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 Hockey
You have rightly pointed out in ‘Indian Hockey-Regaining Lost Glory’
(The DayAfter, July 1, 2003) that if the people and the government
together cannot rejuvenate this game, then why call it a national game.
It is really sad that all the glory and sponsorship is attracted by
cricket and cricketers and other games like hockey are given
step-motherly treatment.
Though the Indian Hockey team won two tournaments in a row, the
three-nation Australian event and the four-nation Hamburg Masters in
Germany, they were not given the same warm reception as is given to the
Indian cricket team when they win any tournament.
Snehashish Das
Kolkata
Water Scarcity
Apropos the article
‘Water Scarcity-A Global Reality’ (The DayAfter, July 1, 2003) it is
high time that people all over the world take conscientious efforts to
save water. The government should come out with advertisements and other
promotional activities to teach people how to harvest water and present
them with the grim situation of the water scarcity. If no action is
taken now, there can be no doubt that the next war will be surely over
water.
Jasdeep
New Delhi
L. K Advani
In ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’ (The DayAfter, July 1, 2003), you have all
praise for Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani. But you have forgotten to
mention that he was the one who was also instrumental in bringing down
the Babri Masjid and increasing animosity between Hindus and Muslims. In
fact, Kalyan Singh’s counsel, deposing before the Liberhan Commission,
also claimed that Advani with his other colleagues hatched a conspiracy
to demolish the mosque, though later he resiled from his position in the
face of manipulations going on behind the scenes.
Anandita Aggarwal
Mumbai
Indian Troops
Needless to say, Uncle Sam himself knew before launching a war against
Iraq that it does not possess any WMD but played on this issue to gain
control over its vast oil pool. And now as they have succeeded in their
aim, they want Indian forces to clean up the mess created by them. They
now want to enjoy the fruits of their success, putting forward the
Indian army to face the anguished and irate people of Iraq.
Ashraf Khan
via e-mail
Ministerial Flab
The article on ‘Cutting Ministerial Flab’ (The DayAfter, July 1, 2003)
has clearly shown how taxpayers’ money is being wasted by ministers to
maintain their extravagant style of living. This money could be used for
improving the grim conditions of the people of India if Prime Minister
Vajpayee starts thinking for the betterment of humanity leaving aside
coalition politics and its compulsions. India is a developing country,
which cannot afford the ever-increasing expenses of a jumbo cabinet.
Sagar Das
Orissa
Women and Politics
I agree with some of the suggestions of feminists in your write-up (The
DayAfter, July 1, 2003) that instead of fixing seats for women in
Parliament and Legislative Assemblies, parties should allot one-third of
their nominations to women. If the person is a capable and deserving
candidate, she would get elected on her own merit. Women themselves do
not want seats on a platter. They have always shown great results in
whatever field they have entered, be it sports, space, law or police;
politics is not new for them.
Smriti Chaudhary
Patna
Fashion
The fashion industry in
India is growing by leaps and bounds. Today, youngsters, middle-aged
persons and those of the older generation are all influenced by fashion
mantras. Branded clothes are ‘in thing’, no matter even if they cost
‘extra’. Film stars are the fashion trend setters. People imitate the
types of sarees, kurtas, shirts or jeans worn by them on screen. And
fashion is just not restricted to apparel, today’s generation wants
everything chic and branded, be it shoes, chappals, bags, watches or
goggles.
Neeraj Thakur
Assam
Super Bazaar
The Super Bazaar article (The DayAfter, July 1, 2003) relates the true
story of the pitiable condition of government undertakings. The first
question which strikes the mind after reading the article is why the
government has not taken any initiative to disinvest Super Bazaar like
it has done so in its other loss-making ventures. If disinvested on
time, it could have been revived and the need of closing it down would
not have risen. In fact, Super Bazaar was the safest place, where
without any fear of being looted, one could get quality products. Its a
real pity that such a good institution has been allowed to deteriorate.
If there is any chance, a,ll efforts should be made to revive it.
Julie James
New Delhi
Congress Party
At last, the Congress has understood that it is not in a position to
form a government at the Centre on its own and needs the support of
other parties in order to confront the BJP and its allies.
Shalini Chaddha
Bulandshahr
We stand corrected
In The DayAfter, dated
July 1-15, 2003., regarding the item titled 'I am your Sonia' I would
like to correct the details regarding her costume, which is mentioned as
a Kashmiri phiran. It is actually the traditional costume of the Khasis,
a tribe in Meghalaya that she is wearing. She is wearing a red Dhara (Khasi
costume for women), a gray marina shawl (used by both the Khasis &
Jaintias - another tribe of Meghalaya), & coral necklace called a paila
(again used by both the Khasis and Jaintias).
Anna Passah
via e-mail |
