Win-win for India, China Exemplary coach
With reference to the editorial, “Success at Doklam” (August 29), the resolution of the stand-off is a diplomatic win for the Narendra Modi government. It was as if an iceberg had melted, with both India and China agreeing to pull back.
Some Congress leaders and leaders of other Opposition parties gave a pat on the back of the Modi government for handling the Doklam issue without fuss despite provocation from China. Congress member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor’s appreciation of the government deserves a mention.
The Doklam stand-off has been described as the biggest since 1962. The possibility of war could not be ruled out and India was prepared to face any eventuality. India has realised and believes that war is not an option. China also got a facesaving exit. This is a win-win situation for both the countries.
Parties hostile to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies were anticipating the outbreak of a war, not because they wanted India to suffer damage but because they wanted an issue with which to criticise and condemn Modi.
The Centre exercised restraint after the diplomatic victory. But on social media, provocative statements against China appeared. It is in the interest of the nation to avoid making such statements if Sino-India ties are to be revived.
K V Seetharamaiah Hassan only the minimum height required then was adhered to. Now, these reclaimed areas have become low-lying spots that turn into water bodies when there is rain.
Till the 1970s, the ground was able to absorb rain. But with massive concretisation of roads and compounds, the city has become a gigantic cemented nuclear waste containment plant, where no water can escape into the ground.
Now the maths. The city has far more people than what its land and infrastructure can support. The infrastructure is of the era of the British Raj, which is collapsing due to lack of maintenance and disrepair. Natural nullahs have become garbage pits, adding to the retention of the rain.
Along with the maths comes the lack of civic sense and the growth of garbage, particularly plasticware, over the last four decades. These block the stormwater drains.
All this cannot absolve authorities of blame. After 2005, a Doppler radar was imported. Why was it not used to predict the deluge this time? What is the use of declaring a holiday a day after a disaster? The meteorology department predicts floods after the city has drowned. The government, police and municipal authorities have no clue. It would be better to hand the city over to the Army for a decade.
T R Ramaswami Mumbai The editorial, “The real champion at Glasgow” (August 29), is a perceptive one. The way coach Pullela Gopichand transforms budding badminton players into medal winners at international competitions is nonpareil. He possesses several attributes of an ideal coach.
Gopichand is competent — he is the second Indian player to win the All England tournament. His commitment to the game is total — he is said to have mortgaged his house to set up his academy and his day begins at 4 am. He himself trains and toils as hard as his players. He is a hard taskmaster, but not a slave driver.
His behaviour with his pupils is exemplary. As Bruce Lee said, “Knowledge gives you power, but character gives you respect.” Gopichand has achieved both.
Y G Chouksey Pune