Not all suspicious activities are terrorist plots
I guess journalism is now all about being a chauvinist to your countries' foreign policies. It's us viewers and readers who fall victim to prejudice. ('How Pakistani papers (and their readers) viewed the boat that exploded on New Year's Eve')
For example, every time small arms and light weapons are recovered from rebel groups in Africa and are found to be of Chinese origin the United States of America leaves no stone unturned to instill that China is dumping their weapons in Africa. No matter how trivial the evidence of such trafficking may be.
If we recall the 'Air Cocaine' incident, which occurred in Mali in 2009: A Boeing 747 crashed in a desert and was discovered completely burnt out from a fire unrelated to the crash impact. Investigators concluded that the plane had been carrying as much as 10 tons of cocaine, which was removed after the crash. The plane was then torched to destroy evidence.
Geographically, the only fishing boats that we would find near the coast of Gujarat in the Arabian Sea would either originate from Pakistan or India. There is a slight chance of it originating from Salalah Port (Oman) if a couple of overly passionate Arab fishermen decided to travel thousands of nautical miles to fish near India, but I doubt it.
Nonetheless, was it a 'terror plot'? Was someone trying to create a '31/12 after a 26/11' (as some news channels put it)? Well, that's not likely because it isn't how terrorists have been know to behave in the past. They just won't have a suicide mission without casualties. They just won't give up without a fight. If they had to detonate a bomb, they would in proximity to the Indian Coast Guard fleet to the least. A casual burning after an hour of chase would only suggest that this was a part of some kind of organised crime, illicit drug trade at best, where getting caught was not an option. But why would someone try to do something sneaky during a festive date when the country is at high alert? A lot of questions remains unanswered but constantly badgering clueless Pakistani officials on television is probably not going to answer them.–Asad Pervez
Like Sanjay Dutt, the privileged think they are above everyone else
The privileged in India will always be the privileged ('Sanjay Dutt row proves that for Bollywood, you can be innocent even after being proven guilty'). Unless, like me, they have had a long long sojourn in, say, the US and have been ashamed of the ways of their privileged past. Look at the Indian Customs and Excise list of the privileged and extremely wealthy Indians, who have tried to smuggle in from visits abroad jewels worth crores in order to avoid customs duties. The list includes some extremely prominent Bollywood personalities. Or the head of a long-established industrial house trying to smuggle in a shotgun! The privileged will always think they are above everyone else.–Asoke Maurya
Bad investigation of a murder
Are you comparing a murder investigation with riot and genocide? ('Who solved the Sunanda Pushkar case: Rajdeep or Arnab?') You've lost your advantage right there.–Deepa Adhikari
Shashi Tharoor's career has not been short-lived
On the Tharoor article: he will finish two terms as MP. One of which was spent mostly as a minister. That's hardly a short-lived political career. Maybe short only of the expectations that were laid out for him.–Spandan Biswal
* * *
The delay itself is questionable and raises doubts about the intentions behind it. Somebody is behind the game to harass Tharoor ('Seven obvious reasons for any crime pulp reader to pick holes in the Sunanda Pushkar case'). If there had been proof of homicide, what prevented the people concerned from speaking out the truth? They have created a fog and enough fodder for the channels to have a field day. Is it a regular procedure to test specimens in foreign labs? It is disgraceful that India, in her space age, does not have the facilities to identify poisons. The toxicology deparments are put to shame, so are the forensic experts.–Lalitha Bhai
Some of the Bohra Muslims are using the media for propaganda
If the Qutbuddin clan claims 500 (and say another 1,000 anonymous) supporters against about a million supporting Syedna Muffadal, would you really call it a dispute? ('A year after leader's death, Bohra Muslims stand divided and waiting for a legal verdict') It's a really complex issue and the internal issue of a closed community, which is almost impossible for a non-Bohra to understand due to our peculiar beliefs (which even other Muslims can't fathom). But understanding the power of the media, the dissidents are using it very well. I request you to not publish articles based on incomplete knowledge and let yourself become a tool for someone else's propaganda.–Mustansir
