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26

Twin treat

The anniversary special double issue of THE WEEK, as always, was a great read. I thank you for giving me a royal year-end treat in these bleak times. There was so much information in both volumes.

 

I am glad you remembered the makers of modern India. Without these visionaries, India would not have reached where it is today. They should inspire generations to come (‘Making of a nation’, December 26). India will surely grow into a superpower by 2030. During the pandemic, India showed the correct path to the world.

 

You also brought out India’s extraordinary culinary history nicely with little-known details (‘Let them eat bunny chow!’, December 26). Our cuisine is one of the world’s most diverse cuisines.

 

Vismay Mathur,

On email.

 

In his article on the visionaries of independent India, Rajmohan Gandhi has given prime place to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, followed by B.R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, and others. Patel dedicated his life to the cause of the nation. Though he lived only for a couple of years after independence, Patel achieved his vision of a united India by the merger of princely states into the Indian union.

 

It is the duty of present-day politicians and right-thinking intellectuals to strive hard for the integrity of the country and see that there is all-around development. And that the people of this great country live in peace and harmony.

 

M. Gopal Rao,

On email.

 

After a long time, I went through a refreshing issue of THE WEEK. It is a special one that tingles the tongue with the crisp description of special delicacies, and gladdens the mind with so many imaginative libraries.

 

Congratulations!

 

A. Ramachandra Bhat,

On email.

 

Your cover story—makers of modern India—was terrific. I read it again and again. It reminded me of two things. One, the biography of Henry Ford—The People’s Tycoon—by Steven Watts. And the famous quote of [Austrian poet] Rainer Maria Rilke—“Again and again in history, some people wake up. They have no ground in the crowd and move to broader deeper laws. They carry strange customs with them and demand room for bold and audacious action! The future speaks ruthlessly through them, they change the world.”

 

The success story of each individual you featured was concise and abridged, reiterating the efficacy of the Shakespearian adage—brevity is the soul of wit.

 

THE WEEK’s anniversary issue is a solid treasure, a library for posterity.

 

P.M. Gopalan,

On email.

 

Many congratulations to your team on stepping into the fortieth year. It’s a remarkable achievement to maintain a high standard for four decades. I enjoyed your double anniversary issue.

 

Since I live in Doha, I was surprised, and at the same time excited, to see an article on the FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Doha.

 

Keep up the good work and here’s wishing you many such milestones.

 

Delita D’Souza,

On email.

 

Learn from Israel

India can learn from Israel when it comes to the use of technology (‘Brains and chutzpah’, December 26). The world needs ideas regularly to progress and prosper. Israel has constantly brought out creative solutions to the problems we face. It is a global technological powerhouse.

 

I agree with Avi Jorisch that integrating Israeli innovations into Indian society could improve the lives of so many people.

 

Tigin Thomas,

On email.

 

Careful handling

In her column, Meenakshi Lekhi has highlighted various reforms taken up by the government in the interest of farmers (‘Forthwrite’, December 26).

 

As an ex-CEO of a district central cooperative bank, I feel zero balance accounts, direct benefit transfer, and Kisan Credit Cards were all revolutionary reforms in the agrarian sector. They were all done in record time.

 

Regarding the repeal of farm laws, it’s tragic that a few thousand farmers of two states deprived lakhs of their fellow farmers in other states the benefits of these laws.

 

Ironically, farmers who protested the farm laws opposed the freedom given to them to sell their produce wherever they desired. It was quite silly of them to oppose the reforms, which laid stress on improving the quality of farm produce. It is equally ridiculous that farmers from some states continue to pollute the air while claiming the right to burn the stalks and roots of the harvested crop.

 

It is a fact that the BJP government didn’t handle the issue properly. It should have discussed the laws in Parliament and the media, word by word, clause by clause. It should also have made it clear that the choice of implementation of the laws will be left to the states.

 

The BJP government brings good laws like the Citizenship Amendment Act and the farm laws. But it fails in making clear the noble intentions behind these laws. Had the BJP skipped spelling out the names of the various religions in the CAA law, and had it just mentioned the cut-off date, there would have been no scope for the opposition to protest it. The opposition is exploiting such weaknesses, often causing anarchy, and loss of property and lives.

 

Jothindra P.L.,

On email.