Source of Stress"What is worrying is that job insecurity in the private sector has led to an increase in the number of cases of stress and social tension."-Satya Pal Sharma, DelhiGullible MassesThe double standards that our politicians maintain in their lives is amazing to say the least ("Shahs of Blah", September 8). Anything they say or do is with an eye on the vote bank. And the masses, a large chunk of them being uneducated, fail to see through the hypocrisy and let themselves be carried away by populist measures. As long as the electorate is incapable of making a mature choice, these so called leaders will continue to have a field day.-H.K.L. Gandotra, Gurdaspur, PunjabInsensitive SocietyThe abject neglect of our war heroes by the Government made for poignant reading ("Honour Our Heroes", September 8). The adage "Vows made in storm are forgotten in calm" applies well to the callousness with which our soldiers are treated. Vast chunks of land are earmarked to construct memorials for political leaders, while the sacrifices of our martyrs go unsung. Even the print and electronic media gloat over our achievements in science and technology, art and other fields while the laurels won by our warriors are largely ignored. How can our society be so insensitive?-S.K. Shah, DelhiThe indifference of the government towards martyrs is deplorable. It is appalling to note that our soldiers, who have sacrificed their lives for the country, don't seem to merit even a memorial. Unlike the agendas of our leaders, the first act of French President Jacques Chirac on assuming office was to visit the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arc de Tiomphe.-Major-general (retd) E. D'souza, MumbaiLure of MoneyThe series of defections by Indian bureaucrats to foreign media companies, especially the Star TV network, only goes to expose their greed ("Star Crossed", September 1). The lure of money is such that even those from sensitive government departments like IB and RAW have joined hands with those who have little interest in our country's welfare. What they don't realise is that they are only tools being used by Rupert Murdoch for considerations that are purely commercial.-N. Sayeedur Rahman, BangalorePeople Must Have a SayKashmir is a place consisting of not only mountains and valleys but is also an abode of millions of Kashmiris whose woes and sufferings are a direct consequence of the rivalry between India and Pakistan ("Stoking the Embers", September 8). No amount of dialogue between the two countries can bring peace to Kashmir as indeed the last 50 years have shown-if the people of the state are not taken into consideration.-Bhushan Bazaz, SrinagarStop PreachingV.P. Singh is a glaring example of a politician with double standards ("Pay MPs Higher Salaries", September 8). He has enough personal wealth to pay for his expensive medical treatment abroad but prefers to use the taxpayer's money. He belongs to the category of socialists who say, "Everyone below me is equal." His Mandal politics has had far-reaching repercussions. It is time he stopped preaching morality and practised it instead.-Mohan Deshmukh, DelhiNot Ours to PlunderThe views expressed by the children interviewed in your cover story is a window to India's brilliant future ("If I were PM ...", September 1). It has been rightly said that we have not inherited this world from our ancestors but borrowed it from our children. What these children are telling us is not to desecrate what belongs to them; they are watching us. Such tender sentiments should arouse a sense of guilt and shame in the ruling class of corrupt politicians.-Kishan Leela Kumaar,ChennaiWhile the issues of bread and butter are highlighted by the children of lesser gods, those born with a silver spoon dream of great things for themselves as well as their country. Our leaders should know that they are only the trustees of a nation to be eventually taken over by the younger generation. Once they realise this, they may not be as quick in plundering resources to line their pockets. After winning freedom from colonial rule, it is time we battle for the independence from poverty and sickness of our unfortunate brethren.-D.B.N. Murthy,Bangalore"Why is the Mumbai film industry in such a panic after Gulshan Kumar's murder? Those who play with fire must know they will burn their fingers sooner or later."R.C. Khanna, Amritsar The two children who represented Maharashtra were both from Mumbai. Surely, children in Pune, Nagpur and other parts of the state also have dreams worth writing about.-Narendra M. Apte, MumbaiPaying the PriceThere can be no doubt that most people in the film industry and the real estate business have close links with the underworld ("Living Dangerously", September 1). They obtain huge loans from the ganglords to finance their films and building projects. Builders even utilise the services of these gangs to drive out slum-dwellers and property owners from land required for construction. Film producers, under pressure from the dons, have been depicting criminals as heroes and the police as buffoons. Having used the underworld when it suited them, did they think they would go scot-free?-Samir Sen, PuneUnenviable TaskIn a male chauvinistic society, the Supreme Court's verdict on sexual harassment is indeed welcome ("Workplace Victory", September 1). It has laid bare the tenuous male-female, employer-employee relationships. But the success of the judgement depends on women who have the unenviable task of braving a narrow-minded society to defend their rights. Also, the efficacy of the legal system would be gauged from the number of cases that surface in the future.-Gaurav Maleri, LudhianaWhile women do face sexual harassment, one can't ignore the way some of them dress up for work. Just as men have to follow a behavioural code vis-a-vis their interaction with female colleagues, women too must adhere to a decent dress code at workplaces.-Nirupam Haldar, Calcutta "The way the Central and state governments have lately been handling the Veerappan issue, one won't be surprised if he is nominated to the Rajya Sabha."Lt-col B.L. Verma, Kota, Rajasthan Sleazy SoapsViewers have become sick of the innumerable soaps on violence and sleaze on television ("Family Feuds", September 1). The character of women in some of these serials is detestable. Why must they be portrayed as vindictive spitfires with flashy western lifestyles? In reality, there are any number of successful women who are aggressive and ambitious without being vicious. Considering the influence TV has on the public, we must guard against creating such role models.-Mukta Aggarwal, DelhiA Faulty SystemSubsidising higher education should not be seen as a burden on the economy of India, where only a small percentage of the youth gets a chance to pursue higher studies ("Lethal Cuts", September 1). Cuts in subsidy will make higher education inaccessible to the lower and middle classes. If the Finance Ministry feels higher education is not that beneficial to society, the fault lies not with individuals but the defective employment structure. We need to streamline higher education and provide better employment facilities.-R. K. Pratap, Basti, Uttar PradeshRunning BusinessAccording to N.S.V. Chittan, Member of Parliament, TMC, his cycle tyre industry situated at Tirumangalam in Madurai district is a running business till date and he has not taken any loan from the Indian Bank. Any implication to him due to the article titled "Political Jitters" (December 15, 1996), authored by Charu Lata Joshi, is regretted.-EDITORPublished By: AtMigration Published On: Sep 22, 1997--- ENDS ---