Lit fests forever
Very entertaining observations on lit fests by Devapriya Roy. And an excellent piece of sardonic writing!–Ahmed Bunglowala
Zafar Sareshwala's appointment is justified
The appointment of the chancellor is initiated by the executive council of the University, and involves the President of India (in case of central universities) and the HRD minister ('Muslim tycoon appointed to head university denies he's being paid back for supporting Modi'). So, the one who is appointed as the chancellor has nothing to do with his appointment. Moreover, it's been the precedent among universities to choose chancellors who are achievers in their fields of choice, and Zafar Sareshwala is an achiever and a philanthrope, too. So, the choice of Sareshwala as the chancellor of MANUU is the right one. The university will reach new heights under his dynamic leadership.–Taqveem Ali Khan
A moving piece on humaneness, the need of the hour
I just finished reading the amazing article by Dhiraj Singh ('What my family history taught me about religion, faith and identity'). His journey of spiritualism is very interesting and the article is very impressive. He's written beautifully on the basic need of the hour: humaneness.–Vijayalakshmi
* * *
Please give my thanks and congratulations to Dhiraj Singh. This is a very moving piece, of a family autobiography. So glad that Scroll.in has published this piece at such a challenging time in our country’s history.–Prabhu Guptara
* * *
The article is written by a man in search of answers and his higher self. This is a normal journey. To my mind ‘organized religion’ does not provide all the answers. The answers can only be found through experience and personal experimentation. Religion plays in the field of ‘belief systems’. And, in most cases, religion and culture play a dominant role in conflicts. Conversion only means changing from one belief system and culture to another. Many don’t understand the cultural aspects until well after they have converted their religion.
If one is a modern, liberal, educated human being, one doesn’t have to convert into anything. Keep your curiosity and grow. In the long history of the world, religion is a fairly recent construct. And I have seen it do more evil than good. It is used to control man by other men and states. It has exterminated entire populations, brutalized people through inquisitions, and in modern times promoted terrorism. Organized religion has always been meant for the masses and the lowest common denominator. As soon as you have the education and power to think for yourself, you can reach philosophical and spiritual goals all by yourself.–Bhaskar Majumdar
Why hasn't the government gone for underground mining?
It is not a good gesture by the MEA at New Delhi ('Greenpeace activist explains why British MPs need to hear about forest dwellers in India'). The forest belongs to everyone, particularly the tribal people living there. Coal we require, true. Then go for underground mining, why open-cast mining?–Ramesh HS
India desperately needs witness protection laws
It is really a pity that the third witness in the Surat rape case has been killed ('India desperately needs a witness protection law. Just look at the Asaram Bapu case'). It really is high time that India does something concrete to provide protection to the witnesses of crimes. The police should have a moral responsibility in this regard.–Vinayak K
Dying with dignity
We hear seniors saying, "I dont mind dying, but I don't want to depend on others." ('Being Mortal: What matters is not how we live but how we die') This just says what they desire in their old age. Some seniors who are hospitalised want to go home and die in familiar surroundings.–Rashida Jiwani
The police cast their votes in advance
I have been an avid reader of your articles. The articles you print are to the point and very informative. While reading the article on right to vote for NRIs ('Supreme Court gives NRIs the right to vote, but internal migrants are unable to do so'), you have questioned about voting arrangements for election staff and policeman. Let me tell you that prior arrangements are made for them so that they can vote in advance and are given specific days time windows to cast their vote in so that help to maintain law and order on the voting day.–Ankit Gandhi
India should ban the right to evangelise
The author of the article on the right to convert has defended the right to propagate, a stand that is ubiquitously defended by all liberals but stoops to only be a parochial knee-jerk reaction against the Hindutva ghar-wapsi programme ('When I went looking for homecoming Christians in Gujarat'). It is better we call the right to propagate by its real name: the right to evangelise.
