Have the guts to get purdah removed?
Do K Veeramani and company have the guts to organise a purdah removal programme and the talaq rights of Muslim men for the emancipation of Muslim women? (“In Tamil Nadu, rationalists find scant political support for beef banquet, mangalsutra-removal fest”) It is to be noted that purdah has increased and even a large section of Tamil Muslims who never wore purdah have started wearing it.
He should understand that weakening the Hindu ethos is weakening the whole of India. – JR Krishnan
Modi's 2ab
Back in 2000-2001, while studying at City Montessori School in Lucknow, I first heard about the present context (presumably) of the '2ab' expression from Rajnath Singh (“From loving his German shepherd to 2ab: Did Prime Minister Modi really say that?”). The audience consisted of 14-17 year old students from across the country who had gathered there for a science festival. Many of us knew Singh as a physics lecturer-turned-politician, then the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
Singh explained that when a student grows individually they can progress from being a to a^2, or from b to b^2. But when they collaborate, their growth can lead them from being a+b to a^2+b^2 as well as an additional 2ab. In other words, collaborative growth leads to outcomes better than those from individual growth.
Irrespective of whether Singh's analogy was appropriate, it's obvious that either Narendra Modi did not understand what he was saying (blame those speech writers, or perhaps Singh!), or he completely forgot to explain the background. – Manish Kushwaha
Urdu: the love of the language
The reason Urdu literature is dying is very simple (“Looking in vain for Urdu in New Delhi’s world of books”). The only people publishing in the language are doing it out of love for the language and from their own money. My mother, Zakia Mashhadi, and father have had collections of Urdu short stories to their name, and they themselves have paid to get it published. And these are the people who have had PhD-level research done on their style of writing and enjoy considerable acclaim in the Urdu world. – Jahanzeb Mashhadi
Who questioned Manmohan on coal blocks?
Arnab Goswami and Rajdeep Sardesai are the stooges of the media after the Congress regime decimation that went all out to demean the Bharatiya Janata Party (“Why I love Arnab Goswami: he's the Dhoni and Salman Khan of Indian TV”). Rajdeep went overboard when he was jeered by a crowd in the United States during our Prime Minister's visit when he started discussing Indian politics with them. It is like Mark Tully asking people in Jhajjar about their views on Republican/Democrat spat in the USA.
Arnab, cosily ensconced in his studio armchair, questioned General VK Singh's momentous courage in leading from the front in the evacuation of Indians from Yemen. None of these so-called shining stars of Indian media are discussing the dereliction of duty by Manmohan Singh in the allotment of coal blocks at the instance of you know who, or the grabbing of land by the son-in-law of the nation in Haryana. – Vinayak Degwekar
Zero in international relations
What is the point of India asking for membership in the Security Council? (“Permanent membership of UN Security Council ‘our right’, says Modi”) India has been zero in international relations, besides being deficient in comprehending and reacting to complicated issues. It is intellectually not mature enough to formulate an independent foreign policy strategy.
In practice, India being a US stooge will do the bidding of the US and vote the US-Israeli way. – Eddie Ray
***
Because of its large population, strategic position and economic potential, India should be a permanent member of the UN Security Council. – Ken Robbins
Refreshing to read Aakar Patel
Thank you for writing the article about the apathy towards the poor (“Encounter killings: Middle-class India doesn't care about either blue-collar workers or Muslims”). Despite her own history of blatant racism, the average white American is more likely to identify, at least in some minimal way, with the black American, than the privileged Indian with the poor.
