Letters from Readers
Fall in step behind PM Modi
Your balanced editorial (“Deciphering Modi as Prime Minister,” May 2014) raising questions about Modi may have been a valid exercise last month when he was yet to be announced as PM. But now that it is official, I hope pundits will stop casting a shadow on him based on the past.
Why? Because (1) India’s highest court has given him a clean chit. (2) The people of India have spoken through a fair and democratic process, and they overwhelmingly voted for him. (3) His campaign speeches and slogans clearly indicate his interest in progress and development over communal favoritism. More importantly, in his victory speech he said, “I want to tell my fellow Indians that in letter and spirit I will take all Indians with me.” (4) The Muslims of India have spoken. He did well even in Muslim-dominated voting districts.
Now it’s time to step out of his way and give him a chance to prove himself.
Sunder Mittal
via email
India will now assert itself in diplomacy
Only time will tell whether Modi will embrace his greatness or his “ugliness.” Yes, his narrow world views and Hindutva outlook are worrisome, but he can’t be much worse than the previous regime. The one positive is, unlike Manmohan Singh, he won’t take any crap from other countries. He is the type who (hopefully) would enforce reciprocity in diplomatic relations as well as economic and strategic relations.
Ron Jacob
Alpharetta, Georgia
Modi not a chauvinist
While I appreciate your attempt at balance in your editorial, I disagree with your description of Modi as a chauvinist. His sense of pride and place of India is very necessary right now for nation building. He may come across as authoritarian, which he is to a certain degree, but only in exerting a moral strength and determination so far unseen in India’s modern history. I’d like to see the doubters in the media let go of the past, and talk about his other, more relevant qualities, the ones which arguably no other leader in India has had since independence.
My sincere hope is that he will govern sensibly and in an inclusive manner. It won’t be easy as this country is in the doldrums; expect to see decisive action, sometimes painful or even controversial, to get things back on track.
Nitin Dixit
Gurgaon, India
Sadhguru’s parenting tips may benefit from elaboration
In “10 tips for Spiritually Evolved Parenting” (April 2014), Sadhguru says: (i) having children is a privilege, (ii) they do not belong to you, and (iii) don’t make them your investment.
These three concepts are likely to be read over casually without being fully understood. Parents who want to go deeper into this statement will naturally question these radical assertions that are in total contradiction to their idea of ideal parenting!
If parents understand that they should have children because the ‘parent-child interaction’ provides them an opportunity to understand and appreciate some of the finer, more subtle (yet very important) aspects of life and that it helps reveal aspects of themselves which would otherwise remain unfathomed, they are likely to sit up and think about it. Children are an opportunity to understand ourselves from a completely different perspective. Seen from this point of view, children become a privilege.
When we assume ownership of children, and live out our dreams through them, it leads to excessive expectations and inevitably, disappointments. This impacts both parent and child. Thus, it is better to take the approach that they are not our possessions, but are there for you to experience and grow.
“We are responsible to them, not for them” is a common adage among parenting gurus. Acting responsibly at all times is what I would call “conscious parenting” as opposed to “auto parenting” that is the norm.
Shoba R.
Atlanta, Georgia
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