Letters to the Editor

Celebrating entertainment

Your write-up “Soup operas for wearied souls” (TSI, April 29) that shows the efforts of filmmakers to cleverly capture the attention of a nation in love with a heightened refection of itself on the silver screen is admirable. Cinema has been our source of entertainment for a very long time. One has to agree that film songs that held sway over the cinema goers in the past, continue to thrill them even today. The article would have come full circle if tributes would have been paid to the rich tribe of playback singers and the music directors who laid foundation with the sound of music signifying everything for the growth of film industry. We are second to none in this world with regard to our clan of filmmakers in creative quality .But our films have a unique beautiful quality of music for the wearied soul.

K R Deshpande, Bangalore

 

 

The women power

With reference to the cover story, “The women who see red” (TSI, April 29), I would say that women politicians are much better than male leaders. Women have an inherent sixth sense about various problems and are sensitive to many issues. I would say that women leaders are better even if they are corrupt. Unlike what many think, a woman in power can prove to be much sharper than her male counterparts in terms of political intelligence. Politics may be the last resort of the scoundrel, but women can help clean the muck. 50 per cent reservation for women in political posts will be a good move. If women are proving their worth in corporate affairs, what is wrong with politics?

Santosh Mohan Joshi

Sangli, Maharashtra

 

Help for the needy

Referring to “Assistance to few and aid to all” (TSI, April 29), I would first like to thank Prasoon S Majumdar for his regular revelation of our social aberration. But what is intriguing is that despite all these efforts made by TSI, it seems there has been no improvement. The corruption has gone so deep that even the poverty stricken people are deprived of the benefits provided by various development aids funded through foreign investments. Even so much so that the fund for development aid is being utilised in Commonwealth Games. Even the foreign aids for development programmes are being transferred to other accounts or illegally swallowed as a part of corruption. Thus, social development is seriously affected and ultimately the poor people suffer in many ways. I, therefore, fail to understand that is this India for which millions of freedom seekers suffered? However, the government seems to be either not interested or incapable to curb this menace.

Lt Col (Retd) Ranjit Sinha

Kolkata

 

The Jobs way

It refers to the edit “Authoritarian leadership, the secret behind Steve Jobs' success!” (TSI, May 6). I second Steve’s way of governance. I also strongly believe that “No authority can be authenticated unless authored with an authoritarian aura”. How many Gandhis won over a country without using power and authoritarian punch? Just one! Could Bush or Obama shoo-away Saddam and Osama with lathi only? Being good is not good enough when it comes to establishing good good governance. One can draw soothing sound from iron blocks through gentle tapping, but it needs harsh and ruthless beating to form into a shape. Had Steve been just nice and not nasty, the iPad too would have met the fate
of Aakash.

Rajneesh Batra

New Delhi

 

Who's the better leader?

This refers to “Hellcats or harbingers of change?” (TSI, April 29). Generally women chief ministers tend to be moredespotic than men, particularly in the case of regional leaders as they are their own high command. As I belong to Tamil Nadu, I can present a ring side view of the Jayalalithaa government. She is in the mode of demolishing all things that were done by the previous government. Out of personal animosity with DMK chief Karunanidhi, she is not ready to step inside the new secretariat complex built by DMK government. She entirely forgot that the building, worth Rs 800 crore was built from tax payers money. Most of Jayalalithaa's official time is spent transferring top officials and her own ministers. Mayawati and Mamata Banerjee are intolerant of opposition. Mamata'sadministrative actions evoke derision and she became a laughing stock within a short span. The administrative actions of the women chief ministers stem from their sense of insecurity and inferiority complex. The author had stated that there is also something to be said for women’s weaker fascination for setting up political dynasties. Jaya’s caretaker Sasikala and her family members called the shots both in the party and at administrative levels while she was quite oblivious of their nefarious activities. Women chief ministers are also fearful of building up second rung of leaders lest they are overthrown by their own deputies. They prefer docile and obedient party leaders around them. They have also been known to score equally on the corruption front.

V.N.Gopal

Chennai

 

The cricket tamasha

This refers to “Is IPL losing its lustre?” (TSI, May 6). In Indian Premier League although the teams are named after the states in India, players from all over the world are a part of it. Most of the cricket fans connect cricket with patriotism. But with players from various nationalities playing in IPL, there are no such patriotic feelings, and the cricket fan base feels left out. Only a handful of people enjoy the IPL. Also, IPL is only the commercialisation and cricket and entertainment combined. To attract audience, cheer girls have been hired. As just cricket is not enough, Bollywood actors too have been hired for adding glamour to the sport. People have lost interest because of too much of cricket and annual ritual of IPL. I think it’s not good for the sport.

Mahesh Kumar

New Delhi

 

Abusing power

Apropos “Right to abuse!” (Musings, TSI, May 6). The right to abuse is possible in India because of ignorance, lack of education and disconnection from administration, police and judicial system. People have understood that without giving bribes, they do not get common services. Common people themselves know that they are just puppets in the hand of the influential classes. Idealism is just a weapon to brainwash people but leaders themselves disobey these and enjoy power and economic enjoyment. Power kills responsibility, humanity and far-sighted view. Social justice is a distant dream in India. As a result people become ferocious and desperate and take weapon to save their lives. Differences of extreme measure of enjoyment and extreme measure of deprivation gives birth to violence, treachery and distrust. India needs truly people’s leaders like Mahatma Gandhi. Today’s leaders are surrounded by high security arrangements at the cost of people’s money. And they love themselves more than anything else. A true leader is never afraid to dedicate his life for the nation and its people. But today's leaders are coward and selfish. There are many flaws in democratic practice, but if leaders and bureaucratic structure become honestly responsible, if political parties work hard in favour of common people's rights and fundamental demands, if truly good leaders are nominated for votes, and if social justice and equality are established, a true reliable democracy will be established.

Uttam K Bhowmik

Dhalhara, Tamluk

 

Second Innings

I wish to present my views on the cover story “Second Chance” (TSI, May 6). I agree with the authors that every person who has been separated or divorced from their spouse or has lost their life partner, deserves a second chance to remarry at any age. Even if grown-up children fret and fume they should realise that remarriage of their parents must not be viewed as of sexual union alone, but the need for companionship to fend off loneliness arising from living all alone.When the children get married, the parents need someone to look after them in advancing age and also to keep them company. However, one needs to ponder over all the issues before taking the plunge, particularly where young children and socio-economic issues are involved.

Dr Ashwani K. Malhotra

Ludhiana

 

Looking into the future

This refers to Pramod Kumar’s special report “Looking down the barrel” (TSI, April 29). The scion of Nehru-Gandhi dynasty staked his political future on leading a revival for Congress party in Uttar Pradesh. Rahul Gandhi, the crown prince of Indian politics, suffered a serious setback to his ambitions after voters handed the Congress party a string of defeats in the crucial state elections. Besides Gandhi’s future, the big question now is, how these election results will impact Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Congress-led coalition government, which has been widely criticised for poor governance and corruption and for its failure to push ahead with much-delayed economic reforms. Now, much will depend on the attitude of the Samajwadi Party, the winner in Uttar Pradesh, which supports the government at
the Centre.

Tapan Chakraborty

Kolkata