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Modify Retreat

The retreat ceremony on the Indo-Pak border was very entertaining and full of patriotic fervour. But later while brooding over it, I felt it was chauvinism bordering on stupidity. On the one hand people are lighting candles of peace on the border and here we are regularly engaged in cross-border firing with gnawing and gnashing teeth, blood-thirsty looks and other inimical gestures. Given that the majority of countrymen on both sides want to have friendly relations, wouldn't it be better to modify the ceremony? Let the border guards be dressed up resplendently, move about with full military alacrity and alertness and conduct the Retreat exhibiting patriotism but without the "I'll-tear-you-apart" gestures. That would be exciting and at the same time more sensible and graceful.

Tejinder Singh Kalra, Mohali

Widen border

The no man's land on the borders of some countries is around half a mile wide. If the Indian and Pakistani governments agree to make the no man's land between the countries wider, it will be very hard to smuggle any drugs through the fences.

Gurbax Singh Kalsi, via email

Radio station needed

The border belt beyond Amritsar, following the Partition 1947, was left open to receiving tendentious anti-India programmes from across the Radcliffe Line. There was no effective outreach radio station to counter Pakistan's propaganda to foment communal fires in this country.

Prof Mohan Singh, Amritsar

TDI Mall delay

Apropos the news item “TDI Mall to fall in line with Sector 17 buildings” (November 14, Chandigarh Tribune), regarding the early completion of the TDI group has cheated the people to whom it sold its shops. It received the full payment for the shops in 2006 and their possession was promised in 2007. There are numerous complaints of cheating and fraud pending with the police against the TDI management.

Contrary to the report, the multiplexe has not been readied. For the last eight years, buyers have been following up with TDI for possession. The delay is due to non-construction of the building as per the sanctioned plan and Chandigarh guidelines.

Vinod Garg, Chandigarh

Lesson in cleanliness

I recently went on an excursion to Delhi with my students. This time we were particular and carried garbage bags with us to put in used wrappers other litter. The enthusiasm of the children was interesting. When we returned, it was a treat to see the bus completely clean. The awareness campaign by our Prime Minister will definitely be a success.

RASHMI CHOUDHARY, Karnal

Cleanliness inspectors

This has reference to the news item "A first in Punjab" (November 12). How will the cleanliness inspectors decide whether or not the litter outside any house is the doing of the house owner? What about the litter created by stray dogs or cows? Many times a bag of garbage lying outside a house is thrown by somebody else. Before the municipality starts fining people, it must look into these problems. They say that the roads must not be made wet. How do they expect people to wash their cars? To prevent urinating, defecating, spitting etc, surely inspectors can't be all over.

This can be checked only if the citizens inform the inspectors and they turn up quickly and do the needful. Or some marshals could be appointed in every area. The exercise needs to be thoroughly sorted out before starting it.

Gurmohan Chowhan, via email

Nehru’s contribution

I endorse the views of Inder Malhotra in his article “Nehru and his place in history” (November 13). To judge a person, it is necessary to have lived in that era. The present generation cannot fathom the contribution of Pandit Nehru. He laid the foundation of modern India by building infrastructure in the fields of education, communication, health, science, agriculture, space, atomic energy, irrigation, Railways, heavy industries and the modern city of Chandigarh.

No man is perfect. Nehru may have faltered, but his sincerity and love for the country cannot be doubted.

It is amusing that the BJP believes that Mahtma Gandhi and Sardar Patel belong to them because both of them were born in Gujarat. It must eschew bitterness develop respect for rivals.

Dr Gurdev Singh, Mohali

People’s PM

Pt Jawaharlal Nehru was an intellectual giant, progressive humanist, prolific writer and a true democrat.

In 1959, the Congress Session was held in Chandigarh (Sector 20) under the presidentship of Indira Gandhi. We entered the pandal as there was no restriction or check. A galaxy of Congress leaders, including Pt Nehru, Shastri, Jagjivan Ram and Indira Gandhi, was seated on the stage. In the afternoon session, a little commotion on the stage caught Nehru’s attention. A man with a petition in hand was being obstructed by policemen. Nehru instantly alighted from the stage, went to the aggrieved man, consoled him, took his petition and returned to the stage. Such was Pt Nehru, a people’s Prime Minister. At the end of the session in the evening, Congress bigwigs were seen moving around with common people in the pandal.

Near exit gate, I had a close glimpse of Nehru. He was speaking angrily to Indira. She was after all, his child and heir.

SS Beniwal, Chandigarh

Auctioning medals

It is sad that the medals of 'Jumbo' Majumdar are being put to auction for pecuniary gains. If the intention was to find a serious collector, his son need not have looked beyond the IAF. The Air Force museum would have gladly accepted them and given them a pride of place.

Col Rosy S Khandpur (Retd), Jammu

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