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E-mail from readers the world over
Date sent: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 07:51:08 -0700 If Muthiah is the black pot then the kettle has to be Jayalalitha. When is any investigation against Jayalalitha going to take place, or is it going to be another Bofors fiasco. Most of the yesteryear and today's ministers have accumulated wealth which is totally disproportionate to their declared incomes. Many of our leaders have family members in the USA, and other European cities who are enjoying wealth stolen from India. Why blame the British when we have our own thieves doing a similar job and then taking the money to the same western banks. At least the British gave us the English language, railways, post office, airports, shipping, telephones, roads, educational institutions, civil service, a parliamentary form of government and an united India. Our khadi frauds have raped our resources for their own gains, and put us in the forefront as a beggar nation. We are known for our plight and not our might. The only good Congressman is a dead one.
Date sent: Mon, 6 Apr 1998 13:29:32 EDT It is no wonder if the final report of Jain Commission exonerates the DMK in the Rajiv assassination case. The DMK's detractors were spreading the rumour that it was involved in this case. I am sure this is a politically motivated, malicious propaganda against the DMK. I am sure the final report will open a Pandora's box which may lead to the collapse of a national party. Vibhranarayanan
Date sent: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 12:51:08 +0800 The BJP government is trying to give facelifts to temples. I think it is a must and should be done, but have you ever noticed other things like: Improved and responsive education system; better way of conducting examinations; better civil life; eradication of hunger and poverty; providing opportunities; development of villages and village industry; education, medical and communication facilities at village level; reduction of crime -- specially against girls and women; better response from government hospitals and health centers; responsive and functioning municipalities; improved roads; better and cleaner market places; demolition of encroachments on roads and public property; better sanitation; availability of drinking water; improved hygienic conditions in eating places; better utilisation of resources; availability of electric power and reduction in theft; better compliance of law; responsive and humble government officials; improved response to public complaints by government officials (do they understand they are there to serve, not rule), check population growth and illiteracy. I understand we cannot expect everything from the government and, to improve, society has to work and improve itself. But the government and political parties can provide leadership and act as catalysts for change. Is that happening? If any of the above things are happening, please do write about it. It will act as a catalyst and improve things further. Do not report things in a way which divides society. Practice positive journalism, in the name of neutral or factual reporting. Have you ever wondered what kind of society you are building, in what way? Anurag
Date sent: Sun, 12 Apr 1998 21:17:42 -0700 (PDT) I am writing this letter to welcome the reported move to beautify major temple towns by the UP government. Tourism in India has been popular for thousands of years for religious purposes. It has helped a lot in keeping the country united in spite of multitude of rulers -- British rule and dirty politics. That's why Adi Shankara established four prominent temples in the four corners of India. While the move will face criticism by 'secular Indians' for their habit of denouncing any thing related to Hindus, it will give a great sense of pleasure to millions like me. I hope we shall be able to see something on the lines of the Vaishno Devi shrine, which gives a deep sense of satisfaction to every devotee due to the ambitious developmental plans by former Jammu and Kashmir governor Jagmohan. I would like to plead that besides promoting unity of the country, tourism for religious purposes contributes no less in terms of revenue than modern tourism. Governments have been paying a lot of attention to the latter, while the former has been neglected by and large throughout the country. Dr Rajni Garg, California
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1998 13:08:25 -0400 You ought to spend Rs 400,000,000 cleaning up the roadside baba, saddhu, jaadoo, ojhaa, and the millions of religious swindlers that truck around India as varieties of deluded deluders. But spend it on: Lawsuits -- against fraudulence, pretense, malpractice. Study groups -- to mine out the best of religious practice in India and discourage the rest. News groups -- to let people know who they are really dealing with. Education facilities for the laity -- to find out what is the essential part of the Hindu faith. To encourage the best and discourage the worst by institutional means. Dharma centres -- socially courageous and constructive religious establishments, where certified training is given to leaders of the dharma. People whose moral and intellectual development is guaranteed for the sake of the people of the land. Yes, spend Rs 400,000,000 to purify the true conscience of India. That would save a lot of money in the end.
Date sent: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 15:52:41 -0700 I've been very closely following your top story (the first headline) since the installation of the BJP government at the Centre. Unmistakably, you try very hard to find something that makes the BJP look bad. You seem to innovate (twist?) to find a news item that deserves a mention in a remote corner, and convert it into headline that misleads people unless somebody goes and reads the whole content. The gist of the whole news (almost always) doesn't correctly translate to what the headline announces. This seems to indicate that you have a vested interest. Hope you prove me wrong one day. The worst that can happen to India is a bunch of jokers doing biased reporting and misleading people. We have had a good dose of it from almost all the newspapers of India. And sigh, we are beginning to see this on the Internet too.
