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8226; With regard to P Chidambaram8217;s Our other northern neighbour, I have some questions to ask. You observe that 8216;8216;The Maoi...

8226; With regard to P Chidambaram8217;s Our other northern neighbour, I have some questions to ask. You observe that 8216;8216;The Maoists are reported to be receiving help from China.8217;8217; Can you give any reliable information indicating that China is helping the Nepal Maoists? Instead, I can provide you several instances/indications which point that India is behind the Nepali Maoists. Also, the Indian political/diplomatic calculation of the scenario in Nepal after the Palace Massacre was proved wrong. I suggest you 8212; the Indian intelligentsia 8212; to be more studious and make appropriate analysis based on facts instead of making fictitious statements. It would eventually help promote Indian interests in Nepal in the long run.

Deepak Gajurel
Lecturer, Political Science, Tribhuwan University, Kathmandu

8226; Apropos P Chidambaram8217;s piece Our other northern neighbour, The Sunday Express, Nov 2 I feel that by getting involved in another country8217;s internal situation we would only invite local resentment. Nepal, as you have mentioned in the article, is already caught between two mighty powers8212;China and India. If we were to play an active part in subduing the Maoists and aiding the Nepalese recovery as we see it, the people might take that as an act of interference. The US is already caught in such a quagmire in Iraq. As they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Achal-Suresh Khetrapal

8226; I could not agree more with Chidamabaram8217;s conclusions, not because as Ambassador to Nepal I was part of many of the positive things 8212; including the trade treaty 8212; that happened between India and Nepal, but because of concern about our own interests.

K V Rajan

8226; We Nepalese never had a good impression of India. India is a big country and an industrial powerhouse. If it helps Nepal, it would not be a threat to India8217;s security and integrity, rather this will bolster its image internationally. I do not think China has been helping Maoists in Nepal. If that was the case, the Maoists would have already captured power in Nepal. Rather it is the help from Indian extremist Left in Bihar and South India that8217;s bolstering the Maoists.

Nishchal

8226; With reference to Tavleen Singh8217;s article Shining India or area of darkness? The Sunday Express, Nov 2, India can definitely become an economic superpower way before 2050 if it addresses the vital issues of education and healthcare. Schools and hospitals do exist in villages but only as shabby monuments depicting government8217;s wasted efforts.

Anthony Rose

8226; I think all religious institutions in every city must open a department of social service to help create awareness about the importance of public hygiene. Cleanliness is next to God. Instead of spending huge sums to make temples or mosques more pretty, those affiliated could do well some productive investment.

Vishal

8226; Journalists like Tavleen Singh should highlight the glaring lacunae of the much-trumpeted government achievements. Indians are still immature in believing that if a 8220;white8221; man8217;s institution praises us or predicts good things for us, we take it as God almighty himself speaking. Strong economy is fine, but we will be a third rate 21st century power if we don8217;t address the key human development indices.

Puren