The poor might as well live on a different planet, as far as most of us are concerned. Is this not a function of caste in some fundamental way? There is a generational depth to both privilege and poverty which is absolutely staggering. Has any other country produced middle-class as twisted, myopic, and hypocritical? – Beboval
***
Its truly refreshing to read anything written by Aakar Patel these days. The Indian media today is full of idiocy to be blunt there. And in all this quagmire of bunkum, Patel comes across as something really soothing because in a way he sort of rekindles faith in us regarding the media, a faith which is non-existent today. – Adnan Yousuf
***
I am an Indian, I am the middle class. I see the cold-blooded atrocities, killing of handcuffed prisoners in the name of self-defence, massacre of hapless woodcutters also in the name of self-defence, as all encounters are. I see small boys and girls falling into open bore wells, I see innocent young boys arrested in the name of prevention of terrorism. I see so much that I wish it did not happen, I wish I could prevent it, I wish I could take action against it. I wish I could at least write about it, I wish I could shout about it. But I am helpless, I am voiceless, and I am a coward. I do not have the means to fight injustice; my own family is a victim of gross and crass injustice, fraud and deceit, a victim of women's activism. Still, I am helpless. All I can do is pray, pray to my God to bring peace and justice in the world. That I keep doing, hoping one day I will be heard. – Dr Fazlulla Khan
India, Pak are just political boundaries
India and Pakistan are just political boundaries established for political parties to settle scores. People never wanted a Partition. We need more people like Nandita Das to travel across the border and find similarities despite the political and geographical differences that exist merely on maps and not in hearts of people on both sides (“If you haven’t seen Lahore, you haven't even been born”). – Sai Yash
Pakistan, save thyself!
I suppose many in Pakistan might possibly hate Shehzad Ghias Shaikh after this write-up (“For Pakistan to save itself, it has to let go of the Idea of Pakistan”). He's turned his back on his country, possibly his faith and shamed his motherland. If the current anti-rape movement has taught me anything, it is that incredibly more people are enraged by the fact that the world now knows Indian women experience sexual violence than the fact that Indian women experience sexual violence in the first place. The concept of 'face' in South Asian countries and what it means for South Asians cannot be underestimated.
Still it is a brave act, even a daring one, considering Pakistan's blasphemy laws. I am sure the average Pakistani just wants to earn an honest day's living and live his/her life. Hopefully this starts a conversation among Pakistanis to reclaim their country and shape it into the land of their dreams. – Sanyukta Banerjie
Kancha Ilaiah's caste obsession
Professor Kancha Illaiah is so intelligent that he can relate a flight accident too to an upper and lower caste issue ("Beef ban is an attempt to impose upper-caste culture on other Hindus: Kancha Ilaiah"). Over a period of time, people, in the name of democracy, have learnt the art of negating any rule made by the government. – Hanumaiah Malladi
Muslims and conversions
What does the data on Muslim population say on conversions in India? I understand the Pew report did not focus on conversions but it might be a more convincing and hard-hitting point to make if we have that data down as well (“Five charts that puncture the bogey of Muslim population growth”). – Monica Hariharan
Who's an extremist now?
Your article on the Hindu extremists in India is highly prejudiced, inaccurate and without credible evidence (“Most extremists in India are not Muslim – they are Hindu”). Our media is either run by Muslims who are xenophobic or by ignorant Hindus who see themselves as secular. Your writers and editors are the pathetic remnants of 65 years of Nehruvian coddling of the "minority" Muslims.
Poor Muslims, according to you, being bashed by the belligerent Hindus. Just remember the vast majority of Indians do not think Hindus are fanatic no matter how loud you yell in your despicable columns. India has Modi and the BJP and no one listens to your prattles. Muslims, like Christians, have the same rights as Hindus in India and they just have to work harder, be patriotic and quit putting their religion above the unity of the nation. If they do that and not proselytise Hindus they will have no problems.
I predict your lying media source will die and disintegrate soon. Then your editors and reporters can watch how India marches forward. – Byravan Viswanathan
***
I have never seen as much biased anti-national reporting done by even the so-called secular newspaper as is done by you. As General VK Singh said, you are a perfect description of 'presstitutes'.
