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May 26, 1998
SPECIALS
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How Readers responded to Dilip D'Souza's last column
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 03:49:51 -0700 I can think of only one word which aptly describes this column: 'Pathetic'. How can you not appreciate the achievements of our scientists? If you challenge the validity of the Times of India poll, why don't you conduct a survey taking into consideration the entire Indian population? Let's see what the numbers read. Only then should you argue. Though I am not really for nuclear tests, I am surprised how people manage to find some way or other to criticise something like this. Sharad
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 16:17:27 +0530 Usually Mr D'Souza manages to raise quite a few interesting issues. This time around, however, he makes very little sense.
Ashok Pathare
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 10:20:44 PDT Please do not publish articles like this in Rediff. Dilip is JEALOUS. Everybody in the USA feel very bad about this article. He is mixing so many things which have been existing well before the bomb. The fault is ours, the fault is of the people of this nation who allowed corrupt governments (Congress & others). It is these corrupt governments which give misery, hunger & other bad things to us. We have big hopes of the BJP. Pakistan is doing so much wrong to us but we are silent. Because of this we have not only lost so many lives but also money. To control the Pakistani invasion/terrorism we are spending millions on J&K/Punjab border etc. WHY??? With this bomb we can effectively pressurise that idiot country & save millions of rupees which can be diverted to the common people. So Mr D'Souza, do not blame the bomb -- we are responsible for all the bad things happening in India. Please broaden your view. Regards, Rajeev Mohnot
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 09:45:47 -0500 Wake up Dilip D'Souza, don't expect the government to come and feed every individual who is suffering from poverty. One has to find his own means to survive. If the government gives importance to issues other than defence, India will be chewed up by its neighbours. Let the government do its work and the individual worry about his survival. Sunil
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 08:02:15 -0700 Dilip, As I sit in America and look at India, I think the bomb was a great national awakening to the threat that China and Pakistan pose. Three hundred million people going hungry in India maybe a bit exaggerated; nevertheless, the problem is true and of great importance. India had approximately 300 million people when the British left in 1947 and we have close to a billion now. Did lots of children die or survive? You be the judge. We are a country of underfed and oversexed people. Poor people have to stop having more kids. In China they force everyone by law to stop it. Maybe we should resurrect Sanjay Gandhi's famous compulsory family planning scheme. The burden of the poor cannot be addressed with the priorities of sovereignty. India needs a nuclear vision as long as we have land-grabbing neighbours like China and Pakistan. As far as Sindhi Benazir is concerned, we will let our Sindhi, Advani, deal with her.
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 10:29:55 -0400 Very poorly written. Totally one sided to boot.
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 10:27:19 -0400 I have a few questions for Dilip: Is Dilip currently a resident of India? When was his last visit there? If he is so very concerned about the poor, what has he done for them? Why criticise someone for trying to bring some credit to our Motherland? Russia is in deep trouble, but still it's recognised as a military power. Why does India have to hold on to the principles of non-violence? I've seen beggars roaming the streets of New York! Have you read the statistics on nuclear tests by different nations? It is because of people like Dilip that we are looked upon as YOU INDIANS... In my opinion Dilip is a forked child of biased Western journalism! Long live Mother India. Dilip D'Souza, for the record, is a resident Indian. After completing his education in the US, he chose to return to India, and now works in Bombay as a software consultant. He is actively involved in social issues.
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 10:10:33 -0400 It was a refreshing change to read Mr D'Souza's article with respect to India's nuclear test and patriotism. Though I agree with India's decision to go ahead and conduct the tests, the resulting euphoria and the BJP's rhetoric reeks of smallness and hardly befits the image of greatness that India want to project to the world.
