WEEKEND LIGHTER: Dept of Post: Letter writing competition, 2017
WEEKEND LIGHTER: DoP: Letter writing competition
(August 12/13, 2017)
Department of Post: Letter
writing competition
Last date for submission of
entries: August 15, 2017
Share this fast
with prospective participants.
M G Warrier
I
Cover Story
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/why-nehru-matters-more-than-ever/article19446526.ece
Rewriting
History?
This refers to Neera
Chandhoke’s insightful piece on the relevance of Jawaharlal Nehru today (The
Hindu, “Why Nehru matters more than ever today”, August 8). It’s ridiculous to
make efforts to reinvent history with every political change at the helm of
affairs of any country. The conscious blacking out of historical events or role
of national leaders like Nehru from speeches at solemn occasions like
Independence/Republic day or swearing in ceremony of the President or
substituting the names of such leaders with allegedly coloured motives smacks
immaturity of mindset.
Having said that, we
have to also concede that, as a nation, we have not preserved the legacies of
Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru in a befitting manner. Lest misunderstood,
the regret is not about ‘memorials’. Both these leaders had clarity in their
visions about the future of India. The political party which owed its existence
to these leaders, and the government which owed its birth to them, strayed away
from the teachings of Gandhi and guidance of Nehru as soon as possible after
their departure from the scene. Congress and ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ are paying the
price for that neglect today.
M
G Warrier, Mumbai
II
Recent responses
Indecent propositions
This refers to your
editorial “Unkindest cut” (Business Line, August 7). Public memory may be
short. But savers who keep their savings in banks they trust cannot be expected
to forget why they chose bank deposits as an instrument of savings, in the
first place. State bank of India and major private sector banks have been
challenging the commonsense of two categories of savers particularly, since the
beginning of the current decade. The savers they have been taking for granted
are, (a) elders who keep their ‘retirement corpus’ in bank deposits and (b) the
High Net-worth salaried class who maintain huge balances in savings bank
accounts.
In 2011, when after
long persuasion by depositors, RBI deregulated interest rates on Savings Bank
accounts, these banks made a mockery of the regulator’s guidance by either just
ignoring the RBI circular (banks like SBI) or making new stipulations and
fixing new thresholds for payment of interest on SB accounts (big private
sector banks), ensuring status quo in outgo on account of interest payments.
The message has been
loud and clear. Savers will remain at the mercy of banks. While media and
analysts dwell in detail on inflation, RBI’s base rates and inadequate transmission
of benefits of rate cuts, savers remain a neglected lot. To add insult to
injury, banks bargain for reduction of interest rates on savings instruments
with long term maturities outside the banking system as a pre-condition for
reduction in lending rates following reduction in bank rate. GOI has been
obliging.
This indecent challenge
from banks which have a monopoly over rural and semi-urban savings has
long-term implications. These include savings migrating to non-financial
sectors and the traditional moneylender resurfacing in new attire. Earlier the
regulator and GOI wake up, the better.
M
G Warrier, Mumbai
NITI Aayog: Welcome
appointment
This refers to the
report “Rajiv Kumar named vice-chairman of NITI Aayog” (Business Standard,
August 6). Centre’s decision to fill up the vacancy caused by the exit of
Arvind Panagariya with a professional economist who has roots in India and who
is unlikely to take over the top position in NITI Aayog with a resignation
letter in his pocket or an obligation to return after expiry of leave will be
welcomed by all.
Now, one more thing GOI
can do to make NITI Aayog a professional and functional body ‘superior’ to the
earlier dispensation (Planning Commission) it displaced is, to allow the
present team comprising of stalwarts like Bibek Debroy, V K Saraswat and Vinod
Paul some breathing time to settle down and evolve an institutional strategy
which will help the organization stand
on its own. To make this possible, GOI support will be needed in making the
organization financially independent and in terms of legislation where
necessary.
M
G Warrier, Mumbai
III
Recent Blogs and links
UNKIND CUT
Posted online comments
M G Warrier
Whale games
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/blue-whale-game-bothers-elders/article19421012.ece
LIVE A HUNDRED YEARS...
I've already
exhausted my quota of hundred years... The eighteen years up to 1962 were
equal to 54 years for me. Now on indefinite extension...As one will not
be declared dead, if Aadhaar Card is not produced, seriously thinking of
destroying my Aadhaar Card, which I've misplaced somewhere...
M G Warrier
IV
Leisure
ROME and BHARATH
From a mail received
through my friend Nallasivan:
ROME
“Two beggars were
sitting side by side on a street in Rome, Italy.
One had a Cross
in front of him; the other one was holding the Star of David. Many people went
by, looked at both beggars, but only put money into the hat of the beggar
sitting behind the Cross.
The Pope came by. He
stopped to watch the throngs of people giving money to the beggar who held the
Cross while none gave to the beggar holding the Star of David. He felt sorry
for him.
Finally, the Pope
approached the beggar with the Star of David and said: "My poor fellow,
don't you understand? This is a Catholic country; this city is the seat of
Catholicism. People aren't going to give you money if you sit there with a Star
of David in front of you, especially when you're sitting beside a beggar who is
holding a Cross.
In fact, they would
probably give more money to him just out of spite!"
The beggar with the
Star of David listened to the Pope, smiled, turned to the beggar with the Cross
and said:
"Moishe, would you look who's trying to teach the Goldstein brothers about marketing?"
"Moishe, would you look who's trying to teach the Goldstein brothers about marketing?"
My response:
Good
marketing lesson.
BHARATH
I think, at the end of
Geetopadesa, there was this dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna:
"Arjuna:
'Krishna, Having been with you all these years, I was aware of all you have
been telling just now?'
Krishna: 'Then, why
did you waste my time and your time?'
Arjuna: 'I was still
uncertain about the need for a war... And you know, in love and war...
uncertainties persist till the end... I thought world should know beforehand,
what is there in your mind'"
WHICH GOT DELETED.
Hope, the new owners
of Bharatha will order a probe to know the TRUTH.
M G Warrier
2
Nampoothiri wedding
Cyber
Forensic Expert Dr Vinod Bhattathiripad's daughter and Chennai IIT Research
Scholar Indu Chanchal and Trissur (Kirangattu Mana) born, California University
educated Team Member of world renowned Computer Game "Call of Duty"
Unnikrishnan got married on July 9. The marriage was celebrated with all
traditional functions for which Kerala nambudiris take pride even today, at the
ancestral houses of both bride and groom during the second week of July,
2017.
Artist Madanan
(Mathrubhumi) shared some of the drawings of the functions he attended with an
excellent write up on each 'ritual'. A collector's item for people like me who
have nolstagic memories about 20th Century Kerala social life. The drawings
shared included 'Ayinoonu', Bride's final offering-Nivedyam- to family Deity as
she becomes a member of Groom's family from next day, Bride's mother applying
oil in Bride's hairs in the presence of several lady members of the family and
the wedding function.
Madanan's drawing of
Polpaya Mana somewhere in the borders of Palghat and Malappuram districts of
Kerala was really amazing.
*******************
Comments