Sacrifice centenary

•The birth centenary celebration of Bhagat Singh, symbol of Indian courage and patriotism, has been reduced to a government-sponsored tamasha hijacked by the very people, politicians and bureaucrats who propagate and practise the colonial legacy of exploitation and repression. I strongly believe that if Bhagat Singh had been alive he would have fought against the very people who are today celebrating his birth centenary.

Certainly, glorifying the legacy of Bhagat Singh and spreading the values he stood for — especially among the youth — should be a national priority. But how can those who only want to grab power and exercise it with selfish and petty motives pretend to uphold the sacrifice and ideals of Bhagat Singh? I strongly feel that all nationalist Indians must take up this task and not allow politicians to hijack this agenda. The media has an important role to play in this — by publishing the ideas of a great and courageous revolutionary who is an inspiration forevery Indian.

— Vitull K. Gupta

Bhatinda

Babus’ bosses

•The best part of M. Rajivlochan’s ‘Bringing up babus’ is his reference to N.C. Saxena’s observation about how the young IAS officer’s idealism is sapped by “political interference... meaningless transfers and corruption below and above”. If any one category of people is to be reformed, it is our politicians. If our politicos are committed to transparency, many of our anti-poverty and development programmes and projects will bear fruit. But that is a tall order. Add to this, the legendary delays when matters are brought to the notice of the judiciary.

... contd.