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E-mail from readers the world over
Date sent: 14 Nov 1997 12:02:07 -0600 It is deplorable that Aladi Aruna dares say that his party supports any Sri Lankan Tamil cause. The fact that an Indian, whether he be a former prime minister or a layman, was killed by those goons is enough for any patriotic Indian to shun them. I for one would hate to be even in the same room as any other Sri Lankan Tamil supporter. It just goes to show the thinking and mentality of politicians, who will stoop to any level to further their interests. Shame on their breed and hope they all rot in hell! Raghu Kulkarni Minneapolis
Date sent: Sat, 08 Nov 1997 13:29:08 -0500 Defections, misgovernance, and corruption cannot be subdued by simply introducing tougher legislation. In the long term, changes in India's political culture will hold the key to a viable and functioning democracy. Gaurav K
Date: Sat, 09 Aug 1997 17:43:57 -0500 This article is a typical example of a pseudo secularist's view of history. As the author uses the words "Lord Krishna is believed to have rested here after he killed Kansa." While innocent villagers use the words: "This is where Krishna rested after he finished off that wicked Kansa" which reflects their true belief in the existence of God. This is beyond doubt that both Ram and Krishna are historical figures which were born in the post vedic era. Now more and more evidence is coming up to confirm both the Ramayana and Mahabharat with the discovery of Dwarka nagari (created by Lord Krishna himself) from under water by Dr S R Rao and other scientists. But for pseudo secularists this is still a "myth" or a "fairy tale." Hope they will acknowledge these facts when their British masters present more evidence!!! Vyomesh Patel Dallas
Date: Wednesday, November 05, 1997 10:20 AM Very interesting. Like Venky says, when we watch a movie we get carried away by the story and the person. This has been interesting reading. The next time I watch a movie I will definitely look for the effects and a little more than the story! All the best to Venky. India lags behind none in any field-all we need is a little patience and the right place to look for technology. Usha
Date sent: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 19:57:24 +0200 I think the report is good, but I still think it is amazing that you can see an entire family crowded onto a scooter and the only one required to wear a helmet is Papa. Do the law-makers think that he is the only one whose brains will be spilled on to the road in case of an accident? What about the wife and children? If you're going to have a law at all, get real and apply it!!! Savio D'Souza Bombay
Date sent: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 20:47:35 +0530 I had an opportunity to go through some of the contributions that Dr A V Ramani has made through your columns on the network. I look forward to other such accounts from Dr Ramani and other authors on a regular basis. Balaji
Date sent: Fri, 10 Oct 1997 18:27:04 -0400 This is a good article making a logical case for pursuing the nuclear path. Last two paragraphs point to the heart of the issue. It is nice to talk about "national prestige" but it is the might that counts. That is why the USA has its way in bullying others. We may not need to bully anybody, but with neighbors like China and trigger happy Pakistan, we must be prepared. Give the doom sayers an option of shifting to boarder areas where the danger of nuclear strike is "here and now." Gaurang G Vaishnav
Date sent: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 01:46:14 -0600 Excellent article, that too from a North Indian (I hope my guess is right). I am from Madras and never had a chance to speak Hindi (though I learnt how to read and write Hindi). Never realised how big a problem language is, until I got to the US. All the North Indians prefer to speak in Hindi even if some of the Indians involved in the conversation do not understand Hindi! These very same guys would put on a heavy American accent if a white guy is nearby! So one sees many Tamils hanging out only with Tamils, Telugus with Telugus and so on. The main problem is that North Indians think all Indians should be fluent in Hindi. For many people, especially those in the south, there is no need for Hindi at all. When people are struggling to eke out a living, why should they learn a language they would never use? If someone from the south goes and settles in the north and refuses to learn Hindi, then that is foolish. I have seen a lot of Marwadis, born and brought up in Madras, who speak very little Tamil. Even then, financially, they are probably the most well-off group. Jagan
Date sent: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 00:19:52 -0800 I fully agree with fellow Tamilian Mahesh. I regret my poor knowledge of Tamil having learnt English instead and excelled in it. I am now trying to ensure my kids at least get to speak Tamil -- leave alone learn to read and write. I think it's time we -- the educated and awakened -- got together and promoted aggressively the learning of our own mother tongues -- both speaking and reading.
