Letters to the Editor No mirror to the world ! SIR, A repeat of the 2012 non-performance, newspapers and periodicals in Kolkata and West Bengal failed to be published from 12 to 15 October 2013, that is the Durga Puja spell. With the backing of a “permanent poverty belt”, right-wing non-progressive political party, a large section of newspaper employees and all newspaper hawkers and vendors, enjoyed an autumn holiday. Readers were blacked out from all printed news. Under the shrewdly crafted political attack on the free press, the newspaper managements were deprived of sales and advertisement revenue. Mercifully, there was publication on Friday, 11 October, which carried the weekly film schedule timings, that included Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity, the inaugural film at the Venice Film Festival of September 2013. The whole nauseating episode of non-publication of newspapers under pressure is reminiscent of Francois Truffaut’s film, Farhenheit 451, based on Ray Bradbury’s novel, where the printed word and printed material burns at 451 degrees F political temperature. Certain dedicated journalists attended their offices on the closure days, to help assemble editorials and articles for the Delhi editions, as published. Stifling of printed media is the most ungodly, anti-spiritual and uncivilized act imaginable. Yours, etc., Abhijit Ghosh-Dastidar, (Media and film critic and retired Chief Postmaster-General), Kolkata, 15 October. GLOOM AMIDST MIRTH SIR, I have been reading The Statesman for the past 25 years and I love the paper from the core of my heart. That the paper wasn’t published for four days during the Pujas saddened me during the festive season. It was almost as though we were stranded in a lonely island, cut off from the rest of the world. The “conscious” decision of the newspaper distribution trade was an assault on our right to know, and for the second year in succession. The decision not to distribute newspapers during the Pujas was ridiculous; this does not happen in a civilized society. The distribution trade should not sacrifice professionalism at the altar of enjoyment. Yours, etc., Aranya Sanyal, Siliguri, 11 October. IN THE VALLEY SIR, This refers to Soumitro Das’s article, “Kashmir and the Army” (7 October). In a critical comment, he writes: “The Army is sacrosanct because they lay down their lives to protect our freedom from our enemies. If you have been given the right to kill with impunity, you should expect some bullets coming your way from time to time. There is no such thing as fundamental right not to be killed if you are a soldier on the prowl with an automatic weapon. And secondly, why do I need to be protected against people, who till the other day were my compatriots”. He has examined the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Peoples Safety Act in Jammu & Kashmir, and how innocent Kashmiris are subjected to gross violation of human rights by the military in course of its operations. He has touched on the subject of referendum. It is rather ironical that he has no word of criticism of the political leaders. If one goes back to 26 October 1947, when Hari Singh, the ruler of J&K, signed the Article of Accession to India, neither he nor Sheikh Abdullah had raised the subject of special status. Indeed, the draft for the Article of Accession was the same for all the states that joined India. The subject of special status and referendum were raised by Lord Mountbatten and readily accepted by Prime Minister Nehru.Separatism and alienation are rooted in Article 370, which has become an instrument of exploitation in the hands of the ruling political elite. There is a clause that no Indian citizen can buy property and settle in J&K. A pluralistic society is yet to develop in the Valley. It is the politicians, and not the Army, who have created the Kashmir problem. The Army is only tackling a very difficult situation. Our soldiers are doing a very thankless job. Yours etc. T K Chaudhuri, Kolkata, 14 October. HOPE & OPTIMISM SIR, Rajinder Puri’s Perspective page article on Manmohan Singhs trip to the USA as also Salman Haidar’s editorial page piece (1 October) reinforce the common man’s desire for greater understanding between India and Pakistan. Hope and optimism have triumphed! It is gratifying that despite cynicism and shrill forebodings, both Prime Ministers agreed to meet again ~ on the subcontinental soil. Mr Puri is indeed justified in castigating Rahul Gandhi for enacting “a preplanned and unprecedented theatrical performance to rubbish the PM”. Any such action on the part of “the heir to the throne” would have been churlish... if not disastrous for Indo-Pak relations. The dignity with which Mr Manmohan Singh conducted himself throughout this suspenseful episode enhances his and India’s prestige. Yours, etc., Saran Singh, Kolkata, 1 October. BONG CONNECTION SIR, The write-up titled “Maids of Woe” ( 14 October) is factual and interesting. I wish to add that the points of origin of maid servants to Delhi are not just Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, but largely West Bengal. Even in the neighbouring areas such as Gurgaon, Faridabad and Noida, Bengali maids are abundant and they far outnumber those from other states. More often than not, both husband and wife are engaged as maid servants and cooks. The other day, I met a foreigner at Delhi Gymkhana Club. When she realised that I am a Bengali, she informed me that her maid servant was a Bengali. What a great commonality between us ! Time was when Bengal was known for exporting architects, lawyers, journalists, professors, doctors and other intellectuals. Now West Bengal only exports maid servants. We must thank Communist rule for three decades for this great achievement! Yours etc. Sukumar Mukhopadhyay, New Delhi, 14 October.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 18:49:50 +0000
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