Standing nationalism
It makes sense to play the national anthem at an international event like sports tournaments, where different nations are participating.. However, I find it very foolish to stand up for the national anthem in cinema halls, especially when it is broken into parts sung by different artists.
Nobody's patriotism should be be attacked because of the foolish decisions of a whimsical state. – Arun Kant Shukla
***
It is a fundamental duty for citizens to honour their national duty. People should at least show their concern by standing for the anthem. After all, the anthem is sung in praise of the country. In no way does it harm your personal freedom. – Utkarsh Utpal
***
Has there ever been a country that allowed an unpatriotic person to become a citizen? Is it not a moral requirement? – Ritu Raj Tyagi
***
Please tell the writer not to use a derogatory word like traitor. He does not have the right to speak like this or pass judgement on a bunch of people he is calling a mob. Does he really know about the argument that happened at the cinema hall?
The idea of India the writer talks about may be different in the eyes of others. It is a free country and everyone has the right to express their own point of view, but it does not excuse the writer for using the word traitor. – Molay Ghosh
***
Your article on the national anthem is excellent and I totally agree with your opinions and thoughts ("National anthem debate: Must we really reassert our patriotism every time we watch a film?"). I don't think that many Indians know that Rabindranath Tagore was not a nationalist.– Nusrat Khan
Decoding Anupam Kher
A brilliant piece with an insightful and precise analysis ("The 'Saaransh' of Anupam Kher's philosophy: Pro-state, reactionary, confused and petty"). However, does Anupam Kher deserve such attention and scrutiny? – Sunil R
***
This is a well written piece. Anupam Kher has lost the respect of his fans by not being a good citizen. The actor's demotivating and intolerant behaviour over the past few months has shocked me. Surely, he should go back and watch his own movies and reconsider his views. – Kenneth Braganza
***
Articles like this are the need of the hour. It is well enunciated and put into a proper and unbiased perspective. Our country is too beautiful and great to be degraded. Anupam Kher is a great actor, but a rather poor political activist. – Ajit
***
An excellent article that captures the essence of Anupam Kher's ridiculous position on the issue of intolerance. The essence of a vibrant democracy is when people can voice their feelings and express their grievances against the government without fear.
Kher sadly took a jingoistic position. He should be careful to note that blind support for the government's position or overlooking the ills of the nation do not make one a nationalist. It is when a person stands up to say unpopular things to improve the nation and take it to greater heights that we become nationalists.
In this case, Kher and government officials have done a great disservice to democracy by demanding that voices that go against the dominant view be suppressed to preserve India's image abroad. The government should be listening and working with citizens to solve the many pressing problems faced by the nation.
Let us focus on building tolerance, celebrate differences and focus on real change and improvement. – Andy Lobo
Ghazal devotion
Thank you so much for this compilation ("Meet Chandan Dass, the ghazal’s most ardent follower"). It means a lot to see the way you have viewed my father's life – one dedicated to ghazals. I am so happy that people are finally writing about him and trying to understand his journey.
It has been tough, but all of it comes together like a beautiful jigsaw puzzle. I am most thankful and deeply touched to read this piece. I appreciate how you have connected to the songs that have been part of us for such a long time. – Namit Das
Wrong context
The arduous task of fetching water by women is balanced against the menial labour performed by the men ("Watch the film that shows how men marry several women to have more water fetched to their homes"). This works to the advantage of both parties. Where is the patriarchy in this arrangement? With the exception of erstwhile royal families and large joint families surviving on vast agricultural holdings, India has always had diarchical family setups.
Polygamy has long been part of most societies in Asia and Europe. Its origins lie in the women themselves partly encouraging the practice to ensure their daily survival and protection in times of hardship.
Even the Quran talks of the need to protect war widows, wherein the Prophet is said to have advised followers of the faith to take more than one wife to ensure the protection of deprived and abandoned women in the prime of their lives.
Kindly do not perpetuate the patriarchal myth on behalf of the feminist lobby and other vested interests, without understanding human impulses of survival, which do not fall in the category of divisive ideologies.