The right to convert should not be conflated with right to evangelise. Those who want to convert should be allowed to convert and people must accept conversions to any religion, but there should be no element of evangelism involved, since that breeds communalism at both ends.–Eddy
Preserving the freedom to express without hurting anyone
Let us not constrict freedom even further. Encourage more freedom and try not to hurt anyone at the same time.–Vasant Sharma
* * *
This is the second time I'm reading Scroll.in and maybe the time time reading Aakar Patel ('Freedom of expression is not absolute in India, nor was it in Charlie Hebdo'). I'm impressed with both. Your format is interesting and range, impressive, and Aakar could be writing for The New York Times! After 29 years of little contact I'm trying to rediscover India, and if it weren't for your publication and Mint, I would not have anything to read.–Vik Puri
The 10,000 years of Indian civilisation has been great
This article is totally false ('Rani Padmini and four other Hindutva history myths exploded'). The writer should go and live in Turkey or Pakistan. The destruction and looting of temples and massacre and rape by these invaders is well established. We don't need niwits to trash 10,000 years of our great civilisation. Read Being Different by Rajiv Malhotra, you will realise how 'colonised' this writer is.–Hariharan R
Yoga is an ancient Indian tradition
I cannot comment on the aircraft stuff ('Ancient planes and Vedic cloud seeding: Day 2 at the Indian Science Congress'). Krishnamacharya was a yogi who spent seven years learning yoga under a yogi called Rama Mohan Brahmachari. This Indian guy is recycling something speculative written by Mark Singleton. Most erudite Western yogis, including Gregor Maehle, accept yoga as a 5,000-plus year-old tradition from Pataljali. I can go on and if Indians themselves start quoting this nonsense, it is sad. Since Indian yoga emphasized the higher limbs than asana, this trend of calling it a 20th century invention is being peddled.
Rishis have always had divine revelations. If you don't believe it, don't. But you cannot adopt an "I know better than them" attitude on what they ascribed their teachings and discoveries to.–Shridar
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
I guess journalism is now all about being a chauvinist to your countries' foreign policies. It's us viewers and readers who fall victim to prejudice. ('How Pakistani papers (and their readers) viewed the boat that exploded on New Year's Eve')
For example, every time small arms and light weapons are recovered from rebel groups in Africa and are found to be of Chinese origin the United States of America leaves no stone unturned to instill that China is dumping their weapons in Africa. No matter how trivial the evidence of such trafficking may be.
If we recall the 'Air Cocaine' incident, which occurred in Mali in 2009: A Boeing 747 crashed in a desert and was discovered completely burnt out from a fire unrelated to the crash impact. Investigators concluded that the plane had been carrying as much as 10 tons of cocaine, which was removed after the crash. The plane was then torched to destroy evidence.
Geographically, the only fishing boats that we would find near the coast of Gujarat in the Arabian Sea would either originate from Pakistan or India. There is a slight chance of it originating from Salalah Port (Oman) if a couple of overly passionate Arab fishermen decided to travel thousands of nautical miles to fish near India, but I doubt it.
