PICTURE SPEAK

"Indian Youth 2007", February 19, 2007

Young and Restless

Tempered with values, our youth will never be led astray by ephemeral social changes ("Home and Happy", February 19). It is true that more and more youngsters want to work abroad, but that is because there are good job opportunities only in certain sectors in the country. The mindless reservation policy of the Government is also a factor.

K.V. Raghuram, Wayanad

After the Indian military and the country's business tycoons, our confident youth are the latest catalysts of the great Indian century that lies ahead.

Navneet Dhawan, Delhi

Whatever be their profession, today's youth earn much more than their parents did. It is good to know that they still respect their elders.

Mahesh Kumar, Delhi

Most youngsters seem to be religious and they enjoy life. However, you have not talked about the uneducated youth who still live below the poverty line. If we do not take urgent steps to educate them, we will be losing an advantage and an opportunity.

A. Jacob Sahayam, Thiruvananthapuram

Today's youth are a personification of zest, passion and hard work. They are equally comfortable eating at McDonald's, as they are leading a protest march against reservations. They have welcomed BPO culture and the Internet with open arms, but they are still in touch with the traditional way of thinking.

Vineet Bhalla, Bhilai

Your propensity to churn out 'special issues' is amazing. Every issue is either a special issue or carries an opinion poll. You must be starved of news or overstaffed. Most of us subscribe to your magazine because we are interested in current affairs, which becomes a casualty in your special issues.

D.V. Madhava Rao, Chennai

Missing In Action

Your article on young achievers fails to mention Achanta Sharath Kamal, the young table tennis prodigy from Chennai, who is also a recipient of the Arjuna award ("Dream, Do, Deliver", February 19). He is definitely a player to watch out for.

Arjun Balachandran, on e-mail

Water Wars

The order of the Cauvery Tribunal has come after a long wait ("Watershed Award", February 19). It is impossible to satisfy everyone in this issue. Unfortunately, Karnataka is opposing the order. Instead of fighting, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka should resolve the issue at the earliest and make plans for utilisation of the water in agriculture.

J.V. Narasimha Raju, Vijayawada

The Tribunal was set up because the two states could not come up with a tangible water-sharing formula on their own. Its ruling must be respected and regarded as the final verdict. Even if the Karnataka Government files a review petition, the final verdict may not be agreeable to the state.

S. Lakshmi, on e-mail

The verdict seems to be fair, and Karnataka should not contest it. If it does, it would hurt the interests of the states involved and delay the final decision. Most problems in this nation arise from the shortsightedness of netas rather than from ground realities.

Arvind K. Pandey, Allahabad

To ensure that they stay in the news, politicians like Deve Gowda do not let the courts solve any problem permanently. The dispute has cost the exchequer a fortune. The public should not be forced to pay as per the whims of politicians.

V.S. Ganeshan, Bangalore

Karnataka has reasons to be disappointed. Though the Tribunal has accepted its argument for a distress formula and said that when the yield is less, the allocated shares of the states will be proportionately reduced, the final order is a victory for Tamil Nadu, which aggressively pursued its case against a historically-handicapped Karnataka.

J. Akshobhya, Mysore

Uphill Task

With N.D. Tiwari not contesting for chief ministership in Uttarakhand, the Congress should strive to prove its mettle ("Rumble in the Hills", February 19). The role of small parties like the BSP and the SP should not be ignored.

Bal Govind, Bareilly

Culture Conscious

It is heartening to see folk music being encouraged in India ("Return of the Folk Lure", February 19). In addition to rock, pop and bhangra, Bollywood films should popularise folk music as well.

S.K. Gupta, Delhi

Good Going

In spite of being considered a political pariah by the UPA, Gujarat's Narendra Modi turned out to be the best chief minister, along with another leader who was written off as inefficient ("Making Up for Lost Time", February 12). The leadership qualities of Nitish Kumar and Modi deserve acknowledgement.

A.S. Raj, on e-mail

Go Beyond Medals

Bravery award winners should be given monetary support and scholarships ("Bravehearts", February 12). Medals and a few minutes of fame are not enough for a successful life.

Surachita Majumdar, Delhi

The strong media effort to publicise the heroic deeds of brave children will definitely enthuse our youth. The relevance of such heroism in today's dog-eat-dog world must be realised by one and all.

Dr Vitull K. Gupta, Bhatinda

India does not mean just north India. Southern states, too, are part of the country. Then why is it that fewer children from the south have been awarded bravery medals? South India produces India's best scientists, engineers, leaders and writers, but sadly this region does not get the credit it deserves.

Rakesh Y. Kandolkar, Goa

ALL THAT GAS

Pranab Mukherjee's visit has not achieved much ("Striking a Fine Balance", February 19). India does not know if Iran can supply gas from an internationally certified gas field. The final price has not been decided upon and India is worried about Iran's nuclear potential.

Vasumathi Doraiswamy, Chennai

The gas pipeline deal lies at the heart of the ties between India and Iran. Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that India is committed to signing the deal.\

Lata Raghavan, Delhi

India has sent a reassuring signal that its engagement with the United States will not affect its ties with Iran.

Sailesh Saraf, Kolkata

30
Years Ago in India Today
MARCH 1-15,1977

No Longer a Walkover

At no other time in its protracted reign has the ruling Congress party faced as uncertain a future as it does at this turbulent phase in the country's history. The unquiet aftermath of Indira Gandhi's startling election announcement and former Congress strongman Jagjivan Ram's revolt against the ruling party, have shaken the deeply entrenched Congress foundations as never before. The unpredictable events of the past few weeks have also given birth to what is probably the burning question of the decade-can the combined Opposition prove to be a David to the Congress Goliath? Can this conglomeration of patchwork parties really hope to outmanoeuvre a seasoned and astute campaigner like Mrs Gandhi? The answer will depend on the vagaries of the vast voting public in the key states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

-By Dilip Bobb