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

Space feat: Proud moment for India

The DRDO scientists and other missile technologists need to be applauded on the flawless launch of the nuclear-capable Agni-V, the most formidable missile in India’s arsenal. This has propelled India into an elite club of nations with Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) technology. Agni-V launch has been rightly described as a “fantastic mission”. It is an overwhelming success and has given India the confidence to go ahead with more missiles with a longer range. The commendable feat has amply demonstrated that our scientists are second to none and that the sky is indeed our limit. We are proud of our scientists.

Dr SK AGGARWAL, Amritsar

II

Though DRDO and ISRO have done a remarkable job, what the country needs more is some mechanism something like ‘Internal Corruption Breaking Missile’ to overcome corruption. Everybody knows Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) have been around since 1960s and to the good fortune of the human race, not even one has been used so far. Let us hope we never have to use this lethal weapon which can be used only as a deterrent since India does not have a policy of expansion.

Prof MOHAN SINGH, Amritsar

III

There is no doubt that China is far ahead of India in ICBM technology but the fact that our country too has this capability to strike deep in China ,will act as a nuclear deterrent in case of unwarranted Chinese aggression. Such achievements unite the country from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari and Gujarat to Assam. For a brief period we forget politics of religion and region and we feel proud to be an Indian.

Launching of ICBM is a long process and innumerable tests and hard work goes to make it a success. It took only three years for our scientists to realise their dream instead of the estimated time period of ten years for such a complex project.

ARUN HASTIR, Babehali

IV

We should not compare our missile power with that of China. We should further focus on the innovative technologies and work on Agni VI. Agni V created quite a flutter across the world but we should also keep in mind that we are not fully aware of the missile backup of other nations.

PREET AMOL SINGH, Rohtak

Re-filling Sukhna During the initial 25 years of the Sukhna Lake (1958-1978), the average annual run-off from the catchment area to the lake was measured to be above 7, 370 acre-foot. Water spill from the spillway used to occur every year adding fresh water to the Sukhna. After 1979, there was gradual reduction in the run-off from the catchment area. Recently, a report has been submitted by an NGO, SPACE, which states that there are 150 water bodies in the Sukhna wildlife sanctuary, which have an aggregate storage of 2,060 acre-foot. If water from these water bodies is released into the Sukhna, it will increase the water depth in the lake by over 6 feet (water spread of the lake being 365 acres now). Dr GS DHLLON, Chandigarh

Misinterpreting freedom

It is a fact that our social norms and values are continuously dominating our laws, which is a cause of many ills in our society. Rational laws, not irrelevant social norms and values, should give a direction to our society.

Women, who have established their individual identity, should realize that copying western structure is not empowerment. Rajesh Gill’s article ‘Substance of a Woman’ (April 20) mentions that we need to have culture-specific definition of empowerment. There is a need for modernisation not westernisation of the empowerment process. There is also a strong need to change the mindset of women regarding her peers. Empowerment is a collective effort which has to be started and led by women themselves.

The market is the biggest oppressor of women. Market forces focus on her physical appearance to further their own interests. The role of social leaders is increasingly being taken up by glam dolls in Bollywood who become role models for our young girls.

JASHANDEEP SINGH, Doraha

II

Most of the Indian women and young girls remain reasonably conscious of their parents' social reputation and suffer in silence till they feel insulted and humiliated beyond inconsiderable limit. We must oppose the commodification of female body in TV advertisments and commercial cinema. Capitalism as a system is fostering decadent values which certainly impact both men and women in equal measure. Only women are not to blame for trendy behaviour and consumerist habits.

Dr RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad

‘Innocent killers’

The news item ‘Kerala had no authority to detain Italian ship, Centre tells SC’ (April 21) came as no surprise, thanks to Madam Sonia Gandhi. Now, the Italian authorities need not to bother about the safe release of their ‘innocent’ killers accused of killing two Indian fishermen. The only hope of protection of our rights and honour is our judicial system.

Dr N K RANA, Kurukshetra