Opinion For the record
I referred to a statement made in the book,about Bahadur Shahs award of a mansab of 5,000 to Guru Gobind Singh.
* In my review of Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten,by Rajmohan Gandhi (Divided,we fell,IE,October 19),I referred to a statement made in the book,about Bahadur Shahs award of a mansab of 5,000 to Guru Gobind Singh. Gandhi had specifically noted that this statement occurs in Latifs History of the Punjab and it is clear that he merely repeated it in good faith. While doubting its truth,I never intended to imply that any disrespect to the Guru was intended by those who have recorded this tradition,least of all,by Rajmohan Gandhi.
Irfan Habib
Aligarh
Poll signals
* The Congresss recent comment on banning opinion polls before elections has set the cat among the pigeons (No reason to ban,IE,November 5). The rationale for such a ban,it has been argued,is the unscientific or motivated approach of the pollsters. The 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha elections and the last assembly elections in Tamil Nadu were cited as instances where these polls got most of their predictions wrong,thus proving how unscientific they are. So the conclusion that these opinion polls influence voters seems a bit far fetched. The very fact that the pollsters got it wrong proves that,no matter what their predictions,the electorate has a mind of its own. It only shows that the electorate is mature and not swayed by such efforts. Claiming otherwise is to give the pollsters more credit than they deserve.
R. Chopra
* This refers to the editorial No reason to ban. It is right to observe that the Congresss supporting the ban,all of a sudden,speaks of its political predicament and insecurities. The reasoning that opinion polls are inaccurate,unscientific and sponsored does not seem convincing. A large section of voters are young,educated and well-informed. It is unfair to underestimate them. A voter has the right to know what the electorate in general feels about the government and parties. If political parties can influence voters with freebies and tall promises,it is perfectly fine if a voter is also influenced by opinion polls. Heres hoping the Election Commission will not succumb to pressure and ban opinion polls. Instead,it should initiate measures to make them more accurate,scientific and transparent,uphold the freedom of opinion granted by the Constitution.
N. Ramamurthy
Age-old wrong
* This refers to Neither nor (IE,November 4). It is lamentable that even though Indian society has known of transgender individuals since ancient times,we still refuse to accept them. Transgender people are often at the receiving end of violent and inhuman behaviour. The government seems apathetic about their condition and frames no policies for their upliftment.
Gaurav Pant
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