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| Saturday, April 15, 2000 |
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I WAS amused to read in Khushwant Singh’s column, This above all (April 1): "Gandhi or no Gandhi, the English would have left India because they felt that they were not longer wanted and time for them to leave had come". India’s struggle for freedom from foreign domination started in the 18th century. The first to try to turn the British out was Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah of Bengal in 1757 at the well-known battle of Plassey. The effort failed. Then followed the valiant efforts of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan of Mysore. Wading through turbulant waters the Indian War of Independence (1857-1859) marked a high point in the anti-British struggle in the 19th century. Then came Gandhi — the apostle of non-violence. India had a Khudi Ram Bose, a Brindra Ghose, a Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev and a shaheed Udham Singh. Young Congressmen founded the Congress Socialist Party in 1934 under the leadership of the fiery Jayaprakash Narain (JP). On August 8, 1942 Gandhi gave the twin calls: "Quit India" to Britishers and "do or die" to Indians. This electrified the entire nation. There was a mass upsurge. |
| On August 9, Aruna Asif Ali hoisted the
tricolour in Bombay’s august Kranti Maidan, braving
the bullet-ridden air. All leaders were arrested on the
night of August 8-9. JP who was already in prison scaled
the high walls of Hazaribagh jail to lead the revolting
nation. But he was arrested at Lahore railway station by
the British. The INA and Naval strike too had played
their role. This is how the British left India, and not
on their own. S.S JAIN Mindless growth This refers to S.P. Sharma’s article: "Mindless growth" (March 25). It is rather disheartening to learn that the scenic beauty along the three national highways in Himachal Pradesh is being destroyed not only by all sort of illegal construction activity but also because of hoardings installed along these highways. It is really a dismal scenario. It is high time that the defacement of our green forest is checked. The local authorities are doing precious little to check these lapses. An intensive campaign is needed to save our forests. ONKAR
CHOPRA Mahaul ab theek hai This refers to the article "Punjabi films: "Mahaul ab theek hai" by Nonika Singh (April 10) I don’t agree that Punjabi films are not being accepted by Punjabis. Whenever a good Punjabi film comes, it meets with instant success. Apart from certain religious films like Nanak Naam Jahaj Hai, we have innumerable success stories like Chann Pardesi, Mahaul Theek Hai, Takra, Daaj, Shaheed-e-Mohabbat and Lishkara Punjabi language finds acceptability among the people and due to that reason many Hindi films have one or more Punjabi songs. The Punjab Government should offer subsidies and facilities making Punjabi movies. M.P.S.
CHADHA Gossipmongers G.V Joshi’s article "What Mrs A said to Mrs B about Mrs C" (April 1), made intresting reading. The writer summed up the different definitions of gossip and studied its effect on human behaviour. Men and women ha1ve always shown a great curiousity in the affairs of others.This leads to gossip. In all ages and nations there have always been certain places of public rendezvous where people meet and exchange gossip. Among these barber’s shops have borne pre-eminence. In modern times, coffee houses, tea shops, beauty parlours and campuses are favourite haunts of gossip-mongers. It is generally believed that women gossip more than men. P.L SETHI |
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