5. Let the honest people from industry, trade and business from NGOs sit together and force the government to implement the plans for the people’s welfare. Let the institution of Lokpal be kept depoliticised and made more effective.

B. B. GOYAL, Ahmedgarh Mandi

Political affiliations: Most of the thinkers and intellectuals who are supposed to be honest and fair in their opinions and writing have gone astray. They have got political affiliations to such an extent that it seems from their writings that they have become just spokesman of particular parties.

It has become a herculian task to find writers, intellectuals and thinkers who have the guts to call a spade a spade. This class of the people who is to guide and motivate the common people has merely reduced to a puppet in the hands of politicians.

Secondly, the media, which is considered to be the most powerful tool in a democracy, is not playing the role which it is expected to play. More particularly the vernaculars have just become the hand tools of certain political parties. They have become highly selective in the choice of material to be published in their papers. Although, big newspapers are doing a lot for bringing out right material from society, yet most of them cannot escape allegations of political attachments. Freedom of the press and its free and fair role are a must in the present declining society of India.

The third reason that you have highlighted does have great relevance in the present-day conditions. The unscrupulous, corrupt and ruthless elements have mushroomed in society. Most of the political leaders have become corrupt and self-centred. Politics has become a possession and an influential trade. The common folk just feel hapless and helpless. They are not ready to question the misdeeds of politicians and bureaucrats. You are very right that ultimately the people have to come out and challenge those blood-suckers of the society.

Dr. DHARMINDER SINGH UBHA, Phallewal Khurd (Sangrur)

Value-based system: When India gained Independence, floodgates of education were opened. College after college and university after University were set up with the fond hope that the spread of education will ultimately help eradicate ills of our society. True, we made good headway in certain areas for which we can rightly claim credit. But soon we realised that quality of our life became poor. We made material gains but we lost much in thought process. Our fast changing tendency for subjectivity became widely known and self-interest over-weighed national interest. Predominately, we have became self-centred.

Society thrives on a value-based system, on strengthening democratic institutions, on creating models and setting standards. We show little respect for these institutions. Professional ethics and moral values have totally evaporated. The path showers, in most of the situations, have become silent spectators. And intellectuals are no longer on the driving seat. The seniors and the elders have stopped acting befittingly to shape the things.

The education system, the delivery system and the time-honoured value system have been ruthlessly trampled. Politicians have become self-seekers. The media is playing its own game and the bureaucracy playing its own tune. There is a rat race to project individuality.

Rightly it has been said that “All that glitters is not gold” in the electronic media. That being the reason “Gujarat coverage” was substandard and the debate in Parliament largely below the mark. The very concern for the victims was lacking in tone and anguish missing. It is a matter of great shame that the humane aspect of the tragedy has been badly politicised.

Let us rise above our narrow considerations and fully respond to the call of the hour and act in such a manner that go to create proper environs to win over the shattered confidence of the bleeding hearts and help rehabilitate them without losing time. The focus should be more on winning the situation, rather than winning the argument.