Letters

Battle lines

The Cover Story was a hard-hitting analysis of the current political situation ("The battle lines", February 27). Both the BJP and the Congress have understood the forumula of success: lure the regional parties, film stars, sportspersons and businessmen. In this round of general elections, too, the regional parties will play a decisive role in government formation.

The BJP may be accused of exploiting the government exchequer for electoral gain and banking on the "feel good factor", which is non-existent for about 50 per cent of the population. The Congress, which ruled the nation for about 40-years after Independence, is seen as a faction-ridden and tired party. The people should vote for a party that is honest and committed to develop India.

Akhil Kumar Delhi* * *

Seeking votes in the name of Ram is risible ("Back to Ayodhya", February 27). The Ayodhya issue should not figure in the BJP's election manifesto. For five years, when it was in power, the BJP could not take up the issue. Now it talks of Ayodya to win votes. People should see through this and vote for a secular party.

A. Vinoo Fabian Bangalore* * *

The Opposition, besides exposing the hollowness of the claims about the "feel good factor", should present an alternative that would make people feel good really.

A. Jacob Sahayam ThiruvananthapuramHutton's report

This has reference to "The Hutton twist" (February 27). Lord Hutton's report amounts to giving legitimacy to unlawful acts. Iraq has been destabilised by propagating lies. What Hutton has found is an island of truth in an ocean of lies.

N.D. Sharma Jabalpur, Madhya PradeshCommunal attacks

The attacks made on the Christian missionaries and their institutions in Jhabua by religious fanatics have to be condemned ("Terror in Jhabua", February 27). But it is not correct to describe the attempt to spread Hinduism among tribal people as a grand conspiracy and treat similar efforts made by Christians as `social service'. The Sewa Bharati or any such organisation has the same rights as the Christian missionaries to spread their religion.

T. Sankar BangaloreNuclear power

Thanks for a splendid set of articles on the uses of atomic energy ("DAE at 50", February 27). Certainly, this technology is not new to the Indian mind, nor did we acquire it through unfair means.

Exploiting thorium to meet the primary energy needs of India is an even greater idea. France receives 74 per cent of its primary energy from nuclear sources. There is vast scope for improvement from the 3 per cent India currently generates. This would also minimise our dependence on hydro-electricity.

Malolan Cadambi Texas, U.S.* * *

The Special Feature on the Department of Atomic Energy was informative and educative. The country has made impressive progress in using nuclear energy for constructive purposes. However, as a person who was connected with the Department for over 30 years in various capacities, I feel that the feature could have covered the contributions made by Dr. Bhabha's successors, their viewpoints, and so on.

The best kept secret of the world is the contributions made by scientists and engineers beyond the successful l974 experiments. Indian scientists and engineers declared their boundless faith in Dr. Bhabha's prophecy that the "feasibility of generating electricity by atomic energy will be demonstrated beyond doubt" - as stated in the concluding session of the first Geneva conference. The prophecy has come true.

A.S. Raj Received on e-mailMind matters

The facts about the functioning of the human brain are fascinating ("Mind matters", February 27). Certainly, brain is the most mysterious part of the human body.

As suggested by Moises Gaviria, Professor of Psychiatry from the United States, the government should treat mental health as a public health issue.

G.E.M. Manoharan, CoimbatoreTaslima Nasreen

The genocidal violence against the members of the minority community in Narendra Modi's Gujarat is the best example that can be cited in support of Taslima Nasreen's argument in her interview to Frontline: "Fundamentalism with the support of a government, can become dangerously powerful" (February 13).

The author has expressed her disillusionment over the way women are treated as second class citizens in Islam ("I believe no religion gives women freedom"). However, this is true of even the "enlightened and civilised" Western society. Full emancipation of women has not been achieved anywhere in the world. Let us hope that through her crusade against fundamentalism and struggle for the "secularisation of Islamic countries" and women's emancipation, Taslima will once again prove the adage, "The pen is mightier than the sword."

K.P. Rajan MumbaiIndia shining

This refers to "Whose India is shining?" by Jayati Ghosh (February 27). In the last five years of National Democratic Alliance rule we heard only about corruption, hunger deaths, jobless growth, displacement of working people, and so on.

Yes, it is true that a small part of India is shining. It consists of less than 10 per cent of our population. This section benefited by the neoeconomic reforms at the cost of the majority people of this country. But, we must remember, this section was always shining and was never in trouble.

Hari VirudhunagarMysore

In "A city in transition" (February 13), it is stated that Mysore reached its zenith during the rule of Chamaraja Wadeyar (1895-1940). This is not correct. The credit should to Krishnaraja Wadeyar IV who was the Maharaja during that period.

N.V. Suryanarayana New York