|
|
|
|
|
| HOME | NEWS | DEAR REDIFF | |||
|
COMMENTARY
|
|
|
E-mail from readers the world over
Date sent: Sat, 03 Jan 1998 13:22:47 -0800 I think that's terrific. I think we've finally found a right- thinking columnist who represents the more sensible Indians. Keep up the good work. Congratulations.
Date: Tue, 06 Jan 1998 20:47:31 -0500 I would like to congratulate Ashwin Mahesh for putting forth an extremely creative and imaginative proposal. It certainly offers a viable middle ground in Indian politics, a way for the ascendant conservative forces to moderate and broadbase their appeal, and a means to safeguard the secular ideology of the Indian state. "Volunteering-in" though would be the easy part in such a grand political proposal. On the other hand, a no-holds barred "volunteer-out" option could trigger a host of conflicting social and legal problems. Please give the proposed implementation process some more thought. Gaurav Kampani
Date sent: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 23:29:04 -0600 (CST) Mr Dilip D'Souza, I read your articles in Rediff and am really surprised reading them. You are constantly punching Hindutva and indirectly Hinduism. You have also criticised the BJP and the policies of the BJP. Of course you are entitled to your opinion but let me make some things clear to you. First regarding Hindutva, Hinduism. As you are aware, if you were placed in any Islamic country like Pakistan or Saudi Arabia or Iran or any Islamic country in the world, you wouldn't speak out against the majority community of that country. Since India is a Hindu majority country, Christians are free to talk and practise whatever they like. Instead of wasting their time criticising Hindus and Hindutva, they should worry about the 'Islamisation' of India and Western countries in particular. Today, Islam is the fastest growing religion not only in India but also in the USA and Europe. I know this since I myself live in the US and have read a lot of articles in newspapers and on the Internet. You can very well imagine, what will happen to the world once the 'Islamisation' of America is complete. Christians in the USA, particularly in major cities like New York, are converting to Islam extremely rapidly. Mosques have sprung up where churches once existed since nobody visits the church anymore, or the church is better off selling the land to a mosque financed by some billionaire from the Middle East. Pick up the five most problem areas in the world starting with Beirut, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iran, Iraq, India and Pakistan -- you will find one thing in common. Well, I don't have to tell you what. So let me assure you that the Christians are better off with a Hindu majority India than otherwise. Would Mother Teresa have been as successful in Pakistan or Iran, which are in a much worse condition than India? Second, regarding the BJP. As of today, all political parties are corrupt and want to come to power by all means possible. But I would still prefer the BJP to any other party not because it is a Hindutva party but because other parties like the Congress, the United Front have all been tried at least once. It wreaks of lopsidedness to keep the BJP out of power even when it gets a majority, just because the party does not want to appease the Muslims. The appeasement of Muslims/ dalits by the Congress and the United Front of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Laloo Prasad Yadav has crossed all limits. Durgesh
Date sent: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 11:53:09 -0500 (EST) Well there you go again, Dilip. The very fact that you had to include a dead man, Girilal Jain, in your list of 'Hindutva-vadis' shows that they are a rare breed in the Leftist-dominated media. R K Karanjia? I have been in the US for a few years, but from what I remember he is on your side. Rajeev Srinivasan... not even a journalist, has written once or twice about 'Hinduism'. Take all the national newspapers. They are 'overrun' by Commies except for the token representation by a Shourie and a Kamath. Most of the editors -- and almost every other English newspaper and magazine -- is run by Pinkos. The only problem is that people are finally seeing through the leftist propaganda (vide the lament of Praful Bidwai for the good old days when anything Hindu was contemptible). How is it that you never see a headline like "Communist terrorists kill 10 in Bihar/ Andhra Pradesh?" You see, those are 'Naxalites' of the Communist party of India (Marxist-Leninist), totally unrelated to the Communist Party of India (Marxist). That's leftist dominated press for you. But the same press never hesitates to talk of a monolithic 'Sangh Parivar'. Regarding Communism, maybe you should read the recently published 'Black book of Communism' detailing all crimes committed in the name of this most evil ideology to have cursed mankind. Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot. I hope that you realise that Communism is a complete ideology, not just a political alternative. Communism does not recognise any other religion (witness the persecution of Christians by Russia, Buddhists by China). The fight for human freedom against Communism was lead by religious leaders like Billy Graham as much as by political leaders like Ronald Reagan (the man who single-handedly demolished the evil empire). Thus, in India, any Communist is necessarily anti-Hindu. Jyoti Basu may have a Hindu name and be born a Hindu, but to say he is a Hindu is like saying Marx, Lenin and Stalin were Christians. Are you blaming 'Hindutva' for 'making a fetish of being one country?' Are you saying that it is somehow wrong to feel that India is one country and that people who live there should not feel Indian above everything else? I have lived in the USA for a few years now, and hopefully I am not too dense. So let me tell you what the USA is about: freedom with responsibility. Pride in their (short) history, traditions and religion. Nobody dares to display 'secular credentials' by insulting Christianity and pampering, say, Islam or Buddhism. And yes, the FBI will be behind you if there is reason to believe that you threaten national interest. It is only in India that people can be so full of contempt and loathing towards the majority religion and culture and get away with it. Sid
Date sent: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 14:31:15 -0500 Just a note to say I enjoyed Dilip D'Souza's article on the press being "overrun" by Leftists.
Date sent: Mon, 1 Jan 2001 00:52:02 -0400 I have not been a fan of cricket for very long as I was brought up in the Middle East. However, during the last three years, I have kept a close eye on cricket and have become an ardent fan. I barely play the game. My love for the game, however, cannot be questioned, especially for Indian cricket. I must say that the major reason for my sudden love for the game is due to Rahul Dravid. From the first time that I saw him play for India (ie Sarajah), I instantly became a fan. Even though he only scored a couple of runs. I always knew that he would become a great player, but I only hoped that people would give him the credit he deserved. If all the Indian cricket players had the same attitude as Dravid, it would be a whole new ball game. Your article was a sheer masterpiece. You not only brought out all the weaknesses in the Indian team, but also showed their potential. Indian cricket has not yet died, and it never will as long as Rahul Dravid is playing. I only hope the selectors see the wisdom in your article and take the appropriate action. We need to see more players like Dravid, Prasad, Srinath and Jadeja. Players who put their country before themselves. I applaud your foresight and say what a thrill it was to read your article. Alexander D'souza, Toronto
Date sent: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 20:14:36 -0800 Fascinating reading. Thanks for carrying it on Rediff. The article left me wishing that diplomats on both sides were on the same wavelength as Natwar Singh and Zia.
Date sent: Sun, 28 Dec 1997 14:58:24 -0800 No one can doubt that Zia was the master of the game. He was such a great player that people in Pakistan still wonder what game he was actually playing? His PR skills were incredible, but in intellect he remained dwarfed by the much more worldly Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who had the misfortune of trusting this famous graduate of Saint Stephen's in Delhi. From the point of view of this writer, Pakistan would have been much better off had this individual (Zia) opted to stay in India. The forces he has released in Pakistani society (The Heroin and the Kalashnikov culture) are tearing that society apart. Let us hope that for all of South Asia's sake, these forces can be controlled. To conclude, let us reflect on the old saying that a pygmy sitting on the back of an elephant can claim to shake a bridge. So what was Zia without the US elephant? And who was playing what game? Ras Siddiqui
|
||
| HOME |
NEWS |
BUSINESS |
CRICKET |
MOVIES |
CHAT
INFOTECH | TRAVEL | LIFE/STYLE | FREEDOM | FEEDBACK |
||