The Hindu : New Delhi News : Reader's Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 09, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Reader's Mail

Hello, MTNL....

There are two MTNL telephone connections at our premises: my mother's ordinary landline and my Net connection. Both are registered with the "Bill Alert" service. Until several months ago, when they suddenly stopped coming, we received bills by e-mail. These came in handy on at least two occasions when the paper bills did not arrive. "Bill Alert" is linked with "Bill View", which gives details of long-distance calls made. But for several days all that I was able to view were the cheering but worthless words, "Welcome (subscriber's name)"....It goes without saying that every one of the MTNL helpline numbers is perpetually busy and that calls to neither of the SDEs' numbers I have are answered.

E-mail enquiries and complaints seemingly go into the cess pit in which MTNL's bosses do not see even what touches their noses because they are so busy drafting fairy tales about their wonderful services.

Mukul Dube,

D-504 Purvasha,Mayur Vihar 1,Delhi - 110 091.

Predicting quakes?

This refers to Lachhman Das Madan's note, "Predicting quakes", in these columns (December 12) wherein he claims that he can predict earthquakes on the basis of astrology. Some people definitely believe in astrology, but there are also many like me -- a retired teacher of Banaras Hindu University -- who strongly doubt its predictive power. These are people who think rationally and generally have a scientific background. They fail to understand if there is any rational mechanism that makes astrology work. Physical sciences are based on the fundamental principle of cause-and-effect that controls the sequence of events in the physical world. Scientists believe that nature has its own well-defined laws that cannot be violated by physical phenomena. Scientists' knowledge of these laws may not yet be complete, but their faith in the existence of these laws is unshakeable. Scientists have the tradition of continuously refining their understanding of these laws whenever they fail to explain any newly observed phenomenon.

But astrology does not attach importance to these laws and firmly believes that planets control the events taking place here on earth. Astrologers' explanation of how these planets exert their strong influence on living and non-living beings here is not satisfactory. Is it the gravitational force through which they exert their influence? Or are the electro-magnetic radiations from them important? Or is there some mechanism hitherto unknown to the scientific community? And why is it that a tall building, for example, in the neighbourhood of an individual has no influence on him/her, whereas a distant planet does? Adequate and convincing explanation has to be given in such cases. Astrology fails to do that.

There are some points that deserve attention. Which are the systems to which astrology can be applied? Can we also apply it to predict events relating to animals, insects, plants and trees? Or does it work exclusively with human beings? Can we apply it to non-living objects like a river, a building, a vehicle, or simply a pen in one's pocket?

One may also like to know if somebody had ever predicted in the past highly significant events that affected this world. Did somebody predict during the first half of the last century that we would some day witness the revolution of information technology, that many people would have in their hands the mobile phone, that the laser would become a vital operational tool in the medical field, that cloning of living beings would become a reality, that we shall face the new phenomenon of globalisation, and that demolition of a large number of illegal buildings would take place in Delhi as is happening now?

And can somebody predict today if and when there will be an outbreak of some disease more dangerous than AIDS? Will the fusion power reactor ever become a reality -- and, if yes, when? Nuclear scientists have been working hard in this direction for the past 50 years without success. Will our country finally undertake the river-linking project and complete it successfully -- and, if yes, when?

Dr. Y. P. Joshi,

B - 45, Brij Enclave,

P.O. Sundarpur,

Varanasi - 221 005.

Why Bengaluru?

All this hype and hoopla about Bangalore being renamed Bengaluru is totally misplaced. Just as Bombay became Mumbai, Madras became Chennai and Calcutta became Kolkata, self-styled guardians of culture now want to rename our most globally visible brand ostensibly to decolonise us. Will someone ask these proponents of the Stone Age in this era of globalisation what purpose would it serve other than some ego massage for narrow-minded politicians?

Just think of the colossal costs involved in changing the nomenclature -- it will affect the entire spectrum of society from business to politics.

Today Bangalore like any other cosmopolitan city of India belongs not just to the Kannadigas but to the entire nation.

To rename it "to regain lost heritage and decolonise it" is just wishful thinking.

I wish our politicians and intellectuals spent a little more time, energy and money on improving the lot of the poor than just inventing issues when there are none.

Ajay Prakash,

Hindu College,

Delhi - 110 007.

Save Delhi

The current chaos resulting from demolition ofillegal structures in residential areas of Delhiemanates from non-compliance of building by-laws andtown planning norms in utter defiance of the MasterPlans and general apathy on the part of those who areentrusted with the responsibility of enforcing themfor planned and orderly growth of our cities andtowns.It is ironical that despite the passage of over a decadethe Delhi Rent Bill, 1995, is yet to see the light of day because of certain vested interests. Theconsequences are there for all to see. Most of thebuildings in the inner and outer circles of the prestigious Connaught Place today stand in a stateof disrepair and neglect. In the absence of a concretepolicy in regard to annual maintenance and whitewashof the buildings, CP bears the look of a dilapidated shopping complex.

Similar is the story of squatter settlements. They can spring up anywhere within thecity with impunity. Practically every neighbourhoodin the city has its own share of slum clusters.Squatting could be anywhere--be it encroachment overpublic or private land or the space earmarked for a recreational park. Of late the Delhi Metro certainly hasbecome an icon for Delhi, but the scenario around theDelhi Main railway station is no better than that of arailway station of a small town with so much dirt andfilth around.Lutyens' Bungalow Zone (LBZ) is not trulyrepresentative of the national Capital. If we reallywish to transform Delhi into a world class city likeSydney and London, we must follow the town planningnorms in right earnest; otherwise the gallopingpopulation and haphazard urban growth will lead Delhi to disaster.

Ashwini Kumar Lal,

D-819, Mandir Marg,New Delhi-110 001.

No, please

Any move for State funding of elections would be improper and unjust.

Will the State be able to guarantee that the taxpayers' hard-earned money will not be misused for electing criminals and charge-sheeted persons?

B. Rajaram,

564, Lodhi Road Complex,

New Delhi - 110 003.

(Letters for this column may be sent by e-mail to wsins@thehindu.co.in. They must carry the full postal address of the writer and should be marked "Reader's Mail".)

D-504 Purvasha,Mayur Vihar 1,Delhi - 110 091.

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