Freedom movement
For once I concur wholeheartedly with your editorial Dont book Arundhati (IE,December 1). Disrespect for dissent is on the rise with chauvinist organisations attacking people. Such entities,due to their inability to reason,go on to stop others from expressing themselves. Our pride in India and its much-touted civilisational tolerance seems to have become the handmaiden of the retrogressive elements in our society who demand that people submit to their diktat.
Gautam Navlakha Delhi
Devils advocate
THIS refers to Dont book Arundhati. I beg to differ. Arundhatis and Geelanis assertions were not mere statements. She had not just stated that Kashmir should not be a part of India but had the courage to say that Kashmir was never a part of India. Further,she quoted Nehru to justify her point. Freedom of speech doesnt allow its misuse for anti-national utterances even in a modern,secure,liberal state. What else would be sedition? Syed Ali Shah Geelani must be enjoying this. Arundhati also chose to bat for the Maoists by supporting their cause,while they were indulging in mindless killings. Let the court decide her fate.
S.K. Gupta Chandigarh
Top odour
THE Supreme Court has twice questioned the fitness of P.J. Thomas for the post of CVC (Pressure building on CVC,SC asks can he be objective in 2G probe?,IE,December 1). First,the court did so while hearing a PIL on his appointment as CVC. It is surprising that the government is adamant on retaining Thomas when it has come to notice that a criminal case involving the issue of his integrity is pending.
R.J. Khurana Bhopal
Whos the Don?
BRAIN LARA has called Sachin Tendulkar the Bradman of today (Tendulkar is todays Bradman, IE,December 1). And that Don Bradman would not have averaged 99 today,according to those who had seen old players in action. Lets put the statement thus could Sachin have achieved an average of 99 if he were to play in the conditions prevailing during Bradmans era? Pitches were different,there werent any fielding restrictions,no limit on bouncers,batsmen wore minimal protective gear etc. One cant compare sportsmen of different eras. But they can be compared by what they have achieved in comparison with their contemporaries.
T.R. Ramaswami
Glory days
CHINKI SINHAS Day discotheques in Patna, (IE,November 27) aptly summarised the years gone by,with an air of nostalgia in it. I had been to Patna,Danapur and Jhajha in those days and each of these places had a different social atmosphere yet,with one thing in common; and that was always operating within the safe confines of your neighbourhood. I could empathise with the youth. I feel happy now to know it has changed and Patna is on its way to becoming Pataliputra once again while Bihar will regain the glory of Magadha.
Sujay Ojha Aurangabad
