Power, above all

8226; Your editorial,8216;Humble Framer8217; as well as Shekhar Gupta8217;s article, 8216;Old...

8226; Your editorial,8216;Humble Framer8217; as well as Shekhar Gupta8217;s article, 8216;Old Politics vs New Economics8217; IE, October 22, make it clear that politicians like H.D. Deve Gowda, Murli Manohar Joshi, Mulayam Singh, and so on, belong to an ilk similar to Tammany Hall politicians who, in the US political scene, used muscle and money power in New York city to retain their control over common people. Their interest was not national well-being but saving their seats to make more money. Let us hope that the new generation voters vote out of power politicians like them.

8212; R.P. Desai On e-mail

Gender justice

8226; It was indeed heartening to see Bina Agarwal8217;s piece, 8216;Women8217;s inheritance: next steps8217; IE, October 17. While the recent amendment to the Hindu Succession Act 1956 is an important step towards gender justice, it leaves untouched the rights of a vast number of non-Hindu, particularly Muslim and Adivasi women. Research has shown that the right to adequate housing and land are critical in increasing women8217;s access to their rights to food and livelihood and reducing their vulnerability to domestic violence. One hopes that politicians, community leaders and women8217;s rights activists will work together and support the suggestions made in the article with a view to taking us all one step closer to gender justice for all.

8212; Malavika Vartak New Delhi

Shutting doors

8226; Your editorial,8216;AMU8217;s wake up bell8217; IE, October 6 does not stand to reason. Everyone should respect the court and the aggrieved party should go for appeal to a higher court instead of taking to the streets. My simple question is, if the Aligarh Muslim University was not established by the Muslims of India, then who created it? That it was established through a law enacted by the central legislative assembly in 1920 is a mere technicality. How could the Muslims take over the power of a legislative body? When the university was formed in 1920 by the legislature, all the property and assets of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan8217;s Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College were transferred to it. Multinational companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi operate in India as they have the permission of the competent authority in the government. Does this permission make them government companies? If Muslims go to religious seminaries madrasas in the absence of a lack of facilities of secular education suitable for them, and some of these students take to extremism, it is widely condemned. At the same time, obstacles are created in their secular-
modern education, too.

8212; Hasan Shuja New Delhi

Tennis marvels

8226; Paes and Partner have achieved another wonder when they beat Bhupati and Damm last week to reach the semi-final of the Shanghai Open. Bhupati and Damm had created the biggest upset of the tournament when they outclassed the top world8217;s doubles champions Bob and Mike Brian twins in the first round. Now Paes and Partner have qualified for the season8217;s last tournament 8212; the Shanghai Open in China. What an interesting situation: two players of the same country are playing in partnership with players of other countries!

8212; Ahmad Rais Siddiqi New Delhi