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Readers' comments...
Salsa
Fever
Biju, LA
The article Salsa Fever on
Kaumudi USA was very informative and I totally
agree with your observations. I was in LA, California
for the last 4 years where I got a chance to learn
salsa and I couldn't agree with you more about
the different points you make about the cross-cultural
appeal and the rhythmic and romantic beauty of
the music and dance.
Latin music and the dances were something, which
I really enjoyed during my stay in the US, and
I really do miss that nowadays. Hopefully it will
catch on India as well and articles like yours
goes a long way in doing just that.
You have a very good writing style and you have
researched the subject very well. Even though
I have known Salsa for the last 4 years there
were a lot of things in your article that was
new for me. So keep up the good work.
Francis B, San Francisco
A good topic and a neat presentation
. Never thought salsa music had so much in it.
The Chinese are doing it. What about Indians ?
Thomas John , UK
Salsa music is also getting
popular in the UK. I did not know that it was
invented in the US. I thought it came from Mexico.
That was news.
Kalam's Presidency
Krishna Prasad , UK
Actually my view is that Abdul
Kalam has given presidency for the vote of Muslims
in favour of BJP(Muslims being so called minority
community in India). And in the name of secularism
lot of crime happening in India. Any way your
view is very positive and I wish things should
be that way.
Now, India really is ruled by Goondas & Maphia,
You will be aware of the rule by Supreme court
for the election Commissions point of view. All
the Political parties together opposed to that
(one of the point in that was, the candidates
whoever is having criminal records should not
contest elections and they have to declare their
assets).
In a Never developing country like ours, where
Phoolan devi & Pramod Mahajan can become MP's
and Ministers, and Now Veerappan is ruling the
south with his crime, because he got the strongest
political support from???? may be from Prime minister
also.
You know that Sanjay Datt having links with the
Under world Don Chotta Shakeel and the tape was
published and heard on the internet by Times of
India, do our so called Indian Government done
anything for that, still Sanju is living happily.
First of all all these situations should change
for the good, after that talk about secularism,
minority community etc.. This Muslims are the
one of the nastiest creatures in the world, these
people should be eradicated from the earth.
Just for writing sake and for polishing about
India You can write any thing, but facts &
truths are totally different, I do not know that
you are writing it sincerely or just for name
& fame. or also this is a politically motivated
affair????
Dr Prashant
Your comments about Dr Kalam
were excellent
Mohd Iqbal, Qatar
Read your comments about Kalam's
Presidency with interest but sorry to say that
I disagree with most of the points and assessments.
It seems that even educated Indians and NRIs also
have been brain-washed with fabricated ideas by
the mass media and propagandists that a person
from the minority, especially a Muslim got the
Key position in India. In your own letter you
have commented the position as "ornamental"
and everybody including Pakistan knows that. So
there is no chance of world countries wondering
about this. It is displayed as the best example
for the secularism and tolerance of Indian government!!
But what is the real fact? After the aftermath
and ethnic cleansing systematically done in Gujrat,
the whole world was frowning at India and all
Indians who believe in secularism and democracy
were much worried and Muslims were in a Panicking
situation. They asked each other, "What to
do now? Where we can find an escape-route and
which state will be the next target of the fascists?"
To avoid world attention from the massacres done
and to appease the Muslims in other parts of India
they brought forward a so-called Muslim scientist
(!) as the president of India. (Two birds at one
shot and with no cost!) It is a well- known fact
that a Muslim can become the President of India
easily but it is difficult for a Muslim to get
a job especially in government sector.
In Gujarat they have issued Circular to all company
heads not to appoint any Muslims otherwise they
will face repressive attacks by Hindutwa fanatics..
Muslims were President of India before also and
I cant understand what is new now when Mr. Kalam
became the President? Muslims could be and had
been patriotic always like Kalam, But the problem
is not about Muslims' patriotism. Some groups
who are exhibitive of their patriotism are doubtful
even about well-known Muslim figures, artists,
political leaders and even film-artists. You can
see naked pictures and idols of Hindu gods and
goddesses in all over Indian temples, nobody have
complaint about that, but when M F Hussain draw
a naked picture of a Hindu goddess, the ill-minded
Hindu zealots found Muslim policy in that act.
(Because his name is Hussain. Although he is a
fan of Madhuri Dixit and don't have any interest
in Islamic principles. This is only one example
how their mind is fully infected.) As long as
these kinds of ill-tempered peoples are there,
you can't expect Secularism and communal harmony
in its real spirit in India. Something should
be done urgently to tackle this illness. There
is hundreds of examples like this. In your letter
you are challenging if one can tell the names
of five countries where a member of a minority
community become the titular head. First of all
this question is meaningless.