Why is there no story of the forceful conversion of 800 Valmikis to Islam in a Muslim majority district with a Muslim MP? Unfortunately, in your eyes, it is secular. However, 'gharwapsi' even if not coerced is communal. When churches are attacked, you will be the first to blame the so-called Hindu extremists, and if police verification is found against your baseless charges, you will not have the decency to clear it. When Hindu processions or temples are attacked by a certain community, then there is not a word from you because it will destroy the so called 'communal' balance.
You seem to be the breed of journalists that is found in Jammu and Kashmir, whose media is funded and influenced by Pakistan. The BJP has gained power because of the hypocrisy of the so-called secular lot. They have not created any division, but just filled the vacuum that was created by selective secularism of the so-called 'liberals'. We need true liberalism, not the one portrayed by people who are funded and paid by foreigners like Teesta Setalvad and the Ford Foundation. – Vishesh Da
Women and literary awards
It was indeed a pleasure to read Nabina Das’ article, and I concede I share the same views on fresh women writers being left behind in the race to bag the awards (“Why don’t we have more women on literary award shortlists?”). One apparent reason why we do not see real good literature making it to the awards is the publishers' bad marketing skills. We have seen big publishers like Penguin Random House, Hachette, Bloomsbury and many more, creating a whole marketing story around their releases, investing big bucks and getting people to read what they want them to read. Thus, we see marketing and publicity playing a big role in bringing a book to the front page.
Further, I just finished reading a book, Dear Mrs Naidu, by famous writer, activist, educator Mathangi Subramanian and I fall short of words in praising this book. I feel this is precisely the kind of books we should make our children read, for they would set their basics right. Interestingly, this book has been published by a publisher which actively advocates feminist writings, Zubaan. So, I see the sun rising somewhere in the near vicinity.
How easy things would be if we see zenith walking towards us as much as we are walking towards it, isn't it?- Cheena Chopra
***
First the disclaimer: I haven't read too many books. But going by all my recent reads, I seem to have read more of Indian women writers, than of others. Maybe it's because of the (online) company that I keep. Since you invited readers to come up with a list, here's mine:
Judy Balan, Sowmya Rajendran, Anuja Chauhan, Manreet Sodhi, Himanjali Sankar, Bhargavi Balachandran, Jane D' Souza, Uma Sundaram.
I haunt (rather used to haunt) many blogs, and there are a lot more writers taking tentative steps towards writing. I'm sure that women's fiction is alive and kicking. Just wait a bit longer and there's going to be one that really lands where it matters. – Old Timer
Two Muslim doctors saved Bal Thackeray’s life
Sanjay Raut’s appeal/order for revoking voting rights of Muslims neither shocked nor disturbed me (“Sanjay Raut's demand to cancel Muslim voting rights isn't surprising: Bigotry is in the Sena's DNA”). Just to update, a few days ago India got its twentieth Chief Election Commissioner, Sayed Nasim Ahmed Zaidi. Of course, Raut is not aware of this because he publishes and reads a newspaper called Saamna whose three pages out of four are dedicated to hatred towards Muslims, and the fourth page to entertainment news criticising Shah Rukh Khan.
Raut is in power for the last five months, but only for the second time, even though his party has been on the political map since the last 40 years. This is because he always used goons to set his political bench. The current 17 MPs out of 18 from Shiv Sena have criminal charges against them.