Nonetheless, was it a 'terror plot'? Was someone trying to create a '31/12 after a 26/11' (as some news channels put it)? Well, that's not likely because it isn't how terrorists have been know to behave in the past. They just won't have a suicide mission without casualties. They just won't give up without a fight. If they had to detonate a bomb, they would in proximity to the Indian Coast Guard fleet to the least. A casual burning after an hour of chase would only suggest that this was a part of some kind of organised crime, illicit drug trade at best, where getting caught was not an option. But why would someone try to do something sneaky during a festive date when the country is at high alert? A lot of questions remains unanswered but constantly badgering clueless Pakistani officials on television is probably not going to answer them.–Asad Pervez
Like Sanjay Dutt, the privileged think they are above everyone else
The privileged in India will always be the privileged ('Sanjay Dutt row proves that for Bollywood, you can be innocent even after being proven guilty'). Unless, like me, they have had a long long sojourn in, say, the US and have been ashamed of the ways of their privileged past. Look at the Indian Customs and Excise list of the privileged and extremely wealthy Indians, who have tried to smuggle in from visits abroad jewels worth crores in order to avoid customs duties. The list includes some extremely prominent Bollywood personalities. Or the head of a long-established industrial house trying to smuggle in a shotgun! The privileged will always think they are above everyone else.–Asoke Maurya
Bad investigation of a murder
Are you comparing a murder investigation with riot and genocide? ('Who solved the Sunanda Pushkar case: Rajdeep or Arnab?') You've lost your advantage right there.–Deepa Adhikari
Shashi Tharoor's career has not been short-lived
On the Tharoor article: he will finish two terms as MP. One of which was spent mostly as a minister. That's hardly a short-lived political career. Maybe short only of the expectations that were laid out for him.–Spandan Biswal
* * *
The delay itself is questionable and raises doubts about the intentions behind it. Somebody is behind the game to harass Tharoor ('Seven obvious reasons for any crime pulp reader to pick holes in the Sunanda Pushkar case'). If there had been proof of homicide, what prevented the people concerned from speaking out the truth? They have created a fog and enough fodder for the channels to have a field day. Is it a regular procedure to test specimens in foreign labs? It is disgraceful that India, in her space age, does not have the facilities to identify poisons. The toxicology deparments are put to shame, so are the forensic experts.–Lalitha Bhai
Some of the Bohra Muslims are using the media for propaganda
If the Qutbuddin clan claims 500 (and say another 1,000 anonymous) supporters against about a million supporting Syedna Muffadal, would you really call it a dispute? ('A year after leader's death, Bohra Muslims stand divided and waiting for a legal verdict') It's a really complex issue and the internal issue of a closed community, which is almost impossible for a non-Bohra to understand due to our peculiar beliefs (which even other Muslims can't fathom). But understanding the power of the media, the dissidents are using it very well. I request you to not publish articles based on incomplete knowledge and let yourself become a tool for someone else's propaganda.–Mustansir
Lit fests forever
Very entertaining observations on lit fests by Devapriya Roy. And an excellent piece of sardonic writing!–Ahmed Bunglowala
Zafar Sareshwala's appointment is justified
The appointment of the chancellor is initiated by the executive council of the University, and involves the President of India (in case of central universities) and the HRD minister ('Muslim tycoon appointed to head university denies he's being paid back for supporting Modi'). So, the one who is appointed as the chancellor has nothing to do with his appointment. Moreover, it's been the precedent among universities to choose chancellors who are achievers in their fields of choice, and Zafar Sareshwala is an achiever and a philanthrope, too. So, the choice of Sareshwala as the chancellor of MANUU is the right one. The university will reach new heights under his dynamic leadership.–Taqveem Ali Khan
A moving piece on humaneness, the need of the hour
I just finished reading the amazing article by Dhiraj Singh ('What my family history taught me about religion, faith and identity'). His journey of spiritualism is very interesting and the article is very impressive. He's written beautifully on the basic need of the hour: humaneness.–Vijayalakshmi
* * *
Please give my thanks and congratulations to Dhiraj Singh. This is a very moving piece, of a family autobiography. So glad that Scroll.in has published this piece at such a challenging time in our country’s history.–Prabhu Guptara
* * *
The article is written by a man in search of answers and his higher self. This is a normal journey. To my mind ‘organized religion’ does not provide all the answers. The answers can only be found through experience and personal experimentation. Religion plays in the field of ‘belief systems’. And, in most cases, religion and culture play a dominant role in conflicts. Conversion only means changing from one belief system and culture to another. Many don’t understand the cultural aspects until well after they have converted their religion.
