BJP and the Fading Grip of Ideology
I mostly believed that TEHELKA was biased against the BJP and RSS. But I must compliment you for this article. You have made some very prudent observations backed with facts, without indulging in moral sermons. What’s happening in Karnataka is a result of what you have stated — the decline of the ethos of the Sangh.
A Venkateshwar, On Email
Family Grouse
Refer to ‘A Parivar No More’ by Rana Ayyub, 14 July.
A fine analysis of the fissures between the BJP, the RSS, and within the organisations. The main factor behind the emergence of this culture may be Narendra Modi, the man in a hurry to carve an image for himself. The Mumbai meeting was a turning point in exposing the squabbles. The results of the Assembly elections in Gujarat, MP, HP, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka may give an indication of which way the wind blows.
Jacob Sahayam, On Email
You have an excellent article but there is an error in it. You mentioned that the Gujarat riots took place in 1992; it was 2002.
Gurmeet Singh, On Email
Very well-dissected piece on these self-styled flagbearers of Hindu consciousness. I was reading Manohar Malgonkar’s Men who killed Gandhi on a train journey last week and was stunned that an organisation whose very ideology is rooted in polarising a society on caste and religion can be called nationalist. The hypocrisy that you have brought out in your write-up is a character trait of the RSS – sided with the British ,bartered their own freedom from jails in exchange of opposing Gandhi in his fight for freedom. Talking of Hindu pride but attacking Dalits and OBC’s, giving supreme importance to the Brahminical order. If the BJP indeed needs to survive, politically, in today’s age, it needs to break free from these shackles. Wonder if the GenNext in the BJP ever feel claustrophobic!
Lalpu Changsan, On Email
You mention Indresh Kumar in the article. We have, in fact, demanded that his role be investigated by the NIA. There was no violence until the RSS/VHP arrived in Kandhamal. Worse still, Indresh wrote lies in the RSS mouthpiece Organiser, which instigated the violence.
Ajaya Kumar Singh, On Email
With due respect, your article is totally wrong and misleading. Those who know about the Sangh would never believe any of the things you mention in the article. People who know about your media house can easily recognise your support for the Congress and other Left-wing parties. For the last five years you have been campaigning against Narendra Modi and the RSS. I still remember an article in which you mentioned the role of the RSS in a blast case. Can you let me know the status of that case? How many RSS leaders were arrested? Please do some research before people see you as paid media.
Anoop Ramankutty, On Email
It was one of the dullest and most boring cover stories I have come across in your magazine. Even I could have written that story on the RSS sitting at home. There was nothing that we didn’t already know about the organisation and its relations with the BJP. There was no special insight into the functioning of the right-wing Hindu outfit and how it is supposed to behave in this day and age. It was quite a surprise to see such a pedestrian piece in TEHELKA.
Amit Manuviraj, On Email
Privilege Vs Rights
Refer to ‘Editor’s Cut’ by Shoma Chaudhury, 14 July.
Thanks for your piece. While I agree with most of what you say, I disagree on three fundamental counts: ‘Development’ isn’t aways healing, it is more oen than not disruptive. Secondly, you are right that the state must deliver schools, water, hospitals, etc. However, to label these as ‘development’ is misleading. These ought to be positioned as rights — right to education, health, etc. And third, when these rights are framed as acts of ‘healing’ by the state, you unwittingly exempt the state from its obligations to respect, protect, and fulfil human rights of all its citizens. International human rights law lays down obligations, which states have to assume to respect, protect and fulfil human rights. It seems to many that the Indian state isn’t really interested in getting ‘its people back’. Instead, it has used all means necessary to get its territory back. So it doesn’t work to plead with the government to ‘heal’. What works is to demand accountability Thanks again for your work at TEHELKA.
Neelanjana Mukhia, On Email
Admittance
Refer to ‘The only foolproof precaution to work in a place like Dantewada is to not work at all’ by Javed Iqbal, 30 June.
This is a very modest article. Accepting inconvenient truths. Keep it up TEHELKA.
Ritwik Ponnappa, On Email
Lost Heritage
Refer to ‘Ruining a Revival’ by Revati Laul, 7 July.
