PICTURE SPEAK

"Can India Catch the Cup?", March 19, 2007

"Team India's inability to be consistent in its performance is worrying. Mere enthusiasm is not enough. Our players should work collectively to win the Cup."

Arvind K. Pandey, Allahabad

India Blues

The World Cup team might be India's best ever, but they have to toil hard to meet expectations ("Anybody's Game", March 19). Our players will have to win the Cup for the star-struck cricket fans of the country, or be prepared to sink into oblivion for the rest of their lives.

K. Chidanand Kumar, Bangalore

Cricket has become India's biggest obsession. It is a big source of easy money for organisers, commentators, sponsors, and players. It is a gentleman's game, but why make it a 24X7 money-spinning industry?

Madhu R.D. Singh, Ambala

India has the perfect blend of talent and experience, but it is unusually susceptible to inconsistency and failure at the eleventh hour. Expecting our team to do a repeat of 1983 is nothing short of building castles in the air.

Akasmika Rath, Bhubaneswar

The betting industry in India, in cricket alone, is believed to be worth Rs 90,000 crore. That is more than the country's Defence budget. The Government has failed to stop this industry from flourishing.

M. Kumar, Delhi

Apart from the efforts put in by Team India, what would tilt the scales in our favour is the quality of teamwork and on-field strategy. We need to focus on these critical parameters.

Navneet Dhawan, Delhi

India has a powerful batting line-up and has, in recent times, emerged with a string of talented young bowlers. Team India must believe in its ability to deliver. It would do well to remember that after the West Indies, they are the emotional favourites.

J.S. Acharya, Hyderabad

Point It Out to Ponting

Sunil Gavaskar rightly points out that the Australian team, despite being the best in the world, is not as popular as the West Indies team of the past ("Aussie Defeats Signal Hope", March 19). Ricky Ponting should keep Gavaskar's words in mind. At the end of a game, the two teams should be able to part as friends, not enemies.

A.V. Karnik, Mumbai

In a League of His Own

Sourav Ganguly is definitely one of the finest players in the game ("The Cup's Comeback Story", March 19). The strength of character he has displayed in the recent past is unbelievable. The way he made his comeback from a point of no return shows his determination and die-hard spirit. He will remain a role model for his fans.

Biranchi Narayan Acharya, Cuttack

Troubles Galore

When troubles come, they come in droves. So has the case been with Mulayam Singh Yadav ("Wrestler On the Mat", March 19). It started with skeletons in the drain at Nithari, followed by the move to impose President's Rule in the state. The announcement of the election dates was a saving grace, but the PIL against the chief minister is giving him a tough time.

H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana, Mysore

A Clean Example

Kudos to your magazine for bringing to light the exemplary progress made by a small town in Gujarat, which now has neat and clean roads devoid of encroachments ("Making Civic Sense", March 19).

K.R.P. Gupta, on e-mail

Sahara Rejoinder

We have noticed the contents of your recent issue dated March 26, 2007, which features the list of your so-called "High and Mighty Power Pyramids 2007". The comparison and ranking projected in the featured article seem to be highly arbitrary, unscrupulous, uncalled for, and tend to undermine the competence and overall personality of one in relation to the other. While I do not concur with the assessment projected in the featured article, I would like to remind you that vide my letter dated March 11, 2004, addressed to Shri Prabhu Chawlaji, I had suggested that in future, my name must not be included in any such similar list/article, and thereafter through my letter dated March 9, 2007, addressed to yourself, I have suggested to mention that "on the personal request of Shri Subrata Roy Sahara, his name has been excluded from the list". However, this has not been done. Instead, under the garb of "people under public domain" and "editorial prerogative", great prejudice has been caused to me and to the Sahara India Pariwar. I and the thousands of members of Sahara Pariwar have felt grave injury with such publications. However, keeping in mind our good relationship, I finally request you to ensure that in future, my name must not feature in any such article.

Subrata Roy Sahara

Wanted: Policy Budgets

The Budget should be a document of policy and programmes rather than an annual exercise of changes in tax rates ("Do We Need Budgets?", Indiascope, March 19). The proposal to fix income tax rates at permanent levels will enable change in income slabs, rather than tax rates.

Subhash C. Agrawal, Delhi

Dog Days

The gruesome deaths of two children have forced the Bangalore City Corporation to take the drastic step of killing stray dogs ("Giga Bite Valley", March 19). The problem is not confined to Bangalore. India has about 80 per cent of the total rabies cases in the world.

S.K. Aggarwal, Amritsar

Those who oppose indiscriminate culling of stray dogs have a point. But allowing the dogs to roam the streets even after neutering serves no purpose. Strays should be impounded and adopted.

D.B.N. Murthy, Bangalore

Bangalore has been home to stray dogs for many years now. They are friendly; our tendency to hurl stones at them has given rise to this problem.

Preeti, Bangalore

RANTS ON RAVES

The rave party at a private farm near Pune was a serious social aberration ("End of Ravelry", March 19). Despite being educated and earning fat salaries, the youth present at the event behaved irresponsibly.

S. Lakshmi, on e-mail

The intermingling of the youth with drug-peddlers is alarming. Mounting pressures at the workplace, growing consumerism, sizeable disposable incomes and the nuclear family structure are leading them astray.

Debasis Mohapatra, Delhi

Youth are attracted to drugs the way the proverbial moth is attracted to fire. There should be more raids by the police to prevent such congregations in the future.

Ashok Kumar Ghosh, Kolkata

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

The Mellowed Faddist

At 82, Morarji Desai dons the slightly soiled mantle of the prime minister. In an interview with INDIA TODAY shortly after his release from prison, Desai reveals his personal philosophy. INDIA TODAY: What is the secret of your health?

Desai: Purely by God's grace. I suffer from no fear.

INDIA TODAY: Does not an excessive faith in God leave no stimulus for a man to act on his own?

Desai: The more the commitment, the more is the output.

INDIA TODAY: Does this apply to your political aspirations?

Desai: Yes. But people talk about me in various ways. They say, this man has a desire to become prime minister, he is fond of looking good. Well, if I look good, is it my fault?

INDIA TODAY: Don't you feel anything against the people who have betrayed you?

Desai: I don't blame anyone. You can only betray yourself.

-By D.V. Nene