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Journalism of Courage
It was February 2001 when I first visited India and came back with lasting memories of its people and places. My ancestors migrated from Majeetha, near Amritsar, and I always wanted to go and see the people of the land where my father was born and had his early education. My experience was superb and it made me an advocate of the Indian people even in the troubled time when India moved troops to the border in the wake of the attack on its Parliament. Nothing could change me but what the Indians did on Sunday in Delhi!
India thrashed the Pakistani cricket team in Lahore a year ago and we cheered the performance, and here is the sharp contrast. I also recall that Indians had already done that in the past and they have done it again. Congratulations! So much for the pluralistic and democratic society of the Republic which cannot tolerate a single series defeat and reacted so disgustingly. We were better, far better, even under a dictatorial government; what shall we be if we had democracy?
Sunday might not have changed anything but I am changed. I am no more a great admirer of the Indian people the way I used to be. Sunday told me that we were, are and shall always be different.
8212; Mubashir Akram Islamabad
Well done, Gen
8226; It was truly vini-vidi-vici for President Musharraf who won one and all by his suave manners and thoughtful gestures 8212; like calling on Atal Bihari Vajpayee. There is no option but to improve relations between our two countries when the people on either side of the artificial divide are overwhelmingly determined to have friendly ties.
8212; Raghubir Singh Pune
It8217;s the economy
8226; K. Subrahmanyam8217;s analysis of Pervez Musharraf8217;s diminishing options in Kashmir was excellent 8216;Come on, General8217;, IE, April 18. However, India still has many weak cards of its own. For instance, its confused internal policy on Jammu and Kashmir. If proper development programmes had been implemented in J038;K, it could have been an economic showcase vis-a-vis Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
8212; Sidharth Iyer Sydney
Map this road
8226; Despite serious threats from militant groups, the bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad has commenced successfully. Scenes of people greeting their relatives on either side were poignant. The resolve of the governments to go ahead with the bus service has sent a clear signal to militants that the confidence-building measures between India and Pakistan will continue. Apart from high-level discussions between delegations of both the nations, people-to-people contacts need to be strengthened by way of bus services, exchange of cultural delegations and more sports events.
8212; K. Murlidar On e-mail
Where8217;s Saurav?
8226; Luckily, Saurav Ganguly was not in Kanpur or New Delhi, or we would have blamed him once again for the defeats! We tend to criticise Captain Ganguly for everything, thus demoralising a good leader who has given us many good victories. Please stop this witch-hunt.
8212; K.V. Satyamurty Chennai
