ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

'Every individual is as capable of taking morally right decisions as these pseudo-moralists are'

E-mail from readers the world over

Date sent: Thu, 17 Dec 1998 13:50:59 +0530
From: Swaminathan Ganesan <Swami@aditi.com>
Subject: Ashok Row Kavi's article

At last a sensible journalist. Pretty rare in India. I thought it was a nonexistent species in India. It is always nice when you find a person echoing what you have been thinking about. Take out the Sena and the secularists and the TamizhKudimagan who try to impose their views on society in the name of culture, god and all the other stuff. I am intelligent enough to figure out what I want to see and what I don't want to see.

Swami

Date sent: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 18:44:59 +0530
From: "Nagesh Nayak" <nageshn@bom5.vsnl.net.in>
Subject: Vande Mataram well written on Rediff -- news to our new generation

The history of Vande Mataram going back to as far as 1923 is something not heard in streets or read in books.

If the motherland is no criterion for national pride, than those opposing it should sing another song in praise of the motherland. Not even second fiddle to religion, just opposing it for the sake of it will take us to doom.

Let our spirits be risen in the right perspective.

Nagesh

Date sent: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 17:28:28 +0800
From: "Vikas Bhandari" <vikas_bhandari@bigfoot.com>
Subject: Tamil flight announcements

Somebody tell those politicians that they should stop worrying about the non-issues and do something about real issues. To name a few -- poverty, corruption, education, health care. Once the more basic stuff is taken care of, the people can then concentrate on things like names of shops in their own language or for that matter inflight announcements.

Vikas

Date sent: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 09:53:25 -0600
From: Santhosh Krishna <sankri@cs4sun.cs.ttu.edu>
Subject: Krishnaswamy interview

It's nice to see the level of the questions you asked in the interview. But I think it would be better to ask hard, perfect and comprehensive questions (ie, direct questions). For example:
-- If you are right Dr Krishnaswamy, please suggest the perfect measures to be taken for the upliftment of the dalits (as you see they are suppressed?).
-- Do you need reservations to be continued, then for how long. Please regard Dr Ambedkar and Gandhi's statements (allow them to come up for certain time and after that it is there fate...).
-- Don't you think that the issue is unnecessarily politicised? (Many came like you, but have done little after getting into power).
-- Do you think that after enjoying the privileges of the reservation for one time, does it need to be continued for the next generation...

Consider a case:
A dalit becoming an IAS officer (it's good). But does his son or daughter need reservation? A poor forward caste who doesn't even earn for a meal. Doesn't his son or daughter need some reservation? Don't we need to consider the present situation?

Santhosh Krishna

Date sent: Thu, 03 Dec 1998 11:23:16 PST
From: "Manjeet Singh Chagar" <mchagar@hotmail.com>
Subject: Attack on theatres screening Fire

It is very distressing that a certain group of people are trying to impose their views and thinking on the rest of the population, imagining themselves to be the moral guardians of society. These pseudo-moralists are just trying to grab attention, and it is clear from the reports that when they were not able to convince people, they tried to scare them away by resorting to such measures. In this, every individual is as much capable of taking morally right decisions as these pseudo-moralists are.

Manjeet Singh
Madras

Date: Sat, 24 Oct 1998 15:31:25 +0000
From: "Ras H. Siddiqui" <ras@gvn.net>
Subject: Vajpayee and the economy

As soon as the onion and now tomato crisis is over (importing from Pakistan?), maybe the other issues can be sorted out. Kashmir is not helping the Indian economy much either.

Ras

Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1998 09:59:20 -0400
From: Navin Markandeya <markandeya@earthlink.net>
Subject: What happens after Mr Naidu

We Indians, with about a billion people only have couple of people like Naidu in the corridors of power. Rather than pushing IT, Naidu should work towards making India suitable for more business to start new ventures.

If Naidu goes, or loses power, who is next? What happens to all this stuff. Do you think the next guy in line is again an IT lover. I doubt it. Naidu needs to put foundation/laws in place for a new AP, which will allow easy startup for new ventures.

The Indian government should avoid getting into business. It should be only like a regulatory body, and let the private sector do the competition and business.

Navin

Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 10:00:16 -0400
From: Nhu N Nguy <nguy@cs.odu.edu>
Subject: Four corporates vie, produce circus on four-wheelers

The report was excellent and gives a thorough insight into the four giants of the Indian car industry. Thanks for the report and best of luck for bringing new and latest detailed reports like this.

Jimmy

Date: Wednesday, December 16, 1998 7:49 AM
From: Gaurav Lamba <glamba@qualcomm.com>
Subject: Vinod Kambli interview

You have done a great thing by carrying Vinod's interview. Rediff On The NeT is the only paper which carried Kambli's interview. Thank you very much.

I am a Bombay fan. I have been following Vinod and Sachin's game since I was a kid. I am 25 so are they. I used to see their Ranji matches in Wankhede. Vinod Kambli is among the best, and he is going to prove it come what may. My best wishes are with him.

Kambli was dropped after one failure against the West Indies but Dravid, VVS Laxman are the guys who get chances after chances. The Indian Board should be rebuked for not supporting a world class player like Kambli.

I can't follow much cricket here in the United States. Would like to read more articles on Vinod Kambli. I hope he recovers from his injury and plays for India again. Sachin and Kambli together are going going to be a terror for other countries.

Gaurav Lamba

Date: Wednesday, December 16, 1998 7:30 AM
From: Rajarshi Gupta <guptar@bmrc.berkeley.edu>
Subject: Kambli interview

Just a point of note about Vinod Kambli. Living in the US, it is very hard to stay in touch with cricketers who have had an unfortunate turn in their careers/health. Thanks to Haresh for a fine interview.

One of the questions asked was whether he sees a place in the current team, and I think the answer is a resounding YES. His favourite spot is No 3 and that is exactly our only gap in the batting line-up (in the ODIs that is).

I wish him all success and hope to see him perform at the World Cup next year.

Rajarshi Gupta

Date sent: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 23:41:18 +0530
From: "SAURABH KHANDELWAL" <saurabh@satyam.net.in>
Subject: Deepa Mehta

Your film is really too good to be understood by our general audience, and I think that is the trouble. And some people are always looking for some masala to create a controversy to remain in the news. I am confident with the public opinion mobilised in favour and with a mature judiciary, justice is not far. Have a heart.

Date sent: Mon, 07 Dec 1998 10:19:36 -0500
From: SUNITA NAIR <sunita@home.com>
Subject: The Hrishikesh Mukherjee interview

I thoroughly enjoyed this interview. It was after many years that I was hearing about Hrishikesh Mukherjee. It was such a delight to hear about a man whose movies though simple and light, left a remarkable fullness and a feeling of content after having viewed one.

The question "what do you think of this report" really made me feel like this -- had I chosen not to answer and show my appreciation than its like receiving and not giving back what is due to a person. Thanks to his hard work and talent. I have received so much happiness and laughter the many hours I have sat in front of the screen and even hours and years after that. I look back at each of the movies he has made andcan't help a warm feeling come over me.

Thanks a lot Hrishikesh, I mean this truly. I do hope this e-mail gets across to you and in a way makes your day just as your movies have made mine many a time.

Sunita

Date sent: Sat, 5 Dec 1998 17:35:09 EST
From: <Vikasmehru@aol.com>
Subject: Once more with feeling

How could you forget R D Burman, when you talk of nostalgic days? He composed excellent tunes for most of Hrishida's films! Indian film industry always ignored this great music director, when it comes to recognition, you are one of them I guess.

Vikas Mehrunkar

Earlier Mail