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October 20, 1998
ELECTIONS '98
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How Readers responded to Dilip D'Souza's recent columns
Date sent: Tue, 06 Oct 1998 13:12:25 -0500
Well, Dilip, you have done nothing new. On one hand, you say "Let's assume the bias and fling every existent copy of Justice Srikrishna's report into the sea", and then you do nothing more than blame the Shiv Sena government for its non-performance, which I will not dispute at the moment. Down the line you pick up your favourite topic -- again, the Report. Can't you do any better? Let us start by talking about the Radhabai chawl incident, let us talk about the innocent policemen who were brutally murdered, let us talk about what the guilty in these incidents are doing at the moment. Why do you so deliberately ignore all these and quote the "Report" like it is your Bible? If the Shiv Sena government has to be punished for its non-performance, then every minister in the previous "National Front" government should be hanged to death?!! Some people never learn. Srinivas Murthy
Date sent: Tue, 06 Oct 1998 14:31:02 PDT
After the exquisite articles of Varsha Bhosle on the Srikrishna report, Mr Dilip D'Souza has found it obligatory to go on Hindu-bashing. The Indian media has been doing this for a while. Only lately is this trend eroding, with columnists such as Varsha Bhosle appearing on the horizon. Mr D'Souza is engaging in the art of deception, which the pseudo-secular media should have mastered after 51 years of no-holds-bar practice. The wickedness of his designs is clearly visible. Mr D'Souza has cleverly generalised one incident to all, one person to all Hindus. Clever indeed! The issues discussed are pertaining to the '93 riots in Bombay, and if the Shiv Sena has branded reports by Judges Hosbet Suresh and Shiraz Daud and Srikrishna as anti-Hindu, then why can't we accept that these reports may very well be anti-Hindu? And since Mr D'Souza has brought up that ugly name again -- Anita Pratap -- may I humbly submit that in my opinion she is rabidly anti-Hindu and definitely anti-India? It is appalling and quite shameful to watch her reports on CNN. During the nuclear tests, she was a representative of Mulla Mulayam Yadav and the IUML. During the firings at Kashmir, she was interviewing the Pakistani generals. These must be secular viewpoints, isn't it Mr D'Souza? If we call them anti-Hindu, once, twice, and a hundred times, then let's get it -- these are anti-Hindu. Here is another story for Mr D'Souza that we learned as little kids. The chicken that buried its head in the sand ended up on someone's dinner table. Mr D'Souza and others of his ilk will do well to accept the scenario that we Hindus find many things in India rabidly anti-Hindu. The Srikrishna report only scratches the surface. In politics, this may only be the third or say fifth time you have heard of it. In real-life, we will now hear it every day. Time to get used to it. What do you say, Mr D'Souza?
C Chatterjee
Date sent: Tue, 6 Oct 1998 16:25:12 -0400
Some people can never change their mindset, just like you can't straighten a dog's tail. If you are anti-Sena or anti-BJP, you are anti-Hindu and unpatriotic. And since Dilip's name suggests he is not a Hindu, he is bound to be an anti-Hindu fanatic. Whatever you say will be branded just the way you explained it, including this article -- anti-Hindu! Isn't it ironic that the other Thakre mentioned in an interview on Rediff that the other political parties are politicising everything (said in reference to Bihar)? Do they really think we are all mind-blind? Don't get me wrong, I am no fan of any of the other goons either. But that still leaves me a what? Yes, anti-Hindu! Rajesh
Date sent: Wed, 07 Oct 1998 09:42:50 +0200
One thing is surely reflected in the report. An intention to please the Muslims and other minorities. Why, when a Muslim attacks a Hindu, it is called an accident. And when a Hindu attacks a Muslim, it becomes an organised attack by THE HINDUS on the minorities! Forget the report. Look at other facts. Don't Muslims have a desire to increase their percentage in population putting INDIA at risk? Look at the Census records for yourself. Why should they be allowed to use loudspeakers? I don't even agree to Hindus using loudspeakers, but their percentage in noise pollution is very less. These loudspeakers are a big nuisance to all children, including Muslims, as they can't concentrate on their studies. Communal harmony requires compromise on all fronts. But Muslims, in general, have failed to live up to these standards. Not only in India, in Malaysia, Indonesia, Afganistan and, latest, in Kosovo.
