The Hindu : Where is the sheen?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 26, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Where is the sheen?

Sir, — Is India shining because of the record number of unemployed seeking passports or because foreign investors have gained massively in the stock markets? Or is it because Narendra Modi was re-elected to power in Gujarat or because the minorities are still marginalised? Or because despite its divisive agenda the BJP has gained acceptance in India?

B. Parthasarathy,
Chennai

Sir, — For people travelling in new cars, shareholders in blue chip companies, IT wizards, employees of Fortune 500 (Indian and Foreign) companies, the pampered bureaucracy and power-brokers, India is certainly shining. But ask the 300 million illiterates, 19 million people without a square meal a day, the millions of unemployed, thousands of children waiting to go to school and many scrounging their day's meal from garbage bins... and finally, Muslims in Gujarat.

I.P. Prabhakara Rao,
Secunderabad

Sir, — The photograph of 9-year-old Rajen (Feb. 24) working in a garbage dump was really moving. It represented the reality that is India.

Aparna Sundaram,
Chennai

Sir, — The stock indices and blue chip companies may be feeling good, but the rising unemployment and poverty are not even spoken of. Primary education is still an indulgence for the poor.

Ravin Abraham,
Jalandhar, Punjab

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

News Update

Stories in this Section

ELECTIONS AND MUSCLEMEN

A CONSERVATIVE COUP

India rethinks China policy