Letters to the editor

— Behram Aga, Mumbai

Where’s the party?

• Raves are a celebration of music. About six years ago, it was an intimate scene. People knew each other. Over the years, raves became commercialised. Even when the Goa raves started catching on as a New Year hotspot, some true music lovers shifted their Goa sojourns to mid-January to get away from the crowd. This enthusiasm is why famous DJs (eg Tiesto) are coming down to India so often. But, the worrying part of this equation is the drugs. For many, drugs are a transient phase. For others, it’s too much too soon. Substance abuse has always existed in one form or another — take a look at all the alcoholics. But the answer is not to crack down on raves. Like in the US, Canada, the UK, one just needs to be strict about checking the party for drugs pushers. You cannot stop youth from having fun, and prosecuting teenagers only makes them hate the system, not understand the long-term damage these drugs cause. It needs to go straight to the source. It’s the drugs, not the music.

— Jaideep Sawhney, Pune

State runner

• I WAS bemused to read Shariq Alavi’s letter, ‘CMs from Centre’ (IE, March 6), where I found the sudden transformation of an inveterate critic of the BJP into a concerned, rather sympathetic, observer who was batting for Koshyari against Khanduri. This self-appointed advisor to the BJP leadership overlooked the fact that Khanduri was the key electoral campaigner along with Koshyari and thus an electoral co-traveller. Although I have nothing to do with the BJP, I as someone interested in political affairs felt that Khanduri would be the front-runner if the party wins, considering his track record as a competent minister in the Vajpayee cabinet.

— M. Ratan, New Delhi

A response

• THE article, ‘The wonder bulb’ (The Sunday Express, March 4), was good and explained the benefits of garlic.

I was, however, greatly disturbed to read the comment by the writer, Isha Khosla, about Muslims. I quote: “No wonder, the Muslims were known to have said ‘Lahsan ka khana aur garam paani ka nahana, Hindu kafir ko mat bataanaa!’” The writer should stick to the subject at hand, without making unnecessary comments about a community. No book carries such an erroneous quote.

Muslim have always been liberal about teaching others the benefits of their values.

The writer should apologise for her comments.

—Adil Khan, Delhi

Isha Khosla replies: The article was meant to inform the public about the health promoting properties of garlic. It has no communal bias or intentions. If, however, it has inadvertently hurt sentiments, we sincerely regret it.