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READERS’ VOICE
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Asian Voice | 10th February 2018
Hijab ban
Referring to your news headteacher likened to Hitler as activists protest against Hijab ban, Please publish my following views. It is good to keep discipline in school and all the students wearing a certain dress or uniform.But there are people who are stuck in their religious beliefs and we have to understand that fact of life. People must also understand where they are living , they must follow the traditions of that country and don't try to impose their views on them.Many Muslim girls looks very beautiful with colourful Hijabs and Hijabs also help to protect you from cold. London Borough of Newham and Redbridge both are having communities from various religions of the earth ,so more understanding are required by the heads of the institutions. They should have at-least once a month meetings with parents and discuss the issues and try to adjust and convince what is good for their children. Dharam Sahdev Former Cllr London Borough of Newham By email
Vijay Patel: Loss of an unsung hero to the community
I refer to my letter of above heading published in last week’s AV and Editor’s comment, inviting readers to express their views, as it was most widely debated news item among Asian community, especially role of Hindu community, overshadowed by the involvement of Jewish and indigenous British people. While attendance at our temples, especially at festive times is encouraging, involvement of these establishments, our priests is minimal at grass-root level. Two decades ago, I was hospitalized for a lengthy period of time, due to hospital mishap. The patient next to me was young Jewish boy regularly visited by Chaplin based at their local synagogue. As I was never visited by Hindu priest, he hesitantly approached me, introduced himself as Joseph who was here from Germany to polish his English. Looking at copies of AV, IL and my novels, he realized I was hobby journalist, an interesting person to talk to. He even visited me after Jewish patient was discharged. We talked about variety of subjects, even holocaust and establishment of the Jewish State of Israel, frank and free exchange of views but mainly about Hinduism and Judaism. I knew next to nothing about Judaism, that Jewish holy books are referred by Christians in Old Testament as Tenakh, also known as Pentateuch or five books of Moses that governs Jewish orthodox society. The official language of Israel is Hebrew. But in Germany, they also speak Yiddish, a Judo-German language developed by Ashkenazi Jews of Central Europe. As this encounter was long time ago, it is now a fading memory, brought up by this tragic event. It is time for our community to wake up, for priests to get involved in such humanitarian work where we are light years behind other cultures and religions, yet we call ourselves enlightened community which we are in many respects, sadly not on caring front. Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email
Indian Budget: dream vs reality
The Indian budget has raised interesting observations in the financial press abroad. Prime Minister Modi’s government has introduced a budget which appears to be radical and of far reacing consequence esp in the health of the nation. Like several initiatives taken by Chief Minister Modi in Gujarat, the budget has huge ambitions which appear sometimes on the verge of over-optimism. Think big, install the necessary structures and systems and peoples own inertia makes things possible out of great challenges. Ashwin Gorad Barbican
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PIO concerns
I would like to highlight a few more things that concern me in regards to the PIO and they are as follows: a) All existing pio cardholders applied according to gov't. of India's rules and requirements of documents and fees. b)They specified term of 15years first, then made it life long. c)At the time of declaring lifelong issue of pio cards the gov't website said all cards will be deemed lifelong now, and if the current passport with which pio card is issued expires people can still use pio card with taking old passport and new passport no need to get changed on new passport. d) They issued handwritten pio cards, people did not ask for handwritten cards. Now if they want every one to have a computerized one it's their duty to convert all cards at no further charge. e)If government of India is installing new machines to read only computerized pio/oci cards then it is their duty to issue new pio cards in lieu of hand written ones . f) gov't website says something different than the website of Highcomisson in London or USA or Singapore for example, none carry the same information, all are different which is confusing. g) they must give advanced warning that old cards will not work rather then advise every one to get the new cards. We appreciate your help in such matters and hope a query raised to gov't. of India by esteemed newspaper like yours will get results. Ghanshyam Khambhaita By email
Hindu gurus
Niranjan Vasant suggests in his letter in Gujarat Samachar of 3-2-2018 that Hindu gurus should advice, guide and undertake projects that can benefit rural areas eg digging wells, building hospitals and televise such endeavor to inspire others. His suggestion is valid as 68% population is rural and pastoral, residing in remote villages. He seems to be unaware that many gurus are already active in such fields. Free food is provided by Swaminarayan temples, ISKCON, Sikh Gurudwaras etc. ISKCON has safe haven for cows. Free medical treatment is provided by Sathya Sai Baba and mobile clinics by Art of Living foundations. 24 hour water is piped to thousands of villages by Sathya Sai Baba group. Swami Ramdevji’s affordable Ayurvedic medicine has gripped all over India and abroad. Narayan sewa group is active to render free treatments to disabled persons. Didi Ritamhara ji’s Vatsalyagram for orphans and infants is also famous. Pujya Morari Bapu has donated generously towards flood relief funds. Health benefits of Yoga are stressed by every Guru. I know of all these via television programs in various channels which televise such activities 24 hours. But many projects are not adequately televised due to lack of funds. Many gurus do not seek publicity whereas many are denied televised coverage. Besides these, many Hindu Gurus notably Pujya Morari Bapu, Satyamitranand Giriji, ISKCON, Brahmkumari Womens’ University, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of Art of Living Foundation, are actively spreading Hindu cultural and religious matter to all and sundry. I am sure that many youngsters are able to lead a clean and ethical lives after hearing these and such Gurus. India’s demands are increasing day by day and all altruistic gurus must lend a hand to undertake projects that beyond reach of government or delayed by red tape. Ramesh Jhalla By email
