MAIL BAG
Terrorism and religion
This is in reference to the article by Harsh Mander (“With fear and hope”, December 28). First of all, I would like to congratulate him for highlighting the terror trails in States like Assam, which were not given due coverage in the national media. But, I was appalled by the fact that the author considers the need of further evidence in the case of the home grown terrorist organisation, whereas accepts the provided evidence when it comes to the Malegaon blast probe, as credible evidence . We all should work towards the detachment of any religion from terrorism.
Parveen Kumar
New Delhi
Arvind Sivaramakrishnan deplores the attitudes of Indian elites who ignore substantive issues like hunger, poverty, need for land reforms, etc., being satisfied with “hardline procedural responses” ( December 28). How much more true is this observation of our Parliamentarians and legislators — a thing which Amartya Sen lamented at the beginning of his speech to our MPs this year!
K.Gopalan
Bangalore.
Universal appeal
This has reference to the article “Human emotions are universal” (December 28) by Ziya Us Salam. It is true that Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s fame transcends the barriers of language, culture, country and continent. He retains the enthusiasm of an eager student.
Though his films are about yesterdays, one can see that the subjects chosen are valid even today. His film lives beyond the time of their making. There is power in silence bracketed with sound. Silence becomes a wonderful tool of expression.
T.V. Jayaprakash,
Palakkad
Commendable effort
This refers to the article on Dayamani Barla by Kalpana Sharma (“Woman of steel, December 28). Her efforts in keeping a strict vigil on the so-called “development” of Jharkhand are commendable. It has been rightly said that people like her fail to find space or air time in today’s star-struck media. Baring a few newspapers and channels, almost the entire media runs after “beautiful people”, while development and other relevant issues often take a backseat.
Reel life heroes are celebrated more than real life heroes. Amidst all the glitterati, reading that story on Barla was a refreshing change, like a breath of fresh air. Instead of following other shallow trends, celebrating the achievements of people like Barla would really help the media, and with it, the rest of the nation evolve into matured and alert citizens.
Pupul Chatterjee
Patna
Living with paradoxes
The Magazine (December 28, 2008) contained articles which brought out the peculiar paradoxes in Indian society. For Jo Chopra India is a hospitable country: “there is room in the inn for all”." But Ayesha Begum says: “If the poor have to live, they have to learn to beg for food.”
T.M. Dhanaraj
Chennai
Poverty hurts and absolute poverty hurts absolutely. The Indian civil society is yet to understand the difference between hunger and appetite and Harsh Mander’s story “Is this the way a life should be?” (December 28) has a telling effect on anyone who has undergone such agonies. This story of Ayesha churns the stomach and it is at times unreadable for the soft-minded. In fact I was almost in tears at the end. Notwithstanding the caste or gender to which such people belong, India has a long way to go, beyond Chandraayan, to see ultimate realities.
Divakar N.
Mysore
Unjust policies
This refers to the article “No end in sight” by Mike Marqusee (December 28). The invasions, cruelties, atrocities and massacres committed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and elsewhere in the world under the patronage of the U.S administration in its best interests amounts to nothing but “global terrorism”. Given the present international scenario, if the next President Barrack Obama opts to pursue the same policies of his predecessor George W. Bush, it wouldn’t be a surprise if it leads to a third world war.
Govindankutty P.
Dy. Tahsildar (Rtd.)
Ottappalam
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