Letters to Editor

A dark diwali

In Musings "It's dark under the light – Lack of hospitals in Sivakasi kills hundreds" (TSI, Nov 6) Prasoon S Majumdar has rightly commented that on the eve of glittering Diwali when the entire India shines, it is due to the life-risking firecracker production done in about 8,000 factories in Sivakasi that hundreds of its homes mourn the death of their loved ones. There is a deep impact of fire accidents on children also as major fireworks units still continue to employ child labour. Mr Prasoon, while concluding, has rightly suggested that proper safety standards should be adopted in the factories making the working condition safer and all licensed factories should be forced to issue insurances to workers and strictly ban child labour. The government should open a state-of-art advance burn specialist hospital in the vicinity to treat the burn victims.

Dilbag Rai

Chandigarh

Keep up the good work

As a regular reader of the thought-provoking magazine, I can assert that The Sunday Indian has few parallels among contemporary Indian publications. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the pieces ever since I got hooked on to the magazine years ago. Please accept my greetings on the occasion of achieving yet another significant milestone. I wish that you will get the wholehearted patronage of millions of new readers. Keep the flag flying high, for all time to come.

Sridhar K Penna

Hyderabad

Against corporate greed

Kudos to Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri for the incisive and well – researched cover story on the Occupy Wall street Movement (TSI, Oct 30). These protests raise serious questions about the viability of the free market doctrine and globalisation of the economy. As revealed by the writer, all is not well with the majority of people who suffer the setbacks of these economic policies. These protests are against the tyranny of the financial markets which, having crashed the economy, now demand fealty in the form of austerity, privatisations and bailouts. Let us hope the transformational movement results in the dismantling of the entrenched power structures of capital.

Sona Georg

D R C Post, Bangalore

An enduring phenomenon

The feature on Amitabh Bachchan titled ‘Buddha hoga tera baap’ (TSI, Oct 23) was an engrossing read. No words of praise can be enough for this phenomenon who has been straddling the world of cinema like a colossus for several decades now. An actor par excellence, the Big B appears to have matured over the years like vintage wine and though nearly seventy can give the youth brigade in the film industry a run for their money. Be it his mercurial performances in author backed roles on the big screen or his tremendous charisma exuded on the small screen, Amitabh Bachchan has been proving time and again that he has no peers and that he remains a phenomenon that will endure for a long long time to come. The graciousness and the courtesy that he extends to participants in KBC and his empathy towards the common folk is an indication that he has his heart in the right place. No wonder this gentleman could not carve his niche in politics, for that, as far as our country is concerned still remains the last (or should it be first) refuge for scoundrels.
Ramya Aravind

Bangalore

A great legacy

Steve Jobs changed the way we look at style and utility. He was a rebel. Other companies have improved their own styling of products and this is where Steve was a pioneer. Even in death, he taught the world how to live. His last days were like a sure death sentence but he lived like his stylish concepts. Death was restyled to give it a new meaning. Cancer is a serious threat and has seen a surge . But if death is sure, do we just hang on or do we live a full life? Steve Jobs has taught each one of us a lesson. Life can be lived with dignity even if the days are numbered. His products will be styled to succeed but his way of life needs to be observed. Death need not be a grim ending. Even the last few hours can be cherished and enjoyed. Cancer is deadly but a man like Steve Jobs will give hope to the victims.

Loveen Motwani

Pune

People hardly have a choice

In “Should Rahul really worry about Anna?” (TSI ,Oct 30). Sutanu Guru has convincingly argued that all this talk of corruption and the clean public life as now becoming the only factor in deciding electoral outcomes, is nonsense. Corruption, like prostitution cannot be wiped out from this world as it thrives on the needs of biological urge which cannot be controlled by any kind of man made rules. Even Anna Hazare who is fighting for the removal of corruption from our politics is surrounded by men and women of doubtful integrity. They have yet to come out unscathed. The Hissar by-election result is not an indicator of Anna’s popularity. The Congress was destined to lose even without the Anna factor. It was a sheer coincidence. With correct electoral alliances in major states, the Congress will come back to power because he people have little option to choose as the BJP is no better alternative as far as corruption is concerned.
V.N.Gopal

Chennai

Reason why tsi is so special

There are many factors that make TSI more interesting and distinct than other weeklies. To me they are the columns by Prasoon S Majumdar and Prashanto Banerji and the most coveted editorial by Arindam Chaudhuri that makes every issue of TSI priceless. I appreciate Arindam Chaudhuri’s boldness that shows in his every article. His choice to write on 'An entire continent without worthwhile access to education!' (TSI, Oct 23) won readers' attention, even without being a subject of national interest. Undoubtedly education is the best and inevitable investment for the long term development of any nation. Failing of that objective digs the very grave of the nation. I am sure you will convey that message through your powerful words when you speak in Africa this year. Sure it will matter.

Bhavaneeth Krishna M. M

Palakkad, Kerala

Man on the street in gaza

David Miliband's article titled 'Remembering Gaza', (TSI, Oct 30) made for an absolutely engrossing read. What makes this article very special is the fact that David has chosen to focus on the travails of the quintessential man-on-the-street in Gaza. The indomitable spirit of man to carry on with life despite tragedies all around is a poignant reminder of how one should face the seemingly insurmountable challenges of life. Political one-up-man ship usually hides the human tragedy in every conflict zone around the world. I would like to share with the readers my recent visit to Pakistan. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the man-on-the-street in Pakistan does not have any enmity towards India, contrary to what the politicians on both sides of the border would have us believe. We were welcomed with open arms and showered with affection wherever we went. This set me thinking that there would be so few conflicts the world over if the sentiments of the common man would be considered by the political leadership! Is it really difficult to do so? Perhaps nobody has the exact answer to this question.
Dr. Gulbahar S Sidhu

Jalandhar

The autmn of capitalism

Million thanks to Arindam Chaudhuri for bringing forward the innovative concept of “Survival of the weakest”. America which has enjoyed the spring of capitalism so far and is now facing the autumn of the same capitalism in the form of unemployment, increasing budgetary deficit, widening gap between upper and lower strata of society, job insecurity and undefined future for millions of youth. The Gini index for America is hanging between 45 to 50% which is at par with many African nations. At the one hand there is small fraction of corporate and capitalist employee who gets a heavy salary pack with frequent rise on the other hand there is massive fraction of middle and lower class who gets insufficient wages bundle with seldom rise. The free flow of capitalism sans any kind of governmental scrutiny has led the nation to nowhere. It is high time to change our old aged theory of “Survival of fittest” and adopt the theory of “Survival of weakest”.

Gopal Jee Singh

Harpur, Ballia, U.P