While polygamy has no place in today's society, it would be more realistic to look at its origins in the right historical context. – Ravi Menon
Acts of terror
Akshat Khandelwal clearly crossed a line when he called the Paris terrorists "armed radicalised Muslim youth" ("Stop blaming Islam: The US invasion of Iraq led to the Paris attacks"). Sorry, they were terrorists and committed a dastardly act, regardless of the provocation.
Your liberal propaganda has crossed the line from humanitarian to vicious and divisive with the pardon you have meted out to terrorists like Yakub Menon and now the Paris attackers. – Jayant Madhav
Rock capital
I thought this article was quite well written and properly argued ("No, Shillong isn't India's rock capital – it isn't even the rock capital of Meghalaya"). That Shillong is not the rock capital might be a hard pill for some to swallow, but it is the truth.
I have always secretly known this fact but I have avoided acknowledging it for years. But it's good that someone has spoken about this as it is nothing but a false impression. – Suzana Syiem
***
I agree that Jaintia Hills is more deserving of the status as India's rock capital. But the fact remains that each and every nook and corner of the Khasi and Jaintia region has a rich culture of Western music. – C Diengdoh
Inclusive language
I was disappointed to see the word punditry being used in an article. Pundit is a caste title and refers to the intelligence and acumen associated with Brahmins. I am concerned about the use of such a word, especially in times of increased caste-based intolerance and violence. I would love for our language to be inclusive. It should re-imagine the world and move out of the oppressive structure of caste. – Abha
#HappyToBleed
If Lord Ayappa can deviate from his celibacy by the sight or smell of a woman in menstruating age, then his celibacy is a sham ("Before #HappyToBleed campaign, there were other attempts to allow women into Sabarimala"). He should be made to drop it. Or is it that the men who thought this up were imprinting Ayappa with their own weakness for women? – Mallika Sarabhai
Struggle for survival
This article really shocked me ("No ordinary drought: Look what the poor in Uttar Pradesh are eating to survive"). I'm not unaware that these things happen in India but it was shocking nonetheless. I wish there was something we could do about it. – Amrita Lalljee
***
This is just to share my appreciation for the article. I don't obsess over regular news, but this was one of the best stories I have ever read. I sincerely felt this story was reported way better than any other media. I hope to see more coverage on rural India. – Deepto Banerjee
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
It makes sense to play the national anthem at an international event like sports tournaments, where different nations are participating.. However, I find it very foolish to stand up for the national anthem in cinema halls, especially when it is broken into parts sung by different artists.
Nobody's patriotism should be be attacked because of the foolish decisions of a whimsical state. – Arun Kant Shukla
***
It is a fundamental duty for citizens to honour their national duty. People should at least show their concern by standing for the anthem. After all, the anthem is sung in praise of the country. In no way does it harm your personal freedom. – Utkarsh Utpal
***
Has there ever been a country that allowed an unpatriotic person to become a citizen? Is it not a moral requirement? – Ritu Raj Tyagi
***
Please tell the writer not to use a derogatory word like traitor. He does not have the right to speak like this or pass judgement on a bunch of people he is calling a mob. Does he really know about the argument that happened at the cinema hall?
The idea of India the writer talks about may be different in the eyes of others. It is a free country and everyone has the right to express their own point of view, but it does not excuse the writer for using the word traitor. – Molay Ghosh
***
Your article on the national anthem is excellent and I totally agree with your opinions and thoughts ("National anthem debate: Must we really reassert our patriotism every time we watch a film?"). I don't think that many Indians know that Rabindranath Tagore was not a nationalist.– Nusrat Khan
Decoding Anupam Kher
A brilliant piece with an insightful and precise analysis ("The 'Saaransh' of Anupam Kher's philosophy: Pro-state, reactionary, confused and petty"). However, does Anupam Kher deserve such attention and scrutiny? – Sunil R
***
This is a well written piece. Anupam Kher has lost the respect of his fans by not being a good citizen. The actor's demotivating and intolerant behaviour over the past few months has shocked me. Surely, he should go back and watch his own movies and reconsider his views. – Kenneth Braganza
***
Articles like this are the need of the hour. It is well enunciated and put into a proper and unbiased perspective. Our country is too beautiful and great to be degraded. Anupam Kher is a great actor, but a rather poor political activist. – Ajit
***
An excellent article that captures the essence of Anupam Kher's ridiculous position on the issue of intolerance. The essence of a vibrant democracy is when people can voice their feelings and express their grievances against the government without fear.
