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April 2, 1998
SPECIALS
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How readers responded to Varsha Bhosle's earlier columns
Date sent: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 11:54:05 -0500 Varsha, that was great. Keep it up. In the Left controlled media, I find at least one who is bold enough to say whatever she says. Amar
Date sent: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 12:44:31 -0500 Excellent!! Pleasurable (and amusing) to read. Keep up the good work!
R Manglik
Cincinnati
Date sent: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 22:40:02 +0530 Keep it up! We are with you.
Shashi Bhushan Tyagi
Medellin, Colombia
Date sent: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 12:07:58 +0000 This was the first time that I read an article which made me think. Think for a long time. I have always believed it was a mistake in declaring India as a secular nation when the maximum population is Hindus. Doesn't it look absurd that in the whole wide world, Nepal is the only Hindu nation. Oh well...what is done is done. Now we have to live with it. Muslims in India should learn to respect the nation. It is so difficult for me to understand why there are celebrations in the Muslim community when Pakistan wins a cricket match against India. Think people... think. Regarding Atalji becoming prime minister...can someone suggest anyone capable enough in the present scenario to lead the country? Congress -- don't even think about it. A party which relies on a foreign national for its existence... nah! United Front -- how many chances can you can give a party? I wouldn't say anything against the Gujral government but then again it was the Congress who betrayed them just for the political ambitions of their party president. I don't hold anything against the Muslim community and I believe even the BJP doesn't. Why would a learned person like Sikandar Bakht be a part of their team? I just wish Muslims could be a part of the nation. Kudos to Varsha for writing such an article....it was a pleasure reading it. Diwakar Prasad
Date sent: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 09:56:40 -0800 I am a big fan for the plainspeak I read in Varsha Bhosle's column. Most often I agree with her views, out of sheer desperation at the political deadlock of the Congress and the hydra-headed UF and regional parties. I agree with her about the deathward spiral that the CPI-M government has induced in West Bengal. On a different topic, I would like to ask her to comment on the movie Saaz -- how close to reality was it (I understand there were many instances of poetic licenses in the movie). I have no idea who Iqbal Masud is, and from what Varsha has written about him, I have no disagreement. I do know Ms Azmi a bit -- and am writing about that. In particular about the following sentence in Varsha's most recent article "Hindutva Rules, Communism Drools" where she stated "However, people like Azmi howl about secularism -- and then go to the US to help collect funds for just the "Muslim Indian" (and not Indian Muslim) community. Not for the needy of all communities -- but just one community." I have been involved in raising funds for a small NGO named Swanirvar working in 16 villages near Calcutta, primarily because one of our closest friends from college left science and went back to do this. In that context, I had the opportunity to meet Shabana Azmi on one of her trips to Los Angeles. She showed a deep concern for the poor of the village, and there was nothing about "Indian Muslims" or any particular caste or ethnicity. In these villages, surprisingly the attendance at the schools this NGO runs is higher among girls than boys and she was interested in learning more about that. Shabana may have said something about the "shahadat of the Babri Masjid" and I think she is entitled to her views on that. But I have to say that my one experience with her in the USA is not as Varsha states in her article.
Siddharth Dasgupta
Pasadena, CA
Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 08:06:15 -0800 Capital punishment is a deterrent if it is carried equitably and enforced unilaterally. Saudi Arabia does not pardon thieves and murderers, they have a few but very few. The bleeding Christian evangelists have nothing better to do than to poke holes into every society's judicial systems and find sypathisers. Where was their Christianity during the Jalianwalla Bagh killings? India's judicial system came from England and now some points of jurisprudence has been added from the USA, for countries that institutionalised racism we have nothing to learn from them. In America we have every family armed to the teeth and confrontations are violent. There is no safe city in America where one can go about safely in the day or night. Death penalty should be carried out for murder. If Rajiv Gandhi's killers can get a death penalty by just associating with the actual killer, then why not the murderer of a common citizen?
Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 14:28:49 PST Has again delivered a great article -- sensitive, biased, and juicy. Indeed, the world is divided on the subject of death penalty, and your article addresses some of the concerns. Ignoring your right wing attitude for a moment, it is pertinent to determine whether the recommended therapy is right for modern society. Death penalty is not a means to an end. Although it may have the sanctions of various religions (Hinduism and Islam) as indicated in your article, it is essential to understand why this practice faded over time? I don't think it has anything to do with Christian beliefs/Western influence? As with other practices which have undergone the evolutionary process, death penalty too must have phased out. Perhaps, it was considered animistic and ancient? According to me, we as members of an evolved society are solely responsible for determining the gravity of punishment. Unlike animals, we have the power to think, and therefore, such a punishment needs evaluation on a case to case basis. If no human law can fully deter evil, then is killing (and therefore death penalty) a solution? Your article, contradicts some of your own premises! For instance, if quality of life solely depended on law and order, then murder should have been wiped from Singapore, and some Islamic countries? Also, if jail terms only produced hardened criminals, then countries like India must be infested by them. As a suggestion, don't let your personal biases influence your articles. It only creates confusion, consequently, the message gets distorted. At times I wonder whether you had bad experiences with Christians, Muslims and the western World. Since you have made your RIGHT WING EMOTIONS obvious, you need not delve on it anymore!! Please use your PEN/TALENTS wisely. There are better things happening in this world. Love you.
