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L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R

Saving the Asian elephant

The survival of the Asian elephant and all other terrestrial animals of India is inextricably linked to the sustainable utilisation of our forests. Unfortunately, our development paradigm ignores the role of forests as Nature’s “carbon-sinks”, as the preservers and growth agents of the topsoil, as the rechargers of aquifers, as noise-pollution sponges, etc.

Bijay Sankar Bora’s assurance in the article, “Jumbo conflict” (Specturm, Aug 22) that the Assam government is “doing plantation in the Elephant Reserves” is simply naive. I trust the government is also putting up “Do not trample” signposts in elephant language? The jumbos need vast jungle spaces which we just do not have any more. The days of the elephant in India are thus numbered.

Lt-Gen Baljit Singh (retd), Chandigarh

Biased opinion

I read Khushwant Singh’s piece, “A unique couple” (Saturday Extra, Aug 28) which sounds biased. It is Dr Manmohan Singh’s personal status, sagacity and unimpeachable integrity coupled with his ability to deal with economic problems of the country which enables him to steer the coalition government, though with the unflinching support from Sonia Gandhi.

No one can deny that the prime minister’s post was handed over to Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh on a platter. They did not earn it through any sacrifice done for the country.

Khushwant Singh is very opinionated and goes too far to adjudge Manmohan Singh as the best Prime Minister we have had. This is a daring statement belittling the part played by Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri on the stage of Indian politics.

Dr SOSHIL RATTAN, Amritsar

In his column (Saturday Extra, Aug 28), Khushwant Singh has crossed all the barriers of sycophancy in writing about “A unique couple”, which referred to Dr Manmohan Singh and his wife. Apparently, the writer has exhausted his writings on burning issues facing the country today.

SUNDER SINGH GIANI, SAS Nagar

A bureaucrat who refused to buckle under pressure
V Eshwar Anand, in his piece, “He stood firm against pressure” (Spectrum Books, Sept 19) has painted a perfect picture of the humiliation an honest officer had to suffer in his career, instead of getting the honours that he deserved for his professional competence, sincerity and indisputable integrity.
C.G. Somiah, a 1953 batch IAS officer, to my mind, upheld the legacy of loyalty, integrity and honesty for which the people of Madikeri (Karnataka) are so popular. It may be stated that the great soldier, the late Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, who rose to become the first Commander-in-Chief of the Army, was the son of a teacher who taught him the virtues of honesty. Today, the late Field Marshal stands tall in the hearts of every soldier, sailor and airmen for such virtues.
The events of Somiah’s colourful career are, in fact, a tribute to his talent, toughness and tenacity for upholding the truth and keeping away from political temptation. In fact, it is now that I have come to know about Somiah’s great honesty, as during my tenure with the Indian Navy, the English dailies then were full of the Kendu leaf scandal. Somiah must thus be saluted by the people of Karnataka for his impeccable credentials and integrity.
Multan Singh Parihar, Hamirpur