Ringing true
The BlackBerry still remains iconic for me, and even though it will no longer be manufactured by BlackBerry Ltd, I am still waiting for the new model (“Why I’m mourning the death of BlackBerry – even though the end was imminent”). I know in the age of iPhone and Android devices it may seem foolish, but there's still a section of people who want to use their phone more for work than for apps and games.
The BlackBerry handset will always remain a legend for me and I will continue to use it till its last breath. – Mohammed Harris
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I still have my original big chunky blue blackberry (email only) and probably all of them through the years. It was a tool, not a plaything. I regret that its time has passed. – Charlie McKenzie
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Blackberry isn't dead! BlackBerry is doing what so many other manufacturers do – having another company build their phones for them. BlackBerry is alive and well. – Aaron Clark
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I loved my BB 8320 and was addicted to it. When it finally gave in, I had to join the bandwagon and bought a Samsung smartphone. I will always love Blackberry and will be first in line to buy (older models) if I could.
No other phone will ever take its place. – Gwen Bauer
Grey area
The success of the Income Declaration Scheme proves that collection of black money is good business (“Assets worth over Rs 65,250 crore declared under Income Declaration Scheme, says Arun Jaitley”).
The ruling government simply floats these kinds of declaration schemes to make black money white instantly while also earn revenue. This is a goodwill gesture by the powerful for the powerful. Keep it up! – Manu
Biased view
I know there are a million problems with the present administration, but how come you never say anything positive about the government (“Surgical strikes: Advantage BJP, but can nationalism trump Dalit assertion in UP, anger in Punjab?”) You may parade as the voice of reason among the liberal, secular, modern and elite populace but there’s a limit.
Why don't you use your immensely interesting insights on making a real difference rather than to score brownie points against the BJP?
Poor connection
Airtel, Idea, Vodafone and other network operators seem to be jealous of Jio (“Telecom majors seek Trai intervention, say Reliance Jio's free voice calls offer violates rules”).
As it is they have already earned billions from poor Indians. Let us now enjoy free calls n data. Why e they want us to buy something from them when we are getting free from someone else?
These network operators should be jailed for not allowing us to enjoy free calls instead of buying costly talk-time and data from them. If they want to compete with Jio, let them also offer freebies. – MM Jalaly
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Jio is doing a good job so far. They seem to have a robust and seamless network. If other companies also have concentrate on building a strong network rather than on misleading ads, they would not have been in much trouble. – Atul Girdhar
Across the border
We Pakistani people believe in peace but the world is insisting us we are a terrorist state (“Pakistan is a terrorist state, India says in response to Nawaz Sharif at UN”). If so, then America is the biggest terror-supporting country in the world as it created the Taliban. India is also a terrorist country who made ISIS to destablise not just Pakistan but also the world. – Imran Rajpoot
Unethical practices
I am a general surgeon with five decades’ experience and I retired about six years ago (“The anatomy of cut practice: An inside story of unethical medical commissions”). These sad details that you brought to light are entirely true. This cancer started in Mumbai more than seven decades ago and has now spread all over the country.
But I feel it is much more prevalent in the metros as compared to smaller cities. The entry of corporate hospitals has made it worse. On the whole, the outlook is grave. – CR Ballal
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There are just a lucky few who have access to unbiased medical advice from practitioner who don’t follow the so-called cut practice. Recently a patient was recommended a renal biopsy by two specialists but my family physician said it was not necessary and he proved to be right.
Hospitals almost always recommend expensive tests just to make money. That’s why it’s best to have a trusted doctor whose advise you can seek.
Doctors often also prescribe antibiotics that are not needed. Poor and illiterate patients are often taken for a ride. – SN Iyer
Incomplete picture
This article just gives a brief account on the incident in Coimbatore and has not taken into account the attack on mosques, churches and number of vehicles and shops during the funeral procession of C Sasi Kumar (“In Coimbatore, a murder and mob action expose the hate politics of fringe religious groups”).
The article says that: "During Sasikumar’s funeral procession in the Thudiyalur area the day after his murder, a mob – which included members of various religious groups, according to media reports – went on a rampage."
In reality, it was not people of “various religious groups” but the followers of Hindu Munnani and their fraternity alone who participated in the procession.
It seems the article wishes to draw a balance between the Hindutuva and Muslim groups by using the words like 'hyper-conservative version of Islam'. It shows that the writer fails to see the real sinister plans by the Hindutuva groups and the origin of Hindutuva violence in the city.
The root of communal problem in the city goes back to the early 1980s and not in 1997 as mentioned in the article. The article makes sound as though the problem was created by the Muslims in 1997 but it has its roots in the killings of Muslims in the early 1980s by members of Hindu Munnani and RSS.
Also, Hindu Munnnani and the likes are not fringe religious groups but those who act on the directives of the RSS. – Riaz Ahamed
Stronger position
This article does not offer a fitting analysis of the current scenario (“Will China be an unintended beneficiary of the surgical strikes?”). China is the root cause of instability in the South China Sea, Arunachal and Ladakh. The upcoming China-Pakistan Economic Corridor can further stir up trouble for India.
