Sania146;s award

Awards on Republic Day are normally given to various people who have a record of achievement in different fields...

Awards on Republic Day are normally given to various people who have a record of achievement in different fields over a period. It is recognition of the individual8217;s achievement at the highest level in his or her chosen field. During the past year or two, Sania Mirza has gone up a few notches in her international level. For an Indian girl, this achievement is a landmark. But in the international arena, she is still miles away from a Grand Slam or an important international title win. It would have been better if the government had waited for some more time, until she had moved up higher in the world of tennis rankings, before awarding her with a state honour.

8212; K. Venkataraman Mumbai

Great issue

8226; I was bubbling with the excitement of a ten-year old on seeing the Republic Day issue of your newspaper. It was a pathbreaking departure from the past and it was indeed heart warming to see the entire front page of a leading daily devoted to extolling the efforts and achievements of countrymen in different spheres, arousing much needed hope and optimism in young and impressionable minds. I am certain this bold experimentation on the part of the IE group would go a long way in exorcising the brooding cynicism that has become symbolic of the majority of citizens of this nation. I would like to compliment you for this since your paper has always nurtured new ideas and demonstrated courage in various series 8212; like that of 8216;India Empowered8217;.

8212; Vinay Garg New Delhi

Is it a hurdle?

8226; What is the significance of January 26, the day Indian democracy and its Constitution came into existence? Is Indian democracy a successful democracy? All that Indian democracy seems to have achieved in the last 50 years are morally corrupt, self-serving, shameless, politicians. Elections, today, are all about rampant corruption, criminalisation and the use of money and muscle power in politics. Candidates who play it straight have very little chance of being elected. Democracy has also given rise to caste-based politics. The underworld-politician nexus is the new winning combination. Ultimately one billion of us are being fooled by a handful of politicians. Democracy, it seems, has become the biggest hurdle in India8217;s growth.

8212; Shiv New Delhi

Only one Irfan

8226; Some time ago, Pakistan Cricket Captain Javed Miandad remarked, 8220;There is an 8216;lrfan8217; in every gully of Pakistan.8221; Now he must have realised two facts. One, there is one and only one Irfan Pathan. Two, nobody can read the morrow.

8212; Hansraj Bhat Mumbai

Remember Kapil?

8226; The selectors of the Indian cricket team have time and again proved that they are a bunch of jokers. It is disheartening to see the way players of the calibre of Sourav Ganguly are being treated by this unprofessional selection committee. The selection committee should realise that selecting 11 members of a team that represents the nation involves the passions and sentiments of almost 50 crore cricket lovers in this country. Of course, it is now new for the selection committee to denigrate players like Sourav. If you look at their track record, you would realise that they bestowed similar treatment on several others, including Kapil Dev.

8212; Venkatesh Subramanian Bangalore