Letters to Editor

Insightful
It refers to the cover story “SRK's one liner: I’m the best” (TSI, Sept 5-11). My heartiest congratulations to Arindam Chaudhuri and his wife Rajita for the release of their book Thorns to Competition. The book is another feather in the cap of Arindam who has already made valuable additions to the knowledge library with his acclaimed books The Great Indian Dream, Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch and Discover the Diamond in You. The book takes into consideration a complex aspect of business and makes it extremely simple by presenting a set of competition beating strategies to sell a product. The book emphasises the fact that if you want to stay ahead you need to understand the power of marketing to win over your customers. This is the only 'mantra' of higher productivity and profits and to take a lead in the market.
Dilbag Rai
Chandigarh

Democracy's moment
“Deconstructing the DNA of Indian Protester” (TSI, Aug 29-Sep 4) is really very insightful article on the Anna movement. No other publication gave such an in-depth analysis on the nature of this protest. The sceptics and critics may perceive the protest as a threat to parliamentary democracy, but in reality it is a giant step towards the evolution of democracy. In spite of being the largest democracy of the world, the power of the people was limited to the symbolic participation in the festival of democracy held every five year. But this movement opens the door for greater participation of the common man in the democratic process. This is a movement of the people, by the people and for the people. And the great virtue of this protest, unlike the protests across the world, is its democratic, non-violent nature.
Nirupam Hazra
West Bengal

Victims of corruption
Your editorial “It’s important for Anna to become more flexible...” (TSI, August 22- 28) was interesting and appropriate. We could see Anna and his presence all over the country from 16th August when he started fasting for the cause of Jan Lokpal. I also agree with your comment: “I have often publicly called India not a democracy but a demonocracy where crooked politicians and their criminal cohorts are openly plundering the nation; well aware that a dysfunctional judicial system will allow them to get away.” There might be some people who are emotionally supporting the movement but there are many who have been the victim of corruption or bribe for which they are either directly or indirectly supporting this movement.
Ranjan K Baruah
Guwahati

Empty promises
Those who thought that the loss of a large number of lives during the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai in 2008 led to a strict vigil on the long coastline of the country need to update their information. India's coastal security can still be breached though huge funds have been allocated for the purpose and plans are under implementation to prevent the recurrence of what had happened on that fateful day three years ago. At least three incidents that occurred in the recent past provide proof of this painful reality. A merchant navy ship, M T Pavit, abandoned by its crew in Oman, floated towards Mumbai and reached the Juhu-Versova beach undetected on July 31. Secondly, a ship named MV Wisdom entered the Juhu beach area undetected, exposing the hollowness of the claims of the authorities that the country's coastline had all the necessary arrangements to prevent terrorists and other such elements from giving the nation a surprise. And thirdly, oil spill of a dangerous level was caused when a cargo vessel, MV Rak, sank in the sea near Mumbai a few days back. These incidents have brought to light the serious lack of coordination among the agencies responsible for coastal security. Any matter concerning national security should not be taken lightly.
P. Arihanth
Secundrabad

Time to introspect
It refers to the cover story “Deconstructing the DNA of Indian Protestors.” Whether Anna's all demands are fulfilled and what kind of impact this fast would have on the elections is yet to be known. But one thing is certain that Anna Hazare has caught the UPA govt napping, and the crisis mismanagement of Congress had come to the fore. Media always plays a great role in not only forming opinion amongst the masses but at times it plays the role of a judge, which is a dangerous sign. I am sure not even Anna has dreamed that he would get such a massive following across the length and breadth of the country. This was made possible by the electronic media and the social networking sites. The present protests were similar to the one which was witnessed during the Emergency. If the government fails to respond to this, it will bite the dust in all forthcoming elections.
Bal Govind
Noida

Good and bad
This refers to the article “It’s important for Anna...” (TSI, Aug 22-28). The mode of anti-corruption movement of Anna Hazare is both praiseworthy and dangerous. It is praiseworthy in the sense that in spite of repeated revelation of corruption, the main opposition party was not over the top in its reaction against the charges of corruption heaped on the UPA. The call for such a movement is also dangerous in the sense that any unconscious deviation from the proper path of movement may lead to a total unrest in the country which can create threat for democracy. There is no denying the fact that a formidable number of people all over the country has shown faith in Anna. Anna should realise that, and he should not in any way incite the masses. He should be more flexible in his approach towards negotiations. In a free country, no individual can obstinately claim that he knows best about what is right for the nation. Moreover, team Anna should also realise that Lokpal bill shall never be the panacea for corruption. 
Niloy Kumar Roy
Kolkata

Keep learning, docs
Prasoon Majumdar deserves accolades for his very timely and thought-provoking story, “Docs, please pull up socks” (TSI, Sep 5-11). Besides teaching, it is only the medical practice which is considered a noble profession. When a doctor saves the life of a patient, he is extolled as a god. In such a scenario, it becomes imperative for the doctors to update themselves with the latest developments in medicine and save more lives. In the West, training and updating of knowledge on discoveries and latest developments in medicine is compulsory for all practising doctors every three to four years to remain eligible to continue with their medical practice. Also, punishment awaits the medical practitioners for mishandling, wrong diagnosis or wrong application of medication which they can overcome only by updating themselves with the latest medical research. It is time the Health Ministry in coordination with the Medical Council of India brought out a bill bringing all the medical practitioners under the umbrella of compulsory continuous medial education.
Anna Mary Yvonne F
Chennai

A real hero
Shahrukh Khan has enthralled a whole generation of cinegoers with his amazing talent and electrifying screen presence from an absolutely adorable Raj of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge to the intense Kabir Khan of Chak De India. Arindam Chaudhuri's cover story on Shahrukh was absolutely endearing and enjoyable (TSI, Sep 5-11). It revealed a new facet about our national icon which was hitherto unknown. His musings on fickleness of success and failure are enlightening. I think that his phenomenal success could be traced to his never-say-die attitude and his extreme love for the medium of cinema.
Dr. G. S. Sidhu
Jalandhar city

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