Being taken for a ride
I agree entirely with Dineshbhai Sheth's letter on this subject. The retired parents are entitled to have their own space/time to do as they wish. After toiling for over 40 years, they deserve to enjoy their retirement without being tied up in a continuous series of obligation & commitments related to their grand children. Life is too short. The sad thing is that we can get afflicted with ailments as we get older and these ailments and health issues affect our ability to enjoy life so I would say, enjoy your well earned retirement. Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring! We might be lucky to live till 90 but will we have good physical & mental health to enjoy a good quality of life? In my view, Quality of life is more important than longevity. What do other readers think? Dinesh Rai By email
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Budget did not benefit Indians
I did not find the Union Budget 2018-2019 beneficial at all. I expected an increase in the income tax slab to help the middle-class income groups save more. I also expected an increased limit on tax-saving sections like 80C, 80C, 80CCC & 80CCD (deduction for premium paid for annuity plan of LIC or other insurance policies). Besides this, I also expected that the tax-free limit on interest earned from bank fixed deposit be raised to Rs 50,000 per annum. But the Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley did not give us (the common man) the benefits. The budget only benefitted the government at the Centre. Both, the Finance Minister and the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi should resign from their posts as this budget was friendly only to the Prime Minister, the President, the Vice President and Governors and Members of the Parliament because of a super huge increase in their salaries and also with condition to increase it further as per inflation. They Live, We Die! Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai, India
The glamour and the glitter
I watched the Asian Achievers’ Awards ceremony on the Box on 28 January and wished I was at the Edwardian Hotel at least as a guest, if not as the recipient, of an award!. We, the letter writers, have been canvassing for a bite at such a cherry, albeit not on a grand scale like this, for some time now. I have made such an occasion my cause celebre’ and other letters have also jumped on my band wagon. I have received e-mails from other veteran writers asking me to resurrect the idea and persuade the publisher/ editor to organnise the ceremony this year. As a number of people have intimated, most of us are getting old in the tooth and may want to put up our feet near the fire place and admire the certificate and or a trophy on the mantle piece which could bring back the fond memories of their long association with AV and GS – as subscribers and contributors. They could reminisce about the occasion when they met their fellow letter writers and think of their own magnum opus which may come up in conversation with others. With all the expertise of ABPL in organising award cereminies, it should not take much effort on its part to organise the event. I was disappointed that due to unavoidable circumstances, the letter writers’ get together few years ago at the prestigious venue of House of Lords had to be cancelled. Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford
Are we culturally too sensitive?
In a recent storyline in widely watched, popular soap EastEnders, Queen Vic pub landlord Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) rings his Pakistani friend Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra) who once owned Indian restaurant “Argee Bhajee” as well as take away outlet “Masala Masood” for advice regarding cooking Indian curry, as a special treat for his wife Lynda (Kellie Bright). The story line was widely criticised on social media, calling it not at all funny, indeed a cringed EastEnders. While by far most EastEnders fans see nothing wrong in such a simple, every day storyline that makes Soap popular, it seems there is an army of do-gooders, especially in indigenous population, perhaps with good intention, ever ready and willing to take up arms on behalf of supposedly downtrodden ethnic minorities that may do more harm than good. Even many Councils behave in similar manner, banning Christmas parties and decoration in offices during festive season, on the pretext that it will offend non-Christian minorities. Are we living in a Nanny State? Do we need these so called guardians of morality to act on our behalf? There was a time in my working days when we used to celebrate every occasion, whether it was Diwali, Christmas, Baisakhi or any special occasion, even our birth days and anniversaries? After all working as nurses in NHS was not a bed of roses even then, many now consider as the “Golden Era” and it is much worse now. These light entertainment acted as diversion from stressful environment, as losing a kind and jovial patient, especially children we may have looked after for some time was as painful to nurses as to their family members. It is time to move away from constraining working environment and create friendly, carefree atmosphere we once enjoyed. Kumudini Valambia By email