Jan 4
How prepared are we for the CWG?
Sir, In view of the mishaps in the Feroz Shah Kotla cricket ground and the Eden gardens, it is time to take stock of the preparations for the Commonwealth Games 2010. If such embarrassing mistakes can happen while managing cricket, one dare not think about other sports and the CWG 2010.
- V Vijayendra Rao, Neyveli
Jan 5
Wanted: stricter norms
Sir, With the former Andhra Pradesh governor N D Tiwari in the news for his sexplosive acts, it is time for the government to reform the criteria, if any, in the selection of governors, or else the likes of Tiwari will turn Raj Bhavan into a power centre and dole out licences for money, wine and women.
- Devadas V, Talap
Lack of etiquette
Sir, The treatment meted out to Vijay Amritaraj at the Chennai Open has left a bitter taste among Tennis lovers. Though Vijay Amritaraj has taken the insult in his stride, the organisers have not done themselves proud by their utter lack of etiquette.
-V Gopalan, Chennai
Jan 6
Focus on basic science
Sir, 'Liberate Indian science: PM' (TNIE, December 4) sends strong signals for India's development. More freedom for academics can bring in the needed impetus to universitylevel contributions. Political interventions in the higher education sphere have to be curtailed. Young talent must be attracted to basic science.
- T D R Nair, Kozhikode
Jan 8
Criminal liaison
Sir, The government's decision to take back the police medals of former Haryana DGP S P S Rathore is appreciable. But, in the first place, how is it that such officials with criminal inclination receive awards? Somebody cannot become a criminal overnight. It is indicative of the nexus between criminals and bureaucracy.
-Titus Eapen, email
Jan 12
Unbecoming of a former pM
Sir, It is most despicable on the part of Deve Gowda, former prime minister, to have mouthed filthy abuses against Yeddyurappa. It doesn't behove of even an ordinary person to stoop to that level, much less a former PM. Where is Karnataka, which produced giants like Visvesvaraya and Ramakrishna Hegde, heading now?
- V N S Rao, Chennai
Jan 14
Their callousness cost his life
Sir, It is shocking to see Tamil Nadu ministers' callousness towards the cry for help by a SI who was fatally injured by criminals on a bypass near Tirunelveli. Though they claimed to have called for an ambulance it was too late. Had they arranged to take the SI in one of their vehicles, his life could have been saved.
- Barun K Mahapatro, Berhampur
Jan 21
Full of doomed universities
Sir, In the light of the Centre derecognising 44 deemed universities it is seen that higher education in India today consists of open universities, closed universities, deemed universities and doomed universities often headed by chancellors who are not necessarily 'wise'.
- C R Ramaswamy, Chennai
Jan 23
Hacking concern
Sir, It is surprising to note that PMO was almost hacked by China. India has some of the world's best software developers and companies and yet such a breach. A highlevel probe should be conducted. This incident is of great concern to the nation.
-S Viswanathan, Chennai
Jan 25
Shocking Basu reference
Sir, Aditya Sinha's 'Avatar The Forever War' (TNIE, January 23) induces one to see Avatar as well as peruse The Forever War. However, I found the reference in the first paragraph: 'better deadthan-red' with respect to Jyoti Basu shocking.
-C J Nelson, Coimbatore
Jan 27
Advertisement shameful
Sir, If the erroneous release of advertisement with the picture of former Pak air chief by itself is shameful, the attempt to justify it by the MoS defies all canons of reason, propriety and moral standards. It is the height of impertinence on her part to sermonise that message was more important than the image.
- Parasuram Sharma, Chennai
Jan 29
Control the prices, then go to Mars
Sir, It is rather ironic that the Indian government is aiming to reach the Moon through its mission Chandrayaan and go beyond to Mars, but it is not able to control prices of essential commodities and foodgrains so that the aam aadmi gets at least one square meal a day.
- Kandarpa Uma Devi, email
Feb 1
Why devalue the Padma awards?
Sir, Is the home ministry not aware of the chargesheet filed by the CBI in the cases relating to Sant Singh Chatwal 's default on loans from the SBI and other financial irregularities? Why devalue the high civilian title and put the tainted on par with the pride of the nation?
- S M Kompella, Kakinada
Feb 10
It's time to get rid of regionalism
Sir, Are we morally right to talk about or condemn the Australians and the government of that country for racism while we are not able to abate parochial regionalistic sentiments propagated by political outfits to corner votes - Maharashtra being the latest case? It's time we cleared the mess within before looking outside.
- P M Raman Nair, email
Feb 11
Richer wives
Sir, It is not surprising that the wives of Delhi High Court judges are richer than their husbands. It is not only judges, almost every bureaucrat and politician's kith and kin have unaccounted assets. It would be a Herculean task to unearth these.
- N Mahadevan, Chennai
Feb 13
vote bank politics through quota
Sir, West Bengal government's declaration of 10 per cent quota for Muslims is nothing but vote bank politics. If West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh really want to improve the status of Muslims, let them ensure that development, on all fronts, takes place without any delay or redtapism.
- P Rajarajeswari, Coimbatore
Payback Mutalik
Sir, Indeed that 'one gets to taste his own medicine' was undoubtedly proven when the Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Mutalik's face was blackened by Congress activists. He apparently faces their wrath for his stance against Valentine's Day celebration.
