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

Leaders should follow values of Gopal Gandhi

The editorial “Governor with a difference” (Dec15), aptly eulogised the high standards set by Mr Gopal Krishna Gandhi, till recently Governor of West Bengal. He did not bask in the glory of his famous grandfathers –Mahatma Gandhi and Chakravarti Rajagopalachari.

The concluding lines of the editorial echoing his message—The choice is not between the wrongdoing of one and the counter wrongdoing of another but between chaos and civility, between disorder and decorum—deserve to be continually remembered and put into practice not only by the feuding politicians but also by the bureaucracy and others at the helm of the Indian polity.

LALIT BHARDWAJ, Panchkula

II

Mr Gopal Gandhi has set an example by choosing to leave the Raj Bhawan, the same day he demitted office. A grandson of two great men of our times Mahatma Gandhi and Chakravarti Rajagoplachari, he forbade his aides from even mentioning his paternal and maternal grandfather. He was a true Gandhian. Let us hope our leaders follow him.

PREM KUMAR GUPTA, Bathinda

Shun anger

The middle “Anger management” (Dec 15) by Chetana Vaishnavi was interesting. The tips given by the writer can go a long way in controlling one’s anger.

The best way to control oneself when the other person is angry is by putting oneself in his or her shoes. This will help understand the point of view of others. Since most of the time anger does not work, it is best avoided.

HARISH K MONGA, Ferozepore City

Decline of civil services

Amar Chandel’s article “Is ‘steel frame’ crumbling?” (Dec 8) was comprehensive. Undoubtedly and shockingly the invincible civil services are slowly but surely crumbling due to civil servants’ unusual lust for power. In their pursuit for power, they tend to throw ideals and values to the winds. Often, they tend to stoop to conquer and play second fiddle to their masters — the wily politicians. Their conspicuous failure as civil servants has shattered the hopes of the common man.

Let us hope and pray that this degeneration is ephemeral and that our civil servants, despite pulls and pressures, will work with enviable conviction, determination, pluck, intrepidity and probity.

OP COUSHIK, Kurukshetra

BJP’s new chief

For the sake of strong democracy, a strong Opposition is most essential and the BJP is most suitable to play this role. After the last general elections, the BJP’s internal feuds led to the party’s decline. Now, the BJP has a new incumbent, 52-year-old Nitin Gadkari at the helm.

However, it remains to be seen whether he can infuse fresh blood into the party and is able to improve its fortunes.

BIDYUT KUMAR CHATTERJEE, Faridabad

Savour every moment The middle “Flying into sunset”(Dec 16) by Justice Mahesh Grover brilliantly depicts the journey of life ending like sunset. Sadly in the mad race of life we fail to appreciate the celestial phenomenon of sunset and of our own life, which starts like sunrise but does not end like brilliant display of sunset, but as a moonless dark night. We can savour every moment of our life only if we would sit back for a while and appreciate nature. People tend to forget friends, childhood days and often even parents.  We should live every moment of life as it is not going to last forever. Each sunset should remind us of the fact that life is ephemeral and we must find time to pause and ponder. BHUSHAN CHANDER JINDAL, Jalandhar