Kalam don't represent Indian minorities, neither
he is a Muslim-party member nor he had any links
with Muslims. His entire links were with Hindus.
Even he was called as Kalam Ayyar by his Hindu
friends! You can challenge others if a person
representing the minority become the Indian Prime
Minister and when Indian minorities' lives safely
and their properties are secure from mob attacks
from Hindutwa extremists.) Indians became even
President in Maldives, (Not a helpless president
like Abdul Kalam) and availed top positions in
Madagascar, Singapore etc. In order to avoid elaboration
in this subject I put forward some simple questions.
1. If India is so secular under
the BJP government, how they were able to do massacres
in Gujarat and how they are continuing to propagate
heinous ideas and statements through the press
to boycott Muslims shops, not to do trade with
Muslim businessmen and all that sort?
2. How they were allowed to install checkpoints
in all entry-points of Gujarat to ban entry of
Muslims?
3. Why the government of India is not ensuring
the safe-return of Muslim natives of Gujarat to
their houses and properties?
4. Why they are changing secular curriculum system
of India and teaching the pupils poisonous ideas?
5. Why armed zealots are still roaming freely
in various parts of India threatening the lives
and peace of common people, especially Muslims?
The tarnished face of India will
not get an impressive outlook merely by appointing
a Muslim as president or organizing Ifthar parties
every year. All Indians who believe in the secular
system of India and democracy and in the progress
of India must reject the ill-tempered and harsh-minded
BJP, Bajrangdal, VHP, RSS, and all that sort of
ill-tempered organizations. Until and unless that,
our India will become a ghost-land ruled by fanatics
dancing with bleeding swords and draggers. Kalam's
imagination of a prosperous India will not come
true until the attitude of Indians change. The
communal hatred, heinous propoganda, exaggerated
and baseless press reports, spreading of provocative
rumours should be stopped. His dreams to green
the barren lands of India through modern technology
is most welcome. But until now no scientist had
found out a device to enrich barren brains with
good ideas. If so, we could use it enrich the
brain of Advani, Modi and all that sort. A common
Hindu is a liberal minded, polite person having
friendly attitude and he co-operate with any civilization
and culture of the world. This is the history
of India. But vigorous propaganda and systematic
activities of some leaders having vested interests
tamper this attitude. India's respect and reputation
had extinguished throughout the world after the
BJP had came into power. The time magazine mocked
at us featuring a half-dead Prime Minister! Passed
those days when we were having Prime Ministers
like Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Nehru etc who
had good education, reputation and personality.
I don't think you can retrieve a good impression
about India only by ornamental position of Mr.
Kalam's presidency. I agree that there is strength,
a strong thread that holds all Indians together.
But this thread is torn out now in several places.
Unless something serious is not done quickly,
this thread will be torn down completely.
Rasheed, Mubarak
Just look at the confusing
message send all throughout the world with people
looking at the second most populous nation and
both the constitutional heads being single...
:)
Nooruddin, Saudi Arabia
Saw your article about the
captioned subject in Kaumudi USA and read it.
I am not convinced to your arguments because I
admit Dr Kalam is namely a Muslim but practically
a Hindu ( Recent photos published in newspapers
clarifies that thing). Do not think that I am
blaming him for that because our constitution
is giving the right to live by following any view
of life however, all of your arguments are based
upon the fact that he is true muslim.
You have to dive inner facts of
the thing, do not think outside it, and don't
make views by looking outside things. Most of
the people who live in India, especially Muslims
are want to continue Narayan as president of India
because of his unbiased views , actions and his
eagerness to keep the constitution as it is by
acting as a true keeper of it. Dr Kalam views
are not given a good future to India since his
first press release is promoting war or the related
views.
Actually, people of India
do not fear any neighboring countries treats because
our Army is capable of get rid of it. But they
are fearing real things poor living standards
, starvation and the like but the rulers are not
look the actual necessities of the people. In
my opinion the rulers should concentrate towards
the real facts and don't turn to shadows. Surely
it will make them tired, so they turn to the sensitive
issues and set researches how to continue in power
or how to reach in power.
IF we compare Narayan and Dr.
Kalam the unbiased minded will chose the first.
Whom you will suggest? Why BJP donot want him
to continue? They want a rubber stamp! As well
as they chose a suitable candidate to avoid the
congress preferring their own candidate; everybody
know that
congress has the majority of the vote for the
president election.