The article describes pretty well the situation relating to the subject matter, and it also discloses deep and clear knowledge of the writer. It is a matter of sorrow that countless NGOs in our country do not strive hard; instead they are mostly engaged in minting money, mindless and destructive agitations aimed at destabilising the system itself. This article should shake the conscience of the parties concerned to do something.
UR Pathak, On Email
Let The Animals Cross The Road
Refer to ‘A Pittance to Save the Priceless’ by Jay Mazoomdaar, 7 July.
Great article. In fact, I think not only for NH-6, there has to be a rethinking for all those areas that are prime wildlife habitats and through which pass many busy roads. In the Western Ghats, many such roads need to be closed for night traffic so that wild animals (especially reptiles and mammals) can move freely. The same rule should be applied to areas through which heavy traffic roads are cutting across. If possible you should even circulate this article to all forest secretaries of states, Principal Chief Conservators of Forests (PCCF), CCFs, wildlife authorities as well as local groups working on wildlife conservation.
Avinash Kubal, On Email
We suggested a flyover near Chilpighati near Kanha way back in 1998 during our corridor survey between Achanakmar and Kanha, where it becomes a chicken neck. But no one listened! Your wellwritten report, I hope, acts as an eye-opener.
Raja Chatterjee, On Email
An important piece that I hope will get wide circulation.
George Schaller, On Email
Roadkill is indeed a very important aspect of wildlife conservation and you have brought it out very well. More importantly, until and unless we give some “money tag” to each of the species or put some economic value to each , we will find it difficult to convince people. I remember some years ago, while driving from Delhi to Hyderabad in this rainy season, I saw two large snakes killed by trucks somewhere in Madhya Pradesh. They were beautiful even in death, with their arched bodies intact.
Shiva Kumar, On Email
Lost Heritage
Refer to ‘Ruining a Revival’ by Revati Laul, 7 July.
The article describes pretty well the situation relating to the subject matter, and it also discloses deep and clear knowledge of the writer. It is a matter of sorrow that countless NGOs in our country do not strive hard; instead they are mostly engaged in minting money, mindless and destructive agitations aimed at destabilising the system itself. This article should shake the conscience of the parties concerned to do something.
UR Pathak, On Email
Your article on Jal Mahal was outstanding. Madhya Pradesh, where I served for over three decades, is suffering the same neglect. Garhkundar Fort in Tikamgarh District and Ater Fort in Bhind are glaring examples.
Rajendra Chaturvedi, On Email
I must commend you for the fantastic story you have brought out on the Jal Mahal PPP Project. It will be an extraordinary effort if this can be made known to the people of India through various media channels. As a PPP practitioner, I can tell you it takes a lot to design these kind of projects. To see them fail like this can be a horrifying story for the developer. I must thank you for the excellent research and presentation.
Rabi Sahoo, On Email
Boundary Line
Refer to ‘Drawing a Dangerous Line’ by Shoma Chaudhury, 26 May.
Nobody is against political cartoons per se. In fact, the first thing many of us read in a newspaper is the cartoon. The sense of humour is an essential virtue. Most of the cartoons recommended for deletion by the panel headed by SK Thorat deserve to be there in the NCERT textbooks. But the exclusion of the cartoon on Dr Ambedkar is unexceptionable. Usually, the problem arises when cartoons court controversy on account of their patent bias. Downgrading an icon like Dr Ambedkar is unacceptable. Wittingly or unwittingly, a cartoon like the one on Dr Ambedkar would reinforce the generallyheld fallacy that the Dalits are deficient in something. The myth that the Dalits are “lesser people” is racism, and must be demolished. No doubt cartoonists are creative-minded people. But they cannot convey socially inappropriate messages in the name of freedom of expression. Cartoonists, like organic intellectuals, should be on the side of the meek and poor, as against the insolent mighty. The yardstick to know a good cartoon from a bad one is whether it enlightens or descends into propaganda. It must also be borne in mind that what was innocuous in one context could be offensive in another . Why is there not even a single cartoon condemning the injustices done to the Dalits and the persecution of religious minorities in the NCERT textbooks?
G David Milton, On Email
Congratulations! Your cover story on the cartoon row is extremely well-researched and thought-provoking.
