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E-mail from readers the world over

'Most Americans think that the sun rises and sets in USA'

Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000, 08:20:54EST -0700
Subject: 'For the American, the world begins and ends with America'

This was very similar to a remark made by our counsellor in the university when I came to this country. She said most Americans think that the sun rises and sets in USA. Even most of the educated Americans have very poor general knowledge about the rest of the world.

This is because they largely rely on CNN for world news and CNN only portrays those countries which they like or who pampers them. All they portray about India is its poverty and all the other negative things. I haven't heard anything good about India from CNN.

Basant

Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000, 08:53:21EST -0700
Subject: Hindu priest to pray before PM's speech to Congress

Keep up the good work! Your coverage of the prime minister's visit to the US has been very good.

I have one request, however. Is it possible to provide a video clip of the priest's invocation before the PM's address to the Congress? For some reason, C-Span didn't air that part.

Shantha Murthy

Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000, 11:03:57EST -0400
Subject: Forces outside India trying to destroy country, PM tells US Congress

The PM's address to the US Congress was at best a "qualified" success and not an "unqualified" success as your reporter points out. It is significant to note that hardly 10 per cent of the House and Senate members were present, which quite frankly, is embarrassing considering that a head of state was addressing the joint session. The PMO should have realised that the timing of Vajpayee's visit was not right, what with their presidential elections just round the corner.

As far as the speech itself is concerned, I found it rather insipid and devoid of any remarkable content. The fact that you chose to put so much value on a Hindu priest reciting prayers before the session goes to show how desperate we are to seek attention and approval. Does it not make you think that despite what we say about India being secular, the fact that we paraded a Hindu priest before the PM makes a mockery of our secular stance? The usual remarks about terrorism and economic partnership, etc. did not add value, substance or glamour to the historic visit.

Perhaps the only historical aspect to the visit was the fact that an Indian prime minister visited the US in September 2000. I was present in the Congress gallery and the lingering memory of the event would be that our PM is not in good health!

Avinash Varma

Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000, 14:57:52EST
Subject: 'Kashmir is an issue that concerns the entire world'

How come the fact that Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee at gunpoint was not mentioned in this column? Is it that Pandits are children of a lesser god? Please remember that the Kashmir issue cannot and will not be resolved unless the pandits are involved.

Kiran Kodre

Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2000, 14:28:19EST +0530
Subject: 'Aren't there other religions in India?'

The story brings out the dilemma faced by the younger generation belonging to families of Indian origin. It hurts to read that some people who claim to be representatives of the HIndu religion are in fact portraying the wrong image of the religion. One political ideology does not represent the entire gamut of Hindus. Most Hindus are liberal and tolerant and live in harmony amongst people belonging to other faiths.

I would also like to mention that religious reporting is new to Indian newspapers. Way back in 1969, I was the first religious correspondent for NCN in India. Since them much has changed.

I am, however, happy that you are covering such stories. I wish rediff good luck!

Joseph Gathia

Date: Fri, 08 Sep 2000, 17:51:28EST -0700
Subject: At the end of the protest, they sang Jana Gana Mana

I don't understand what these people want to show the world. If every state is converted into a separate country, how are they going to provide for the basic needs of their citizens like food and water? Because, let alone a state, no country in the world is self-reliant. And when the very basis of the creation of these countries will be hate and terrorism, how can they survive? It will be like creating many Indias and Pakistans so that they can fight amongst each other -- which is what some western forces like America want so that India doesn't emerge as a superpower in the future.

At a time when the world is turning its attention on India, why do these people want to tarnish our image by sending the wrong signals to the world by staging a protest in the US? I would like to tall these separatists: "United we stand, divided we fall"

Aseem Rastogi

Date: Fri, 08 Sep 2000, 17:38:25EST
Subject: At the end of the protest, they sang Jana Gana Mana

I am surprised at these people. They have not been to India in a long time. So they don't have any idea about what is happening in the peoples' minds there. These people don't have the guts to go to India and fight for their rights there.

Manbir Bhullar

Date: Fri, 08 Sep 2000, 21:35:12EST
Subject: At the end of the protest, they sang Jana Gana Mana

Those who have not made any productive contribution to the betterment of Indians now loudly talk about the attrocities, forcible conversions etc. Nobody will really take these people seriously.

Shanthi Karuni

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