Kher sadly took a jingoistic position. He should be careful to note that blind support for the government's position or overlooking the ills of the nation do not make one a nationalist. It is when a person stands up to say unpopular things to improve the nation and take it to greater heights that we become nationalists.
In this case, Kher and government officials have done a great disservice to democracy by demanding that voices that go against the dominant view be suppressed to preserve India's image abroad. The government should be listening and working with citizens to solve the many pressing problems faced by the nation.
Let us focus on building tolerance, celebrate differences and focus on real change and improvement. – Andy Lobo
Ghazal devotion
Thank you so much for this compilation ("Meet Chandan Dass, the ghazal’s most ardent follower"). It means a lot to see the way you have viewed my father's life – one dedicated to ghazals. I am so happy that people are finally writing about him and trying to understand his journey.
It has been tough, but all of it comes together like a beautiful jigsaw puzzle. I am most thankful and deeply touched to read this piece. I appreciate how you have connected to the songs that have been part of us for such a long time. – Namit Das
Wrong context
The arduous task of fetching water by women is balanced against the menial labour performed by the men ("Watch the film that shows how men marry several women to have more water fetched to their homes"). This works to the advantage of both parties. Where is the patriarchy in this arrangement? With the exception of erstwhile royal families and large joint families surviving on vast agricultural holdings, India has always had diarchical family setups.
Polygamy has long been part of most societies in Asia and Europe. Its origins lie in the women themselves partly encouraging the practice to ensure their daily survival and protection in times of hardship.
Even the Quran talks of the need to protect war widows, wherein the Prophet is said to have advised followers of the faith to take more than one wife to ensure the protection of deprived and abandoned women in the prime of their lives.
Kindly do not perpetuate the patriarchal myth on behalf of the feminist lobby and other vested interests, without understanding human impulses of survival, which do not fall in the category of divisive ideologies.
While polygamy has no place in today's society, it would be more realistic to look at its origins in the right historical context. – Ravi Menon
Acts of terror
Akshat Khandelwal clearly crossed a line when he called the Paris terrorists "armed radicalised Muslim youth" ("Stop blaming Islam: The US invasion of Iraq led to the Paris attacks"). Sorry, they were terrorists and committed a dastardly act, regardless of the provocation.
Your liberal propaganda has crossed the line from humanitarian to vicious and divisive with the pardon you have meted out to terrorists like Yakub Menon and now the Paris attackers. – Jayant Madhav
Rock capital
I thought this article was quite well written and properly argued ("No, Shillong isn't India's rock capital – it isn't even the rock capital of Meghalaya"). That Shillong is not the rock capital might be a hard pill for some to swallow, but it is the truth.
I have always secretly known this fact but I have avoided acknowledging it for years. But it's good that someone has spoken about this as it is nothing but a false impression. – Suzana Syiem
***
I agree that Jaintia Hills is more deserving of the status as India's rock capital. But the fact remains that each and every nook and corner of the Khasi and Jaintia region has a rich culture of Western music. – C Diengdoh
Inclusive language
I was disappointed to see the word punditry being used in an article. Pundit is a caste title and refers to the intelligence and acumen associated with Brahmins. I am concerned about the use of such a word, especially in times of increased caste-based intolerance and violence. I would love for our language to be inclusive. It should re-imagine the world and move out of the oppressive structure of caste. – Abha
#HappyToBleed
If Lord Ayappa can deviate from his celibacy by the sight or smell of a woman in menstruating age, then his celibacy is a sham ("Before #HappyToBleed campaign, there were other attempts to allow women into Sabarimala"). He should be made to drop it. Or is it that the men who thought this up were imprinting Ayappa with their own weakness for women? – Mallika Sarabhai
Struggle for survival
This article really shocked me ("No ordinary drought: Look what the poor in Uttar Pradesh are eating to survive"). I'm not unaware that these things happen in India but it was shocking nonetheless. I wish there was something we could do about it. – Amrita Lalljee
***
This is just to share my appreciation for the article. I don't obsess over regular news, but this was one of the best stories I have ever read. I sincerely felt this story was reported way better than any other media. I hope to see more coverage on rural India. – Deepto Banerjee