If one is a modern, liberal, educated human being, one doesn’t have to convert into anything. Keep your curiosity and grow. In the long history of the world, religion is a fairly recent construct. And I have seen it do more evil than good. It is used to control man by other men and states. It has exterminated entire populations, brutalized people through inquisitions, and in modern times promoted terrorism. Organized religion has always been meant for the masses and the lowest common denominator. As soon as you have the education and power to think for yourself, you can reach philosophical and spiritual goals all by yourself.–Bhaskar Majumdar
Why hasn't the government gone for underground mining?
It is not a good gesture by the MEA at New Delhi ('Greenpeace activist explains why British MPs need to hear about forest dwellers in India'). The forest belongs to everyone, particularly the tribal people living there. Coal we require, true. Then go for underground mining, why open-cast mining?–Ramesh HS
India desperately needs witness protection laws
It is really a pity that the third witness in the Surat rape case has been killed ('India desperately needs a witness protection law. Just look at the Asaram Bapu case'). It really is high time that India does something concrete to provide protection to the witnesses of crimes. The police should have a moral responsibility in this regard.–Vinayak K
Dying with dignity
We hear seniors saying, "I dont mind dying, but I don't want to depend on others." ('Being Mortal: What matters is not how we live but how we die') This just says what they desire in their old age. Some seniors who are hospitalised want to go home and die in familiar surroundings.–Rashida Jiwani
The police cast their votes in advance
I have been an avid reader of your articles. The articles you print are to the point and very informative. While reading the article on right to vote for NRIs ('Supreme Court gives NRIs the right to vote, but internal migrants are unable to do so'), you have questioned about voting arrangements for election staff and policeman. Let me tell you that prior arrangements are made for them so that they can vote in advance and are given specific days time windows to cast their vote in so that help to maintain law and order on the voting day.–Ankit Gandhi
India should ban the right to evangelise
The author of the article on the right to convert has defended the right to propagate, a stand that is ubiquitously defended by all liberals but stoops to only be a parochial knee-jerk reaction against the Hindutva ghar-wapsi programme ('When I went looking for homecoming Christians in Gujarat'). It is better we call the right to propagate by its real name: the right to evangelise.
The right to convert should not be conflated with right to evangelise. Those who want to convert should be allowed to convert and people must accept conversions to any religion, but there should be no element of evangelism involved, since that breeds communalism at both ends.–Eddy
Preserving the freedom to express without hurting anyone
Let us not constrict freedom even further. Encourage more freedom and try not to hurt anyone at the same time.–Vasant Sharma
* * *
This is the second time I'm reading Scroll.in and maybe the time time reading Aakar Patel ('Freedom of expression is not absolute in India, nor was it in Charlie Hebdo'). I'm impressed with both. Your format is interesting and range, impressive, and Aakar could be writing for The New York Times! After 29 years of little contact I'm trying to rediscover India, and if it weren't for your publication and Mint, I would not have anything to read.–Vik Puri
The 10,000 years of Indian civilisation has been great
This article is totally false ('Rani Padmini and four other Hindutva history myths exploded'). The writer should go and live in Turkey or Pakistan. The destruction and looting of temples and massacre and rape by these invaders is well established. We don't need niwits to trash 10,000 years of our great civilisation. Read Being Different by Rajiv Malhotra, you will realise how 'colonised' this writer is.–Hariharan R
Yoga is an ancient Indian tradition
I cannot comment on the aircraft stuff ('Ancient planes and Vedic cloud seeding: Day 2 at the Indian Science Congress'). Krishnamacharya was a yogi who spent seven years learning yoga under a yogi called Rama Mohan Brahmachari. This Indian guy is recycling something speculative written by Mark Singleton. Most erudite Western yogis, including Gregor Maehle, accept yoga as a 5,000-plus year-old tradition from Pataljali. I can go on and if Indians themselves start quoting this nonsense, it is sad. Since Indian yoga emphasized the higher limbs than asana, this trend of calling it a 20th century invention is being peddled.
Rishis have always had divine revelations. If you don't believe it, don't. But you cannot adopt an "I know better than them" attitude on what they ascribed their teachings and discoveries to.–Shridar