Giridhar Khasnis, On Email
Heartburn
Refer to ‘Firestarter’ by Shoma Chaudhury, 16 June.
Have you folks ever thought of highlighting the good governance provided by Narendra Modi in Gujarat? I am sure your subscriptions will increase. But is subscription important or ad revenues? Who am I kidding! Would like to communicate my ‘heartfelt’ anger towards TEHELKA after reading some clearly biased articles.
Anil Kumar, On Email
Resilient Concerns
Refer to ‘The Elephant Has Become a Mouse’ by Bibek Debroy, 14 July.
Pranab Mukherjee has failed as the finance minister. He has led us into uncontrolled inflation and his wrong policies have created hurdles in economic growth. The fall of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to a record low of 5.3 percent is a serious concern for a country claiming to be a future superpower. Lack of bold leaders is hindering development. If India has to get to the top, its leaders should take bold economic and non-economic decisions and rise above votebank politics.
Mahesh Kapasi, On Email
" Well-written article and an eye-opener. I’m really worried after reading and getting to know about such truth. We all know about the story of the Bijapur Superintendent of Police (SP), who was recorded via walkietalkie by the Maoists, saying: “If you see any journalists in the area, just kill them.”
Ashutosh Namdeo, On Email
Refer to ‘The only foolproof Precaution to work in a place like Dantewada is to not work at all’ by Javed iqbal, 30 june
Aqua Spark
Refer to ‘Water Security Begins at Home’ by Jay Mazoomdaar, 30 June.
On reading your article, one thought sprang to mind. In Australia, all houses outside urban areas rely entirely on their roof for water supply. I grew up in an area that received 22 inches of rainfall (Delhi gets 28 inches), and never had a shortage, due to miserly waterhandling practices. We never turned the water tap on without a container underneath it. Turning on the tap even to wet toothbrush without a cup under it will give a solid understanding of the value of water. But despite our parsimony, we needed a huge surface area on the roof to collect water. In many areas here, people justify house expansion plans for more water collection. Part of the reason for the preponderance of huge rural houses is the need to collect water. All farm buildings are fitted with roof guttering to augment the household supply. I do not know the final figures, but the roof required to supply the needs of a person is huge. It would be unfeasible to do this in Delhi as there is not enough rain and the building density is relatively high. One conspicuous thing throughout Australia (the driest continent) is the obsessive fixation with eliminating drips in water supplies. The liquid gold must not be wasted. Much of this drive comes from statisticians who need to know where water is being used. To me, it makes more sense to fix leaking pipes rather than dream about water-harvesting. There is one simple way to reduce the problem of leaky pipes: reduce the supply pressure. I am amazed that the pressure in the Delhi main supplies can generate a 20-foot high squirt from a hosepipe. Reducing pressure will reduce wastage and make people miserly in their water habits. The extravagant habits of South Delhi can be controlled with a little pressure reduction.
Roddy Mackenzie, On Email
A very important piece with some very useful statistical data.
Shekar Dattatri, On Email
Water Quake
Refer to ‘Tigers May Soon Feel the Tremors’ by Jay Mazoomdaar, 16 June.
There is just no end to the threats! What ever happened to the idea that “protected areas” were areas valuable enough to set aside and “protect”! Now they are opened up for roads, coal, diamonds, experiments and reservoirs at the drop of a hat. Thanks for the article.
Joanna Van Gruisen, On Email
Ravaged
Refer to ‘Ganga: Burdened’ by Brijesh Pandey, 14 July.
It’s true that the Ganga may no longer be called a river. It’s true that industries, mining companies, illegal constructions, unauthorised brick kilns along the river-bed are responsible in a large way in contaminating the river. Today, there has been a lot of awareness in not only India but also other countries about this. But the next step would be crucial — demarcating responsibility and increasing accountability at a political level.
Daniel D'souza, On Email
Admitting Rant
Refer to ‘Engineering a Common Path For College Admission’ by Jandhyala Tilak, 16 June.
Why do you seek articles from people who have absolutely no clue about IIT, JEE and student interests? Please have informed Pros and Cons, and not some random drawing room views.
Abhinav, On Email |
