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April 2, 1998
SPECIALS
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How readers responded to Varsha Bhosle's last two columns
Date sent: Mono, 23 Mar 1998 15:29:16 -0500 It is nice to see someone write so boldly and openly in an Indian paper.
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 13:55:45 -0800 I read this article of yours and a couple of earlier ones. It is apparent that you posses a certain bias about one political party. Though I respect your views on the topics covered, but I don't think I would like to read them as you wrote. Expressing views is welcome but calling names or debasing is something which I personally detest. In my opinion, you are carrying honest journalism a bit too far. You might want to restrain from phrases like: "... I'm thinking: Darn Hindu fundies! Can't get anything straight. Shot the wrong darn guy in the wrong darn year! Should have shot Nehru ten years earlier..." Lucky for us you didn't shoot Nehru, but I will sure reconsider your ability as a journalist. I wish you good luck and hope you get the message. Saif
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 12:59:02 -0700 (MST) This woman states that "We know that the opinion makers (including novelists) of the US work in tandem with the Pentagon." On the other hand she seeks proof on who incited violence in Bombay. Maybe she should ask the same people who told her about the Pentagon/novelist connection. I see no difference between this woman and Uma Bharti. Just that she blurts a lot more in English. But it's garbage all the same. Rupam Raja
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 13:40:19 -0600 A very good assessment of the West's attitude towards India. They probably are more worried because they were thinking that India could be used for all their selfish ends by binding our country with chains like the WTO, GATT, NPT etc. They were quite happy to patent Neem, Turmeric, Basmati etc, so that they could make the 900 odd million population pay royalty to use any of this stuff. Last but not the least, they will even patent the air we breath and will ask us to pay for it also. They now are whining because the BJP will not allow India to be sold, so what else can they do but find fault in every move by the BJP?
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 14:51:42 -0500 This is the best analysis of recent political matters I have read. Varsha Bhosle always makes interesting reading.
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 12:30:54 -0700 Is there a direct e-mail address for Ms. Varsha Bhosle? No, I am not a hate-mailer... I was thinking of "personally" giving her kudos for her rhetoric!! Aravind Saraff
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 13:38:38 -0500 Excellent!
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 15:18:49 -0500 (EST) Hi Varsha and Rediff, I'm very very happy that people like Varsha are given chance to put their views on this platform and this is what I called journalism of courage. I was sick of those column where they try to be neutral like our previous government, if they ban one Muslim organisation they will ban one Hindu organisation. It was pathetic reading columns by renowned editors and big columnists who are very old and highly prejudiced. It is nice to hear the young generation and its neutral views without being influenced by the Nehru and Gandhi clan. I once again congratulate Varsha and Rediff on behalf of the Indian community.
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 15:20:52 -0500 Really good piece of journalism. Although some people apparently refer to you as a BJP mouthpiece, it is clear from this and a previous article you wrote that you will not spare the BJP for it's omissions. By the way the New York Times report was also carried in the Australian media. Commenting on the Indian team's performance in the Test matches, Australian newspapers reported that the Indian team is no longer deferential and that it showed strong evidence of team spirit and aggression. Maybe the new BJP government will prove not only truly secular unlike the oddities (the UF and Congress) but also move India forward in all directions. I predict that the minorities will get a equal deal as all other citizens. Isn't that what democracy is all about? V Hari
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 09:51:12 -0500 Hey Varsha, it's me, Lavanya again! Always a pleasure to read your insightful take on our political situation. Last time when Atalji became prime minister, I sent him my congratulations on the 12th day, but he resigned in 2 days! This time, I am going to wait a bit longer. Just to keep him, "Un-jinxed!" Lavanya
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 14:01:53 EST It is with great pain that I have to write this response to one of your petulant writers, Varsha Bhosle. Ms Bhosle is very narrow minded. She attacks all those journalists who are covering facts, yet she is the one who is allowed to write her opinion in your paper. Shame on you. Azhar Herndon, VA
Date sent: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 09:32:47 -0500 Wow, we are on one wavelength! I remember seeing the pictures of Sonia and Priyanka waving -- and the thing that struck me was that most Indian women who wear sarees would have thought to pull the pallu over the shoulder, so the public doesn't get to see barfy stuff. You make me happy -- keep up the good work! Ruchira Raghav
Date sent: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 14:40:08 -0500 If you really want to know what I really think, this column is disgusting, makes me want to puke. No, Ms Bhosle is not getting psychopathic, I think she already is in that state of mind. Yes, I do think it's very necessary to have dissent and criticism but I think such dissent and criticism should remain in the intellectual and ideological spheres. I don't think a web site like yours should allow your columnists to write about "sweaty armpits" and try to pass it off as comment. Please! Why does Ms Bhosle not go around examining the arm pits of her Hindu fundies and write about it? It'll make for some very exciting reading. Stooping down to such pedestrian comments to score a political point is disgusting. I think you insult the intelligence of your readers and other columnists like Dilip D'Souza and Prem Panicker who write eloquently to convey meaning. I have noticed Ms Bhosle's writing continues to get baser and plebian by the week or however often she writes. Please count readers like me out if this is your stated style.
