'General Zia is proving himself to be an embodied paradox'

Zia s RegimeThe cover story on Pakistan (April 16-30) was most comprehensive and clearly exposed the political predicament facing that country. It became crystal clear after reading the article that the fate of Pakistan revolves and solely depends on the whims and wiles of Zia. However, your excellent cover illustration was more explicit in throwing light on the President. With a vacant yet shrewd look Zia stares at the readers, proving himself to be an embodied paradox, a bundle of contradictions, an arms maniac, an enigmatic tyrant with an insatiable urge for remaining installed in power. The illustration also conveys the message that Zia entirely banks on his worn out militant charisma rather than on concrete measures and actions for ameliorating the economic and social ills of his country. He does not seem to be aware of the rumblings of discontent among his own people. Calcutta Soutik BiswasThe story made authentic, interesting and informative reading, although it failed to give a detailed view of the present situation in Pakistan. One really feels sorry for the people. The degree of their desperation and helplessness is very much reflected in the words of Mushir Ahmed Pesh Imam, the general secretary of the Tehri-i-Istiqlal party when he said that, "It may sound unbelievable but I have heard people say that they would prefer India to overrun Pakistan, so at least a breath of air will relieve the suffocation." At the same time the desperation of Zia is also very much evident from his tyrannical actions, and trying to accumulate as many arms as possible.Calcutta Amitabh BanerjeeNaga Hanuman GiriWith reference to your photo-feature on Naga Hanuman Giri (April 16-30) provided interesting reading, but there was a glaring mistake in the photograph on page 19. While all photographs of Naga Hanuman Giri show him with his right arm held upright, this particular photograph - a close up of his fingers and nails - shows the left hand. Apparently the photograph was reversed when this print was taken! Madras T.S. NarenRegretfully it was reversed- EditorThe photo feature on Naga Hanuman Giri is disgusting. It invokes a sick society which glorifies torment, self torture and masochism. If reading the Puranas inspires men like Naga Hanuman, then there has to be something terribly wrong with the divinely revealed scripture. Your "Images India" often featured the bizarre and down-right benighted people hanging by hooks, running rods and needles through their cheeks and tongues, walking on fire, men baking chapattis in the ashes of funeral pyres as a cure for diseases. And if all we're here for is to prove ourselves worthy through extreme penance and self-torture, then we could safely be running in one place for centuries yet. Nagpur Shalini DullAsbestos PollutionWith reference to your article on 'Asbestos Pollution' (April 16-30) I entirely agree with Dr S.R. Kamat's statement that there is a conspiracy to suppress information on the subject and this is true not only in the case of asbestosis, but all other occupational diseases. It requires a proper investigation to see whether the diseased workers are quietly pensioned off and the authorities bribed. Ahmedabad Kamlesh PatelCrusader In ArtsThe 'Guest Column by Provocateur' (April 1-15) is provocative alright but why doesn't this self-appointed crusader of 'pristine purity' in arts, stick just to that? Why does he have to talk about highly irrelevant matters such as the 'swinging extra long earrings of Parveen Sultana? (And, most condescendingly he pardons her for that!) Tell me how does it matter if a Bharat Natyam dancer 'swears in convent English and drinks at cocktail parties?' On the contrary she should be appreciated for being able to blend two different cultures individually. He most sadly observes that 'Krishnani begani baro resounds to the jingle of feet that want to go for the goodies'. Don't tell me that the great Krishna never drank or never 'went for the goodies.' Madras Murali BalasubramaniamPupul JayakarIn your 'Interview of the Fortnight' (April 1-15) Pupul Jayakar is credited with saying - 'In the last three years, the image of handlooms and handicrafts crashed during the Janata regime.' We least expected such a politically motivated and factually incorrect statement from a constructive worker of her eminence.According to the official figures the combined handloom and handicraft annual export averaged Rs 1,100 crore in the three Janata years (1977-80) in which their image is alleged to have crashed. The average in the preceding years (1974-77), before the Janata came into power, was a mere Rs 492 crore. New Delhi Surendra Mohan, MPApropos the "Interview of the Fortnight" (April 1-15), I fail to understand how Pupul Jayakar hopes to be remembered as a religious human being who based her life on a sacred dimension, when she plays poker and bridge for extremely high stakes. Coonoor Tarun ChhabraRazia's ReignIn the article 'The Last Moghul' (April 1-15) the director has been praised for his unique achievement in the film industry. But in the lead snap-shot printed on page 137 you will find that the stuntman understudy for Hema Malini is wearing DMS shoes manufactured by the Flex factory, Kanpur for army usage. Such shoes were not in existence in the 13th century - the period when Razia Sultan reigned. Kanpur Shubhra Ray ChowdhuryMusical ChairsIt was from the excellent write-up "Playing Musical Chairs" (April 1-15) that we came to know of Dom Moraes' exit from the Sunday Standard. Goenka may have the right of firing and hiring his editors but he could do with a bit of courtesy towards his readers. There was not a single line in the paper about Dom's exit. Firing of editors has also become the order of the day here in Kerala. M.T. Vasudevan Nair and N.V. Krishna Warrier have suddenly disappeared from the Mathrubhumi Weekly. Again, there was no mention about their departure. Kerala John MarkIMRB PollWith reference to the poll conducted by IMRB (April 1-15). If the IMRB had chosen victims of loot, rape, arson as the electorate, the opinion would have been just opposite. New Delhi K. L. KuturiCivil LibertiesIn your article 'Civil Liberties: Left Right Divide' (March 16-31) it is reported that I have the blessings of the CPI, CPI-M and CPI-ML led by Chandra Pulla Reddy. I do not know who gave this report. I have no knowledge of any "such blessings" from any party - left, right or centre. I am not and have never been a member of any political party. We believe in the right to dissent of every single individual. We also believe that whatever may be the system of government, there will be suppression of civil liberties and we have to raise our voice in protest.I cannot believe that my good friend Arun Shourie has affirmed that I "aspired to the presidentship of the Delhi unit" and "such a request could not be met summarily" by him or them "in a democratic set up." I never made such a request to anyone and do not know as to who is responsible for telling this lie. Lastly, my age is 54 and not 50, as mentioned. New Delhi Gobinda Mukhoty, chairman, PUDRPublished By: AtMigration Published On: Feb 28, 2014 12:24 IST--- ENDS ---

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'General Zia is proving himself to be an embodied paradox'

"The photo feature on Naga Hanuman Giri is disgusting. It invokes a sick society which glorifies torment, self torture and masochism. If reading the Puranas inspires men like Naga Hanuman, then there has to be something terribly wrong with the divinely revealed scripture."

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