No parade please •While it goes without saying that the country’s Republic Day on January 26 is a proud day for every Indian, the time has come for us to think of doing away with the parade. Celebrating this momentous occasion in a more economical, purposeful and hassle-free way makes sense, as our country already has an Independence Day parade. I am sure the founding fathers of our nation would have been happier if the money spent on the parade every year were to be used for schemes for poverty reduction, education and the welfare of our soldiers who guard the borders. Besides, the inconvenience caused to ordinary citizens due to barricades and blocks along several roads in the capital is something they would have never approved of. — S.S. Chowdhary ChandigarhBridge to Ram•Your editorial, ‘Bridge too far’, is a balanced comment on a sensitive issue. Mythology and fiction relating to a distant past have over the centuries become part of our culture and social life — which is now being equated with religion by opportunist politicians. The idea of Ram as a mythological character rather than a historical figure does not in any way undermine his place in people’s minds and hearts; people, whether they are atheists or theists, celebrate Diwali, which marks Ram’s return from exile. I feel it is mischievous to mix politics, myth and history. Historians and archaeologists base their findings on objective evidence in the form of fossils, historical chronicles, epigraphs, coins and monuments. Only such evidence could testify to the historical existence of the figures and events described in the epics. Until we find some evidence, as a scientific mind I am compelled to believe Ram as a mythological character. — Vitull K. Gupta BathindaRotation ratna•Recently L.K. Advani bowled a googly at the UPA government, by suggesting A.B. Vajpayee’s name for Bharat Ratna. Lately, the names of many other leaders have popped up for the honour from every nook and corner of the country — Kanshi Ram, M. Karunanidhi, Jyoti Basu, N.T. Rama Rao, S.B. Chavan, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Karpoori Thakur, Jagjivan Ram, Mohammed Rafi, Bahadur Shah Zaffar and Ma Anandamayi.Balasaheb Thackeray has jocularly remarked that this award be posthumously given. Whenever Bharat Ratna was awarded to a living person, he or she very soon passed away, according to him. How about awarding one Bharat Ratna for each state/ union territory every year — in these days of coalition politics and state party dominance? Thus for 2008, it can be Mr A, Bharat Ratna (Maharashtra); for 2009 Mr B, Bharat Ratna (Jharkhand); and so on.— B.K. DeshpandeNagpurTigers at Perth•The Indian win in the third Test at Perth, Australia has proved that the best way of teaching one’s opponents a lesson is a convincing win. The kangaroos were taken aback by India’s astounding win, which also broke their winning streak. The Australian media too was forced to do a U-turn and was all praise for the brilliance shown by the Indian team in every department of the game. It would not be incorrect to say that after a long time, the Kangaroos were opping after their defeat at the hands of India, who played with the ferocity of a wounded tiger.— Sachin JainDelhi