Date sent: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 11:44:29 -0800 As often, Varsha has lost focus in this article. Consider the following: "For, the younger daughter-in-law of Mrs G said to the ToI something to the effect of, "I, too, lost a husband from the Nehru family, but I'm not running around moaning about it."" Doesn't she see the difference between Rajiv dying by an explosion meant to kill him, a victim, the perpetrator and many other innocent in a desperate attempt to keep him from coming to a position of deciding the nation's course vis a vis Sanjay's acrobats while breaking some ground rules of flying? Despite all the mistakes Rajiv may have committed, the feudalism in the G family, or the naivete of Sonia DO NOT equate the death of Sanjay and Rajiv. Have respect for whatever he did even as you are critical of his deeds. I DOUBT you will ever give YOUR life or even a limb for the nation. So do what you can with the humility of accepting the good done by those you disagree with. As long as writers like you cannot distinguish between criticising an act from the perpetrator you will NOT achieve anything but a collection of people who have all at some time or other committed a mistake. Even Lord Ram was guilty of doubting Sita. Learn more about what you talk of before you pen them down. Second: "*Huge* sweat stains around their armpits. I so desperately wanted to tell them: Please don't wave...aesthetically a little difficult to bear because it's hard to miss the stains." Ah, a typical outburst at a pointless fact that Sonia perspires! What is the purpose of this statement other than the fact that 'I don't like you'. Varsha always does that, says nasty things about someone she doesn't like, a long list of that, criticising them on things that are absolutely okay in them. In some ways she confesses it too: "I have to be my normal, scandalous, disgraceful, trashy self...the above account is infinitely boring ...Barf, barf...". Having admitted it, will she change for good? Or does she prefer to 'entertain' us with spicy trashy stories? Varsha, if you really care about the nation so much, make your contributions with that conviction. In many ways the future of India lies in moulding the opinions of millions to a collective faith. That can happen through constructive criticism, through discipline, through results orientation. Work with me here please. Puneet Singh Santa Clara, CA
Date sent: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 13:33:54 -0700 It'd do a *lot* of good for Varsha Bhosle if she cut down on childish name-calling and petty quibbling in her articles. Only helps dilute the force of her arguments. Abhay
Date sent: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 16:26:45 -0500 (EST) This has been the crudest form of criticism I have ever seen. Your pro-BJP attitude can be seen through and through, you call Atal Bihari as Atalji and Sonia a shroud. You fantasise Nehru being assassinated 10 years before Independence. With these sharp political proclivities you should be sharing platforms with the likes of Sadhvi Rithambra and Uma Bharti not writing columns. I am sorry to say your journalism lacks class and professional balance, your views are highly jaundiced. I would be happy if I don't see your columns again on Rediff. Pawan Mulani
Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 12:29:00 -0500 I thoroughly enjoy them. Keep them coming Varsha.
Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 21:20:36 -0500 This is one of the most confused columns I have ever read. The author seems to have no direction whatsoever in her arguments. I think Ms Bhosle should seriously take up another occupation if all she can do in her columns is slander and defame other people. Objectivity is definitely not her aim. From time to time I choose to read Ms Bhosle's column on Rediff for entertainment (of the crude kind). This article though didn't amuse me and cheated me of my time. Her views are based on conjecture and her emotion is extremely pretentious. I do hope she finds a focus. If India's populace leans towards Ms Bhosle's "opinions" then progress and development will be a distant dream even in god's lifetime. An avid reader
Date sent: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 22:43:25 -0500 Very good.
