WAL-MARTISING India is not a welcome proposition (Cover Story, July 13). People want modernisation but not at the cost of small vendors and family shops. If inequalities widen, the "retail revolution" cannot be successful.
Abhinandan Prasad BangaloreBIG retailers such as Reliance, Metro and Big Bazaar have set up shop all over big cities and towns, and people are flocking to these places for heavy discounts on clothes, foods, fruits, vegetables and groceries and to enjoy the cool, clean environment. Consumers are treated like kings. The retail boom provides benefits to farmers and employment to lakhs of educated youth who are happy to join this sector despite low wages; they do not mind selling fruits and vegetables in a mall. The impact of big retailers on small retail business is being felt. A balance must be found to secure the latter's interests.
Akhil Kumar New DelhiWITHOUT a level playing field, the street vendor can hardly take on the mammoths in the fray. The Central and State governments have a role to play here. Industrial houses also have a responsibility to see that the weak are not trampled upon.
N. Krishnamurthy New DelhiTHE attractive appearance and offers of discount draw customers to the big retail chains in shopping malls. The adverse effects of this emerging trend is clear in both rural and urban areas. The government should intervene to reverse it.
Sipra Sagarika CuttackTHE "gender factor" discussed in the Cover Story is not restricted to shopping malls alone. Every day I receive one or two calls from banks selling credit cards or personal loans: I have never received a call in a male voice. Every time it is a girl. People tend to pay more attention to female voices than to male voices. Even doctors, lawyers, travel agencies and yoga consultants have started hiring women to deal with clients. Unfortunately, when it comes to more responsible roles, men are usually preferred.
Harshdeep Singh Rapal Patiala, PunjabTHE entry of multinational corporations in the retail business will have a great impact on the livelihoods of small traders and hawkers, but there are many questions that need to be answered. How long will the inefficient management of the supply chain continue? At present, farmers do not get remunerative prices for their produce and consumers pay more than they should. The entry of big players is unavoidable. But effective rehabilitation measures and proper regulations are necessary.
Suresh Nandigam Hanuman Junction, A.P.Salman RushdieTHE article "Knight in need of armour" rightly pointed out that a knighthood is no big deal (July 13). However, the repeated reference to Rushdie as "Sir Salman" in the article was incongruous.
Raghuram Ekambaram New Delhi1857The fact that the Barrackpur mutiny of 1824 was a harbinger of the revolt of 1857 should have been mentioned in your Cover Story of June 29 ("The call of 1857"). To refer to the revolt as a "sepoy mutiny" was a ploy of the victors to undermine its significance.
Kaushik Datta KolkataA national uprisingTHE mutiny of 1857 was the first step towards popular insurrection. Apart from the sepoys, millions of Indians, irrespective of their religious persuasion, took part in the rebellion. The decisive evidence of the national character of the mutiny is the communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims. All British efforts to drive a wedge between them failed at that time. Some historians regard the revolt of 1857 as a feudal revolt. But the revolt changed the rhythm of life for the nation.
The Mughal emperor prohibited cow slaughter to conciliate Hindus. In a letter to the Rajas of Rajputana, the emperor wrote thus: "It is my ardent wish to see that the Feringis are driven out of Hindustan by all means and at any cost." Nana Saheb declared his allegiance to the emperor. The reviving of memories of 1857 will remind the people that strength lies in unity.
H. Syed Mathani Tiruchy, Tamil NaduAnnoucementLetters, whether by surface mail or e-mail, must carry the full postal address and the full name, or the name with initials.
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