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Readers? Forum Is the media anti-Hindu (Organiser, 22-10-2006); Deepavali Special covers almost all the aspects of the subject. It cannot be denied that there is a revulsion about everything Hindu in the minds of those who own and run the media channels. In the beginning of the Nehru era, there were editors who had good understanding about Hindu life. Today, I do not think Hindu mediapersons have genuine understanding of Hinduism. They are acquainted with only Christian norms and Islamic obduracy, which they implant on the image of Hinduism. ?S.D. Laghate, Sankata Mochan Ashram R.K. Puram-6, New Delhi *   *   * Deepavali Special is praiseworthy for bringing out varied opinions on the important question whether Indian media is anti-Hindu. Truly speaking, Indian media?s anti-Hindu stance, especially of the English language, is a reality. In his article, Dr. Pravin Togadia has put up a fallacious argument that in a country with 85 per cent Hindu population media cannot afford to be anti-Hindu. Can?t he see that 13.4 per cent Muslims (2001 census) have kept the overwhelming Hindu majority at bay? Saeed Naqvi?s article contains an offensive para in defence of the notorious painter M.F. Husain. Criminal cases against Husain have been registered in some states. Freedom of speech and expression does not mean a license to disrobe Hindu icons. ?RAM GOPAL, A-2B/94A, MIG Flats, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi *   *   * Deepavali Special was quite interesting. Those who really think that the Indian media, both electronic and print, especially the English press, is independent and unbiased, are befooling themselves. Actually, one has to closely watch the framing of sentences while reporting or debating to judge the pro or anti-stance of the media. The way sentences are framed while reporting or debating in the media leaves no room for any doubt, whatsoever, about the real meaning and intentions of the media. ?A.K. SHARMA, Chandigarh *   *   * Media, particularly the English media, has a track record and pattern. It talks big about principles, ethics, values, freedom of speech, free press, constitution and its ethos/spirit and so on. Their gobbledygook is unending. But these days the English media has reduced itself to such a pathetic state it needs education from readers instead of it educating readers. Doing job impartially implies reporting news as it happens and not to present news with jaundiced views in a mutilated fashion. ?KRISHNA R. KUMAR, 5, Kasturi Apartments, Shiribeedu, Udupi *   *   * The so-called self-regulatory mechanism and such intention are now totally absent in the media in India. The media bosses have better to associate readers in seminars to judge their performance and listen to others? views and suggestions. There is one-way traffic between most of newspapers and their readers. As a result, they are not aware of the public mind. Many newspapers give too little space for readers? views, distort their views, suppress views opposite of those of the editors, and give half-truth and untruth. Many readers will be happy if journalists, who violate principles of ethical and fair journalism, are given punishment that they deserve. ?K.G. ACHARYA, 187/5235 Sanmati Society, Pant Nagar, Ghatkopar, Mumbai *   *   * Your Deepavali issue, devoted to analyse the open secret that the English media is anti-Hindu or at least anti-political Hindu, is to be highly appreciated. All the contributors to the analysis are right, partially. Our ruling elite has an inferiority complex and it expresses itself as a superiority complex?we are above narrow national/communal feelings and we are secular and internationalists. The elite does not understand the real politic at all as it was brought up on the diet of anti-imperialism, internationalism and Fabian socialism, not of nationalism, that is, national interest, above all. Otherwise, the Kashmir could have been solved in 1948 itself or at least in 1972. We would have been able to stand up to China if we did not believe ?communists are not imperialists?. The elite did not accept the fact that the occupation of Eastern Europe by the Soviet Union after the Second World War and the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1950 as imperialism. The youth of this country including the media is the product of this milieu. Anti-Hindu sentiment or attitude is inherent, not deliberate. What else can one expect but spouting the same tune which they have been taught since Independence. ?M.D. KINI, B-203, Accord, Dr. Charat Singh Colony, M.V. Road, Andheri(E), Mumbai *   *   * One could definitely say that a big chunk of the mainline media is actively pro-minority. Frankly speaking there is nothing wrong in being a little cautious about minority feelings but should it be done at the expense of the feelings of the vast majority? Why does a large section of Hindus tend to believe that secularism in media means not caring for their concerns, causes and feelings? Has the media not taken it for granted? A lot of questions come to you when you analyse such situations. Is the media deliberately doing it? Or is it too obsessed being seen as fair and just to minorities? Hasn't the media become too ?secular? to be sensitive towards the feelings of the majority community? It seems so otherwise it should have reacted sharply to mischievously lunatic creativity of Husain. In a nutshell, it can be said that while the minority is treated with kid?s gloves, the mainline media is rather harsh when it deals with the issues of Hindus. ?DINESH DARSHAN, 206, G.T. Road, Opp. Red Cross Market, Karnal A satirical despatch (Organiser, 5-11-2006); I congratulate Satiricus for his letter to the hon?ble President of India regarding pardon to Mohd Afzal. However, the writer has omitted at least two very important points, namely abolition of the complete judicial system, and intensifying more such measures that demoralise the armed and para-military forces. The pseudo-secularists and the so-called human rights activists will not achieve their goal of breaking the backbone of Bharat unless and until these two points are addressed adequately. Whether Afzal gets