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Journalism of Courage
One has always regarded the print media as a constant sentry over the extravaganza of the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature. But we all need to be reminded that above all these estates is the real sovereign 8212; the masses
including readers. This reminder is necessitated because of the unforgivable lapse by the national papers, including Express. None of them carried on the front page a photograph of Gandhi and reminded the nation of his birthday. I know nothing of journalistic priorities. But to my mean intelligence an Indian who was born in a slave country but now has his children born into a free country owe a debt of gratitude and reverence to Gandhiji that has no parallel 8212; and there can be no priority greater than remembering that.
8212; Rajinder Sachar, Delhi
We were horrified to see the ad issued by the Department of I038;B on Gandhi Jayanti, quoting Gandhi on the need to take up arms rather than suffer dishonour 8216;I038;B ad murdered Bapu, he8217;ll survive8217;, IE, October 6. The mischievous intent of the ad is obvious. Given its preoccupation with reinventing histories to suit its agendas, and the discomfort of living with the internationally-famed Gandhian legacy of non-violence, it is no surprise that the present government would choose to select a line from Gandhi8217;s writings, totally removed from its context. The quote used in the ad is a line from Gandhi8217;s article in Young India dated August 11, 1920, titled 8216;The Doctrine of the Sword8217;. It was written by Gandhi in the wake of country-wide violence following the passing of the Rowlatt Bills and the Jallianwallah Baug massacre in 1919, and centred on the call for non-cooperation from August 1, 1920. It sought to explain his concept of non-violent non-cooperation, and the spirit of non-violence.
Perhaps the most apt quotation that could have been used to honour Gandhi in these conflict-ridden times would have been one of the closing lines from the same article: 8216;India8217;s acceptance of the doctrine of the sword will be the hour of my trial.8217; More than 80 years later, this is precisely what is coming about: we seem to be accepting the doctrine of the sword, subverting Gandhi8217;s ideals to legitimate an agenda of violence. That this is now being done even through an official agency of the government is a shame.
8212; Rohit Prajapati, and others, On e-mail
Congress8217;s choice
If Karunakaran maintains that the Antony ministry is a failure, it is he who betrayed the party guidelines. It8217;s high time for the Congress high command to decide who is important: party or the 8216;Holy Family8217; of Karunakaran.
8212; Suresh Nellikode, On e-mail