Likewise by chosing kalam candidature
it will clean the image the party from the recent
state promoted Gujarat riots towards the minority
community.
Godra incident was happed due to
fire inside the compartment as per the forensic
report and Railway is afraid to publish the names
of the victims ( the compartment was a reserved
one)which speaks itself that the mainly godra
victims are muslims!!!!!!!
Upon this, the Gujarat riots were induced. Two
birds by one shot !!!!!!!!!.
Kamarudeen
I read your article and it
is very good. But honestly Iwould like to tell
you one thing, that all these happenings are games.
Pure Political Games. There are no politicians
(Who ever) or religious leader (Who ever) in India
who think or dream about a better India. Everybody,
including me, are selfish. To say sadly, A P Kalam
could not make his dreams come true. Indian politicians
or the system in India will not allow for it.
In my opinion, only the youth can do something.
They have to start think about an India, a non
religious India, a non political India A humanity
India. I am a person who sometimes cry for my
country.
Radhakrishnan Tharoor, USA
This is one of the best articles
/ opinions that I have read. It really makes me
feel proud to be an Indian by birth and an American
by adoption. Through circumstances and news from
all other media portray us differently, you really
hit the point; and what i always wonder. "if
india was not secular we would not have lasted
this long".
Predatory elite
Sojan Samuel
I agree with your views
on the behavoural pattern of our fellow citizens.
In the article you have held the creation of the
so called clerks of the British Raj responsible
for this state of affairs. Hove ever i disagree
with the above view.Indeed its true that the British
during their over three hundred years of colonial
rule of India had exploited india of its resources.How
over i hold our own people responsible for granting
the british an opportunity to exploit India.Kingdoms
betrayed each other because they could not stand
the other.
The main reason for the indiscipline and the strange
behavioural attitude of our people can be attributed
to the caste system we have practiced and is still
practicing till this date.They have created a
group of people meant for a particular job.The
Brahmins and the kshatriyas colluded basically
to exploit others.So in the process they declared
most of the jobs undignified.For example toddy
tapping is done by a particular community in Kerala.So
all toddy tappers were considered lower castes.
The judges were the brahmins and the kshathriyas.This
phenomenon of branding lower castes and upper
castes basically on the kind of work that they
do, has indeed led to the kind ofattitude that
we Indians have in our daily walk of life.
Narayanan Nair
I am a graduate of Trivandrum
Engg College also, of course, I graduated from
there in 1963. Am here in Chicago, since 1970.
But keep a close watch of all affairs happening
in India, particularly Kerala.
The politicians as well as the educated elite,
have turned things around in India, so badly that
the average, Indian, needless to say the poor,
suffers there tremendously in all fileds and walks
of life, not just in education alone. But, of
course, as you mentioned, education is the stepping
stone for the future generations, who in future
will carve the destiny of that country. Should
you push the younger generation towards engineering,
or medicine is not only a question that all Indians
should ask now, but should have been asking for
a long long time. It is true that English has
given all Indians the ability to go out of India,
to earn education and hence foreign exchange for
India, but are these foreign Indians getting any
recognition when they go to India on vacation
or even for business, is a very highly debatable
question.
I am co-chairman of a project by Malayalee Engineers
Association here in Chicago, and we are sponsoring
poor engineering students in Kerala Engineering
colleges, for four years of their student life,
by giving them scholarships , from donations alone.So
far we have sponsored this year 17 students, poor
but brilliant, from various colleges in Kerala.
From reading their applications, I came to understand
that there are no facilities in Kerala to promote
the poor but brilliant students. Your article
touches only the rich and educated. But I would
like you to remember more than 30 percent of Indian,
population is below the poverty level. Does any
one care for them?. This I gathered from a speech
by the writer K L Mohana Varma, who wrote the
Malayalam Book "Ohari". He was here
last December, sponsored by our Malayalam Sahithya
Vedi, of which I am a member.
Yes, the rich can push their kids to engineering
or medicine, but the down trodden will suffer
without decent educational opportunities throughout
their life. Here in this country there is a system,
both governmental, as well as private, to provide
scholarships and long term low interest loans
to deserving students. Do any government or private
banks in India have such a system? Pitroda was
here inagurating our efforts recently, and I had
a chance of talking to him about this dilemma.
Of course he knows and he is doing everything
that he can, but he said political system, ( the
corrupted one) there is prohibitting anyone from
doing anything worthwhile there. Is tha true?