presidential pardon or not is not the issue. What is most important, from secular angle, is manoeuvring such circumstances, which defeat and nullify judicial verdicts. With Congress-led UPA government in power, there should be no dearth of Afzals, and politicians would ever be ready to enact any number of amendments in the Constitution of India to safeguard their vote-bank. ?DR BALRAM MISRA by e-mail Banerjee boomerangs on Lalu?s face (Organiser, 29-10-2006); The Gujarat High Court dismissed U.C. Banerjee Committee as illegal. This is a slap on the face of Lalu and the UPA. It is obvious that Lalu?s intention of forming the Banerjee Committee in September 2004 was with the specific aim of proving that what happened in coach S-6 in Godhra was not a planned attack by a fanatic mob but a fire, which probably started in the confines of the compartment itself. Thanks a lot to the Gujarat High Court, which quashing the appointment of Banerjee Committee and terming it as unconstitutional, illegal and null and void has delivered poetic justice. Even the combined forces of the UPA alliance have not been able to dent the popularity of Narendra Modi or deter him from steering his state to greater heights. ?ROMY BAJAJ, Romy Gift House, Cinema Road, Vikasnagar, Dehradun *   *   * The Banerjee Committee?s conclusion?that what happened in coach S-6 in Godhra was an accident caused by short-circuiting?was a complete travesty of truth and the report flew in the face of facts, with a view to saving the Islamic arsonists, as desired by Lalu. The Gujarat HC has therefore rightly directed the government not to place the doctored report in Parliament. It may be recalled that Lalu used this report unsuccessfully in the Bihar elections to sway the Muslims votes in favour of his candidates. Since the Committee was appointed on the initiative of the present Railway Minister, he has brought the Ministry of Railways into disrepute. Therefore, he should resign from the government. ?M.S. SUBRAMANIAN by e-mail *   *   * The Gujarat High Court has rightly said in its verdict that the setting-up of Banerjee Committee by the railways is in violation of both the Commission of Inquiries Act and the Indian Railways Act. The court has also ordered that the Banerjee report, which was made public by the UPA government amidst much fanfare some time ago, should not be tabled in Parliament. The court?s observations are a major shot in the arm for the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who has been waging a lone crusade against the UPA government for the past couple of years. ?JATIN SHAH, Raopura, Vadodara Marx, a friend of capitalists (Organiser, 29-10-2006); I am extremely grateful to Organiser for carrying out an excellent review of the book Reassessment of Marxism. The review presents independent comments having no bias of any kind about the basic theme, book content or the author himself. This should provoke many serious readers of economics, Marxism and other disciplines to read the content of the book. The Left will also have a look at this since they have now realised that Marxism was in fact a utopia and they have to find an alternative to Marxism for their survival. However, they do not have a bold mind to publicly accept this factual position. China has since realised that market capitalism imported by them from the west is proving a burden for the rulers, as the economy is getting in more serious troubles as the gap between the rich and the poor is constantly widening thereby creating a restless situation throughout the country. There will be a chaotic situation in China?s economy within a few years. This is being talked by their own experts. ?DIWAKAR G. BOKARE, C-507 Shilpa Housing Society, Near MIT College, Paud Road, Pune We are unpatriotic, we are communists (Organiser, 29-10-2006); The writer is wrong when he says that CPI in 1962 ?declared India as the aggressor and justified Chinese occupation of large tract of Indian territory?. This is a total lie, because CPI leaders organised anti-Chinese protest marches in every city of India during the Chinese invasion and the Soviet Union on November 5 had criticised the Chinese severely and started sending aircrafts and tanks to India to build up India?s defence, while both the US and the UK did nothing but lip service. Of course, those who are in the CPI(M) had supported the Chinese aggression and were under arrest in 1962. The writer could not distinguish between the pro-Chinese CPI(M) and anti-Chinese CPI. ?PROF DIPAK BASU, Nagasaki University, Japan Minister Sithaula postpones visit under pressure (Organiser, 15-10-2006); As per news given by Arabinda Ghose, Nepali Maoists have blocked the extradition treaty and pressurised the Nepalese Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sithaula to cancel his visit to India. The UPA government supported the Maoists in Nepal by terming their movement as people?s movement. So much so that the UPA government stopped aid to Nepal unless the King did not accept their demands. Therefore, the UPA government is to be blamed for what is happening in Nepal. Many articles appeared in a section of the Indian media calling the King autocratic ruler. Therefore, that section of the India media is also to be blamed. ?ANAND PRAKASH, 72/Sector-8, Panchkula Christianity, Islam and Hinduism (Organiser, 29-10-2006); The article by M.V. Kamath is superb. Violence by Christians and Muslims is godly but violence on them, even in retaliation, is evil. They are very clear in their thinking and following. Only others, who are affected by their violence world over, should understand and act. ?RAGHUNANDANAN SUNDARA RAM by e-mail *   *   * I am surprised to find that very often the columnist?s finger moves in the wrong direction, the result is that it smells foul. It is wrong to say that Islam portraits Mohammad as the only Prophet from the Almighty. The Quran declared: ? To every people (was sent) a Messenger? (chapter 10, verse 47); ?For we assuredly sent amongst every people a Messenger.? However, it is also a pity that most people treated their messenger wrongly. ?A.T.M. ANWAR, 22-7-499, Purani Haveli, Hyderabad

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