic fundamentalism and which is economically almost bankrupt, is waging a proxy war on us a debate is going on about giving it, that is Pakistan, a land grant. One conclusion to be drawn from this debate is that there are some apparently influential 'experts' with a twisted sense of irony who think it appropriate to bring up this topic. These 'experts' should consider a scenario where Pakistan may in the near future be 'priced' out of this war. Sun Tzu's Chinese treatise on 'The Art of War' somewhere says (and I paraphrase it) that wars are won or lost without actually fighting them -- based on one side's ability to totally overwhelm the other. Given factual indicators of economic progress a logical argument can be made that India would overwhelm Pakistan. Ray Sharma
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Sat, 3 Jul 1999 04:06:10 -0400 (EDT) It is funny to ask for comments at the end of this article. It is clear the writer is just trying to create some masala out of the war situation. I think the press in India takes freedom of speech to be above patriotism. Maybe you press people can but we cannot.
Dhruv Sharma
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Sat, 03 Jul 1999 16:47:57 +0530 We Indians are our worst enemy. The day we all unite there is no force in the world that can even touch us. What we lack is national pride. We must unite and change the way the youth of today think: only about money. Rise my brothers and sisters of India and fight the intruders unitedly. Thanks. You guys at rediff.com are doing a good job, keep it up. Richard Storm
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Sat, 3 Jul 1999 17:04:07 +0530 I agree with Kapil Dev that we cannot play cricket with our enemy. Someone attacking our country needs to know that all of us stand united and will not tolerate aggression. Yes, I also share Varsha Bhosle's disgust for the traders who want to continue trading with their Pakistani counterparts while our soldiers are being killed. But, I just want both of them to ask themselves a few questions: 1. Are we, the people of India feeling enmity for the people of Pakistan or for their rulers? I don't think they've really chosen their rulers. Maybe we can reserve the vitriol for them. 2.. Let's not forget: we believe India to be the wronged party in this conflict based on the information we are exposed to. What do you think the average, humane, thinking Pakistani (I'm sure there are many. These guys were Indian just like us until one day some folks said, okay guys, you're enemies now) thinks at this moment? Based on what? We're all victims of media manipulation, aren't we? 3. Who benefits most from constant conflict between India and Pakistan? In fact, why did Partition take place? 4. Within India and Pakistan who are the people who benefit most from this conflict at this time? 5. Is there really a mutually acceptable 'political' solution to this conflict? One that will save face for everyone around? The answers they give themselves to these questions may cause them to narrow the focus of their anger somewhat. I've already begun to receive hate mail that seems directed at Muslims rather than Pakistanis. There was an ugly incident in Ahmedabad recently. The folks who have succumbed to this kind of thing are playing into the hands of people who have a vested interest in keeping this conflict raging. I'd like us to remember what and who we are angry with. As I see it, we have only two solutions if we don't want ourselves to be condemned to endless conflict: A. We make India look so good and so right to the world (and to the average Pakistani) that any aggression against India is immediately condemned by the world (and by the average Pakistani citizen). But this is tough to do when we run a tight-lipped, patronising state. This is tough when we allow religious and cultural intolerance a place in our supposedly 'moral' and 'ethical' culture. In short, India needs a lot more credibility than it has right now for our righteous indignation to be taken seriously by anyone. We need to believe in what we stand for and practice it proactively before we can expect anyone else to take our word for it. If we did this, the people of Kashmir and of Pakistan wouldn't support their governments doing these things. Sadly, I don't think we can achieve this, though I think this is the solution that benefits us in the long term. B. The other option is to have the guts to say ''hell with world opinion." Then we need to go in and take Pakistan away from its establishment (those are the guys we are angry with), and restore actual democracy to our brothers on the streets there. And then, if its people want us to, to get the hell out of there. Yes, we can do this. Nuclear deterrent be damned. If we are willing to risk the life of a single soldier, we all need to expose ourselves to whatever dangers this represents. I think we need to go after Option A, because the second one is dumb in comparison. But, living endlessly with conflict is even dumber. So, Kapil Dev and Varsha Bhosle should note that we are all angry. Not only with the Pakistani establishment but also with those who condemned us to endless conflict by dividing this country and its people. And also with the effete establishment that runs this country and doesn't have the conviction to put their actions where their mouths are.
