The Week Magazine...Letters to the editor

Letters from our readers recieved from this online edition are published here. You are welcome to send in your own letters and comments straight to the editor.

Myth to reality

THE recent media reports on cloning are not novel concepts ('Double debate', Mar.16). The Ramayana and Mahabharata contain innumerable references to similar manipulation; the regeneration of Ravana from blood drops and the birth of the Kaurava clan are examples of manipulation akin to cloning.

Our scientists should study our epics and grasp their hidden meaning to rediscover such paranormal feats.

We should not be deluded by the moralistic postures of western nations.

Major scientific labs across the globe will be executing various cloning exercises.

Indian scientists should not be caught napping in this race.

G. SREEKUMAR.
MANGALORE, KARNATAKA

THE cloning of sheep is a major breakthrough in animal biotechnology can be profitably exploited, to develop better varieties of farm animals possessing higher levels of productivity in milk, meat and wool, so that mankind is benefited.

But ethically, morally and legally it is not advisable to employ this technology to clone human beings.

DR. RAJASEKARAM,
PALANI, TN.

Transplant trouble

THE article 'Have a heart, doc' (Mar. 16) was a well investigated one. This story was by far the most lucid piece on the doctor's bizarre acts. Is Baruah's so-called xenotransplant as dubious as Ramar's herbal petrol?

MITRA J. ENJETI
HYDERABAD

A plentiful budget

THE Union Budget for 1997-98 has unveiled a relief package for the middle and salaried class (Please-all package', Mar.16)

For the first time the tax rates have been slashed and the tax-payers have got a breather. Also new schemes will help the salary class increase their savings.

In fact, the salaried are the honest tax payers in the country and thus they deserve this bonanza.

B.H. SHANMUKHAPPA,
DAVANGERE, KARNATAKA.

Gatesmania

BILL GATES' trip was lot of hype ('Dream merchant', Mar.16). Let us now shut the windows and go to sleep. All that the software superpower (read India) got was a few dollars that wouldn't even be enough to buy 50 personal computers.

The software mogul has taken the Indian government for a ride considering the fact that, since its inception in 1975, Microsoft has not opened any development centre outsides the US.

Some Industry captains have their doubts about the proposed development centre that is to come up in Bangalore. After counting the cows on the India roads Gates might have felt that there is no road ahead for him here.

K.SREEKANTAN
BANGALORE

Going overboard

JAVAGAL SRINATH'S injury has shocked many cricket lovers in the country ('Over and our' Mar.16). but the cricket board seems to have no concern for the Indian cricketers: making money is its motto. I would very much agree with Manoj Prabhakar who has put the fault on Srinath himself.

Srinath should have avoided playing too much cricket and should have reported his injury to his captain. Instead he chose to play to increase his Ceat rating points. What was the use of medical certificate that declared him fit?

C.K. SUBRAMANIUM
MUMBAI

Pay them more

NEITHER the hazardous life in the armed forces nor the shift in employment preferences of the youth are the reasons for the problem ailing the forces ('Clarion Call', Mar. 9),

The reality is the lack of recognition of the services rendered by those who have voluntarily shed their blood for the country. The down-grading of the status of retired servicemen whenever salaries are revised by pay commissions and the paltry emolument dished out to them are also a cause for this.

Many rights of the servicemen are scuttled by bureaucrats who dominate the committees that look into these aspects.

COL. S.M.H. VENKATESH, BANGALORE

Craze for fame

THE article 'Eight years of the fatwa' (Mar. 9) carries a scholarly insight into the repercussions caused by the death decree. The author has rightly pointed out that the controversial portions of The Satanic Verses could have been avoided.

In fact, Rushdie laid more emphasis on the objectionable parts of the novel. May be he was hungry for more fame.

SUSHIL KUMAR PHULL, PALAMPUR, HP.

Slog and achieve

NIKHIL GANDHI is a perfect example of an entrepreneur who by sheer perseverance and hard work was able to reach the top in his chosen area ('Pipavav, his port of call', Mar2.)

Gandhi has proved that nothing is impossible in the world of business.

The doughty businessman latched on to opportunities that looked faraway.

MAHESH PRASAD BISOI,
JEYPORE, ORISSA.

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