Brutal Sport"There is nothing macho about hunting. What if men were at the receiving end of these hi-tech gizmos used to destroy our precious wildlife?"Sujata Rudra,BangaloreSadistic MachismoThe cover story on the rampant practice of hunting in the country made harrowing reading ("Anyone for Shikar?", November 2). When man himself becomes a predator, it turns into a mindless sport. All this for what? These animals are shot, clubbed to death, skinned and then eaten. Or they become mere objects of display in the living rooms of the elite. A collective blow has to be given to bring alive the comatose conscience of men who think killing animals is a grand sport. Human beings are blessed with a brain but with acts like these they turn into inhuman creatures.S. Kumar Valiathan, FaridabadIt is shocking to note that the laws of the land are openly flouted by these so-called shikaris. Not surprising because many people get away merely because they belong to the elite class with political connections. Wildlife protection obviously means nothing to them. While Union Minister for Welfare Maneka Gandhi is doing all she can to introduce an animal rights bill, people continue to flout the law. Why target scientific experiments on animals in research laboratories when the endangered species in our forests are mercilessly butchered?Sudanshu Dole, on e-mail from Cologne, GermanyThe facts, figures and graphic illustrations relating to the rampant poaching of protected animals throughout the country is not only horrifying but also brings to light an extreme form of sadistic machismo revelled in by certain "elite" sections. One would get lost in the labyrinth of the human psyche if one were to search for the causes that propel men into such acts of perversion. It took an incident involving Salman Khan to bring such atrocities to light. The protection of endangered species has never really been a serious priority with the Government and the attempts so far have been merely half-hearted. One only hopes the report will serve as an eye-opener to the concerned authorities who have it in their power to prevent the hunting of our precious wildlife.Subhra Bishnu, CalcuttaWhat is the Educational System in India Coming to?It is deplorable that certain ministers objected to the education ministers' conference beginning with the Saraswati Vandana. It has become almost a ritual with the media to justify every absurd action of the so-called secular forces in India ("Failing the Test", November 2). The article has done no justice to HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi either. It's time people did away with the mindset that everything the RSS does is wrong, BJP or no BJP, the RSS has always initiated welfare projects in our country.Sameer Kuppahalli,on e mailThe Editorial Commenting On the reference to the Saraswati Vandana as a "patently religious invocation" ("Educating Murli", November 2) and the opposition to Sanskrit as a subject taught in schools betray the secularists' hatred of the BJP. No less important is the protest by Murli Manohar Joshi and other education ministers. If ministers themselves behave in such an undignified manner, it is little wonder then that our educational institutions are churning out hooligans.Vidya Sagar, Delhi.preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}Fitting TributeIt is the powerful presence of villainy in a film that brings alive the importance of good. Ajit was one such brilliant and convincing performer. The obituary paid a fitting tribute to the great actor of yesteryears ("The Loin King", November 2). But it is sad that at his funeral few film industry people were present. How quickly fans forget people who are no longer in the limelight.V.C. Joshi, HyderabadDisappointing Tete-a-TetePrabhu Chawla's interview with Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee was disappointing ("In Coalitions Compromises are a Must", November 2). None of his questions had anything positive. For example, he asks: "Your meeting with Nawaz Sharif was a fiasco ...". Is this the way you write about your own prime minister? If you call this freedom of the press and democracy, God save you all!!Prasad Kuppa,on e-mail from Sunnyvale, CaliforniaArrogance PersonifiedThe sight of a former chief minister riding a rickshaw pulled by a fellow human being through the streets of Patna is offensive to say the least ("Eyecatchers", November 2). What exactly is Laloo Prasad Yadav trying to prove? This act reflects the arrogance of a petty dictator who is insensitive to human dignity.B. Rathnakar Rai, BangaloreInsensitive BCCIRegarding the needless controversy over cricketer Harbhajan Singh's bowling action, is there no limit to the depths the BCCI can sink ("Ugly Turn", November 2)? With blatant disregard to a sportsman's welfare, we have an official saying that just because no umpire called him the matter was kept a secret. To lower a sportsman's morale in such a backhanded manner is unforgivable. This incident may never allow Harbhajan to bowl again with confidence.Dilip Kumar, on e-mail from ChennaiLandmark JudgementThe Bombay high court ruling that in any bigamous marriage the husband has to pay alimony to the second wife is indeed a long-awaited one ("Second Wife's Rights", November 2). At last men who marry again only for monetary gains will no longer go scot-free. The flipside is that despite the ruling these embittered women will not be adequately compensated. Alimony may sustain them financially but emotionally they will remain scarred.Nalini V. , ThiruvananthapuramTranscending BarriersThe cover story on Amartya Sen was engrossing ("Poverty's Philosopher", October 26). It unmasked the corruption-tainted welfare schemes which allow the rich to get richer while the poor remain poor. The Sen index, with a total lack of academic-ideological bias, works out every aspect of wealth distribution. It is heartening to note that the Nobel committee has recognised Sen's concern for the poor. But will his "conscience of economics" go unheeded in his own native land?R. Ramasami, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu"Shiv Prakash Shukla is just another one in a long line of criminals nurtured by politicians. When the nation's custodians themselves seek the help of criminals, when will this reign of terror end?"Girish Sadhnani,Jakarta, IndonesiaFearless DisclosureIndia Today has done a great job in carrying the report on the Indrajit Ray and Anjana Mishra case ("Troubling Testimony", October 26) in which Orissa Chief Minister J.B. Patnaik allegedly protected Ray for more than a year. There was a statewide outcry against Patnaik's actions yet few publications have fully exposed the scandalous misdeeds of so-called leaders like Patnaik and Ray.Biswajit Mohanty, CuttackBiased ViewpointJairam Ramesh is not seeing information technology (IT) as a separate economic entity but as an accessory to other areas of the economy ("Net Some Savvy", October 26). He has needlessly tagged a caste card to the IT industry. He needs to be reminded that the Net has enabled the free flow of information. This has helped people make intelligent choices-perhaps an anathema to our politicians.R. Ananth Narayan, Florida, USAMisplaced PrioritiesThe offtrack on the revival of the Vishnumahayagna in Gujarat is a case of misplaced priorities ("Sacred Chant for Peace", October 26). Instead of spending lakhs of rupees in the name of religion, the money could have been used for welfare schemes for the poor. Chanting hymns may bring inner peace but when India is in the throes of religious tension it is far fetched to think a yagna will bring peace to the nation.Rajan Sharma, HoshiarpurPublished By: AtMigration Published On: Nov 16, 1998--- ENDS ---
