Letters to Editor

A paradise once again
Your story “The valley beckons” by Haroon Reishi (TSI, Sep12-18) has re-kindled in us the hope that Kashmir is going to be a land of peace and tranquillity once again. The large electoral turn out in the Panchayat elections, the youth in multitudes coming forward to take up government jobs, the jawans learning Kashmiri language to get closer to the people of Kashmir and more importantly, the return of the Hindu Pandits back to their abodes in the Valley bear witness to the fact that the peace and normalcy that have started dawning in the Valley as reported by Haroon is not notional but undoubtedly real. As an incurable optimist, I have started believing that the Kashmir valley is turning fast to be what my teacher presented to us when I was a small girl and I am sure I am going to walk through the valley very shortly, enjoying the picturesque scenes my teacher had painted in our heart, for, “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?”
Fiona Waltair
Chennai

BCCI should be accountable
In sports, defeats are routine, with somebody or the other bound to lose. But it is the competitiveness, the fighting spirit and the never-say-die attitude that draw spectators, reveal character and display skills. But the Indian cricket team’s abject surrender to England in the Tests, barring the defiance by Rahul Dravid, showed neither talent nor temperament nor displayed any application or attitude. The comprehensive defeats in all the four Test matches, the first series defeat for Mahendra Singh Dhoni as skipper, also signalled the first whitewash for the Indian team in the last 11 years. Outplayed in all departments of the game, the Indian team and the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI) have, however, shown no inclination so far to own up responsibility for the pathetic show. Dhoni’s own alibi have ranged from poor luck to injuries to “too much cricket” while the BCCI is yet to utter a single word of remorse for precipitating the most humiliating series loss in recent years. Nothing can absolve the BCCI and our ‘crorepati cricketers’ of unprofessional conduct. While the English team is openly discussing how their pre-series planning against the Indian team paid them rich dividends, the Indian team on the field has looked bereft of ideas. Many of them appeared unconcerned about the basics of the game and many an Indian fan would have flinched to see the Nawab of Nazafgarh standing at short mid-on with his hands in his pockets as the bowler approached the crease. Sacking coaches and dropping players are the easiest options. But the BCCI is required to make both short-term and mid-term changes in its priorities and planning.
JS Acharya
Hyderabad

A ray of hope
A careful reading of the cover story “Deconstructing the DNA...” by Arindam Chaudhuri (TSI Aug 29-Sep 4) evokes the memories of the common people coming to the streets for a common cause. After so many years of freedom, the sway of Mahatma Gandhi seems to be a myth but the fancy of the multitudes has now been turned into a reality by social activist Anna Hazare. Astonishingly, the people hailing from the lower strata of the society have greater yearning for a transparent nation with a hope to combat corruption and discrepancies by dint of the weapon of Lokpal Bill. It is a fact that very many people have come to the streets because they are not only neglected by the government but also deceived and above all denied justice in the literal sense.
Nirupama Ghibela
Balangir, Odisha

Nothing's fake about SRK
Prof. Chaudhuri has correctly analysed the SRK phenomenon in the story “I'm the best” (TSI, Sep 5-11). Shahrukh is the epitome of hardwork, professionalism, fantastic marketing skills and talent. He is a professional workaholic! SRK has made it on his own without any outside help. He did any and every role, pouring his heart and soul into acting it out. Shahrukh is a model of self management. In a world where no one respects you if you do not have tonnes of money, SRK realised that he must turn himself into a saleable product. He did whatever it takes to be rich and famous. He is not apologetic about dancing in parties or about any of his other movies. The best part about Shahrukh is his brutal honesty which comes across in statements that he wanted to be porn star! He has a stinging sense of humour being a Scorpio! Above all SRK is the perfect family man and his family is an example of secularism where the Gayatri Mantra and the Quran are recited. Shahrukh is the only star who loves to give interviews and connect with the people in every which way. There is absolutely nothing fake about SRK! You may or may not like his style, but you can not ignore him.
Santosh Mohan Joshi
Sangli, Maharashtra

A good news
This refers to your story “The valley beckons” (TSI, Sep 12-18). After a long time we had a Kashmiri dessert on the platter of TSI, otherwise, since ages everybody was serving only Kashmiri mirch! The biggest misery of one’s lifetime is when he is forced to leave his motherland. If Kashmiris are returning to their homeland, there cannot be a better news for us and worse for those who made them leave their homes. Our Kashmiri brethren have suffered enough, and I genuinely want smile on their faces, whether it comes through the political process or law agencies or tourist business. But the biggest need is to keep the entire world informed through coverage like this that we had only fumbled for a while – we had not lost our limbs.
Rajneesh Batra
New Delhi

Inviting famine?
PV Rajgopal's article was timely and an eye-opener to the government when large tracts of farmlands in India are being diverted for non-agricultural purposes at a pittance to vested interests thereby not only rendering the poor farmers landless but also badly affecting the food productivity of the country. Under the garb of development, the government is indulging in loot and if we cannot stop such activities, we are giving to impose starvation on the country. As new trend has been taking shape with corporates on the spree for purchase of fertile and forest lands at the cost of displacement of local communities especially tribal people. It is leading to economic and social marginalisation of farming communities to advance industrial and other ventures at the cost of food security and environment. The PM says that we cannot protect the environment of this country by perpetuating poverty. Besides, it is also true that there cannot be a permanent moratorium on land acquisition for non-agricultural purposes if economy has to take a leap forward for the overall welfare of the people.
R.Srinivasan
Secunderabad

A few lessons to learn
This is in reference to the article ‘Deconstructing the DNA....’ by Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri (TSI, Aug 29- Sep 4) on the recent peaceful protest led by Anna Hazare and his team to impress upon the government for a stronger Lokpal Bill. Certainly, electronic media played a great role in giving it wide coverage and highlighting its importance. However, the credit goes to all those faceless common people spread across the country who patiently and peacefully protested for 12 long days without a single incidence of violence! Complacent leaders must learn a few lessons from this ‘mini- revolution’. 
Madhukar Mohan
Ahmedabad

A nice book
It refers to the cover story “I’m the best” (TSI, Sep 5-11), a line that Shahrukh uttered while launching the book, “Thorns  To Competition” authored by Arindam Chaudhuri and his wife Rajita. The book has won applause not only from Bollywood King Khan but also from Alyque Padamsee, the head of the famous advertising company, Lintas. It's a lovely piece of work showing a whole new way of strategic marketing which should not be given a miss by the students and the executives of marketing. So kudos to the authors presenting the book which has dealt with a set of competition beating strategies to sell a product and showcasing the selling mantra of modern times through the acronym T-H-O-R-N-S.
Suman
Noida, UP

An inhuman practice
The report on manual scavenging “Raising a stink” (TSI, Sep 12-18) made for a shocking reading. It is really inhuman that manual scavenging which is banned in the country has not yet been abandoned in several parts of the country. While the report has talked about such a practice in Kolar and other districts of Karnataka, recent investigations have revealed that even the city of Bangalore has several areas where manual scavenging is being carried out with gusto. There have been protests by manual scavengers regarding the measly payment being made to them but this is besides the point. What is important is that manual scavenging should be done away with altogether and those who are forcing the labourers to indulge in it should be dealt with according to the provisions of the law. Further, the state governments concerned should take all steps to rehabilitate these unfortunate people and give them a new lease of life where their dignity will be preserved and they will be able to lead lives shorn of the shame that is attached to the profession that they are presently pursuing.
Ramya Aravind
Bangalore

(The magnitude of readers' response is so overwhelming that all the letters can only be accommodated on the web. For a detailed feedback, log on to www.thesundayindian.com)