Date sent: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 23:48:51 -0500 I became a new fan of Varsha Bhosle. I started reading her articles since election time. Now whenever I visit Rediff, I look for her article. I have even told all my friend about it.
Mehul
NY
Date sent: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 15:26:14 -0800 It was an interesting article by Varsha, for a change. The debate on whether capital punishment is justified or not has been going on for long in all parts of the world. I agree with Varsha that the current correction system is very ineffective and it does not affect the criminal minds in jails in anyway. So, if people who have committed heinous crimes are left free, it would send the wrong signals. I guess we could live with that inhuman side of the society if it contributes to refrain people from killing others. Yes, hang'em high!
Yaji
San Diego
Date sent: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 15:41:59 -0800 Why isn't Varsha Bhosle the adviser to the Indian president? Except for her support for Thackeray, she's one lady completely after my own heart. Way to go Varsha! Vinod
Date sent: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 14:24:40 -0500 (EST) Varsha Bhosle is right on in her column about the death penalty. India should not be bogged down by Christian concepts of right and wrong. We should learn a lesson from Asia, which despite of all its economic success, successfully retained its "Asian-ness." Keep 'em comin', Varsha!
Date sent: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 15:24:50 -0500 A good topic to be discussed but from a writer who doesn't know how to put the things across. I am not against hangings. I am for it. I have voted for it in the Rediff poll. But when quoting certain examples one should count the words. Varsha says, "for they know not what they do." From this *idiotic bundle of Christian* thought stems the Western liberal's denial of the death penalty." Our life is not what the RSS and VHP people did in Ayodhya. Babar lived 400 years ago, he did not receive much education. While 400 years later -- when the world has progressed -- the Babri Masjid is still demolished and hundreds are killed in the ensuing riots. Also many others are killed in bomb blasts in other cities. This is because of wrong teachings. Forgiveness is the ultimate in human life. When you write something like this, please look into the past. I have read Gopal Godse's interview on this site before. It is unfortunate that he calls himself happy and fortunate to be part of the team that killed the Mahatma. I don't know what the author will say against Gopal Godse. I still would like to know what the author is going to recommend for political killers who ruin the entire nation for a long time. And those people who ruined an entire set of people for such a long time in the history in the name of untouchability. This kind of emotional writing will never do any good. It is because of the above phrase that the Bible has been translated into as many languages in the world. This life made for you. Enjoy it. Follow good teachings and make it happier for yourself and the entire human race. Please stop writing this kind of stuff.
Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 10:10:08 -0800 This is a very nice column and I agree with Varsha. Give my regards to Varsha.
Rajesh Adhikari
Sunnyvale, CA
Date sent: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 14:28:27 -0800 Another one, bang on target. Keep up the good work!
Date sent: Fri, 27 Mar 1998 13:36:05 -0800 (PST) Dear Ms Bhosle, I've been reading your articles on Rediff for quite some time now. And I must say that they are really interesting. You have a very different style of putting forth your thoughts, which I'm sure you must've heard from thousands of other readers. I've also been regularly reading your articles on the election campaign. You definitely are very open about your hatred for the Congress government, its leaders and members. Plus a well nurtured hatred for the Gandhis. I have nothing to say against that since it is your personal point of view. But I feel that you are being a little too harsh on the Congress. One gets the feeling that you've been personally hurt and betrayed by the Congress government, which I shall assume is not the case. I, too, don't think that the Congress government, if at all it comes to power, is going to perform a miracle and change the course of the current Indian situation. But I also don't think that the BJP or any other party for that matter can do much different. Plus, I don't find any of the BJP or Shiv Sena (for which you seem to have a big soft corner) leaders worth their talks and election promises. One thing people say is that none of these parties or leaders have got a chance to prove their mettle. Well, if they were really as good as they project themselves or you project them to be then they should've been successful in the selected few chances they had in forming a government. In fact, I feel that as of right now there's no party or leader (a few exceptions might just exist) who is truly and honestly committed to improving India's present standing. All of them are mere opportunists who are trying to hold reign for as long as they can and make hay while the sun shines. We have umpteen number of cases to prove this fact right. Some are power hungry and some are in it for financial gains. And due to this nature of theirs, people like you and me get crushed in this system and feel frustrated with it. Hence, your articles. I hope you understand that I have nothing against your writings which, I say again, is very interesting and entertaining at the same time. Most of us Indians, barring a small percentage of people or your kind (since I get the feeling that you are a more practical person than an emotional one) are emotional people. These politicians tap this emotional nerve of the country, with topics such as Ayodhya and other religious things, and try to get votes. There are many, many other things that need to be taken care of as soon as possible in this country rather than building a temple or a mosque. Even though Mr Bal Thackeray's statement of building a national monument there is to get the positive attention of the Muslims, it is the most apt suggestion. If the BJP says that it is not anti-Muslim and other Muslim parties or leaders say that they have nothing against the Hindus or their temples, then no one should really complain against the national monument there. I do agree that Hinduism is the primary religion of India. But the way you say it in your articles makes one think that you are anti-non-Hindus. I guess that