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Magazine
Bidding adieu
I just read Ramachandra Guha’s farewell column (Homage to the homeland, June 7). I don’t know why he will not be writing for the newspaper anymore. The column, though, is vintage Guha. There is a strong sense of occasion in the way in which he weaves together much that moves you — Modern India and the great Nehru, a love for the archives and the fun of ferreting out the little known, a passion for Indian politics and for cricket, a curiosity about other countries and a profound patriotism. The Sunday Hindu somehow will never seem the same again.
Nayanjot Lahiri
Delhi University,
Delhi
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The article “Homage to the homeland” by Ramachandra Guha was a perfect tribute to a changing India. In the presence of infinite differences in terms of ethnicity, food, culture, customs, traditions and languages across the peninsula, the country has seen the best and the worst times in the past and continues to be the most fascinating nation in the world. The writer has rightly pointed out that India happens to be the only nation in the world to have witnessed five simultaneous revolutions viz. national, democratic, industrial, urban and social revolution. India deserves a tribute for having survived these revolutions positively, revolutions that brought along with them numerous moments of joy and sadness.
Tarun Girdhar
Chandigarh
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Was Ramachandra Guha (“Homage to the homeland”, Magazine, June 7) bidding adieu to his readers or just remembering an eventful decade? Please, let us not be deprived of his educative articles.
B. Santhinathan
Chennai
Save the earth
Global warming is a very serious threat to mankind, especially the poor, (“On a short fuse,” June 7). The earth is reacting to the overuse of its natural resources. Mankind’s extravagant ways of living and uncontrolled consumerism are the prime culprits in many environmental catastrophes in this world. Though we might not live to see the damages that we are causing to planet earth, it is our duty to save and protect our planet. Serious efforts should be made by us — in the present generation — to innovatively curb carbon emission which is the major cause of global warming. The consequences would be disastrous if not enough human activity is mobilised today to save this earth for posterity and for our children tomorrow.
K. Chidanand Kumar
Bangalore
Complex causes
Apropos Seema Sanghi’s article “Business unusual” (Magazine, June 7), the recent attacks on Indians in Australia and the tone that subsequent public discourse acquired has posed a serious dilemma. Although there may be multiple causes behind these attacks, it is difficult to avoid reasoning from taking a racial tilt. It is notable that they have come at a time when there is a worldwide disappearance of jobs and opportunities. This has offered a serious problem: as the globalisation penetrates deeper into our lives and brings with it crises of various kinds, it would become increasingly difficult to maintain tolerance and accommodation. What lies at the core of the issue is the threat to economic prosperity and livelihood. We need not go to Australia to discover such phenomena. MNS Chief Raj Thackeray has erected his campaign on the apprehensions of the Marathis, thereby inciting attacks on the poor migrants from U.P. and Bihar. The conflict between Gujjar and Meena community in North India over reservations in the scanty government jobs that held the nation at ransom for more than a month is another case in point. Apparently, policy makers have no easy task at hand.
Rinku Sharma
New Delhi
Forgotten figure
Mike Marquesee has provided a very timely and thought-provoking estimate of Thomas Paine (“Restless democrat” , June 7). What a pity that “Citizen Tom” ( as one of his biographies has been aptly titled), who was the moving force behind cathartic revolutions in two nations (lying thousands of miles apart across the Atlantic) which changed the historical trajectory of mankind, is a forgotten figure in both of them. Ironically, Edmund Burke ,who sought to defend the Divine Right oif Kingship, is idolised as a great thinker.
Prof. Anil K. Joshi
Kumaun University,
Nainital
Demystifying sugar
The article “Sugar Coated Myths” by Dr. Kajal Pandya (Magazine, June 7) would have enabled a lot of people to eradicate the fear of sugar consumption. Even though the over-consumption of sugar leads us to many troubles, its moderate use is to be promoted. Many of us know that all fruits contain sugar and that carbohydrates and fats are converted to glucose in our body. What we can do is to be conscientious and careful about the quantity and quality of sugar we use, as the article advises. The writer has successfully demystified the misconceptions and myths regarding sugar consumption so that we can have an occasional sweet without any fear.
Jabir Ali K.
Palakkad
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