Thursday, July 26, 2012
PRANAB MUKHERJEE-ABHIJIT MUKHERJEE - DYNASTIC POLITICS IN WEST BENGAL
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, THE HINDU, DATED 26-07-2012
DYNASTIC POLITICS IN WEST BENGAL
There is nothing wrong in Abhijit Mukherjee, son of
President Pranab Mukherjee, wanting to contest from the Jangipur Lok Sabha
constituency vacated by his father (“Descent of the republic” July 25) as
dynastic politics has become a universal phenomenon. The Bush and Clinton
families in the U.S. ,
the Nehru-Gandhi family, the Thackerays, the Abdullahs, the Mulayam Singhs, the
Pawars, the Karunanidhis and many others in India
are some examples.
The trend has come to stay and political values and ethics
have vanished into thin air.
V. Tilak Subramanian,
Chennai
The editorial points to a serious malady. Most leaders treat
politics as their family business. The Congress believes (and finds security) in
the concept of the “first family.”
Voters need to be educated on the undesirability of dynastic
politics so that they take proper decisions at the time of elections. We surely
cannot expect politicians or the Election Commission to perform this role. The
media alone can help.
P.R.V. Raja,
Pandalam
While Mukherjee senior is all set to protect and defend the
Constitution, Mukherjee junior is set to protect the neo-feudalistic practice
of inheriting his father’s parliamentary constituency.
D. Aravind,
Chennai
The tendency of sons and daughters of politicians to rise
using their parents’ influence should be discouraged. In fact, political
leaders should themselves discourage their children. If the younger generation
is keen on entering politics, it should start work at the grass root level and
rise to power through its own contribution to society and the nation.
C. Petson Peter,
People should stop encouraging family politics. But the
irony is even the so-called educated believe in dynastic politics. They are
seen hobnobbing with politicians to meet their ends. It is we, the middle class
and the poor, who have no such stakes.
S. Arshad Ali,
Madanapalle
I am sure there are Congressmen who deserve the ticket from
the Jangipur constituency more than the junior Mukherjee. It is time the so-called
democratic parties and their leaders took a lesson or two on democracy before
preaching democratic values to the nation.
Rajnish Kumar Yadav,
In a society where doctors, engineers and others encourage
their wards to follow the same profession, it is quite natural for politicians
to do the same. But politics is more than just a profession — it demands
greater responsibility and hard work. The President of India should think again
— before allowing his son to contest from the same constituency.
K.B. Jayalaxmi,
Ernakulam
ASSAM IN VIOLENCE
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, THE HINDU, DATED 26-07-2012
VIOLENCE IN ASSAM :
CAUSE FOR CONCERN
The situation in Kokrajhar , Assam Assam
as violence escalates,” July 25) is a cause for serious concern. The ethnic
violence which has claimed 40 lives and rendered thousands homeless is
disturbing. It has become a habit to blame all violence on extremists but it is
important to identify the actual cause of the simmering unrest and find a long-lasting
solution.
H.P. Murali,
It is disturbing to see the ethnic violence in Assam
turning more diabolic, taking a heavy toll and making thousands of people flee
their homes. The deployment of heavy contingents of military to quell the riot
will help in getting only temporary relief. The government should identify the
root cause for the feud between Bodos and Muslims which has erupted in such an
ugly manner.
B. Gurumurthy,
Why the violence remained unchecked for over a week remains
a mystery. The situation has not been handled well by the Gogoi government. It
is a failure of the State.
Guruajan Ramachandran,
Chennai
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
LAKSHMIK SEHAGAL, A LEGEND, NO MORE
LOSS OF A LEGEND
The
article “A life of struggle” on Captain Lakshmi Sahgal (July 24) offered an
insight into her contribution to the nation as not only a freedom fighter but
also a doctor. She was the embodiment of courage and selfless service. She
enriched our society like few did. She was far ahead of her times and walked on
a path which lesser mortals would have feared to take. India
C.M.
Umanath,
Life is
routine for many of us. Only a few lead a meaningful life of dedication.
Lakshmi Sahgal was one of them. She had no personal agenda.
Her
passing away is a great loss to society. A biography of hers will be useful for
generations to come.
A. Subbalakshmi,
In the
death of Captain Lakshmi Sahgal, the country has lost another of its few
remaining vestiges of the freedom struggle. She was a woman extraordinaire and an icon. Born in an era when women
rarely stepped out of their homes, Lakshmi Sahgal took on the caste system as
only she could. She was not averse to mixing with the most marginalised
sections and fought relentlessly for the temple entry for Dalits and against
child marriage and dowry.
She
donned various hats — of a freedom fighter, medical practitioner, politician,
social worker and champion of the downtrodden. Her simple and unassuming ways
and selfless service endeared her to millions.
N.J. Ravi Chander,
