Rain proved a blessing in disguise

Sir, For fans of Indian cricket, it is a heartening news that rain and bad light saved us from an almost certain defeat. But one cannot say anything with certainty in cricket and Indians might have drawn the test without the interference from nature at whose hands they have suffered a few misfortunes in the past.

Only if Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar had clicked India would have won the match handsomely.

Indian batting line up was expected to score much fewer runs than their 1st innings score of 201 as they were playing last on 4th and 5th day pitch.

But gritty play by Dinesh Karthik, Saurav Ganguly, V V S Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni overtook that mark admirably making the providential interference a well deserved one.This draw will keep the series even for the next two matches and give a moral boost for the team to improve their performance in the coming matches.
V R Chitguppi
Hubli

The worst gift
Sir, Though in the Indian constitution the role of the president is limited, in view of the over 1.1 billion size population, problems are numerous beyond the capabilities of generally mediocre political leaders. 
But electing a tainted, mediocre, political president was the worst gift to the nation which is ready to celebrate its 60th year of independence. What can be the credibility of a nation led by a President allegedly accountable for banking frauds. 
Ravinder Singh
Washington

Studied silence?
Sir, Pratibha Patil will be the first President whose term will be dogged by numerous scandals and controversies. For the first woman President, certain legal proceedings will remain in abeyance till her term is over. She has remained silent in the face of all the allegations except to say that they are baseless. She has won an election where the voters vote like robots. At the end of it all, she raises her two fingers in a “V” and tells us her win is a “victory of principles”.
Mookhi Amir Ali
Mumbai

It is anti-democratic
Sir, Karnataka Government’s decision to ban the book, Aanudeva Horaganavanu by Banjagere Jayaprakash is anti-democratic. It is up to the readers to accept or reject the book and the government cannot curb an individual’s right to express his or her views.This clearly shows that the Government has buckled under pressure from religious heads and certain political leaders to please a section of the society.
Ravikumar R
Bangalore

A futile effort
Sir, Regarding Banjagere Jayaprakash’s book, it is a great irony and tragedy that the writer who kicked off a lot of dust and din could not hold on to his conviction firmly. Moreover Dr Jayaprakash could not achieve anything socially by raking up the past of the reformer Basavanna. His laborious and controversial research work was futile and unnecessary as we are all concerned with his teachings and social reforms rather than whether he was a Brahmin or a Dalit.
B G Gnanadev
Molakalmuru

Inhuman attitude
Sir, The report on EWS quarters eviction, (DH, July 24) gave an instant feeling of disgust against the government machinery. The non cooperation on the part of the residents is a proof that they no more trust the corporation. Though these quarters are declared unsafe for occupation long ago, the authorities failed to vacate them in time. In this monsoon season, it is too unsafe and inhuman to stay in the makeshift alternative accommodation the corporation.
K G P Nair
Bangalore