Even after all the oppression, we were still loyal to Bal Thackeray. When some Mumbai hospitals denied admitting him because of him being critically ill, it was two Muslim doctors Dr Jalil and Dr Ahmed Ansari from Lilavati Hospital who treated him. - Faiyaz Shaikh
Delight to read about Bahrisons
I read about the history of Bahrisons and it's amazing as well as inspiring (“How Bahrisons Delhi has been romancing books since 1953”). It was quite a delight to read it. – Syed Amjad Ali
***
We were regular visitors of Khan Market from 1957 to 1964, then a sleepy market, and from 1980 to 2006. We are witness to its gradual transformation into an upmarket area. Bahrisons was very much in our itinerary along with a footpath bookstore selling second hand books. I think the politician mentioned in the article was Jagpravesh Chandra, who had a flat on the first floor in the market. – Aruna Patel Vajpeyi
Ajaz Ashraf, unofficial spokesperson of Kejriwal
Ajaz Ashraf is a journalist from Delhi and an unofficial spokesperson for Arvind Kejriwal (“Kejriwal has won the skirmish against Bhushan and Yadav. Now comes the main battle”). – Rudra Prayag
Happy to see positivity for Ambedkar
The story about singer Manjeet Mehra was excellent (“A charismatic singer spreads Ambedkar's message, one sleepless night at a time"). I got to know many important things and am happy to see that people think positively about BR Ambedkar instead of criticising him for reservation. – Ashay Kamble
Indians helpful to the disabled
It is too much to expect India to be par with other developed countries in dealing with disabled people (“Sipping margarita with a straw: disabled people are subject to ritual humiliation all the time”). It was only some 20 years ago that the United Kingdom passed laws for accessibility for the disabled. Even today, not all organisations comply fully with the law.
Our local hospital has no facilities in the X-ray department for wheelchair users to change clothes. At a personal level, Indians are very helpful and accommodating to disabled people. This is more important than their inability correctly react to the disabled. I am sure given time and awareness, Indians will be at par with others. – Sudhir Buch
***
I really hope the film Margarita With A Straw opens up people’s opinion towards such subjects. I feel saddened by the state of movies in India and my wish is that more movies like these are made on real issues than the staple fare of action and romance served every Friday. I’d like to recommend a few good movies on this subject which I’ve really liked and show a far better maturity in cultures outside India, even an authoritarian nation like Iran.
1. The Colour of Paradise, Iran, Majid Majidi - about a blind boy and his wish to be accepted as normal while a single father struggles with societal norms.
2. The Willow Tree, Iran, Majid Majidi - a very interesting story on how life suddenly changes for a blind man whose eyesight has been cured
3. The Intouchables, France - This has been in my watchlist for a long time now. This article reminded me of this film.
4. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, France - Inspiring story of a writer who is able to communicate only through blinks of his eyes.
5. Rust and Bone, France. – Ajay Viswanathan
Indians don’t value museums
I am sorry to read that the control of the Bhau Daji Lad museum is going back to the hands of the Bombay Municipal Corporation (“Why the Shiv Sena and its cousin want to undermine the good work at Mumbai's BDL museum”). This will nullify the beautiful work of restoration painstakingly done by Tasneem Mehta. We Indians don't value the benefits provided by our museums and libraries. – Shobha
Why the silence around Minegate?
Congratulations on an excellent article, well researched and thorough. It blows the lid of a mining scam which is probably bigger than coalgate (“Coalgate seemed huge but it might pale in comparison to the impending Minegate”). However, I want to ask if you are planning any more follow-up stories like this. I cannot believe everyone is silent on this. – Arvind Natarajan
Quality is dropping
I read Scroll every day. You're The Caravan Magazine minus its long narrative style. The topics that you choose and the way you treat them, both are refreshing from the lame online front of mainstream media. Lately, you've started to compromise on the quality of language. I've seen almost every day an article published by you without much editing.
When I read you, I want to enjoy a smooth and fresh treatment devoid of the attention- to-detail issues. Kindly don't become a part of a rat race, keep yourself distinct, by making your quality speak for yourself. – Faraz Salat
Kashmiri separatists should have been arrested
You actually called that Kashmiri separatist rally a peaceful one? (“A peaceful rally by Kashmiri separatists has thrown the BJP-PDP government into turbulence”) That man should have been arrested immediately for showing up with the Pakistani flag in a sovereign nation like India, let alone singing their praises. I thought you were a free-minded press company. It is very sad to see this language being used in Scroll. – Kishore Mordani
We welcome your comments at
[email protected].