Date sent: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 13:57:17 EDT What news? I am so proud of the UP government for taking up such a noble project. Cheers. Nand Mehta
Date sent: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 10:44:33 -0800 I think you've raised some very important points. The Indian family system, I'm sure, is the root cause of a lot of 'evils' in Indian society and it definitely needs re-examining. Many of these are, of course, of the subtle psychological kind, and are difficult to measure, except on a personal level, but manifest themselves in all sorts of social problems. However, what is the other option? A family environment is the ideal setup (I think) for a child to grow up in. The problem is when should this 'familying' stop, and grooming the child for a happy, independent adulthood begin. In most cases, the grooming for independence never takes place, and most people fail to continue along the path of independence in adulthood, or they become too independent and distance themselves from the world or parts of the world. I think a lot of social problems arise from people's dependence on each other -- the family setup easily lends itself to dependence. I believe that the greatest gift a parent can give a child is independence -- you can always rely on yourself. At the same time a child should be taught the importance of social interaction. But how do you change society to realise the importance of independence -- this is a very difficult task, maybe we could create a few fairy tales, nursery rhymes about independence. Problem is that independence taken too far, is also bad, as it results in isolation. Lester John
Date sent: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 20:44:34 -0500 The one thing that makes humans distinct is their ability to think better. Thought is precisely what is lacking in your article. God is the only absolute truth, righteousness (virtue) and justice. Everything else has its virtues and shortcomings. While you point to the many ills that the family system has bequeathed to us, have you considered the fact that capable and self-confident adults are also products of the same system. A very basic truth of life is that you can take care of an individual's needs but never his/her wants. So individuals and not institutions should take the rap for the crimes that you accuse the system of. Itty
Date sent: Sat, 24 Jan 1998 16:35:42 -0600 I do agree with Farzana that there are many guys out there who are desperate and lust after foreign women thinking that they are easy prey. I guess, we cannot make generalised statements about anything as Farzana seemed to make. I have been in North America for close to two years as a student and I have seen what really goes on in a discotheque. Most of the western women go to a bar to be either picked up by a guy or with their boy friends. Dating and being with men is a part of their culture, as going to a place of worship is in India. It's blatant here as opposed to the situation in India. Again there are people here who are decent enough not to involve themselves in such raunchy behaviour. But, I sincerely believe that for every desperate, frustrated female there is a similar type of guy out there, be it in India or abroad. So much for being judgmental. Dr Prashant Nambiar
Date: Wed, 07 Jan 1998 16:36:22 +0000 It was nice reading your article on " Madras nalla Madras" or should I say " Chennai Nalla Chennai". As an NRI who visits Chennai every year for the past six years, I have seen the enormous changes in people's attitude and the lifestyle. There is a new vibrant culture which has far reaching impact on the youth of Madras. But the alarming factor is that the youth have become very self- centered, and self-serving and they go about their business with a mercenary zeal. Gone are the days when the youngsters had an healthy regard for elders and seniors offering them their namaskarams and seeking their blessings. All the same, it is fun to be back in Madras every now and then.
Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 17:38:21 -0500 Another one of those pathetic 'look-India-is-going-to-the-dogs-boohoo' articles. An article that sets out to extol the beauty of Hyderabad (which I haven't had the pleasure to see, I admit), secretly laments its 'sodomisation' (And what *is* so wrong with sodomy anyway?). And why? Because it doesn't have the nawab's cronies go on the streets in horse-drawn carriages and throw goodies at the impoverished? Thank you, but I think Hyderabad is better off without it. I have never understood this totally Indian concept of glorifying even patently evil occurrences of the past. You don't have to jump on the present with hobnailed boots to make events of the past look all rosy and smelling of sandalwood. And one wonders what is so glorious about not showing ones back to the king/ not crossing ones feet for fear of incurring the wrath of one's elders/ perhaps not relieving ones bladders within 10 miles of any elderly person so that *he* (it is never a she, is it?) won't mistake it for insolence.
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 04:08:06 Excellent work and adventure. Max
Date sent: Sun, 01 Feb 1998 00:50:45 -0500 Thank you very much for this very informative and beautiful account of the making of that video and even facts on Yanni. It was nice to learn what his last name is, at least I hope it is the same as is listed for his mother. I enjoyed looking and reading everything on this site! A big Yanni fan, Alayne How readers reacted to Pritish Nandy's earlier columns
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