Rajiv K Badlani
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Sat, 3 Jul 1999 11:49:20 -0400 Thanks for an interesting article with many echoes from the past. Now, if only the same ethos and pride in service can be imitated by the assorted civil ministries of our country! Here's to the jawans of a regiment whose history has been fascinating, generation after generation. It's a regiment which has served the country in a range of war theatres and originated in one of India's oldest recruiting grounds. Yes, it is likely that the RR will once again perform heroic deeds, and when they do that they can rest assured that numerous Canadians from various walks of life know something of their efforts and heartily support their display of courage and effectiveness under the most trying conditions. One wishes the same sense of vocation is demonstrated by our assorted politicians and bureaucrats.
M S Mills
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Sat, 03 Jul 1999 20:39:48 +0530 This victory will mark the turning point that will lead to wiser and saner counsel on the part of Pakistan, which is suffering a double humiliation of eviction from Indian territory and international isolation. The Indian soldier does not fight in the name of religion or caste. He shows the rest of the country a simple, universal fact that whether it is Major Hanifuddin or Thapar, blood spilled is the same and it is to preserve the unity and integrity of the country. It is only politicians who fight among themselves in a way which shames even street dogs. The political class has taken many solemn oaths -- in the name of god, Constitution, Mahatma Gandhi and many other Gandhis. Let them take one small oath in the name of the soldiers who have sacrificed their today so that the politicians can have their tomorrow. Sanjiv S Barve
Date:
Sun, 04 Jul 1999 01:03:27 PDT I am a British citizen from London. My grandfather was an officer in the Indian army under the British. He regaled me in my childhood with stories of the country he loves -- India (which does include Pakistan). I grew up with a deep wish to visit both the countries. In 1993 I visited Pakistan and twice, in 1990 and 1998, India. I was both disappointed and amazed. Disappointed because of the poverty and the squalor; the environmental damage both in Karachi and Delhi. I walked in the slums of Bombay and Lahore. Then I wondered what was it these people fought for? Freedom from what? Was it freedom from want and poverty or just one common oppressor -- us Brits? Pakistan, which holds a begging bowl in one hand and an AK-47 in the other -- this was a cartoon I saw. Very apt I guess. A country which needs economic help today wants to go to war. I guess pride is above everything. Today, unfortunately the media is turning Pakistan the villain. Instead of highlighting the Kashmir problem, Pakistan has shown that (or is perceived as) it has been feeding the insurgency in India all the time. Perceptions, honourable minister Jethmalani, is the key. Pakistan is today perceived as an aggressor. A desperately poor country flexing its malnourished biceps. A dangerous rabid stray dog, with nuclear tipped teeth, which needs to be controlled. India, another impoverished country, today marshals its forces to fight on dangerous terrain. Another country that needs to focus on its people not its pride. The people are not seemingly important. It's as though in India, the people exist for the nation rather than the nation for the people. I guess it's the same in all Third World countries. Human rights! How many Indians or for that matter Pakistanis know about their rights ? What is Kashmir? Just some mountains, albeit beautiful. Are the people in Kashmir more oppressed that those in the rest of India? I have seen oppression of low caste people in Bihar. Does the honourable minister have a solution for those people? Or the murder of Christian missionaries in eastern India? I was in Kashmir last year. It's place coming back to life. I could see the vibrancy. The people want to get back to life. This is something I have seen in Ireland too. A disgruntled lot who want to carry on with their life. Is religion that important? I have asked myself, is being a good Christian more important than being a good human being. I found myself wanting to be a good human. Leave them alone I would say to both India and Pakistan. Let the Kashmiri people find their own feet. A plebiscite would make Kashmir an Afghanistan. Islamic rule, I am sure, will make the situation worse for the Kashmiris than what they endure today. Mark T Johnson