Date sent: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 00:18:22 -0500 (EST) Thanks for another beautifully written column from Varsha Bhosle! However, regardless of the beauty of her style, I have to admit a certain err, tiredness of this theme. Maybe I wouldn't be so tired if anyone said anything NEW, ya know!?! But every time I see a column in Rediff that has to do with politics, the name of the column and the name of the author alone is enough indication of what's actually in the column. The same style, the same content, over and over again. I mean, how much can a man take! Anyways, to get to the reason for this letter -- I would like to request Rediff to get its columnists (especially Varsha and maybe Pritish and D'Souza since they're by far the best) to branch out a little. I'm a reader and I'm bored. Tease me, titillate me, but above all, inform me. Please. Abhijit M
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 16:48:30 +0530 Is it necessary for you to keep referring to Mrs S Gandhi as "the Shroud of Turin?" You are welcome to your opinion of the lady, but why, at the same time, must you speak disparagingly of a significant religious artifact for millions of Catholics around the world? Or is it that, subconsciously or otherwise, you are the worst kind of religiously intolerant reactionary? If so, why do you not come out and say so openly? Scared? Jayant S Pimpri, Pune
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 15:34:55 -0800 First of all, the write up was utter nonsense that was not worth appearing in Rediff. Varsha Bhosle appeared to be appreciating (is it just appreciating) any move that has been made so far, even what appears to be the Cabinet formation. George Fernandes has good credentials and is appealing to everyone. For that reason he would have been acceptable to everyone no matter what the portfolio is. If someone thinks that just because he planned to bomb the rail tracks during Emergency he is fit for the job as defence minister then that is not correct. If we can follow that argument then it would say all Naxalites in Andhra Pradesh deserve to be the military commanders of India, and all hooligans of the Bombay riots deserve to be defence ministers. JP
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 17:46:40 -0800 Another good article by Varsha with her usual prejudice towards the saffron colour (not that there is anything wrong with that!). The point I miss at times is, whether Varsha is trying to be a good journalist analysing both the sides of a coin, or just prefers to be a saffron flag bearer, bashing all those who confront it? In this article for example, in criticising articles by Burns and The Times, London, she seems to totally ignore the fact that the BJP was responsible for the demolition of the mosque and the subsequent riots.
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 22:20:48 -0800 Varsha Bhosle is hundred per cent correct that among other papers The New York Times correspondent and editorials have not printed anything about the BJP a single time without the word Hindu preceding it. Not only the report and editorials are motivated but The New York Times does not publish the opposition views or shows any sentiment to the feelings of Indian readership or truth. Even the translation of Hindi names of organisations such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were inaccurate in recent article. Like a big propaganda machine NYT has needlessly hurt the feelings of millions of people of Indian origin in this country. NYT does not take this liberty with other Asian and European communities. Rasik Sanghvi
Date sent: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 15:40:04 -0500 This was a most enjoyable piece. I found myself laughing. Varsha Bhosle was well Varsha. Maybe not, she didn't spare the BJP. Keep up the good work. I am sure Varsha will have a lot of things to say about our new government. A friend of mine told me that he had till recently considered Varsha to be a Hindu fundamentalist. But, he said after reading a few of her recent articles that she mostly speaks the truth, except that the truth is often not palatable. Keep up the good work Varsha, and don't spare anyone even if they are of the BJP family!
Date sent: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 12:49:35 -0800 (PST) When did Rediff On The NeT become Fetish Next? Check out: "By now, I was drenched in sweat, and really smelling some. " V Bhosle in "Oh, for an ink-remover..." "BTW, did any of you see The Shroud and Daughter's pictures or news clips showing them waving to the crowds at Sriperumbudur? *Huge* sweat stains around their armpits. I so desperately wanted to tell them: Please don't wave your arms about like windmills -- it's aesthetically a little difficult to bear because it's hard to miss the stains." V. Bhosle in "Thirteen at the table". |
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