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Readers’ Forum
India has a moral stake in Baloch freedom (Organiser, 6-9-2009); The Congress may not realise, but it is a hard fact that the blunder committed by Dr Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister for Muslims in India, and his blundering team at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt is suicidal and the nation will have to pay a very heavy price for this blunder in the longer run. Nehru had also committed a similar blunder, when he took the Kashmir issue to the United Nations against the advice of Sardar Patel and we are still paying a real heavy price till today for the blunder committed by Nehru. Now, armed with the joint statement, which has mention of Balochistan, our arch-enemy Pakistan would tell the world community that India is also a culprit as far as terror acts are concerned. The world community would keep India at par with Pakistan and India would lose the sympathy of the world community, which it was enjoying as a victim of jehadi terrorism. The whole issue is music for American ears. It was feeling uncomfortable because its ‘pet’ getting a bad name. Now America would freely give all sorts of aid to Pakistan. On the other hand, Pakistan would unleash Islamic jehadis on Indian soil to kill the innocent Indians with more vigour and at the same time keep the world community in good humour by engaging India in futile meaningless talks.
-AK SHARMA,
Chandigarh
Combat anti-Hindu media: I wrote in Organiser in 1980 when I was 19 years old. But I have not seen much changes in Organiser other than that you have gone online now. It is high time that Organiser should be converted into a national newspaper instead of just remaining a weekly and with edition from all major centres of India besides online. Organiser group should also launch TV channels in all languages of India. I think we can raise the necessary resources from all concerned. As India is increasingly under attack from foreign-funded media, which targets Hindus and Hinduism in particular. Besides the good activities of Hindu organisations and their leaders are not highlighted and deliberately ignored. Hence, we are facing the danger of everything visual and printed in India acting against Hindus, our culture, heritage and our social survival. I therefore request you to take an initiative and set up a committee of prominent people affiliated to various Hindu organisations in India and abroad to make efforts in this direction.
-VR VISHWANATHAN,
Bahrain
The problem with United States (Organiser, 6-9-2009); The write-up is very rational and coherent and I congratulate Shri MV Kamath for this. It should be noted that America as a nation tends to have a peculiar view of religion. It often claims to have a special relationship with God (Christianity’s Deity), apparently convinced that He has personally chosen and blessed the USA over and above all other nations. Fortunately, some Americans do not support this notion.
-Dr VIJAY RANJAN LAHIRI,
Deloraine, Westbury, Tasmania, Australia
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America’s government frequently accuses countries (including, for example, India) that protect their citizens against destructive and/or fraudulent cults of violating ‘human rights’. In addition, the USA even threatens those countries with economic boycotts, should they not accept America’s views on these issues. This makes the USA the only country in the world that attempts to strong-arm other countries into accepting its views on the cults it supports-a primary reason why Shri Kamath has addressed the issue very appropriately. Ironically, while America chides other countries for alleged human rights violations, Washington consistently and deliberately refuses to acknowledge-let alone address-America’s own dismal record of human rights violations. The Bible condemns the use of such differing measures.
-GK AIYAR,
Vardarajulu, Street Agmor, Chennai
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The United States has long regarded itself as a beacon of human rights, as evidenced by an enlightened constitution, judicial independence, and a civil society grounded in strong traditions of free speech and press freedom. But the reality is more complex; for decades, civil rights and civil liberties groups have exposed constitutional violations and challenged abusive policies and practices. In recent years, as well, international human rights monitors have documented serious gaps in US protections of the human rights of vulnerable groups. Both federal and state governments have nonetheless resisted applying to the US the standards that, rightly, the US applies elsewhere. The US government frequently speaks out on what it considers to be human rights violations throughout the world-and often does so when commenting on the treatment of certain religious cults and sects, as well as movements it views as "religions". But while human rights violations are reported in USA itself, its approach is seen by one and all as hypocritical.
-Prof PUSHP PRATAP BHARDWAJ,
40 A, Goldstein, Frankfurt, Germany
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I completely concur with Shri MV Kamath that America’s attitude toward international law-including its fight against the International Criminal Court, its use of torture, and its inconsistent application of the Geneva Conventions-presents a serious threat to the international community. Double standards have greatly undermined the credibility of the USA’s global discourse on human rights. When it suited the US government’s aims in its build-up to the invasion of Iraq, the administration cited Amnesty International’s reports on torture in that country. When the alleged abuse involved US agents, its response was denial and disregard for the organisation’s concerns.
-PRADIP PATHAK,
Manhar Bazar, Hazipur, Vaishali, Bihar
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It is no surprise that those same countries whom the US blame for human rights violations are among those who wonder why a double standard is used by the US. After all, America’s own documented human rights abuses are serious and ongoing. But ironically, while America judges the rest of the world, outside criticism of the USA is generally met with a "who-are-you-to-judge-us?" attitude. Like others who dare to criticise any aspect of American society, politics, or behaviour, those who point out such inconsistencies tend to be labelled as ‘America-bashers’. Even American citizens and permanent residents who speak out are dismissed with thoughtless sentiments like, "love it or leave it". Nevertheless, many Americans do address these issues. In recent years, American media outlets, along with US-based human rights organisations, have started to pay attention to this issue.