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 12:47:09 EDT My name is Amar and I am a software consultant. I liked Mr D'Souza's article because it gives me a different perception about the whole situation. But I see that he has missed out some facts about the geographic location of our country and our neighbours. First of all, I would like to point out that a country cannot afford to compromise on its security. We have been spending a very small fraction of our GDP for defence purposes. And the money for these bomb tests was taken out of the regular budget of the two departments responsible for conducting it. Have you forgotten the Indo-China war in 1962? The Chinese have been given the MFN status by the US. And because of that their economy has been getting such a boost that they are going to be the next Super Power in the coming century. But I guess I am deviating from the topic. China has over 400 nukes. Thanks to the technology exchange with the US, they have obtained some sensitive satellite launching capability in the recent past which has given them the technology to upgrade their long-range missiles. Now their warheads can reach any part of India. On top of that, they have been assisting Pakistan in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. In this scenario what option does India have? Keep finding cure for malaria? What if both our neighbours attack us (worst case scenario)? Are we going to fight them with our malaria or AIDS vaccines? A nation can progress only when it is secure (We can think of decorating the house only if we have strong walls around it that can secure our belongings). And I don't think that because of the bombs other research work in India has stopped. Amardeep Singh
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 08:36:16 -0400 Dilip D'Souza's commentary is so puerile that it should not be dignified with detailed comment. It is because of nay sayers like him that we became a nation of slaves, and have been held up in ridicule all over the world in recent years. The West paid lip service to our utopian, unpragmatic Nehruvian and Gandhian idealism of the dithering weak. The Nehru and Gandhi policies were so against our national interests that they could almost be called unpatriotic. Getting a patronising pat on the head from the West in general and the arrogant condescending US in particular, and then sitting up to beg like a dog as was the case in the Nehru era, is not national interest. The same Western powers were happy to push us aside on all important economic and political issues. Man does not live by bread alone. Ultimately, it is a sense of honour and self-confidence leading to clear resolute, action by the nation, achieved at enormous cost and sacrifice no doubt, that will lead to economic betterment, which is the only thing that concerns D'Souza. See Vietnam, a penniless, primitive nation with indomitable will. It defeated both France, and the US which wanted to bomb it back into the stone age. Look at Iran, it shook up the US. Look at the resoluteness of China which told everyone to go to hell and followed its own national interests and look at how that same Clinton is today shamelessly pandering to it because of the pressure of the business community in spite of China's manifestly anti-India policies. It is the same China now, having achieved nuclear hegemony, which insists that we should not have the bomb! Have a nice day now. Nagendra Rao
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 10:18:46 -0500 (EST) Mr D'Souza, I very much doubt whether you would ever see this letter. You might not be aware of it, but historically India has always been a military deficient country. We may have invented the stirrup & saddle but we didn't invent armed cavalry & cavalry tactics. We studied metallurgical science as far back as 500 BC but we never explored gunpowder. We were the first sea merchants with novel "steam" ships (using fires burning in the hold powering great sails) but we never developed naval warships. We were more content to make butter. The poets wax lyrical about Kshatriyas fighting it out (as if it was a sporting contest or the Ranji trophy of the bygone era!) while farmers were tilling fields & merchants conducting commerce. But Yavans, Bactrains, Huns, Gujjars, Shakas, Kushans, Arabs & Turks invaded and spoiled this land. Of course, India (91% of it, at least ) accepted them and made them part of us. The process always took some time, caused anguish & misery at least to some (say the 9%). Even in 1750, (source: Kennedy 's Rise & Fall of Powers or any decent economic text) India had 25% of the world's manufacturing output, and 16 to 20% of its population. I don't know how you view it but I think we were prosperous. We had no guns of the calibre nor a navy to prevent the British conquest. They were bad news for the 91%. India's current manufacturing output in the world is 2% & it was little less in 1947. So we cannot blame the Congressites or BJP-ites or Janataites for this. So we made a lot of butter & lost it. You still want us to make butter and ignore to guard it? Say we manage to devote all our resources to feeding the kids (a laudable aim). But tomorrow another invader may come and snatche that piece of bread away -- and you will be there first in the row condemning the leadership for not having the GUN! Of course, your article has several interesting points. Between 33% & 50% of India sleeps hungry (could be right), but they are surviving. That means they share: one is hungry tonight, other takes turn tommorow. They all go to bed hungry at least twice a week. When was the last time you slept hungry? Secondly, you have assumed 75% of India was not interviewed for the poll (the 91% one). So it is invalid. OK, no probs. The remaining 22.5% endorse this statement including at least 10% who go hungry to bed? At least, when they sleep, their dreams are now coloured by hope. Pranshu B Saxena
