PICTURE SPEAK

“Home Alone”, July 16, 2007

The cover story is thought provoking. The old deserve financial and familial attention in recognition of their contribution during the productive years.

Udaya S. Mishra, on e-mail

Future Tense

Young professionals seem to be devoting too much of attention to work (“Home Alone”, July 16). What they don’t realise is that they are rushing into the future and neglecting their present, the repercussions of which will be seen much later.

Mansi Aneja, Bangalore

In countries like Japan and China, annual appraisal of an employee depends on how one takes care of his/her parents. The required data is collected without the knowledge of the employee in collaboration with the parents. The private sector in India should adopt such measures to ensure workable relationship between the old and the young.

P.V. Ariel, Secunderabad

It is disheartening to read about the agonising life of senior citizens in India. Time is not far away when the last rites of the deceased will be performed without the attendance of their children.

Chander Bhat, on e-mail

It is not fair to blame the younger generation alone. The old should own up equal responsibility to bridge the gap between them and their children. Both generations should give each other space and independence. They are key to a healthy relationship.

Man Mohan Bhatia, Delhi

Youngsters will realise and repent only when they will be disowned and discarded by their own children in the future. In their pursuit of acquiring wealth in today’s booming economy, they should not forget those who gave them birth. They should be scared of natural justice.

K. Chidanand Kumar, Bangalore

The old feeling isolated is too frivolous a topic for a cover story. It didn’t deserve such a mammoth display. While so much is happening in and around India, india today could have chosen something more contemporary as its main story.

R. Singh, Delhi

Although a poignant article, the cover story did not deal with the true sandwich generation. With some senior citizens suffering at the hands of the younger lot, it is unfair to club everyone in one single category. Just like no two children can be compared, two adults too can’t be equated.

Chandrika R. Krishnan, Bangalore

General Unrest

General Pervez Musharraf may have demonstrated his commitment to fight back radical Islamism and the resurgent neo-Taliban (“Taking on the Mullahs”, July 16). However, what he doesn’t understand is that he may have just provoked many more such revolts around the country.

J. Akshay, Secunderabad

The year 2007 hasn’t proved lucky for Musharraf. First, he suffered setbacks from the judiciary for suspending Pakistan’s Chief Justice. And now he is pitted against another powerful political class: the mullahs. This is just a premonition of what is to come in the forthcoming elections.

Chetan Prabhakar, Gurgaon

Wonder Full

Taj Mahal has retained its status in the Seven Wonders of the World (“A Vote of Love”, July 16). Without doubt, Taj is a symbol of love, as the number of votes it garnered to be a wonder stand testimony to the people’s love for it. A part of credit should go to the Supreme Court, which, to prevent the Taj from decaying, has prohibited construction around the monument.

K. Pradeep, Chennai

Sporting Glory

Every state should take a cue from Gujarat on how to nurture their sportspersons (“The Rule of Iron”, July 16). The story brings a ray of hope that India will one day produce world class athletes.

Siddharth Garg, Delhi

Media-centric

Rakhi Sawant’s candid confession that media is her godfather is really praiseworthy (“Seedhi Baat”, July 16). She is, in fact, the creation of media hype only.

Gautam Bhuyan, Bangalore

Negative Energy

For energy security in the country, the Government should first ban sale of new cars, especially in metros (“High Octane Crisis”, July 16). It is important not only for energy security, but also for controlling pollution in big cities, which in someway, is contributing to erratic weather changes.

Rahul Garg, Delhi

Historical Secrets

Suddenly publishers in India have taken it upon themselves to brush up the nation’s sense of history (“An Enchanted Past”, July 16). If Nehru and Edwina Mountbatten got along famously, Gandhi, too, had his share of controversies. With each new release promising to unsheathe some of the guarded secrets of pre-Independence India, walking down the trails of the past has never been so exciting.

Alap Mohan, Bangalore

Valley of Death

The growing number of suicides in Kashmir is a cause of concern for the state Government (“Extremism of Another Kind”, July 9). It should try and identify problems that are driving the youth towards suicide. Also, non-government organisations should take steps to introduce classes for those suffering from depression.

Prarthana Acharyya, Guwahati

An Eye Opener

The story on useless ministries is thought provoking (“White Elephants”, June 18). It is disheartening to know that the creation of a plethora of departments has killed accountability. Language is bold, it depicts the flaws of the Government.

V.R. Venkatakrishnan, Cochin

DEVIL AND DEEP SEA

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has his own reasons for fighting the Presidential Poll (“Why is he Fighting”, July 16). Apart from BJP, he enjoys tacit support of many MPs and MLAs. At 83, even if he loses the election, his spirit is going to win.

Virendra Kumar Tangri, Dehradun

I understand the hoopla against Pratibha Patil becoming the next President. But her opponent is equally unworthy of the coveted post. What are the credentials of Shekhawat apart from being an old warhorse in politics?

Alpana Das, Delhi

It’s sad that Shekhawat has been pitted against Patil who is a stubborn loyalist of the Gandhi family. Politics played over the post of the President will be marked as one of the darkest chapters of Indian politics.