Date sent: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 17:01:17 EDT
This letter is just to tell you how much I appreciate the excellent article by Dilip D'Souza. What more can you say about goondas who have achieved power through goondaism and continue to practice goondaism. Dattatreya
Date sent: Thu, 8 Oct 1998 10:40:38 +0800
I appreciate the courage with which D'Souza points out the harsh realities that are plaguing our society at present. One thing is clear: he is not anti-Hindu and also not biased (a fact to be appreciated). He has only tried to bring forward facts. I would request Mr D'Souza to use his column to express his views on the increasing atrocities against Christians, particularly in Gujarat and in its adjoining states. Vikas
Date sent: Thu, 27 Aug 1998 13:38:23 -0700
I am somewhat puzzled by articles of the type "Say Hello, Or Click Here, To Support The Motherland." I would understand this article if it were a letter written by any reader -- because it presents just one perspective of an issue: patriotism. But I don't understand it when a journalist writes such an article and a publication prints it. This not a critique of Dilip D'Souza. It is of this style of journalistic writing/presentation that I am against. To my mind, everyone should be more responsible and more balanced if they are doing something that is their job. For example, in software consulting projects, which is what my company does, it is the consultant who is more responsible than the customer, even though the customer plays almost as big a role in executing the project. Similarly, if it is the media that is presenting news, then it must be held more responsible to present news as is, without a lot of the embellishment that we see, especially in the American media. Anyone watching the coverage of (usually) a disaster/accident etc will know what I am talking about. ("What were your exact feelings as you saw your baby fall into the river ....?" !!) When it comes to analysis or commentary, the media needs to present a balanced view, representing not only the beliefs of the writer/presenter but also those that run counter to them, and let the audience reach their own conclusions about the issue at hand. Patriotism is each one of us working honestly and hard at our jobs to ensure we and our economy keeps doing well. Patriotism is providing goods and services that raise the quality of life for our citizens. Patriotism is each and every NRI sending money back home not just to provide for the family, but also foreign exchange for our country. Patriotism is protecting our borders and our peoples from threats -- both external and internal -- by joining the armed forces or the police and working to do just that. Patriotism is each of these and many, many more such deeds. But patriotism is also words and gestures. It is standing up as a group and singing the National Anthem if asked or required, rather than feel shy. Patriotism is appearing to be united to the rest of the world -- just for the sake of appearing united -- even if it doesn't help -- but doesn't harm either -- our nation, even if each of us may have slightly differing views on the issue at hand. Patriotism is feeling that quick stir of pulse, the beat of the heart, when we spot our national flag anywhere -- but especially when you are outside your own country. Patriotism is our ability to laugh at ourselves as a nation but still show that we care for us as a nation. I think most -- actually, all -- of us care for our country. But most of us either feel shy in demonstrating it or don't get an opportunity to show it -- caught as we are in our daily lives. So when such events as the nuclear explosions or the Time poll take place, and we get a medium such as the Internet to express our caring. We rush to it. This is especially so for Indians outside India. A lot of us feel a strong need to reach back and explore our roots -- our history and culture, our languages, our diversity -- thus gain a better understanding of the true challenges our nation faces in its quest for its 'rightful place in the world'. This is so as we see other people of the world -- especially Asians -- doing so much more to promote their culture and country. Indians really lag behind in that. The Chinese have done exceptionally well in this regard. In spite of -- or perhaps because of! -- its Communist regime, China has done well in terms of domestic growth, population control, exports, attracting foreign investment, military power, a say in world affairs... areas in which we Indians would like India to do better than she has. Secretly, we wish we would have done better than China in these areas. When we come outside India, to a place such as the US, we see the Chinese better organised, better integrated (perhaps because they have been here long before us), and so better noticed. And we feel the pinch! We see the daily meaningless squabblings of Jayalalitha, the idiocies such as the RSS/ Shiv Sena rejecting the Srikrishna Commission report, the endless skullduggery and the deceit of politicians in the Congress, the sheer audacity of people such as Laloo Yadav and the like in paralysing life in Bihar and UP -- the list is endless. Most of all, perhaps, we see and feel the absolute helplessness of the man on the street, in doing anything about it. And by God, we feel the pinch! I voted in the Time/ CNN poll, as did all my close friends and colleagues. Because I believe that was the right response to that event. But that doesn't mean I care to hear Vande Mataram on a new phone connection. And I don't sign emails saying Jai Hind either. Simply because neither of them appeal to me. I too would simply prefer a working phone! Dilip D'Souza and such people, in or outside the media, who criticise such actions need to see the bigger picture. And then Dilip D'Souza and such people in the media need to present a balanced picture and ask the right questions: Are these the right things to do? If yes, are we doing enough of such things? What are the other things we can/should do to demonstrate our patriotism? Jai Hind! (Just this once!) Mahesh Singh
