Tough task for Sonia

This refers to Mr Hari Jaisingh’s article, “Congress in new avatar: tough task for Sonia” (Sept 18). Mrs Sonia Gandhi has to learn from the follies of the past. At present, there is a lack of individuals who can sacrifice their personal interests to save India’s deteriorating political system.

Mrs Gandhi must accept the fact that unless she exerts herself as vigorously for improvement as she does for victory, she can neither have victory nor political power. This is the time of struggle for her:

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labour, and to wait.

VIVEK SINH MAR GIRAN

Kurukshetra

LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI: “Tough task for Sonia Gandhi” reminds of the late Lal Bahadur Shastri whose simplicity was the source of his greatness. Simplicity is for soul what athletics are for the body. An earnest man learns temperance from the examples of Socrates, Xenocrates, Zeno, Spinoza and other saints and sages.

Eschew extravagance, artificiality, and over-elaboration, which soon excite disgust and derision. He dislikes too much furniture, expensive carpets, chairs, tables, and furnishings. He bows down to none, and he expects none to kowtow to him. Simplicity bars both servility and haughtiness.

An earnest man is simple in his speech and style. He speaks and writes directly and simply. He dislikes excessive ornament and circumlocution. Homer, Demosthenes and Voltaire rank high in literary history, but their style is simple indeed. If you have something to say, simplicity will give it force and life. Lack of simplicity is the mark of an inferior intellect and a pettifogging, self-conscious soul. Remember Buffon’s wise saying: “The style is of the very man.”

There is need for a simple leader who has a keen sense of duty, who regards all his actions as so many bricks contributed to the temple of humanity. All the bricks must be good and sound.

AVTAR NARAIN CHOPRA

Kurukshetra

CONNIVANCE FACTOR: Signs of the rejuvenation of the once only party of India, the Congress, which fought for the freedom of the country, remind me of the famous couplet of Mirza Ghalib, "Dil ke behlane ko Ghalib/ yeh khayal achha Hai".

The renewed efforts are commendable, but with the present leadership of the party it cannot bear fruit. Mere declarations are not enough. There is a world of difference between professing and practising.

SHYAM SUNDER AIRI

Kapurthala

STRICT DISCIPLINE: "Congress in a new avtar" is a brilliant exposition of the current political goings-on in the country. It has so aptly brought out the truth by critically analysing the drift from the old ideology of the Congress and spelt out the right course to be adopted for the future of the party as also of the country as a whole.

The need of the hour is to introduce strict discipline in the party, for which a truly useful code of conduct has been devised. The entire programme is so formulated as to effectively break the current unsuccessful phase of coalition politics which some power-hungry politicians believe to be an abiding feature of Indian democracy. What can be more fallacious and harmful for the country in the long run than this?

B.L. BANSAL

Chandigarh

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A matter of administration

The Tribune report “Surprise raids by CM” (Sept 16) focuses attention, for the nth time, on a crying public need – responsive administration.

It is indisputable that an unresponsive administration is the cause of all causes responsible for innumerable public woes; inter alia, it breeds deleterious delays which, in turn, breed the deadly virus of corruption. The more unresponsive the administration, the wider the tentacles the canker of corruption spreads with ill concomitant effects for the public at large.

Although every new government commits itself to clean and responsive administration, sadly enough, the desideratum remains an ever-receding cry. Bluntly speaking, it is the bureaucrats who rule the roost in the matter; they seem to think: “Chief Ministers may come and Chief Ministers may go, but we go on forever.”

The following Urdu couplet also sounds exceedingly pertinent:
“Yeh chaman yonhi rehayga
Aur hazaaron janwar,
Aapni aapni bolian sub bolkar
Urh jaingey.”

TARA CHAND

Ambota (Una)

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Soldiers must get their due

The account given by Maj-Gen KS Bajwa in his write-up “The betrayal of the soldier,” (Sept 13) sums up the valour, dedication, sense of duty and attitude of service before self in the armed forces of our country. They have displayed these values over the past 50 years and before, diligently, which are mostly found wanting in our political leadership and in a majority of other institutions of the government in the scenario prevailing in the country.

Calling out our forces to sort out the mess, the responsibility of which rests on the civil administration, proves their efficacy, credibility and reliability to do their job the best way on all occasions, beyond doubt.

Our society and nation as a whole have been thankless to those soldiers who laid down their lives for safeguarding the security of the country. It is only because our soldiers are guarding the borders, all of us live happily. They operate in difficult and uncertain conditions, and their personal difficulties are far too many. Separation from their families for a long duration, disturbed education of their children, their commitment, the hazards of life are a few of these.

It is regrettable that even the Fifth Pay Commission did not do justice to this sincere and loyal segment of society. Their difficulties and adverse fallouts of a tough and accountable life have not been compensated even financially.

A very little portion of them got a little advantage from this commission’s recommendations. They are silent in the absence of any organised union.

On the other hand, most of the other government departments get their due by paralysing the work. Even the IAS and IPS officers have their unions. It is high time the nation and society recognised the status of these men and compensated them in every respect.

It is a well-known fact that “any nation which neglects its armed forces pays a heavy price.” We must wake up before it is too late.

ARUNA SINGH

Changarwan (Talwara)

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Clinton and media

There is too much of talk about Mr Bill Clinton, the USA’s President, about his private life (sex affairs with Monica Lewinsky). Mr Darshan Singh Maini’s article and your editorial on the subject have discussed it in detail.

The fact is that what Mr Clinton has done is nothing unusual in Western society, and even ethically it is not considered so bad. It is not understood why the media should give it so much of publicity?

ANAND PRAKASH

Panchkula

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Failures & environment

I read with interest Mr I M Soni’s article “Human spirit must always triumph” (Sept 6). I have a few observations to present.

In the wake of any failure in life we tend to blame the unfavourable circumstances or luck, and fail to take responsibility for being ineffective in life. I think most of us blame the environment in the event of failure, but take credit for our successes. Such an attitude towards life creates a sort of psychological dependence on the environment we interact with in our personal and professional lives.

For lasting success and happiness, it’s very important to internalise our failures, which means taking complete responsibility for various actions (good and bad) in our lives. Once we start doing this, the focus shifts from depending upon the environment — trying our luck and waiting for things to happen — to creating a favourable environment on our own, an environment which would stimulate us to grow and prosper.

World-renowned personal transformation guru Wayne Dyer says, “If you believe it you would see it.” Once we start believing in our ability and free ourselves from luck and circumstances, we would be able to create conditions which would help us to achieve what we want (our goals) in life. In contrast, we believe in the opposite and say, “If I see I would believe it.”

ANTARPREET SINGH

Chandigarh

Tailpiece

Question: What can be the best Diwali gift this year?

Answer: A bagful of onions.

VINOD JAIDKA

Panchkula