Letters to the EDITOR

Pravin Mahajan presents a fascinating case-study material for psychoanalysts and psychiatrists...

Sad sibling rivalry

•Pravin Mahajan presents a fascinating case-study material for psychoanalysts and psychiatrists ‘Life term it is for Pravin Mahajan…’. The sense of satisfaction on his countenance after getting a life sentence for the killing of his own brother says a lot. Both he and his brother had risen from the same beginnings, but his elder brother was successful, popular and wealthy while he himself had remained a nonentity. He expected his brother to share a part of his wealth and influence with him, but the brother probably wanted him to be successful on his own terms. Over time, the ambitious Pravin grew frustrated and felt that he had been denied what was rightfully his. His brother’s cold behaviour towards him complicated things. Finally, it seems, Pravin’s obsession with settling scores with Pramod seems to have overtaken every other ambition in his life. Today, the fact that the world and the law view him as a cold-blooded, ruthless killer does not seem to bother him at all.

— S. Chattopadhyay

Mumbai

Terror-free TN?

•It is amusing and terribly upsetting that the national security advisor M. K. Narayanan has certified Tamil Nadu as free from any threat, either from the LTTE or Naxalites. This, when most Dravidian parties are LTTE sympathisers. Very recently, Tamil Nadu chief minister had no qualms in writing an ode eulogising slain LTTE leader Tamil Chelvan. Vanni Arasu, who had been kept under custody for smuggling computer parts for the LTTE, was recently released on bail thanks to the intervention of the CM at the instance of Thol Thirumavalavan, a political leader and ardent supporter of the LTTE. What is hilarious yet shocking is that M. Karunanidhi takes the lead in every effort the Centre makes to curb the terrorist menace but has nothing to say about LTTE’s activities in Tamil Nadu.

— Pratibha V. Srivatsan

Chennai

Snail mail

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•Senior citizens survive on keeping in touch with their friends and relatives through the postal service. Unfortunately, today postal efficiency at its worst. Letters take an unduly long time to reach the addressee, if at all it reaches its destination. For instance, I — at the age of 91 — have been in correspondence with a 70-year-old friend in Agartala, Tripura, for the past many years. My friend is a research worker, inquiring into the problems of older persons. Now it has been observed that due to the inordinate delay caused by the postal service, our communication is not moving as smoothly and efficiently as it once did. Such delays hamper the very spirit of our correspondence. May I request the Union minister of communications to look into the smooth functioning of the postal service — a very vital service for a huge number of Indians — and allay the distress of senior citizens on this account?

— Mahindar Singh

New Delhi

Modi’s foray

•The headline, ‘Moditears into PM’s plan for minorities: it’s communal’, is an apt one. I fully endorse Narendra Modi’s retort to the PM’s plan. It is undoubtedly communal and motivated, and I am sure that the great man, Dr B.R. Ambedkar, must be repenting for having introduced reservations of the SC & ST, even though for a limited period, wherever he is in his after-life. Modi is right. The social fabric of the nation is being destroyed by special plans and quotas. Now the Gurjjars are threatening violence if they are not granted the ST status.

— Kedarnath R. Aiyar

Mumbai