Through CPEC, China is trying to strengthen its power over the world by using Gwador as a strategic base to gain control over Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. If China really needs to use Pakistani soil for its a trade route, Karachi is the best option, being a readymade deep seaport with enough capacity to accommodate Chinese trade.
India needs to take an offensive stance to counter the Pakistan-China nexus. – Gopal Das
Pointless ban
Aubrey Menen's Rama Retold is available freely on the internet (“Aubrey Menen’s ‘Rama Retold’ tells us to laugh at the Ramayana. No wonder it’s still banned”).
Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov once said: "Manuscripts don’t burn". In the electronic age, to think of banning a book is laughable. – SV Rajadurai
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Science and nature
I feel ashamed to call myself a Goan because in this state, people are opposing a temple of modern science and technology (“Goa villagers battle state's plan to set up IIT campus on common land”).
Opposition hazardous industries, big construction projects and casinos is understood, but standing in the way of an IIT campus is stupidity.
Even Goa University is set up on the Dona Paula plateau overlooking sea which supports a unique eco system. All of Goa is ecologically sensitive – does that mean nothing should come up here? – Rakesh Y Kandolkar
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I am from this village and I can confirm that except for some anti-social elements, the IIT project and has overwhelming support of residents.
The land is not "common land", it belongs to a legal entity who has willingly decided to give this land to IIT.
The land is completely useless we are happy the project is arriving in our village. Stop spreading this sort of political propaganda. – Pratham
Wrong diagnosis
I think the author has only observed the symptoms of the problem and blames the Indian and Pakistani attitude without understanding the core issue (“No one is 'winning' in India and Pakistan as long as their citizens languish in ill-health”).
The main problem is the oversized military that Pakistan inherited during Partition. This military has to justify its existence and maintaining an enmity with India provides that. There is nothing India can do to change this.
Even giving up Kashmir will not solve this problem because the military does not want to go out of business. There would be an endless list of issues they will bring up to stay relevant. Kashmir is just a symptom and not a cause of the problem. Even the Pakistani government cannot do anything about it. Any peace effort will result in a military coup and overthrow of the government leader. Terrorism is just a tool of the trade.
Whether or not there was surgical strike or not and how the public reacts on social media is irrelevant because the root cause cannot be eliminated. – Haresh Patel
Mysterious disappearances
At last, someone is talking about it this heart-breaking issue (“Bangladesh’s many ‘disappeared’ often return dead – if at all”). The country’s media has its hands tied and cannot speak much about it. The problem is so widespread; only god knows the pain of their loved ones. – Shah Uddin
Historical view
Thanks for informing your readers that Portuguese Goa was invaded, annexed and occupied by India in December 1961 (“The Daily Fix: Why does Modi subscribe to the myth that India has never attacked another country?”). Lies were told to gullible Goans that Goa was liberated. These lies continue until this day. We have been bullied by the Indian army, who has taken our civilian airport in Dabolim. Goa lived in harmony before ’61. Today, there is fear of veiled communalism unleashed by the BJP and many are leaving our shores. – B Colaço
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The writer needs to study history more deeply without being biased. – Sushil Sharma
Responsible coverage
I hope and pray the media persons of both countries stop to think about the impact of their coverage (“How the media has taken the Indo-Pak conflict beyond the political space into the personal one”). Even as citizens of their country they, by indulging in jingoism and inciting the emotions of their countrymen, are doing a great disservice. And all for TRPs and sales – what a pity. – Kewal Vadhera
Capital trouble
There is a serious law and order problem in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri (“At the root of a Hindu-Muslim clash in Delhi's Jahangirpuri was a dispute about encroachments”). People openly roam around with knives and other weapons, but there is no police monitoring.
The police land up only after something untoward happens. The previous SHO, who was doing a good job, was predictably transferred. The current SHO doesn’t even step out of his office.
People from outside afraid of coming to this place and even auto drivers don’t come here. – Yesu Das
I watched Pink the Monday after its release and was bowled over by the film. The performances were also outstanding (“‘Pink’ is not for women but for men and boys, says producer Shoojit Sircar”).
It made me wonder why it took so long for somebody to gather the courage to make a film on this subject. I am sure the film has got men men thinking too!
It is a film that every Indian man must watch with his eyes and mind wide open.
Women are tired of being told what to do and what not to. And yes, understanding that “no means no” is crucial.
Thanks to the story, script and dialogue writers, the director and of course the producer who made it possible for the film to be made for all of the world to see.
Please keep making such meaningful films. – Sanghamitra Malik
Doom city
Ranjona Banerji needs to be congratulated for an excellent piece on how Dehradun earned the dubious distinction of failing to get into the list of “smart cities” thrice (“Dehradun didn’t make it to the smart city list for the third time, but that may not be a bad thing”).
When the first proposal came around, there was no question of our inclusion because of the fixation of the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority on tea gardens as the main focus. The second time around, there was a semblance of consultation with citizens, but this was too little too late. As a result, the final proposal for the second round too was prepared hurried and half-baked.
My friends and I were highly circumspect about Dehradun’s chances in the third round too.
Ranjona has done well to underscore the shortcomings in the Smart city project prepared by Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority. Dehradun did in fact once have the makings of a smart city but it has now fallen on hard times thanks to the builder lobby. – Raj Kanwar