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 10:28:18 -0600 The author has set new standards of sophistry. His article is based on a lot of mistaken notions. First of all, India did not build a bomb overnight and anyone who thinks so, God save him from himself. All the PM did was to make public knowledge of what was known in the hush-hush circles. True that India has a lot of other issues that need to be tackled, but there is no connection between the detonation of the bomb and these very pertinent issues. These can be done in parallel. Also, the point about India being far superior to Pakistan in conventional arms is based on outdated facts. Instead of bad mouthing the PM and his government for the explosions I think we should stand by him and see that he tackles the other issues. Raghu
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 12:22:20 -0400 Dear Mr D D'souza, I hope you agree with me that we must take lessons from what has happened to us in 1962. Till then, we had completely ignored the defence and were concentrating on getting our cart rolling. But the Chinese didn't like some other cart rolling smoothly at par with theirs, and we were made to pay the price. What do you have to say about that? Can you explain why Japan attacked the US in WW II? Or rather, why was it started in the first place by Germany? Nations with imperialistic designs very easily resort to military adventurism when they find no strong deterrence. Can you feel safe in India which is just rich and prosperous without any deterring defence capability? Well, if you have ideas similar to what Japan is today under the US nuclear umbrella then I completely agree with you. Is that what you want? Then there would be no reason at all for spending one naya paisa on all this. But then it implies solving the Kashmir dispute as the US wants it to be. If that's what you want then you sure are a traitor. That's not all there is to it. You say we have been taking the lives of our brothers for the last 50 years. When our jawans kill Afghan mercenaries in Kashmir it seems your brothers are getting killed! As a nation India has never been an aggressor. So don't put the responsibility of brothers getting killed on India. If brothers attack us and get killed when we defend ourselves the onus is not on us. All I can say is you and others like you need to awaken, realise the facts, and revise old lessons.
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 13:15:25 -0400 Mr D'Souza has a good understanding of the internal problems of India and her people. BUT his knowledge of external events and the world needs careful attention and reading. It is true that India is a poor country and needs economic improvements. Hey, does that mean India will do it after losing half the land it has today? Pakistan and China are warmongers and this has been proven many times over the last 50 years. These tests have been pending for a long time now. Eventually, it takes a COURAGEOUS government to take a DECISION like this. Not like P V Narsimha Rao and Deve Gowda who will delay decisions till the time issues sorted themselves out. I congratulate the new BJP government for their decisive action, for daring to declare that India is ready to decide her fate without being bullied by powers like the US and China. They need India as much as India needs them. India is gearing to be a major economic power in the coming years (with its growing middle class), so she needs to be reckoned by the West as THE power.
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 12:17:31 -0500 Dear Dilipji, Your writing style is great and the presentation is just fine [My humble opinion]. It's true that India is a poor country and nuclear testing is expensive. Maintaining an army is expensive too. So let us all vote to dissolve the military and feed the hungry. Let's open all our borders and feed the hungry. When the country invests billions in a power project, it is easy to say, "Let us not invest crores in this project but let us buy bread and feed the hungry with these billions of rupees." THIS attitude will never work. Initial sacrifice is necessary. Always look at the long term benefits of an action when it is a national-level action. The nuclear tests are a major investment to the nation, the benefits of it will be seen as time progresses. A humble question: Do you guys (columnists) give a thought before you write articles or do you write just to be different and for popularity? Prashant
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 13:54:32 -0400 As it is Dilip writes bad on any topic. But I never knew he can write this BAD. Try to be progressive, Dilip. There is always a multitude of people who denies change. The worst about Indians is some of them abuse India before somebody from outside -- and U R one of them. Who says the BJP has ignored malnutrition, water, hunger problems..? Who says nobody else apart from those who are in cities are not happy with the N-tests..? Collect correct data, then write such things. After making the bomb our security has become more insecure, you say. It's really ridiculous! Be positive minded. I remember someone said during the Asian Games 1982: "What's the use of this game? And so much expenses... We can redirect Ganga up to Rajasthan within that budget...and there won't be a desert in Rajasthan..." Isn't it funny?