-Jaya Venkitachalam, Chennai
FEB 18
Cricket in Olympics
Sir, The decision of the International Olympic Committee to recognise Twenty20 cricket and consider including it in the Olympics is a welcome move. The move would give India an opportunity to strike gold at the Olympics.
-B Indu Sekhar, Hyderabad
FEB 25
Marxist school syllabus
Sir, Apropos Santwana Bhattacharya's 'A Marxist finishing school?' (TNIE, February 24), the school syllabus would be: 1011AM - Hartal; 1112 - Road roko (practical); 121 - Hundi collection (practical); 12 - Search for some other foreign ideologies and coexisting with Maoists (theory); 23 - How to keep China happy (lecture); 34 - How to cause confusion at the Centre and state (lecture); 45 - How to get the support of the workingclass and how to betray them; 56 - Modern communists (How they differ from Nripen Chakraborty).
-Krish, email
FEB 26
Good, if dead
Sir, The rich tributes paid by CPI(M) leaders to W R Varadarajan after his death and full honours bestowed on him during his last journey reminds me of the comments made by the famous French philosopher Voltaire, whose reaction to the death of a contemporary was sought by the media. "He is good, provided he is dead," Voltaire was reported to have said. The CPI(M) leaders have said exactly that about the late communist activist.
-A Balu, Chennai
FEB 27
For the glory of hockey
Sir, Express should be appreciated for doing wonderful service to Indian hockey by publishing a series of articles about the previous World Cups prior to the commencement of the 2010 Delhi World Cup. It is indeed gratifying for a hockey fan who has followed the game right from the first World Cup, to see pages devoted to the greatness of Indian Hockey. All the hockey fans are grateful for this wonderful gesture.
-C G Bhaskar, Chennai
Mar 2
Double standards
Sir, Recently a section of the Christian community protested on the streets when a picture of Jesus deemed offensive was published in a school textbook. Yet when Hindus complain about M F Husain's paintings, they are branded as intolerant, narrowminded and antimodernist. Obviously, two sets of standards are being applied. A close look at Husain's work shows that he has deliberately set out to malign the Hindu community. Given this, he can stay where he is at present.
- Ram Narayan, Chennai
MAR 4
The goddesses would sigh in relief
Sir, I am unable to say whether or not India would become poorer with M F Husain accepting Qatar's offer to confer nationality on him. But Husain's shifting out of India could probably pave the way for one thing - the Hindu goddesses would heave a sigh of relief.
- P G Menon, Chennai
New Delhi's Vidhusaka
Sir, Shashi Tharoor's assigned role is in the MEA, but his unassigned role is that of Vidhusaka. After seeing all the commotion the MP is creating, the United Nations would be happy to have missed the person by a whisker.
-K Bala Sundram, Dharmapuri
MAR 6
What is a 'v' cup?
Sir, This is with reference to V Sudarshan's Random Abstract 'Shashi Tharoor's assets' (TNIE, March 5). In addition to 'A', 'B' and 'C' cups, there is a 'D'. But these are not made in India and are imported. I however would like to know what this 'V' cup mentioned in the article is.
- K Vijayan, Chennai
MAR 8
Mayawati bets all funds on statues
Sir, It is the height of irony that the Mayawati government which has spent crores of rupees on statues all over Uttar Pradesh has no money to pay compensation to the 63 stampede victims. One hopes that the courts will take note of this.
- Rettavayal S Krishnasamy, Chennai
MAR 9
More Rabris
Sir, The Women's Reservation Bill has been passed in Rajya Sabha amidst turmoil. The second part of the drama is to be witnessed in the Lok Sabha. With the passing of the bill we can see more Rabris in politics. It is to be seen if the 33 per cent reservation will serve the desired purpose.
-D Asokan, Tiruvarur
MAR 12
Terrorists vs dossiers
Sir, IndoPak interaction is active. Pakistan keeps on sending terrorists to India. India keeps on sending dossiers to Islamabad.
-Hansraj Bhat, Mumbai
MAR 18
Disrespect to Bapu
Sir, There should be a ban on the use of currency notes for purposes other than they are meant for or else leaders like Mayawati will continue to abuse them. Making a garland using notes is disrespect to the Father of Nation, whose image adorns it.
-Mukundan Mangalamkat, Tiruchy
Undue praise
Sir, Apropos Aditya Sinha's 'Sonia and her straw men' (TNIE, March 13), and the responses the article has evoked, I think we are paying undue compliments to Sonia Gandhi on the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha. It was passed because the BJP and the Left rendered support. Let us not forget that the bill was first introduced by Deve Gowda and then by the BJP.
-M Rajan, Chennai
MAR 31
Record disproves safety claims
Sir, Though home secretary G K Pillai has assured that the Delhi Metro is safe, one is left with a sense of fear that an attack similar to the one that happened in Moscow would take place. India's record in preventing terrorist attacks and investigations after attacks is not encouraging.
- Ramana Devika, email
APR 5
Brother against brother?
Sir, It is almost sure that Alagiri and Stalin are not going to go down without a contest. It would be prudent for the elders within the party to help the brothers reach an amicable settlement. Probably the south and east could go to Alagiri and the rest with Stalin. Or Alagiri could be the party president while Stalin the CM a la SoniaManmohan.
-Padmakumar R, Chennai