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Mon, 5 Jul 1999 15:41:51 +0530 History is usually studied, among other things, to learn from and avoid repeating the mistakes our ancestors made. The latter-day avatars of Maharaj Prithviraj Chauhan obviously do not seem to think so! In the present circumstances of wilful aggression, the inanity of adhering to the Line of Control and allowing safe passage to the infiltrators, which is plainly the current mood, is nothing short of a suicidal emulation of the brave but myopic Prithviraj's policy of granting 'safe passage' to Muhammad Ghori. History books are replete with the terrible consequences of the Battle of Tarain; unlike Prithviraj, Ghori was not stupid enough to exhibit how much of the 'gentleman' he was -- he just liquidated the vanquished enemy! If the supreme sacrifice of our brave jawans means anything at all to us, the government would do well to desist from even entertaining such thoughts. Possession is nine points in law. An occupation of strategic areas beyond the LoC and an effective neutralisation of the infiltrators' propensity for belligerence is the only option that ought to be considered before meeting across the table. Every other option would be further proof of our extreme, confirmed gullibility. After all, do we have nothing better to do except to foolishly react to the aggressive tantrums or peaceful overtures of this juvenile delinquent spoilt beyond all limits of tolerance by American over-indulgence? Can't we take the initiative for a change? Bhalchandrarao C Patwardhan
Date:
Mon, 05 Jul 99 18:27:57 PDT Under no circumstances should our forces give up any part of Indian Kashmir. Kashmir was long back an independent Hindu state. Pakistan was given the northern third of Kashmir. That was the biggest political blunder by modern India. China is willing to withdraw from the eastern part of Kashmir (Aksai Chin) it occupied in 1962. We should always be firm on that and continuously remind the Chinese that there can be no peaceful relationship with them without their withdrawing from Kashmir in the west and parts of Arunachal Pradesh in the east. At present the Indian government should concentrate on Kargil and after complete victory should maintain a permanent military presence throughout the Line of Control and all its strategic peaks. We should also build an alternative highway to Leh.
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Mon, 5 Jul 1999 08:54:31 -0700 I think Colonel (retd) Anil Athale has spoken for the whole of India. Yes, it is time that Indians regain their respect and do justice to the honour and blood of hundreds of Indian soldiers who have laid down their lives for the country.
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Mon, 5 Jul 1999 21:13:54 +0530 Nothing out of the ordinary in the meeting in Washington and also London. So what is Sharief up to? What's his goal here? This looks a lot like what Indira Gandhi did in 1971. And we know that when she came back to Delhi after visiting Washington and Europe, we went to war (for a good reason).
Prasanna Chitturi
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Mon, 5 Jul 1999 14:24:01 -0500 Is this news? The problems the reporter has highlighted are very insignificant compared to the seriousness at the battlefront. Chindu Sreedharan could not come up with anything more important? Our brothers are laying down their lives to protect the lives of these people and in turn these idiots are complaining about losing their land temporarily to the army as it has became necessary for the army to acquire it for movement of men and materials. And Chindu thinks this is a big deal? rediff.com accepts such articles to be put on the net? You guys are pathetic! Vande Maataram
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Mon, 05 Jul 1999 14:31:32 -0500 I am a little disturbed by this article. It indicates yet again that corruption in the Jammu and Kashmir government is rampant. I do realise that these problems exist in the rest of India as well. However, Jammu and Kashmir is in a unique situation where the government cannot afford to make the already hard life of the people even harder. It will only add fuel to the militancy. The Jammu and Kashmir government should become the model for cleaning up the corruption of the past and for working for the common people. Improving the standard of living and assisting common people will do wonders to the overall situation of the so-called 'Kashmir conflict.' Indians have done so much for the Kargil fund but we hear nothing about the plight of common people like those mentioned in the article. Why not start a special Non-Governmental Organisation for the Kashmir cause? The whole of India and Indians abroad will support it! Kashmiris must know that the rest of India really cares for them. We must show this care through generous action. Maybe then the local government will have some cause to improve.