-S JYOTI,
Carolina, Winnsboro, Fairfield, South Carolina, USA
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Narendra Modi, the elected Chief Minister of Gujarat, was refused visa by the Americans quite unfairly and as a result he could not speak in a congregation of overseas Gujaratis living in USA. However, law courts, here in India, very candidly opined that Narendra Modi was not in any way responsible for the communal riots of Gujarat. Furthermore, it is most humiliating that a most popular ex-President Dr. Kalam had to go through a stringent body search at a US airport meant for criminals and terrorists; what can be more disgraceful and shameful blot on mother India? This repetitive abuse to famous people averse to UPA regime is very unique in every Indian sense. In contrast, Rajiv Gandhi or any leader of the then Congress regime was not prevented from visiting USA after the unprecedented macabre killings of thousands of Sikhs in Delhi.
-TUSAR KANTI KAR,
14/3/1, Sribash Dutta Lane, Howrah
Nationalistic thoughts: I have been an RSS member all my life and a constant reader of Organiser. Now I have been residing in the US for the last 24 years and planning to return to India at the end of this year for good. I have recently started a website www.jitegabharat.com with the intent of exposing the non-Sangh crowd to nationalistic pro-RSS thoughts while also bringing them in with subjects that interest them. If it is possible to someday review the website in the weekly Organiser, that will be greatly appreciated.
-DHANANJAY BHIDE
by e-mail
Reduce review pages: I request you that there should not be two full pages for review of books. One page should be enough. Secondly, the review of only worthy books should be taken into consideration.
-NANDDEEP,
Sitafal Mandi, Secunderabad, AP
Even with two pages, we are not able to do justice to the books we receive. The idea is to popularise reading habit, which is fast disappearing and we don't make value judgement on books. Read more is our motto.-Ed
Unmasking a dictator (Organiser, 6-9-2009); This no-holds-barred review provides perspective on the man whose politics have changed the face of the Indian subcontinent. Brash, open, calculating and self-serving, General Pervez Musharraf was probably the twenty-first century’s first dictator. The years in power charts the rise and fall of General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s most controversial leader since Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Musharraf’s life in the hot seat of Pakistan’s politics is a roller-coaster tale of a soldier-turned-politician, a commando, a self-styled statesman, a sophisticated globetrotter, the resolute face of the US-led global war on terror, and the feared, revered and finally disowned president of an Islamic republic, who is smitten with an ‘enlightened moderation’ that succumbs, in the end, to the many contradictions within the man himself.
-SHOBHIT SEN,
Dhubalia, Bahadurpur, Krishnanagar, West Bengal
One-third Indians go to bed hungry (Organiser, 30-8-2009); Everyday, over 7,000 Indians are dying of hunger. Isn’t it time we did something about it? India has more people suffering from chronic hunger than any other country. About 320 million of its citizens reportedly go to bed without food every night, representing over a third of the estimated 840 million hungry people across the world. One-third of the world’s malnourished children are in India. Chronic hunger kills 7,000 people a day in this country. Yes, it is time that we did something about it. Reach out to those to whom one meal means another day of life; give the gift of life to one person. Adopt one person and feed him or her every day. Also spread the word and the awareness about the hunger situation in India.
-NP THAPAR,
Sunhill Street, Jonesville West, Louisiana, USA
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The report calls for enacting a right-to-food law. But campaigns and legal entitlements will not make a difference until the Public Distribution System is toned up. The government’s helping hand should be such that it should uplift rather than make the underdeveloped sections dependent on budget doles. We have many laws without teeth because our politicians do not care about their implementation. If our leaders do not change their ways, cartoonists will forever portray villagers with figures of a hut and coir-bed near them. Shame on us!
-APRAJITA PANDEY,
Thottapalayam, SH 9, Vellore, TN
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The writer has rightly exposed the farce of UPA food security. Feeding the hungry is considered a great humanitarian act in all the religions of the world and that is what Dr Norman E Borlaug did through his scientific vision that he pursued as a mission. Though the whole world is grateful to him for ushering in the wheat revolution by producing high-yield varieties, the hunger-prone third world, especially India, will remain highly indebted to him. India expressed its gratitude by honouring him with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan. Dr Borlaug was highly appreciative of the hard work done by the Punjab Agriculture University scientists, which ultimately culminated in the Green Revolution. Indeed, the best way we can honour Dr Borlaug is by continuing his fight against hunger and poverty with vigour.
-GURSHARAN SINGH,
Harcharan Nagar, Sector 38, Ludhiana
Anti-Hindu channels and MNC honchos (Organiser, 23-8-2009); A hearty thanks for the article. This is a matter on which we were feeling very bad, especially those who depend largely on English channels for news, more so the "leftovers" of British days (like this humble writer). Dr Dubashi writes with authority and with sting in good measure. It is of interest to sit back now and watch whether some change occurs in due course, even if it is for long-term commercial purposes.
-CBD RAO,
39, 15the Cross Road, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru
Shame Singh (Organiser, 9-8-2009); Shri OP Gupta has cogently described the flaws in the joint statement and its impact on the future diplomatic actions. PM’s reply in the Parliament was diametrically opposite to what is mentioned in the joint statement. Two things can be inferred out of the joint statement, either the team of diplomats of external affairs ministry, which was involved in drafting the joint statement, is incompetent or our PM has yielded to some unknown pressure.
-RAGHUNARAYAN M
by e-mail
A conspiracy to divide people (Organiser, 10-5-2009); I felt benefitted by reading this review for want of the reading the Sachar Committee report properly. I fully agree with the views expressed in the review and its last sentence is worth quoting: "The Sachar Committee is trying to convince the Muslim masses that the Indian State and the Hindu majority are reasons for Muslim backwardness and discrimination against them." I felt disappointed that the name of author(s) was/were not given and instead only the publisher’s name was given. I am of the opinion that name of author(s) should also have been given.
-SC PANDA,
1/2, HIG, BDA Colony, Cspur, Bhubaneswar
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