India: The emerging economic superpower
Sir, India has made commendable growth in various sectors, during the last sixty years. The tag of an underdeveloped country has changed into an economic super power.

Space technology has taken India into the group of the big five. Revolution in the IT and BT sectors in the last decade has catapulted India into a software power house. Acquisition of various foreign companies by Indian corporates, amidst stiff competition, has taken the world by storm. Telecommunication, manufacturing and other services have contributed considerably to the economy. The burgeoning Indian middle class has attracted the attention of several MNCs. However, the rural sector needs more attention. Lot is to be done to improve the living conditions of rural people. It is time the government should revamp  five year plans to make them more meaningful.

B N BHARATH
Bangalore

Forgotten hero
Sir, As our nation gears up to celebrate the diamond jubilee of independence, it is indeed a day to remember the sacrifices of millions who did everything possible to liberate the country from British colonialism. In this context, it is unfortunate that the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has not been uncovered even after the enquiries by three different commissions. The Congress governments at the Centre has either gone all out to accept a report which claimed that Netaji actually died in an air crash or outrightly rejected the report which concludes that there was no such air crash at all.
G ANUPLAL
Bangalore

Why were they silent?
Sir, The groundswell of indignation at the attack by the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) on the Bangaladeshi author Taslima Nasreen is heartening. But is it not somewhat curious that the hundreds of voices now protesting against the unpardonable behaviour of the party and its MLAs were quite muted when M F Hussain was attacked for portraying a Hindu goddess in the nude, nor were these voices heard so loudly during the fracas in the fine arts faculty of Sayaji Rao varsity?
N K Raghavendran
Bangalore

A challenge
Sir, The attack on Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen by MIM legislators is alarming for its sheer ferocity. Such an incident is a naked instance of the most brutal attack on the freedom of expression. In Ms Nasreen’s case, the whole force of religious bigotry is directed not only against creative dissent, but also against a woman in whose writings that dissent has become inseparable from an assertion of her sexual independence. It is this combined challenge to orthodoxy that constitutes Ms Nasreen’s offence.
MEGHANA A
Hyderabad

PM’s stubbornness
Sir, In a rare gesture of defiance, Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh has dared the Left parties to withdraw their support to the UPA government as he would not agree to re-negotiate the 123 agreement. The Communists have been blackmailing him with the threat of pulling down his government if he did not acquiesce to their demand for slowing down the pace of economic progress. The Reds will do nothing more than make a lot of noise on the nuke deal since their “masters” in Beijing have given their tacit approval to do so.
V V S MANI
Bangalore

Hats off, Kumble!
Sir, Hats off to Anil Kumble for his marvellous innings in the third test against England. At last he got his most wanted century in his 118th test. He has achieved a milestone what Chetan Chauhan could not achieve in his test career though he was also a very good batsman. Kumble’s innings was a classic one and every one who has watched his game live would have enjoyed every bit of it.
S Vynatheya
Bangalore