Do K Veeramani and company have the guts to organise a purdah removal programme and the talaq rights of Muslim men for the emancipation of Muslim women? (“In Tamil Nadu, rationalists find scant political support for beef banquet, mangalsutra-removal fest”) It is to be noted that purdah has increased and even a large section of Tamil Muslims who never wore purdah have started wearing it.
He should understand that weakening the Hindu ethos is weakening the whole of India. – JR Krishnan
Modi's 2ab
Back in 2000-2001, while studying at City Montessori School in Lucknow, I first heard about the present context (presumably) of the '2ab' expression from Rajnath Singh (“From loving his German shepherd to 2ab: Did Prime Minister Modi really say that?”). The audience consisted of 14-17 year old students from across the country who had gathered there for a science festival. Many of us knew Singh as a physics lecturer-turned-politician, then the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
Singh explained that when a student grows individually they can progress from being a to a^2, or from b to b^2. But when they collaborate, their growth can lead them from being a+b to a^2+b^2 as well as an additional 2ab. In other words, collaborative growth leads to outcomes better than those from individual growth.
Irrespective of whether Singh's analogy was appropriate, it's obvious that either Narendra Modi did not understand what he was saying (blame those speech writers, or perhaps Singh!), or he completely forgot to explain the background. – Manish Kushwaha
Urdu: the love of the language
The reason Urdu literature is dying is very simple (“Looking in vain for Urdu in New Delhi’s world of books”). The only people publishing in the language are doing it out of love for the language and from their own money. My mother, Zakia Mashhadi, and father have had collections of Urdu short stories to their name, and they themselves have paid to get it published. And these are the people who have had PhD-level research done on their style of writing and enjoy considerable acclaim in the Urdu world. – Jahanzeb Mashhadi
Who questioned Manmohan on coal blocks?
Arnab Goswami and Rajdeep Sardesai are the stooges of the media after the Congress regime decimation that went all out to demean the Bharatiya Janata Party (“Why I love Arnab Goswami: he's the Dhoni and Salman Khan of Indian TV”). Rajdeep went overboard when he was jeered by a crowd in the United States during our Prime Minister's visit when he started discussing Indian politics with them. It is like Mark Tully asking people in Jhajjar about their views on Republican/Democrat spat in the USA.
Arnab, cosily ensconced in his studio armchair, questioned General VK Singh's momentous courage in leading from the front in the evacuation of Indians from Yemen. None of these so-called shining stars of Indian media are discussing the dereliction of duty by Manmohan Singh in the allotment of coal blocks at the instance of you know who, or the grabbing of land by the son-in-law of the nation in Haryana. – Vinayak Degwekar
Zero in international relations
What is the point of India asking for membership in the Security Council? (“Permanent membership of UN Security Council ‘our right’, says Modi”) India has been zero in international relations, besides being deficient in comprehending and reacting to complicated issues. It is intellectually not mature enough to formulate an independent foreign policy strategy.
In practice, India being a US stooge will do the bidding of the US and vote the US-Israeli way. – Eddie Ray
***
Because of its large population, strategic position and economic potential, India should be a permanent member of the UN Security Council. – Ken Robbins
Refreshing to read Aakar Patel
Thank you for writing the article about the apathy towards the poor (“Encounter killings: Middle-class India doesn't care about either blue-collar workers or Muslims”). Despite her own history of blatant racism, the average white American is more likely to identify, at least in some minimal way, with the black American, than the privileged Indian with the poor.