Paranjyoti Dutta, Teok, Assam

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

Sex and the City

India’s first Workshop on Human Sexuality was a pioneering effort in the hazy world of human reproduction and its long-term implications. The final report on the Workshop, held in February this year, is just being okayed for the press. It wades through the labyrinth of Indian sexual traditions and mores as seen through the eyes of 45 handpicked professors, psychologists, doctors and a sexologist, social scientists, counsellors and a nurse. It was Dr Vincente Rosales of the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, who gave an exposition of adult sexual instinct; he termed it the “search for a stable, lasting emotional relationship with a partner of the opposite sex”. There were several lectures which spanned the whole gamut of sexuality. What is overwhelming is the fact that in a country like India, such a Pandora’s box has been opened.

—Ashok Row Kavi

It is not fair to blame the younger generation alone. The old should own up equal responsibility to bridge the gap between them and their children. Both generations should give each other space and independence. They are key to a healthy relationship.

Man Mohan Bhatia, Delhi

Youngsters will realise and repent only when they will be disowned and discarded by their own children in the future. In their pursuit of acquiring wealth in today’s booming economy, they should not forget those who gave them birth. They should be scared of natural justice.

K. Chidanand Kumar, Bangalore

The old feeling isolated is too frivolous a topic for a cover story. It didn’t deserve such a mammoth display. While so much is happening in and around India, india today could have chosen something more contemporary as its main story.

R. Singh, Delhi

Although a poignant article, the cover story did not deal with the true sandwich generation. With some senior citizens suffering at the hands of the younger lot, it is unfair to club everyone in one single category. Just like no two children can be compared, two adults too can’t be equated.

Chandrika R. Krishnan, Bangalore

General Unrest

General Pervez Musharraf may have demonstrated his commitment to fight back radical Islamism and the resurgent neo-Taliban (“Taking on the Mullahs”, July 16). However, what he doesn’t understand is that he may have just provoked many more such revolts around the country.

J. Akshay, Secunderabad

The year 2007 hasn’t proved lucky for Musharraf. First, he suffered setbacks from the judiciary for suspending Pakistan’s Chief Justice. And now he is pitted against another powerful political class: the mullahs. This is just a premonition of what is to come in the forthcoming elections.

Chetan Prabhakar, Gurgaon

Wonder Full

Taj Mahal has retained its status in the Seven Wonders of the World (“A Vote of Love”, July 16). Without doubt, Taj is a symbol of love, as the number of votes it garnered to be a wonder stand testimony to the people’s love for it. A part of credit should go to the Supreme Court, which, to prevent the Taj from decaying, has prohibited construction around the monument.

K. Pradeep, Chennai

Sporting Glory

Every state should take a cue from Gujarat on how to nurture their sportspersons (“The Rule of Iron”, July 16). The story brings a ray of hope that India will one day produce world class athletes.

Siddharth Garg, Delhi

Media-centric

Rakhi Sawant’s candid confession that media is her godfather is really praiseworthy (“Seedhi Baat”, July 16). She is, in fact, the creation of media hype only.

Gautam Bhuyan, Bangalore

Negative Energy

For energy security in the country, the Government should first ban sale of new cars, especially in metros (“High Octane Crisis”, July 16). It is important not only for energy security, but also for controlling pollution in big cities, which in someway, is contributing to erratic weather changes.

Rahul Garg, Delhi

Historical Secrets

Suddenly publishers in India have taken it upon themselves to brush up the nation’s sense of history (“An Enchanted Past”, July 16). If Nehru and Edwina Mountbatten got along famously, Gandhi, too, had his share of controversies. With each new release promising to unsheathe some of the guarded secrets of pre-Independence India, walking down the trails of the past has never been so exciting.

Alap Mohan, Bangalore

Valley of Death

The growing number of suicides in Kashmir is a cause of concern for the state Government (“Extremism of Another Kind”, July 9). It should try and identify problems that are driving the youth towards suicide. Also, non-government organisations should take steps to introduce classes for those suffering from depression.

Prarthana Acharyya, Guwahati

An Eye Opener

The story on useless ministries is thought provoking (“White Elephants”, June 18). It is disheartening to know that the creation of a plethora of departments has killed accountability. Language is bold, it depicts the flaws of the Government.

V.R. Venkatakrishnan, Cochin

DEVIL AND DEEP SEA

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has his own reasons for fighting the Presidential Poll (“Why is he Fighting”, July 16). Apart from BJP, he enjoys tacit support of many MPs and MLAs. At 83, even if he loses the election, his spirit is going to win.

Virendra Kumar Tangri, Dehradun

I understand the hoopla against Pratibha Patil becoming the next President. But her opponent is equally unworthy of the coveted post. What are the credentials of Shekhawat apart from being an old warhorse in politics?

Alpana Das, Delhi

It’s sad that Shekhawat has been pitted against Patil who is a stubborn loyalist of the Gandhi family. Politics played over the post of the President will be marked as one of the darkest chapters of Indian politics.

Paranjyoti Dutta, Teok, Assam

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

Sex and the City

India’s first Workshop on Human Sexuality was a pioneering effort in the hazy world of human reproduction and its long-term implications. The final report on the Workshop, held in February this year, is just being okayed for the press. It wades through the labyrinth of Indian sexual traditions and mores as seen through the eyes of 45 handpicked professors, psychologists, doctors and a sexologist, social scientists, counsellors and a nurse. It was Dr Vincente Rosales of the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, who gave an exposition of adult sexual instinct; he termed it the “search for a stable, lasting emotional relationship with a partner of the opposite sex”. There were several lectures which spanned the whole gamut of sexuality. What is overwhelming is the fact that in a country like India, such a Pandora’s box has been opened.

—Ashok Row Kavi

Index