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 19:17:38 PDT Hi there, Though I support the N-tests, I am not claiming that I am a TRUE PATRIOT. Neither are you. The first few days after the nukes were exploded, I was confused as I read the many articles about it. Sometimes it is really good to be pessimistic in matters like this. People will get to know the side effects of this deadly weapons only later. But in this article you have humiliated our prime minister. You have mentioned that he used this method for his party's political benefits. Here I would like to mention that I am not a follower of the BJP. One way or the other, a majority of Indians elected him as our leader. Moreover, he has spent half his life in politics. I think he must be knowing the after effects of this than you and me. Here are a few points which would tell you why I think there is nothing bad about the N-tests: 1. The BJP came to power two months ago. This period is not enough for a government to produce the N bombs. India have been trying to test since 1995. India already had the capability of testing. The present government executed the tests bravely. If it hadn't done that, the money that was spent on this research would be in vain. So it is totally pointless to blame the present government for spending so much money in these deadly weapons, as they haven't done that. 2. After the 1974 N-test, for the past two decades India was ruled by other parties. They neither tested N-bombs nor fought against poverty and other devastating economic diseases. They didn't even give a chance for Indians to feel proud about them. This test brought us closer, made us feel proud about India. Proved to other countries about the technological advancements in India. 3. India is spending a lot of money on its defence. Pakistan is giving trouble at the border constantly. Because of this, the Indian government cannot concentrate on internal problems. This N-test may reduce our blood brothers's chaotic approaches towards our country. This one-time investment may reduce our defense expenses. 4. Internationally, N-tests proved that India is not to be taken for granted. India is technically powerful. Though the United States imposed sanctions, not everyone in G-8 supported its decision. The US leaders are now thinking to have diplomatic actions. An ignored part of Asia is under the light now. This might bring drastic changes into India. So instead of ridiculing this, look at it in an optimistic way and suggest some good things to do along with it. Keep writing articles about the key issues of India, keep us well informed. Regards, Raam
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 18:16:42 +0100 Can I ask the writer to conduct a survey in the villages? I am very sure that more than 95% of the Indian villagers would support the test. Let's not make the test a political issue. Let's not generalise on the basis of what a person like the ganne ke ras wala thinks. He has his view on the issue. This does not mean that every poor thinks like that. I think national security is the most important priority. No country in the world can ignore it. Well done India! My salute to all those scientists and engineers.
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 08:18:18 -0700 I completely agree with Dilip D'Souza. It is a sad commentary, about a nation that puts weapons before the welfare of its people. In the United States we have untold thousands of square miles of land that lies in waste because of spent Uranium or atomic bomb tests. A nuclear bomb does not a technologically-advanced country make. It is a shame that while we (the USA) are disarming many nuclear warheads, whose only benefit is to pollute our land with toxic waste, the leadership of India feels the need to prove to the rest of the world just how childish they really are by developing the "Bomb". Whatever happened to the India of deep spiritual philosophy. Has that disappeared for ever? What happend to a country that cared for its people's growth, both physically and spiritually? I agree with Dilip. We need to take care of our countrymen in order to show the world just how big we really are. Thank you Dilip for your insight. Max
Date sent: Tue, 19 May 1998 13:14:17 -0500 Don't know what else to say but to point out that D'Souza is just a COPY CAT. The reason why I say this is coz I am sure he talked to no ganne-ka-ras walla. He just flicked that from Varsha Bhosle's taxi-walla and made it ganne-walla. See the CONNECTION? Now that we have established that, let's move on. And ban his articles from Rediff. I would hate to read such closed thinking. I mean, just coz u test N-bombs doesn't mean we cannot solve poverty problems. Remember the kind of pride these test evoked in us? When was the last time we as Indians talked about India as a whole? To my recollection, in my 28 years of life, NEVER!!!! Be glad we are on the right track, don't spoil it by your lousy, pseudo-secularistic, and unneeded analysis. Uday
Date sent: Tue, 19 May 1998 16:27:38 -0400 Dilip, I completely agree that India has lost any conventional military superiority it had by conducting the tests and (virtually) inviting Pakistan to do the same. I fail to understand the Indian authorities's contention that they will not be the first to use a nuclear weapon. Does this mean that a nuke is taboo even in the unlikely case that we are losing a conventional war? In that case it makes absolutely no sense building nukes. There is one positive fallout of the tests and that is that it has lifted the spirit of Indians all over the world. Now there is momentum. If this momentum is channelled into other more constructive issues, we will make a lot of progress. If everyone who danced on the streets does his job (his assigned job, nothing beyond the call of duty, mind you) incorruptibly for the next year, we will get somewhere. I trust Vajpayee to understand that and try to do something about it. I don't trust his coalition partners. Suvrat Dongre
Date sent: Wed, 20 May 1998 20:04:39 EDT Hey Dilip, It is because of the likes of you that India has been rotting all the while. No nation of one billion people can compromise perennially on its security and allow irritating neighbours to wage proxy wars. Deterrents like the nukes and a pro-active policy will enable a more peaceful existence. |
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