Mailbag

Consensus politics

Sir,

The 13th Lok Sabha elections - the election of the millennuim will be remembered as avoidable elections thrust upon the reluctant electorates. The elections are now over and the new Government is in seat. The political parties are busy in defining elections to their advantage but the fact remains that the mandate is clearly in favour of Vajpayee led NDA and all those who conspired to topple the Government have been rejected.

Barring unpredicted results from UP, all the conspirators have been taught a lesson by the electorate. Subramanyum Swami whose 'tea party' generated ripples of political uncertainty was humbled in Madurai. Prof. Soz, whose vote turned equation in favour of opponents, remained poor 4th in his constituency in J&K. Orissa Chief Minister Gamang, who's controversial conscience vote toppled the Government, is finding his CM's seat in peril as Congress performed poorly in the State and dissidents are pressing for change. Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, who assured of 'alternative' within five minutes, went into limbo as his party could just win 7 seats and he himself was unseated by friend turned foe Sharad Yadav. Sonia Gandhi, who as per Congress spokesman marshelled secular troops to topple the Government has been shown her place. Her dream of prime ministership was washed away as her party could manage lowest ever tally of 112. Madam Jayalalitha who kept the Central Government on tenter hooks and shaked hand with Congress to pull down Government is no more in focus to bargain. Communists have also been silenced as Trinmool Congress is making in roads in their bastion - West Bengal. Mulayam Singh and Mayawati survived onslaught - thanks to infighting and indifference of BJP unit of BJP.

Now the elections are over Vajpayee has rightly appealed opposition to forget bitternesss and work for consensus and his allies to uphold dharma of coalition. The political parties and leaders shall learn and work constructively for good governance. There is consensus among major political parties on vital national issue that should not be torpedoed. Government shall not be kept hostage for minority in the Rajya Sabha. People are looking for good governance and political stability. Let our hopes turn true.

Yours etc....
Satish Mohan Pandit
Jammu.

Sahitya Academy Awards and Dogri

Sir,

With reference to the discussion on Sahitya Academy Awards for Dogri, I would like to put my some comments over the issue. This is on record that when Desh Bandu Nutan was awarded on his book "Quaidi" he refused to honour the verdict because his work had been ignored for two years when less important books written by some authors were given preference over his work. When such low standard books were awarded the why not now? However, there were definitely some better books than many of them which have been awarded. Mr. Desh Bandu should have come forward in this fruitful discussion.

Yours etc......
Shiv Dev Singh
Jammu.

Clarification

Sir,

This is in reference to the letter of Dr S K Mattoo, published in your esteemed daily on 13.11.1999 regarding "NADIM Seminar and Cultural Conference" organised by SAMPRATI in collaboration with C.I.I.L. Mysore on 30 and 31.10.99 at Jammu. To remove the confusion created by the letter it is clarified that:-

a) All the Sessionwise programmes were printed on the invitation cards and there was no need to repeat them by the President, in his Welcome address.

b) Book releasing item was not a big event of the Conference and hence, needed not to be focussed upon beyond a certain limit by the Speakers of the inaugural session.

c) Chief guest, Sh. Bansi Nirdosh, a towering literary figure needed not to be briefed as he has a tremendous experience of such events. Since NADIM was the topic for both the days, he used his discretion to speak on him.

d) It seems that Dr. Mattoo lack every information about NADIM. He should have done some home work before raising a finger on the topics. For his information much evaluative work has already been accomplished on Nadim and Cultural Academy has published a voluminous book (Sheeraza, Nadim Number) a few years ago in which papers on different aspects of D. N. Nadim have been contributed by as many as twenty one critics of the repute. Besides, Syed Rosul Pompur in his book "Meezaan" and M. Yusuf Taing in "Shihil Kul" have written on him comprehensively. So the topics of this seminar were about those aspects only which we though were untouched so far. D. N. Nadim is not mere a poet but tallest of the tall literary personalities of Kashmir, even much taller than anybody's imagination as was very rightly observed by Amin Kamil in his letter (read out at the end of paper reading session). So if the paper readers of this seminar proved him so it is their success.

e) "Hai-voullai, Hai-voullai ...." poem is one of the best poems of "NADIM" with folk background. If anybody fails to understand it, he should improve his literary power of understanding first and then throw bows in the air. Further, ours is an autonomous literary organisation having full expertise to make selections which are not subject to the approval of Radio Kashmir or any other agency.

However, it is a fact that the compere of the inaugural session could not perform to our satisfaction. Though he is more familiar than Dr. Mattoo & Co.

Yours etc....
R. L. Jowhar
Secretary
Samprati.