The poor might as well live on a different planet, as far as most of us are concerned. Is this not a function of caste in some fundamental way? There is a generational depth to both privilege and poverty which is absolutely staggering. Has any other country produced middle-class as twisted, myopic, and hypocritical? – Beboval
***
Its truly refreshing to read anything written by Aakar Patel these days. The Indian media today is full of idiocy to be blunt there. And in all this quagmire of bunkum, Patel comes across as something really soothing because in a way he sort of rekindles faith in us regarding the media, a faith which is non-existent today. – Adnan Yousuf
***
I am an Indian, I am the middle class. I see the cold-blooded atrocities, killing of handcuffed prisoners in the name of self-defence, massacre of hapless woodcutters also in the name of self-defence, as all encounters are. I see small boys and girls falling into open bore wells, I see innocent young boys arrested in the name of prevention of terrorism. I see so much that I wish it did not happen, I wish I could prevent it, I wish I could take action against it. I wish I could at least write about it, I wish I could shout about it. But I am helpless, I am voiceless, and I am a coward. I do not have the means to fight injustice; my own family is a victim of gross and crass injustice, fraud and deceit, a victim of women's activism. Still, I am helpless. All I can do is pray, pray to my God to bring peace and justice in the world. That I keep doing, hoping one day I will be heard. – Dr Fazlulla Khan
India, Pak are just political boundaries
India and Pakistan are just political boundaries established for political parties to settle scores. People never wanted a Partition. We need more people like Nandita Das to travel across the border and find similarities despite the political and geographical differences that exist merely on maps and not in hearts of people on both sides (“If you haven’t seen Lahore, you haven't even been born”). – Sai Yash
Pakistan, save thyself!
I suppose many in Pakistan might possibly hate Shehzad Ghias Shaikh after this write-up (“For Pakistan to save itself, it has to let go of the Idea of Pakistan”). He's turned his back on his country, possibly his faith and shamed his motherland. If the current anti-rape movement has taught me anything, it is that incredibly more people are enraged by the fact that the world now knows Indian women experience sexual violence than the fact that Indian women experience sexual violence in the first place. The concept of 'face' in South Asian countries and what it means for South Asians cannot be underestimated.
Still it is a brave act, even a daring one, considering Pakistan's blasphemy laws. I am sure the average Pakistani just wants to earn an honest day's living and live his/her life. Hopefully this starts a conversation among Pakistanis to reclaim their country and shape it into the land of their dreams. – Sanyukta Banerjie
Kancha Ilaiah's caste obsession
Professor Kancha Illaiah is so intelligent that he can relate a flight accident too to an upper and lower caste issue ("Beef ban is an attempt to impose upper-caste culture on other Hindus: Kancha Ilaiah"). Over a period of time, people, in the name of democracy, have learnt the art of negating any rule made by the government. – Hanumaiah Malladi
Muslims and conversions
What does the data on Muslim population say on conversions in India? I understand the Pew report did not focus on conversions but it might be a more convincing and hard-hitting point to make if we have that data down as well (“Five charts that puncture the bogey of Muslim population growth”). – Monica Hariharan
Who's an extremist now?
Your article on the Hindu extremists in India is highly prejudiced, inaccurate and without credible evidence (“Most extremists in India are not Muslim – they are Hindu”). Our media is either run by Muslims who are xenophobic or by ignorant Hindus who see themselves as secular. Your writers and editors are the pathetic remnants of 65 years of Nehruvian coddling of the "minority" Muslims.
Poor Muslims, according to you, being bashed by the belligerent Hindus. Just remember the vast majority of Indians do not think Hindus are fanatic no matter how loud you yell in your despicable columns. India has Modi and the BJP and no one listens to your prattles. Muslims, like Christians, have the same rights as Hindus in India and they just have to work harder, be patriotic and quit putting their religion above the unity of the nation. If they do that and not proselytise Hindus they will have no problems.
I predict your lying media source will die and disintegrate soon. Then your editors and reporters can watch how India marches forward. – Byravan Viswanathan
***
I have never seen as much biased anti-national reporting done by even the so-called secular newspaper as is done by you. As General VK Singh said, you are a perfect description of 'presstitutes'.