this view of yours could act like fuel for the Hindu-Muslim war. I also agree that no Christian or Muslim or Jew or anyone for that matter should try and convert someone. Religion is a very personal thing and should be observed behind closed doors. After years of this debate over religion our country should've realised by now that religion is in no way important for the country's progress. And, I feel, it is this religiously emotional nature of the people of India that has made them elect the Gandhis till date and making them sit up and notice Sonia Gandhi. What is the country going to gain now, after 10 years, if the Bofors deal details come out? Just because Mr Vajpayee has been unanimously elected as the "finest parliamentarian" doesn't mean he cannot or will not lie. I guess the basic criteria required to become a politician is that one should be able to lie with a straight face. I maybe wrong in some things that I've mentioned. Or maybe, because basically I'm not a writer by nature or profession I may not have been able to project my thoughts rightly. But I would really appreciate your response to this mail. Nadeem Chini
Date sent: Tue, 24 Mar 98 17:05:07 UT An excellent article with factual information. It is sad to note how and to what extent the Western media is resorting to denigrate India and its Hindu culture. They don't say who was responsible for the division of India on the basis of religion. In the whole world, this is the only country divided on the basis of religion and at an enormous cost. Almost a million people were killed. All this to satisfy fundamentalism. Are Western countries prepared to divide America or UK on the basis of religion? This could happen in India because Hindus are tolerant, nonviolent and wedded to Ahimsa with their angelic ethos. Indian journalists should counter the misinformation campaign with malicious intentions against India. Western journalists should go and live in smaller towns and villages of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sudan and other Muslim countries and report what is happening from there. Western journalists should be given a historical perspective regarding the most ghastly aspects of their past compared to the most compassionate, understanding, accommodating universal philosophy, values and ethos of India and Hindus (for which they have paid dearly with their 1,000 year slavery under foreign rule). At one time in the history of mankind, two religions, namely Christianity and Islam, brought untold death and destruction with massacres and conversions, and brought the world under their control. This is the truth. Western journalists should be constantly reminded of this -- their occupation and subjugation of other people, racism, colonialism and umpteen number of evils. None of these evils are associated with Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs -- all born from India. Is Rediff on The NeT prepared to bring this out and defend India, its mighty civilisation, glorious past, its humanitarian universal message? Please defend mother India at this hour of need.
Date sent: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 14:28:27 -0800 Varsha deserves kudos for her bold article. Vijay
Date sent: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 22:02:46 -0600 I have never read very good punch lines from Indian journalists. But Varsha seems to be different. She is good in giving that culminating touch. Her defence of the BJP from the international media is simply outstanding. I have read many of Varsha's articles and have, more often, been her critic. That, being derived out of my political beliefs is beyond the scope of this feedback. Within India, political parties can be viewed (and should be viewed) in subjective terms. But not in the international media. They better be objective. And Varsha has rightly pointed out. This takes me to the year 1989 when Iran and other Gulf countries openly preached for a Congress government at the Centre only to realise their mistakes soon. Kudos to you madam. From now onwards, I have decided to offer you issue-based support for your articles.
Date sent: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 21:43:46 EST I just read two articles by Varsha Bhosle. They are matter-of-fact analyses, to the point, eye-openers. She has a piercing intellect and possesses good humour too. I wish her all success and will be looking forward to future columns.
Uppunda V Bhat
Plainsboro, New Jersey
Date sent: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 13:31:00 -0800 I will not single out any particular column, but I have begun to like Varsha Bhosle's style of writing. Sreenivas Bhashyam
Date sent: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 11:00:23 -0500 First, let me say that your columns are nicely and clearly written. However, here are my thoughts about this article. 1. India was never a single country like England, Japan, or US. It was a collection of different kingdoms ruled by different kings and inhabited by different people speaking different languages, living in different styles. This is the main reason we had everyone or anyone from outside come to India and do whatever he or she wanted to do. 2. Because of this difference, there was never a feeling in anyone that they belonged to a single country called India. They always belonged to either Maharashtra, or Mysore, or Delhi, or Bengal. Thus, one united India was never in their mind. 3. If you look into history, or from the facts that you have presented, it is clear that everyone wanted to be in power. Ambhi helped Alexander because he wanted to be in power. Thus, the same heritage continues even now. These things are a shame. Yes, I agree that these may not be shameful for men like Kesri, Laloo, V N Gadgil, and other Congress and UF politicians. But, it is shameful for educated Indians to see that their country might be ruled by an alien who came to India not because she loved it, but because she married an Indian. I wonder what these people would have done if Sonia had married an ordinary Indian man and then tried to become an MP, let alone a PM. You have mentioned that Satyanarayana compared Sonia to Mother Teresa. Well, there is a difference here. Sonia did not come to India to work or to do social help. She came because she married Rajiv. This is the main difference. I really wonder how much knowledge Sonia, as a person who always travels everywhere under SPG guard, has about the plight of the average Indian. Anyway, even though we have shown this type of behaviour in the past, it is a shame that the ugly part of history is repeating itself. Uday |
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