Jay Patel
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Mon, 5 Jul 1999 16:09:33 EDT This is bad news for Indians. The United States took this up since it too has vested interests in the whole situation. If it had merely wanted to act as a future mediator, Clinton would have refused to see Sharief. A genuine mediator would never give one side an opportunity to tell its story without confirming that the other party too is willing to talk. Clinton didn't do this. India should be wary and not trust the US and Pakistan. Both are interested in keeping the subcontinent in turmoil.
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Sat, 03 Jul 1999 00:28:26 +0530 I suspect that the caretaker government has got an eye on deriving political mileage and is therefore delaying the eviction of the intruders. I do hope I am wrong, because if it indeed turns out to be true, it would be a sad day for India.
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Fri, 2 Jul 1999 22:17:42 +0530 A lot of soldiers are reportedly missing in action. I think this must be properly investigated. K A Poacha
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Fri, 02 Jul 1999 09:59:40 -0400 I was a young graduate student in India in 1962 [during the China war] and I know the feeling of humiliation. Things are different today and India can and will drive the Pakistanis from Kargil and from any other area. On a different note, I would like to ask you to please write an article on the educational background of Sonia Gandhi. You simply report of her meeting Rajiv Gandhi while she was a student at Cambridge. We all know that Rajiv was not Cambridge material; he dropped out and went elsewhere to train for aviation. But what about Sonia, did she graduate from Cambridge? Or was she an au pair as alleged by some people and was never a student at Cambridge. People have a right to know the true background of all those who run for political office. On another matter: Why is it that the truth about Bofors is still being hidden from the public? Ven Hari
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Fri, 02 Jul 1999 17:31:57 +0400 Arun Singh's induction as Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh's aide is a very good step taken by the Bharatiya Janata Party government. It will help the government to a very large extent. Bhatia G M
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Fri, 2 Jul 1999 18:55:41 +0530 The Pakistan leadership seems to be bound by extremist views on India. Their politics revolve around India baiting. Hence, even if Sharief wants peace he will not be able to carry others with him for fear of the traitor/soft-on-India label. It is something like the BJP leadership having to toe the Ram temple issue when things go bad for them.
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Thu, 1 Jul 1999 16:48:27 -0400 What a great thought. Once again Kapil Dev exhibits his patriotic side. The greatest cricketer born in Indian soil is championing the great cause for the country, namely supporting our soldiers. Hats off to Kapil and all the celebrities participating in his fundraiser event. Wish I could be part of it. Giri Nanduru
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Thu, 1 Jul 1999 16:55:42 -0400 Kapil Dev's suggestion to sever all cricketing contacts with Pakistan is fully justified. On the one hand there are people on either side being killed and on the other there are some celebrating sporting and cultural exchanges, totally oblivious to the fact that but for these brave and sacrificing men whose life is on the line, there would be nobody alive to see another day, let alone play cricket. It is really sad that the point that Kapil is trying to drive home is lost on many of us. Even if we manage to push out the infiltrators eventually, I don't think it will be any cause for celebration. Pakistan is a rogue country and rest assured they will be back to trouble-making at the earliest opportunity and then we will have to go through this process all over again. Venkat Gopalakrishnan
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Thu, 1 Jul 1999 16:57:56 -0400 (EDT) It is high time that people in India started giving a bit less importance to cricket. Cricket can only come after the country's honour. I read Board of Control for Cricket in India's secretary Jaywant Lele's comment that the recent crisis in Kargil is a political one. This statement shows his lack of insight which makes him see a war-like situation as a political gimmick. There cannot be second thoughts about playing a country which has not respected the borders of our motherland.
Dhruv Sharma
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Thu, 1 Jul 1999 23:29:32 +0530 This is what the country needs in this moment of crisis. I absolutely accept your view of not playing cricket with Pakistan. I was also happy when you did not contribute anything to the Imran Khan cancer fund. In Pakistan who knows how funds collected for ostensibly innocuous and worthy causes get utilised eventually? Vande Mataram. P Suthagar
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Thu, 01 Jul 1999 12:41:07 -0500 I am a graduate student in the US and a regular visitor to your web site. I was deeply moved by what Kapil Dev and others are planning for our brave jawans. I wholeheartedly agree with his views. I wish him all the best for the task he has undertaken. Narender
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