•The reported hurling of abuses and muck on British citizens visiting the sites associated with the Mutiny by some ‘patriotic’ Indians was most embarrassing and saddening. If these youths are thinking that they were bringing glory to the nation through such abominable acts, they are awfully wrong. It has never been our tradition to abuse harmless visitors in such a manner nor was our freedom struggle itself built on such a base combination of cowardice and insensitivity. The Gandhian upsurge was in fact the epitome of deep patriotism combined with an equally passionate humanism which respects all. No doubt Indians have the right and duty to not forget the inhumanities perpetrated by the Havelocks and the Neils in 1857. Yet the best traditions of nationalism do not permit us to attack their descendants today. I am sure true patriots of our magnanimous nation would join me in unequivocally condemning such misguided assaults and in welcoming those who come to pay homage, irrespective of their nationality or creed. Defending Myanmar•AS a person who has travelled to Myanmar (Burma’s old name), I must say that I did not find half-naked, half-starved children and beggars like those in Indian towns. The roads are metalled and not tarred but neat and clean. There were few petrol-driven vehicles, perhaps to conserve petrol. The Western imperialists have denied petrol products to Myanmar as it does not fall in line with their diktat. Second, Myanmar’s rulers have ensured that they do not borrow from Western moneylenders unlike India, which is under a debt burden of billions of dollars. Lastly, Western powers are sore that there no Christian conversions in Myanmar unlike in India. Its government has sent the Christian Karen rebels packing to the Philippines. Regarding Madame Aung San Suu Kyi, her father Aung San was trained by the Japanese and made a general by them. But when the tide of the war turned in favour of the British, he deserted his comrades and joined the Brits, who made him the president of Burma. Some of his old comrades subsequently killed him. As for his daughter, Suu Kyi, she married a Briton, and received a huge amount of Western money to topple the regime. What can you expect of such a family?— Natranjan A. Wala ChitalPolitical takeover•BCCI’S felicitation ceremony to honour the Indian T20 team at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai actually turned out to be one big insult to India. While the real achievers were made to sit in the back rows, hidden from their fans, politicians and functionaries occupied the front row. These functionaries not only insulted the players but also scorned the intelligence of thousands who had poured into the stadium to honour their heroes.It was no surprise to see their impatience break through the barriers and spill over on to the ground. This is a warning to Indian sports: beware, all sportspersons, lest politicians take over! — Stash Dayan New Delhi
