Laughter and pain

Jaithirth Rao on his article, 8216;Do we need a foreign policy?'. Though Rao8217;s article is humorous, he is accurate about India8217;s relations with other countries, particularly its neighbours.

8226; Congratulations to Jaithirth Rao on his article, 8216;Do we need a foreign policy?8217;. Though Rao8217;s article is humorous, he is accurate about India8217;s relations with other countries, particularly its neighbours. Foreign policy should be monitored and modified to suit the interests of the nation and the current global equations. For example, when Nehru was PM, there were two opposing superpowers on the world stage. He adopted non-

alignment as our foreign policy and helped build the NAM. As Rao points out, although such a situation no longer exists, we still send representatives to meetings of the dead NAM.

8212; K.R. Rao

Pune

In poor taste

8226; Jaithirth Rao8217;s article 8216;Do we need a foreign policy?8217; was in sheer bad taste unless its intention was to be humorous. In that case it

wasn8217;t even sick humour.

8212; Gurbachan Singh

New Delhi

Wise move

8226; This refers to your editorial 8216;Mayawati8217;s reform8217;. The reform is a whiff of fresh air blowing across the Hindi heartland of UP. The CM8217;s bold decision to introduce English-language education in primary schools will prove to be a watershed. In a world where capital, labour and technology are mobile and migratory, a command over English will enable even kids from UP8217;s schools to compete everywhere. One remembers the career of B.R. Ambedkar, who, with his top-class foreign education, became a builder of modern India. Mayawati has, by all accounts, made a very wise choice.

8212; John Alexander

Nagpur

Deal straight

8226; This refers to the editorial 8216;Confused saffron8217;. Your doubts as to whether Muslim voting intentions can be explained by the single issue of the nuclear deal are justified. The overwhelming majority of Muslims in India live in rural areas, and mostly in dire poverty. Naturally, they are unconcerned about international matters and India8217;s foreign or energy policies. Besides, many urban Muslims struggle to make ends meet.

Only a handful of Muslim clerics keep changing their political allegiance. So their stand on the deal doesn8217;t carry weight. Since Muslims in general are completely unaware of the advantages and disadvantages of the nuclear deal, it is best to not drag them into the controversy. As it is, the deal and the popular anxiety about American intervention in Indian affairs don8217;t concern only Muslims. These are national and not communal issues.

8212; Shariq Alavi

Lucknow

Charity begins abroad

8226; It was indeed thoughtful of Barack Obama to offer his condolences at the death of Sam Manekshaw, a legendary Indian soldier and great patriot. However, Indians displayed their usual lackadaisical attitude by the poor attendance at the funeral, which was justified under the pretext of being ignorant of the 8220;Warrant of Precedence8221;.

8212; Mathew Oommen

Pune