It was a pleasant surprise to see two distinct articles about India on the Nov. 5 opinion page, although, sadly, both carry negative news about current problems and political games.
Regarding Gautaman Bhaskaram's article, "Hindu fanatics threaten Indian secularism," I wonder what he had in mind when he stated that "India could have lived without the nuclear pact (with the United States) . . . but it will wither away if it allows secularism to be butchered." Bhaskaram is based in Chennai and is perhaps close to events in Kandhamal Orissa, which he has linked to India's secularism. Let me remind him that India won't "wither" so easily if he looks at the history of this great country. He has to understand the political games as elections draw near.
He should also have commented on the war of words in Chennai where one leader said that Hindus are idiots for wearing the tilak on their forehead or the sacred thread. It's unfortunate that we have such leaders, but that's no reason for Bhaskaram or anyone else to jump to conclusions.
But what amazed me more is Sumit Ganguly's article, "India's wave of intolerance." Ganguly apparently wrote about events in India while sitting in Bloomington, Indiana. I think a visit to India, especially Bombay, is long overdue in Ganguly's case.
"Nativist agitation" in Bombay? Even in the U.S., during the presidential campaign, then candidate Barack Obama essentially gave job priority to "Americans" when he assured them that he would cut outsourcing. The words may be soft-spoken and the geopolitical zeal may differ, but Indians in the IT industry may still be threatened. I would have preferred to see Ganguly comment on whether the election of Obama will benefit India or result in "agitation" that forces many Indian workers to return home.
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