HEARTIEST congratulations to Frontline on its 25 years of news service. I am an ardent reader and a regular subscriber, not from the inaugural issue but an issue before that, the inaugural “dummy issue”. Its cover had a picture of an injured Khalistan extremist. For the first time in India a magazine came out in glazed paper and with eye-catching pictures. I was happy to receive such a magazine at my village, otherwise I would have had to go to the college and university library.

I have all the copies of Frontline and still I have no mind to dispose of them.

S. Prakash
Mutharasanallur, Tamil Nadu

Rathore case

THIS is with reference to the Cover Story “Delayed justice” (January 29). The entire episode is an embarrassment to Indian democracy and its claims of women’s empowerment. The justice delivery system needs an overhaul so that cases of harassment of women can be dealt with sternly and swiftly, for justice has not only to be done but has to be seen to be done.

The incident also shows that women’s organisations have not been able to act effectively in the interests of women. A separate women’s court could be an option.

Syed Khaja
New Delhi

NEITHER law enforcement authorities nor the government made any effort to ensure justice in this case. The sheer courage and determination of the people involved – the victim’s father and her friend – put pressure upon the government to take a stand.

Police officials are supposed to protect us and not take advantage of us.

Siddhartha Shankar Mishra
Budharaja, Orissa

DESPITE clear evidence, the first information report (FIR) against Rathore was registered only ten years after the incident during which period he continued to enjoy power and get promotions until retirement. This speaks volumes about the rot that has crept into the system. Worse still is the minor punishment awarded by the court after an outrageous dragging on of the case for 19 years. Both the Centre and the State are guilty of protecting the perpetrator of a heinous crime.

One must appreciate the grit and determination with which both the victim’s family and that of her close friend fought to get justice.

K.R. Srinivasan
Secunderabad

THE Cover Story exposes the decay that has crept into India’s law enforcement machinery and criminal justice system. The nexus between politicians, the police and bureaucrats is the foremost cause of lawlessness. The reality is that people with criminal records get elected, which shows how void our democracy is.

If the powers of appointing, promoting and transferring police officers are withdrawn from political leaders and the bureaucracy, half the battle could be won.

Vinod C. Dixit
Ahmedabad

THE recent report of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) highlights the dangers children face in the period of the global financial crisis (“Who cares?”, January 29).

The powers that be should respond to its recommendation that basic health services for poor children and women be stepped up.

S.V. Venugopalan
Chennai

Great pathologist

THE story of Dr S.S. Sriramachari was very touching (“Medical explorer”, January 29). He was perhaps the greatest pathologist of contemporary India. It is sad he was not appreciated by the government or the scientific community for his analysis of and conclusions on the effects of the Bhopal gas tragedy on human physiology.

D. Balasubramanian
Hyderabad

Indian hornbill

I CONGRATULATE the photographer for his patience in capturing the Indian hornbill in its natural habitat and taking such impressive photographs (“Cry from the Ghats”, January 29).

Capt.Manohar Nambiar
Mumbai

THE photographs of the great Indian hornbill were very captivating. They reflect the wonder that is nature. Such photographs and articles generate more interest in wildlife conservation.

Benoy John Masjid Tanah,
Melaka, Malaysia

Anniversary issue

THE history of India in the past 25 years has been brought alive in successive issues of Frontline (Special issue, January 15).

G. Suresh Dhas
Chennai

I AM a subscriber to Frontline since its inception and have nearly all the issues. I lend them to my past students who are preparing for competitive examinations, which proves that the magazine has a lasting value. The effort in bringing out this issue is commendable.

R.M. Honakeri
Shigli, Karnataka

THE issue highlights Frontline’s role in social responsibility by focussing on public issues, which reminds leaders and those in the bureaucracy of their duty. I have been reading the magazine for over a decade.

Y. Abhimanya
Nalagonda, A.P.

IN a country where the reading public is small, it is amazing that Frontline has been so successful in its journey. Reading this issue was rewarding.

As a long-time reader of this magazine, I share the editorial team’s pleasure in bringing out this useful number.

Vijayakumar
Madurai, Tamil Nadu

THIS issue covered the past 25 years judiciously, with an essay for all aspects of India’s recent history. It took me down memory lane.

I have been reading Frontline for the better part of 25 years and respect it for its level-headed journalism.

Madhu B. Thaker
Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat

WHILE congratulating you for bringing out this issue, I would like to point out that the issue did not have a selection of letters written to the magazine over the 25 years.

Moreover, the regular “letters” page was also dropped.

T.N. Tandon
Lucknow

K.N. PANIKKAR’S analysis of the impact of Hindutva forces on Indian society and politics (“The Hindutva ride”, January 15) was interesting reading. However, the often meticulous organisation and execution of communal violence by members of the Sangh Parivar is not a phenomenon that only emerged in the 21st century.

The American political scientist Paul Brass has shown how much of the so-called communal violence of the late 20th century was not particularly “spontaneous” in nature but was the result of the operation of an institutionalised system of riots organised and managed by the Sangh Parivar and targeted at minority populations.

Kenneth Bo Nielsen
Oslo, Norway

Gender identity

THE interview with the transgender activist Priya Babu (January 1) was timely. Mainstream media often neglect such issues unless there is scope for sensationalism. The plight of the downtrodden often finds space in Frontline. Most of us live in a dream world, not knowing what people out there suffer.

R. Shaji
Calicut, Kerala

Telangana

THE article “Reorganisation, then and now” (January 1) said that the States Reorganisation Commission was initially against the unification of Telangana with Andhra. This inference was made on the basis of Paragraph 378 of the SRC’s 1955 report.

Para 378 is actually referring to the “apprehension felt” by Telangana’s people. It is worth looking at some of the preceding and following paragraphs. Para 375 says: “The case of Vishalandhra thus rests on arguments which are impressive.” “The advantages of the formation of Vishalandhra are obvious” (Para 381). “It seems to us, therefore, that there is much to be said for the formation of the larger state and that nothing should be done to impede the realisation of that goal” (Para 382). Then, the report suggests that it is better to wait until 1961: “The intervening period may incidentally provide an opportunity for allaying apprehensions and achieving the consensus of opinion necessary for a real union …” (Para 387). “Andhra and Telangana have common interests and we hope these interests will tend to bring the people closer to each other” (Para 388).

M. Jana Mitra
Hyderabad

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