Date sent: Thu, 27 Aug 1998 14:56:43 -0400
People like D'Souza, how can they understand about motherland and patriotism? Shivaram
Date sent: Thu, 27 Aug 1998 08:04:46 PDT
Dear Mr D'Souza, Your articles are truly amazing, as they always present the other side of the story. The problem, however, is that you forget the real story. So we won the Time poll, right? Wrong. It signifies our bond and love for our country. I was one of the persons who send emails to all the friends urging them to take part in the poll. Yet I did find some lazy Indians who didn't respond to it. So my heart goes to those who took time off and did it. I hope you are aware of the political lobbying in the USA and its impact worldwide. I don't need to remind you why Israel gets the benefit of veto by the USA in the UN. We need to have such political power here in USA to influence the world media. I do agree that we have many problems at home. Phone connections come after 10 years, clean water is yet to reach many villages and so on. But there is always a silver lining. We started to move in 1991 and just give us a few years and see where we can reach. Political instability is creating some problems, but please don't underestimate the capacity and willingness of Indians to make it happen. If the Time poll suggests anything, it screams that we do care for our country. The question is only to translate that into concrete action. Instead of crying about corrupt politicians and corrupt system, why can't we start on our own and show the way to other people? Please do write something constructive that will encourage other Indians to do better in whatever they do. And yes, if Vande Mataram doesn't provoke any feelings in your heart, you better do some soul searching and find your roots. Raj
Date sent: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 17:04:29 -0600
This is worse than the stray dog article by Mr Nandy!! Yes, we need these things to proclaim our love for India. If people like you existed before, we wouldn't have got freedom. You would have said, "Yeah .. what the heck? Why should I get beaten up? Why do these idiots go around singing patriotic songs? Why do they attend public meeting in thousands? Why do they starve themselves and why do they get hanged?" For the common man, these are things that can make a difference. They need some substance to hang their emotions on. Patriotism has to take on an appearance. It was patriotic songs then. Now it is email. Not all Net savvy Indians went and voted on that site. I can bet on that. I have two sitting next to me who don't care a hang. Only people who believed that India was not wrong voted for it. I don't care about anything else. Vikram
Date sent: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 16:31:01 -0700
Mr D'Souza mocks patriotic Indians who took the time to contribute their bit towards public relations effort in America. They, in my opinion, have done much more than Mr D'Souza, who uses his Rediff column to run to the ground everything Indian/Hindu. Thanks to brown Europeans like him, India is projected as a land of snake-charmers and fakirs; a land of barbarians waiting to be civilised. Even if these Internet polls merely reflect the networking capabilities of Indians, the results send a clear indication to the moulders of public opinion (and hacks like Mr D'Souza) that our community will not suffer their condescending and sanctimonious bilge anymore. S Ramakrishnan
Date sent: Thu, 27 Aug 1998 09:13:00 -0400
Dear Rediff, I browse through your site at least twice a day. Will you please take care to see that trash flinging people like Dilip are not allowed to write on this site? It doesn't make sense. All this man can do is criticise our nation. He does not have any respect for our nation. He criticises people for taking nationalist actions, for being patriotic. I don't understand. I feel frustrated, helpless and scared. If you read some of his articles there is a pattern. I do not want to be explicit in saying but read a few of his articles:
What memories are made of
Why does he want to make a mockery of people's feelings, I do not understand. Is he ashamed of being an Indian?
Jai Hind
Date sent: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 16:12:51 -0500
Looks like the author does not know the power of a mouse click. Those people who 'clicked' are better than those law-makers in Delhi, who worry whether their personal interest 'clicked'. Patriotism is not only measured by one's deeds. It could also be measured by one's gesture. Appreciation is what Indian culture lacks. Try to appreciate even the smallest thing that is good.
Date sent: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 13:16:28 -0700
This is a very short-sighted article. What does Mr D'Souza really want to prove? Voting for India in the Time poll and broadcasting Vande Mataram over telephone alone can't be attributed to patriotism? If he's trying to sell this, I would have 100% agreed with him. But if Mr Dilip thinks that all those who voted in the poll don't know the definition of patriotism, sorry, that's wrong. Arun G
Date sent: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 12:47:11 -0400
It hurts to know that an excellent website like Rediff displays articles by persons like Dilip. I am sure that in a land of almost a billion people Rediff can find better columnists. Yogesh |
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