Time for stocktaking

THIS refers to the write-up to Indian cricket : Time for stock-taking (February 5) by Abhijit Chatterjee. Indian cricket tour to Australia has been diasappointing. India lost the test series to Australia by 0-3. India performed poorly against both Pakistan and Australia. Indian players lack confidence and team spirit. Inspite of having players of the calibre of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, Srinath and Parsad, the Indian team could not perfom well.

Both the selectors and the BCCI are responsible for India's debacle Down Under. While youngsters should be given a chance to play for India, but the players should be selected on the basis of merit. Even though Ajay Jadeja had proved his fitness, he was not included in the team.

SUNILDOGRA
Chandigarh

II

Cricket has become big business. In fact, it has been reduced to just another commercial venture. TV has not only enabled people to follow the action live, but has also helped corporate houses and MNCs to make use of live coverage to advertise their products.

Our players display logos of sponsors on their shirts, bats, caps etc. Whenever one switches on the TV, one sees players pushing one product or another. These ad assignments take much of the leading players’ time that their regular net practice is affected and they are unable to give their best during tests or one-day matches. Is it any wonder then, that our team fails to deliver the best?

O.P. SHARMA
Faridabad

Protima Bedi

This refers to Khuswant Singh's write up "She had a lust for life" (February 5). As a child, Protima was shy, introverted and full of hang-ups. In one of her interviews, she revealed that she grew up with a terrible complex that no one would marry her as she felt, she was very ugly. As a student, despite the fact that she always stood first or second, she was expelled from three or four schools. College followed and the 'ugly duckling' turned into a beautiful model who could not get over the fact that men found her attractive.

At the age of 26, Protima a mother of two, happend to see an Odissi dance recital. She had not even heard of Odissi, but found it so enthralling that she knew she had to learn it. She danced for 12-15 hours a day. In three months she had logged in more hours of dance than people do in 10 years.

Protima's personality, her dance, her passion and her rare honesty continue to linger in the minds of the people who knew her.

VIJAY SHEEL JAIN
Ludhiana

Auroville

This refers to Aradhika Sekhon's article:" NGO effort: A model for Chandigarh" (January 29). The idea of Auroville is very fascinating. Efforts to make such a place should be appreciated. I hope that some well-meaning people of high thoughts will venture to establish a place like Auroville in North India as well. Fast-paced urbanisation, overcrowding of our cities/hill stations alike have rendered the atmoshere suffocating. One now looks for places like Auroville.

ONKAR CHOPRA
New Delhi.