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E-mail from readers the world over
Date sent: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 15:08:05 +0530 (IST)
I'm glad someone has made this point in the media. Why do Pakistani governments continue to trumpet India as the root of all their evil? Because it helps to get votes by preventing their people from focusing on the real issues. It's a classic political ploy that's played out in elections all the time, all over the world. Distract the voters from the real issues, manipulate their vote. It doesn't make sense for us to make Pakistan weaker. We can get the Pakistani politician to focus more on internal affairs only if the lot of the common man is improved. How can we do that? Certainly not by conducting nuclear tests so that Pakistan is left with no choice but to retaliate. The night before the Pakistani tests took place, Nawaz Sharief told Clinton he was under tremendous pressure and if he didn't conduct the tests, he could be out of power in two or three days. So Pakistan responds, sanctions are imposed, emergency is imposed... We are supposed to feel good about this whole thing since we are now part of an exclusive club! Let's look at the fallout. Pakistan is weaker, anarchy is a distinct possibility if the US really goes ahead with the sanctions. I suspect the US will slip them some moolah under the table, but the sanctions will probably hurt even then. Domestically, we are all supposed to be very proud of our country and work very hard and what not. However, a week or two after the Pokhran tests I don't see any sign of the euphoria on the street. All I see is * The inability of the government to pay the villagers close to Pokhran reasonable compensation. * The audacity of Vajpayee to say that there was no contamination but, even if there was, the villagers should grin and bear it (not in so many words). * Self-sufficiency in food production, but starving people abound. * Garbage isn't collected regularly unless a politician lives up your street. Basic sanitation isn't provided to a large part of the population. * Electricity still goes off at random hours and sometimes water isn't supplied for a couple of days. This in one of the more developed parts of the country -- Bangalore city. * Corruption abounds. Inefficiency in government organisations shows no sign of abating. * With all the BJP, Shiv Sena, RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal supporters too busy rejoicing to notice, Yashwant Sinha has a golden opportunity to buck the BJP manifesto and slip us a progressive budget. But, no! He takes us a step backward with more protectionism, making Rahul Bajaj a very happy man. * Sushma Swaraj wants to move free speech a notch back since... I don't know... retro is good? The reason she gives make less sense: "It was a mistake." That's it, then! The Indian government is playing the same game of distract the voters. It's worked so far, so can we blame the Pakistani government for doing it? What's the best way to get a stable, friendly Pakistan? I suspect it is by empowering the people so that they have a say in the government, not by creating discord and removing more of the people's powers. We have to ensure that we don't get taken for a ride, but we shouldn't be fighting them either. Did the BJP government really think through the repercussions of the blasts, as our friendly neighbourhood extra-constitutional authority, Mahajan, claims? I really wonder ... Finally, if someone took the trouble to read this far, I have a question that's been bothering me. Who the hell decided to link Buddha's name with nuclear weapons? Can you possibly get more insulting? Chinna
Date sent: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 20:40:09 -0700
Even the partition of the subcontinent, which resulted in the creation of Pakistan as a homeland for the Muslims of the area, was mediated by the British, Ayub said. This comment does not make any sense. Didn't Bengali Muslims part company with Pakistan in 1971? There is no Muslim nationhood any more than there is a Hindu nationhood that seeks union with Hindu Nepal or Hindu Bali. The Muslims who live here chose to stay in India.
Date sent: Mon, 29 Jun 1998 17:03:09 +0800
Very nice and true.
Renu
Date sent: Mon, 8 Jun 1998 07:33:56 -0700
We did not need a temple or masjid there -- it will only become another weakness that Pakistan will take full advantage of. Does any one in the BJP and the Muslim League ever think of constructing something that will useful to both Hindus and Muslims? A park, a public library with good books, a sports stadium, a row of toilets so that no one has to shit in the open? There is so many options available to reduce the tension that we seldom take advantage of. Muslims and Hindus living in the areas surrounding the temple will always have the edifice to fuel their anger once the temple is built. A NATION IS BUILT ON TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING AND NOT ON CONFRONTATIONS. WELCOME TO ANOTHER ISRAEL AND PALESTINE TYPE SITUATION NEAR THE MASJID, NO ONE WILL WIN.
Date sent: Fri, 08 May 1998 13:34:47 -0700
A very good article. I also feel that the article about Pakistan's Ghauri was less appreciative. I don't know why, but that article was missing something when compared to this article, which is simple and easy to understand.
Saravanan
Date sent: Mon, 11 May 1998 13:32:11 -0400
Good for Madonna, a godsend for Sanskrit. This way she will be 'marketing the mystic east' to the mystic east which is now looking westward.
Suresh Mahalingam
Date sent: Thu, 21 May 1998 09:13:50 -0400
In your article on raising the H-1B visa cap, it would have helped if you have mentioned that a similar bill still needs to be passed in the house of representatives before the President signs it and it become a law. It is quite likely that this will not happen. The President has said that he opposes the bill.
Raghu Tumkur
Date sent: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 20:42:22 +0530
It's good to know that a company like Adobe is finally setting up a development centre in India. When I'd interviewed David Pratt, CEO of Adobe, some time back he had replied that Adobe didn't have any plans of setting up a development centre or a subsidiary in India. This is great news because Adobe is one of the top software companies of the U S and is highly admired in the desktop publishing and prepress business. In fact, it is largely known as the Microsoft of desktop publishing. Please keep us posted about such developments. Keep up the good work.
Bharat Suneja
Date sent: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 17:12:59 +1000
It should just be the beginning. But taking into consideration the unique nature of the IT industry, the politicians and technologists should utilise the opportunities to develop the backward areas. This industry does not need reservoirs, mines, sea shores, big machinery, etc. All it needs are accessible roads, good communication networks and good technical and educational institutes nearby!
Date sent: Fri, 01 May 1998 17:35:50 -0700
I think you are simply impertinent... way out of sense and point. I think it is nonsensical to think that the majority community more extreme than others.
Prabhakar Krishnamurthy
Date: Tue, 05 May 1998 11:19:10 -0700
Excellent! That's what I have to say about this feature. For many years, I stayed in Sion, near the Bombay Tamil Sangam. I went to school at Don Bosco, and then SIES. I really felt at home reading the said article. It brought back nostalgic memories. I am already looking forward to my next trip back home. Your site is doing in an excellent job.
Dilip Ratnam
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 21:19:08 -0700
Excellent!!! I think history will one day be more inclusive than the Western domination theories that are currently prevalent as "fact".
Harry Kendall
Date: Fri, 01 May 1998 13:36:57 -0700
Excellent article. I enjoyed immensely.
Date sent: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 15:10:33 -0500
I agree that a whole lot of Indian men treat Caucasian women badly when they visit India, but it is ridiculous to write that Indian men abroad 'go completely bonkers' over white women. I don't know where you got your information from. Otherwise, a good article.
Rakesh Raju
Date sent: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 16:14:43 -0500
Last time I wrote back to you about Tolly-Ho! It was never published in You said it! However, there is no point in arguing with you. To keep it straight, let me say only one thing, "YOU ARE NUTS".
Pallab
Date sent: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 12:59:17 -0500
This feature has been probably one of the best features I have ever read. I would like to commend Rediff for coming up with a great article. Hussaini has become an idol for many youngsters in Madras. However, not many of his fans know about his personal life. By publicising his life Rediff has brought to the limelight a shining example of communal harmony. I have the same ideals as Hussaini, but it remains to be seen if I have the same courage to go against society. Kudos to Hussaini and keep it up, Rediff.
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