Biju Chacko,UK
Fully agree with the point
1, but not fully satisfied by the point 2.
1:Respect for each other, and respect
for each other's profession is a characteristic
of the American society. In my short stay in US
i found that this is true
2: The bureaucracy, under the Licence
Raj, assumed an all-powerful status.These servants
of the public not only created an unhealthy working
condition in the country but also started harassing
the common man, who had to approach them for his
everyday activity.
Right now iam in UK, and for curiosity
i approached several public deptartments in UK
to find out how they are handling the day to day
business...i found that they are very helpful
and can understand the problems and will help
us in getting out of it....
The problem i feel here is not the
rules/laws or licensed aj........ofcourse the
mind set of the officers or people in that job.
For eg: from the very
childhood onwards we are injected with the fact
that a barber/a shop keeper/a carpenter is not
having an egalatarian status and he is supposed
to do only that work....which he supposed to do.for
eg: in my 2 year life in delhi i found that the
people itself don't want them to go up....
My point is are we still trying
to convince the outside that this is why india
has gone backwards....if feel ofcourse not.....
Why do some Indians talk
about giving away Kashmir
Mathai M , Dubai
But certain facts to
be noted regarding the validity of plebiscite.
The UN resolution is not valid now due to following
reasons:
1)The status of Kashmir when plebiscite was agreed
and later is different. At that time Kashmir was
two portions.
Indian occupied Kashmir and Pakistan occupied
Kashmir.
Now it is like as follows:
IOK and POK.
Chinese occupied Kashmir
Kashmir land gifted by Pakistan to China.
Kashmir land annexed by Pakistan to their Northern
Frontier.
So a plebiscite in all these area is impossible
and hence not valid if done only at IOK and POK.
2)Status of Pakistan is also different now. The
Pakistan at that time was including present Bangladesh.
So plebiscite is not at all valid. Hence it is
a bilateral issue to be solved as per Simla agreement
which is subsequent to UN resolutio
Kashmir what went wrong
Col Ali M Khajawall MD, ABFM.
ABDA, USA
First Secretary: Kashmir
American Mission [KAM]
& Founder: Kashmiri American Council [KAC]
"Great grand gestures
have real healing touch! " And
"For the triumph of evil it is necessary
that the concerned people do nothing"
Thank you for raising the people of Kashmir view
before your readers.
I am a naturalised Kashmir born American citizen
and Colonel in US Army Reserve as the most senior
psychiatrist as an expert in dealing with Combat
Stress Control. I really concur with his review
and analysis of Indo-Kash-Pak situation. And have
been working to address the Indo-Kash-Pak reconciliation
over Kashmir keeping in view the chronic plight
and aspirations of tormented people of Kashmir.
Here is an Op-ed piece for possible publication
in your Newspaper. Thanks in advance.
It is unfortunate and sad that India and Pakistan
is trying to engage the sympathy of the United
States and other countries. Their stand on Kashmir
is India calls it as its crown and Pakistan calls
it as its windpipe. The real story is that immoral
and illegal occupation of homeland of its 13 million
people. These people are involved in true occupation
resistance movement. Which no means can be labeled
as a terrorist movement; Kashmir is an integral
part of India or Pakistan? The occupation resisters
are people of divided Kashmir across the line
of control. They are not secessionists or fundamentalists.
How well grounded these pleas are can be judged
from the following facts and considerations: During
the latest phase of the freedom struggle, virtually
all the citizenly of vale of Kashmir including
the capital city, Srinagar and other towns-men,
women, and children-came out on the streets repeatedly
to lodge a nonviolent protest against continued
occupation.
The people of divided Kashmir wish to stress that
their land is not real estate that should be parceled
out between two disputants but the home of a nation
with a history for more compact and coherent than
India's and far longer than Pakistan's. No settlement
of their status will hold unless it is explicitly
based on the principles of self-determination
and erases the so-called line of control, which
is in reality the line of conflict.
Citizens of Kashmir would like the future negations
to be tripartite, because the dispute primarily
involves three parties-India, Pakistan and the
tormented People of Kashmir. But the primary and
principal party is the people of Kashmir, and
it is ultimately their future-the future of 13
million people of Kashmir-that is at stake.
The people of Kashmir, and their Kashmiriyat will
help the world powers to find the true, lasting,
and permanent peace for the people of Indo-Kash-Pak
region and rest of the world.
Question is not who controls Kashmir? The question
should be do 13 million divided and tormented
people of Kashmir matter within the turbulent
& traumatised sea of over one billion people
of Indo-Pak region.
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