The Hindu : New Delhi News : Reader's Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 31, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Reader's Mail

Happy New Year….

Come December-end and we are all talking about New Year resolutions. This year, for a change, let’s try and see if we can work out some resolutions for our spouses to make and keep in the New Year. Maybe stop nagging? Well, that’s one resolve sure to be broken in no time!

Or, perhaps, shop less? That’s something impossible again!

Not that we men are any better. If women think that men in love with their drink will give it up after making a New Year resolution or quit smoking, let me tell you none of that is going to happen!

So, in other words, you should never expect some things to ever change! But we must still continue to make resolutions even if only to merrily break them, for there is always the next New Year to look forward to!

T. V. Siddharth,

A-206, Pandara Road, New Delhi-110 003.

Respect the Flag

Watching a recent episode of the popular weekly programme on India TV, “Aap Ki Adalat”, I noticed that the National Flag had been placed on the floor – bent and leaning against a wall near the chair of the presiding officer and behind the typist. It was shocking to see our national pride placed in such a derogatory manner.

Though the courtroom depicted in the show is purportedly a “people’s court” which has been set up like a typical court of law to conduct public trials of different celebrities on the basis of allegations and counter-allegations levelled by the public, does displaying the National Flag in such a manner not amount to disrespect?

According to the Flag Code of India, 2002, Part II, which deals with display or use of the National Flag by public/private organisations, under the heading “Correct Display” it is clearly stipulated that whenever the Flag is flown it should occupy a position of honour and be distinctly placed.

It is unfortunate that although five years have gone by since the Supreme Court allowed every citizen of the country the Constitutional right to display and fly the National Flag on any day, we don’t bother to keep its dignity and hold it in high esteem.

Hemant Kumar,

Advocate, Punjab & Haryana High Court, 414, Sector 7, Urban Estate, Ambala City, Haryana.

Hello, MTNL….

I had to seek some clarification on the much-proclaimed 24x7 customer service (1500) of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd about a landline connection. I dialled 1500 and instantly the IVR system answered, “Press 1 for Hindi, 2 for English.” I pressed 2 for English. A nice recorded voice in good English guided me to various options, including “At any time during the call if you want to talk to a customer care representative, please dial zero.” My problems started when I dialled zero. A customer service representative who came on line said in chaste Hindi the equivalent of “How may I help you?” I proceeded to explain my problem in clear English, but he insisted I mention the problem in Hindi. I informed him that I had pressed 2 for English so I should have the right to report my problem only in English. After an argument I asked for his supervisor. When I got no response despite a wait of 10 minutes,

I had to disconnect and dial again. I had to dial at least five times before I could talk to a customer service representative who would understand English. At least this one appeared to have understood the problem and suggested a remedy.

I was under the impression that if we press the button for English we could converse in English. Will MTNL clarify?

A. B. Ilango,

A/4, 80, Konark Apartments, Kalkaji Extension, New Delhi – 110 019.

Money kills

Hot on the heels of the bloody shootout at a high school in Gurgaon came the news of a shootout in a Noida college this past week. Though on the face of it the motives appeared to be trivial, there lay a more complex problem behind the two incidents.

The problem with the children’s neo-rich families and their ill-gotten wealth, a lack of moral and ethical values, and the environment in which these children are brought up. The national Capital seems to be worst affected by the population of the nouveau riche and their vulgar exhibition of wealth, and also by corrupt and inefficient law enforcement agencies. The sooner this phenomenon is checked the faster will we be able to stop the spread of this disease of violence by students, which will otherwise burn the rest of the country in no time.

G. M. Rama Rao,

9-31-7/2, Pithapuram Colony, Visakhapatnam - 530 003.

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