Why is there no story of the forceful conversion of 800 Valmikis to Islam in a Muslim majority district with a Muslim MP? Unfortunately, in your eyes, it is secular. However, 'gharwapsi' even if not coerced is communal. When churches are attacked, you will be the first to blame the so-called Hindu extremists, and if police verification is found against your baseless charges, you will not have the decency to clear it. When Hindu processions or temples are attacked by a certain community, then there is not a word from you because it will destroy the so called 'communal' balance.
You seem to be the breed of journalists that is found in Jammu and Kashmir, whose media is funded and influenced by Pakistan. The BJP has gained power because of the hypocrisy of the so-called secular lot. They have not created any division, but just filled the vacuum that was created by selective secularism of the so-called 'liberals'. We need true liberalism, not the one portrayed by people who are funded and paid by foreigners like Teesta Setalvad and the Ford Foundation. – Vishesh Da
Women and literary awards
It was indeed a pleasure to read Nabina Das’ article, and I concede I share the same views on fresh women writers being left behind in the race to bag the awards (“Why don’t we have more women on literary award shortlists?”). One apparent reason why we do not see real good literature making it to the awards is the publishers' bad marketing skills. We have seen big publishers like Penguin Random House, Hachette, Bloomsbury and many more, creating a whole marketing story around their releases, investing big bucks and getting people to read what they want them to read. Thus, we see marketing and publicity playing a big role in bringing a book to the front page.
Further, I just finished reading a book, Dear Mrs Naidu, by famous writer, activist, educator Mathangi Subramanian and I fall short of words in praising this book. I feel this is precisely the kind of books we should make our children read, for they would set their basics right. Interestingly, this book has been published by a publisher which actively advocates feminist writings, Zubaan. So, I see the sun rising somewhere in the near vicinity.
How easy things would be if we see zenith walking towards us as much as we are walking towards it, isn't it?- Cheena Chopra
***
First the disclaimer: I haven't read too many books. But going by all my recent reads, I seem to have read more of Indian women writers, than of others. Maybe it's because of the (online) company that I keep. Since you invited readers to come up with a list, here's mine:
Judy Balan, Sowmya Rajendran, Anuja Chauhan, Manreet Sodhi, Himanjali Sankar, Bhargavi Balachandran, Jane D' Souza, Uma Sundaram.
I haunt (rather used to haunt) many blogs, and there are a lot more writers taking tentative steps towards writing. I'm sure that women's fiction is alive and kicking. Just wait a bit longer and there's going to be one that really lands where it matters. – Old Timer
Two Muslim doctors saved Bal Thackeray’s life
Sanjay Raut’s appeal/order for revoking voting rights of Muslims neither shocked nor disturbed me (“Sanjay Raut's demand to cancel Muslim voting rights isn't surprising: Bigotry is in the Sena's DNA”). Just to update, a few days ago India got its twentieth Chief Election Commissioner, Sayed Nasim Ahmed Zaidi. Of course, Raut is not aware of this because he publishes and reads a newspaper called Saamna whose three pages out of four are dedicated to hatred towards Muslims, and the fourth page to entertainment news criticising Shah Rukh Khan.
Raut is in power for the last five months, but only for the second time, even though his party has been on the political map since the last 40 years. This is because he always used goons to set his political bench. The current 17 MPs out of 18 from Shiv Sena have criminal charges against them.