Date sent: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 16:41:17 -0500 (EST) I sympathise with the sentiments expressed by Ashwin Mahesh in his column. However Mr. Mahesh's sense of loss at the neglect of vernacular languages is not mixed with an adequate amount of common sense. He regrets that we, as Indians, communicate with our fellow-citizens from other states in English, instead of in Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, etc. Does he expect people to learn all 15 languages that are 'officially' spoken in the various states of India, not to mention the dozens of 'unofficial' languages? In a country of so many different tongues, we do not have the luxury of being ultra-nationalistic about a single language, like the French and the Germans do. Nor, for that matter, do we have the luxury of being 'multi-ethnic' in the Swiss, the Belgian or the Canadian patterns: such multilingual policies are viable only when there are only two or three languages to learn. In India, we have a practical need for fluency in a link language, and English serves this purpose splendidly. So does Hindi, but at a cost: as soon as a vernacular language is elevated to the status of a 'national' language, it unleashes both chauvinism and resentment. Certainly it would be nice if I, as a Bengali, had a better knowledge of the original writings of Kampan, Ananthamurthy and Manto. But since it is practically impossible for me to become fluent in the languages and literatures of all 25 states, I'm grateful for English translations of Kampan, and for the fact that I can chat with friends from all parts of the country in a comfortable mixture of English, Hindi and Bengali. Satadru Sen
Date sent: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 17:28:40 -0600 Reading this article makes more sense than the other one "Don't throw English out of India!!" In the present day world we have no respect for our Motherland or our culture only because it is not palatable to the so-called English educated folks. Sanskrit which is the mother of all Indian Languages could have been made the national language, but it lost by one vote. In the past even though different regions in India had different languages, majority of literary pursuits were in Sanskrit. The point that we are as a whole country today only because of the British is a myth. If you look back into history any person from any part of the land could travel to any other part of the land without a problem. It may not have been administratively under one ruler but it was more Bharat than it is today. We have even had Chandragupta being a ruler to most part of India. As long as we keep giving importance to English we will not be able to appreciate a culture that had given '0' (Zero) to the world, which has given the most tolerant and secular religion to the world. What we need for our country is love for our motherland, respect for its great culture and not lip service to its economic prowess and technical capability. This can happen only if we give up the pride about knowing English and only English.
Date sent: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 18:12:49 -0800 In this report, Thomas is suggesting that the novel contains scenes of violence and a detailed description of a sexual assault on a young boy. I am glad at least someone was honest to print what happens to little kids in a society where "to talk about sex" is taboo. In Kerala, children are not taught about sex either by the parents or by the educational system, but by a molester or the child's friend who was molested. It is your (the press') duty to educate the public on sex, so that more and more people will know about sexual molestations. So rather than report those idiotic statements, please suggest sex education in schools or at Sunday catechism classes, and even suggest parents to talk to their children about sex. Bernie
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 1997 17:09:47 -0700 Not satisfactory, as it gives only one side's view. What about the Reliance-Salgaoncar defence, and what is the reaction of the companies in Goa --- will they benefit from the project?
Date sent: Thu, 06 Nov 1997 00:05:17 -0500 If this be true I am worried about India's future! It needs dynamic young men of integrity to unite and rule! Hope it will not be an empty dream. Journalists owe a duty not only to expose evil but campaign for good! I don't see much of good being talked anywhere in any newspaper on any subject! I almost stopped reading newspapers and warned my mother not to become a pessimist after digesting each and every column of a newspaper! India is not all bad! For that matter no country really is! Where then is the good that exists every where? A patriot
Date sent: Thu, 06 Nov 1997 20:48:32 -0800 One can only describe this article as "incredible." But one fails to find it believable that the ISI whose only claim to fame thus far (beyond forcing the Russians out of Afghanistan in which it was aided by literally all the Western world's intelligence agencies) has been to shoot the Pakistani nation itself in the foot on its own soil (eg Karachi most recently). Are we to believe that Pakistan is the aggressor in South Asia while India is to remain the beacon of Gandhian peace and tranquility? Pakistan has been going through a very tough time. India is not helping matters by publishing such fantastic stories of the ISI's strength. The Pakistani public is too busy watching Indian television and movies and paying lip service to its religious leaders to be a threat to Indians. Here is a challenge to in front of all of us. Why don't you explain to your readers how India literally stole Kashmir away from Pakistan in 1947? How about admitting that the document that joined Kashmir to India was let us just say "missing"? And how about finding a peaceful solution out of the mess that you have created today and grant the Kashmiris the right to express themselves? Hiding behind these fantastic stories of Islamic plans may play well to your gallery in India and the West, but all Pakistanis want is a just peace in South Asia. And that will not happen unless a solution to Kashmir is found. It is interesting that you keep quoting Qazi Hussain Ahmad. May be one should ask the powerful and feared Qazi why he cannot win more than 5% of the votes in any general election in Pakistan? Let's get real guys. Keep some options open in Kashmir, because neither the Kashmiris nor the Pakistanis will give up there. A fifty-year-old wrong still needs to be corrected. And in the mean time Indians should hope that the Pakistani economy recovers or else "The Grand Islamic Plan" may indeed become a reality. Ras Siddiqui
Date sent: Sun, 16 Nov 97 10:47:59 -0800 Congress party, get a life. Rise above your low moral standards, we the people want to see the state industrialised. You guys are pathetic. Your party *****ed the state and the country so bad, I cannot imagine what breed of people you are.
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