A story sans redemption Sudheendra/Pennathur

Re: Messages 24/56

The visas look like they will come in the old-fashioned way - a friend of a friend. I am now down two favours. Should be in India (Agra, Delhi) July 7-17. Would love to get in touch with Chowk friends. Send me an em at: anjumaltaf@hotmail.com

Regards,

Anjum Altaf

A story sans redemption Sudheendra,

I enjoyed your review. I bought the book the day it came out but found it unreadable - too flat as you said. I found Rohinton Mistry`s portrayal in A Fine Balance much more gripping.

Many of the responses to your piece revolve around the idea of ``nation.`` There is a lot of confusion about this term. I found an article by Aijaz Ahmad useful in this context. It was a difficult read for me but worth it in the end. I am putting the URL here (http://www.members.xoom.com/southasia/1999-03/special.htm)

I tried making this a hot link but failed. Perhaps Veeresh can help.

I have now come to divide people from India and Pakistan into two groups - those who have visited the other country and those who have not. Their views are non-overlapping more often than not. And what we need to do is to encourage and facilitate as many exchanges as possible.

Putting my money where my mouth is, I plan to take my two sons (14 and 11) to India next month. The tickets are here but I was surprised when I was told yesterday that it would take 3-4 months for us to get visas. Taking that as a point of departure I am trying to explain a long history to the disappointed and perplexed children.

Let`s see if we make it. If we do, I would love it if you can have a discussion with them. Let me know how to look you up.

Best wishes,

Anjum Altaf

My Ode to Rishtay arshiya:

much better than `lavishly citrus`. i dont think you can call it a learning experience. because i think most of us know what is going on out there. i personally don`t think there is anything wrong for either sex to find equivalent.

but just a reminder (if u know urdu or hindi !)

har kisi ko mukamal jahan nahin milta

kahin zameen to kahin aasman nahin milta

Imran Khan: Pakistan’s Next PM? couldn`t agree more, the kind of politics we have been having in pakistan for a very long time, has driven us to the brink of a disastor.

we simply deny the person who is telling the truth , that i have changed, and instead of looking at his good work and abilities , we look him as a cricket dictator and a womanizer and the crap.

what kind of a nation are we trying to build???

aren`t we building it on the ground of hate and lies, instead of TRUST. we just assume that everyone is bad, why can`t we think the other way ?

the usual reply i get from people is that pakistan can not try other politicians it is a risk?? what kind of risk are they talking about, you must have something to risk it. i think at the moment we have nothing. for the past two decades the politician and feudals have been the termites of pakistan. and the sad part is that no one is trying to solve it, everyone is just closing their eyes ad praying for a miracle to happen.

well to me its about time !!

Why Not This One? Ras:

I don`t know about bhutto and people before them , that what they did to pakistan (not my time), but i`ve learnt one thing that i don`t have to look back if i see bright in front of me.

The point being, i want to look forward forget what others have done to Pakistan. That land still got a huge potential, so let`s come together and forget all the bhuttos and sharifs and zardari`s and mazari`s. We only need to be Pakistani`s.

A Line Runs Through It A good subject, but the question arises why india and pakistan are fighting over kashmir, when formally both have decided to let kashmir decide for herself?

though , politically there is nothing wrong with it, but in my point of view that situation will not be acceptable to india, `cause there are not many hindu`s there. Pakistan favours plebicite because it thinks kashmir will decide on Pakistan. i believe if pakistan did not have such confidence , they will also do the same thing as India is doing now.

i agree with Mr. Feroz in making loc as an international border. everyone gets a piece the problem resolved, off course there will be a lot of talk, but it`ll go away. at this moment that appears to be the only possible way to decide this, without seeing red.