Even after all the oppression, we were still loyal to Bal Thackeray. When some Mumbai hospitals denied admitting him because of him being critically ill, it was two Muslim doctors Dr Jalil and Dr Ahmed Ansari from Lilavati Hospital who treated him. - Faiyaz Shaikh
Delight to read about Bahrisons
I read about the history of Bahrisons and it's amazing as well as inspiring (“How Bahrisons Delhi has been romancing books since 1953”). It was quite a delight to read it. – Syed Amjad Ali
***
We were regular visitors of Khan Market from 1957 to 1964, then a sleepy market, and from 1980 to 2006. We are witness to its gradual transformation into an upmarket area. Bahrisons was very much in our itinerary along with a footpath bookstore selling second hand books. I think the politician mentioned in the article was Jagpravesh Chandra, who had a flat on the first floor in the market. – Aruna Patel Vajpeyi
Ajaz Ashraf, unofficial spokesperson of Kejriwal
Ajaz Ashraf is a journalist from Delhi and an unofficial spokesperson for Arvind Kejriwal (“Kejriwal has won the skirmish against Bhushan and Yadav. Now comes the main battle”). – Rudra Prayag
Happy to see positivity for Ambedkar
The story about singer Manjeet Mehra was excellent (“A charismatic singer spreads Ambedkar's message, one sleepless night at a time"). I got to know many important things and am happy to see that people think positively about BR Ambedkar instead of criticising him for reservation. – Ashay Kamble
Indians helpful to the disabled
It is too much to expect India to be par with other developed countries in dealing with disabled people (“Sipping margarita with a straw: disabled people are subject to ritual humiliation all the time”). It was only some 20 years ago that the United Kingdom passed laws for accessibility for the disabled. Even today, not all organisations comply fully with the law.
Our local hospital has no facilities in the X-ray department for wheelchair users to change clothes. At a personal level, Indians are very helpful and accommodating to disabled people. This is more important than their inability correctly react to the disabled. I am sure given time and awareness, Indians will be at par with others. – Sudhir Buch
***
I really hope the film Margarita With A Straw opens up people’s opinion towards such subjects. I feel saddened by the state of movies in India and my wish is that more movies like these are made on real issues than the staple fare of action and romance served every Friday. I’d like to recommend a few good movies on this subject which I’ve really liked and show a far better maturity in cultures outside India, even an authoritarian nation like Iran.
1. The Colour of Paradise, Iran, Majid Majidi - about a blind boy and his wish to be accepted as normal while a single father struggles with societal norms.
2. The Willow Tree, Iran, Majid Majidi - a very interesting story on how life suddenly changes for a blind man whose eyesight has been cured
3. The Intouchables, France - This has been in my watchlist for a long time now. This article reminded me of this film.
4. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, France - Inspiring story of a writer who is able to communicate only through blinks of his eyes.
5. Rust and Bone, France. – Ajay Viswanathan
Indians don’t value museums
I am sorry to read that the control of the Bhau Daji Lad museum is going back to the hands of the Bombay Municipal Corporation (“Why the Shiv Sena and its cousin want to undermine the good work at Mumbai's BDL museum”). This will nullify the beautiful work of restoration painstakingly done by Tasneem Mehta. We Indians don't value the benefits provided by our museums and libraries. – Shobha
Why the silence around Minegate?
Congratulations on an excellent article, well researched and thorough. It blows the lid of a mining scam which is probably bigger than coalgate (“Coalgate seemed huge but it might pale in comparison to the impending Minegate”). However, I want to ask if you are planning any more follow-up stories like this. I cannot believe everyone is silent on this. – Arvind Natarajan
Quality is dropping
I read Scroll every day. You're The Caravan Magazine minus its long narrative style. The topics that you choose and the way you treat them, both are refreshing from the lame online front of mainstream media. Lately, you've started to compromise on the quality of language. I've seen almost every day an article published by you without much editing.
When I read you, I want to enjoy a smooth and fresh treatment devoid of the attention- to-detail issues. Kindly don't become a part of a rat race, keep yourself distinct, by making your quality speak for yourself. – Faraz Salat
Kashmiri separatists should have been arrested
You actually called that Kashmiri separatist rally a peaceful one? (“A peaceful rally by Kashmiri separatists has thrown the BJP-PDP government into turbulence”) That man should have been arrested immediately for showing up with the Pakistani flag in a sovereign nation like India, let alone singing their praises. I thought you were a free-minded press company. It is very sad to see this language being used in Scroll. – Kishore Mordani