Blind spot

Sir — The West Bengal government has decided to mull the option of arresting a candidate if he or she is found copying during board examinations. Earlier, Pampa Pal, a former student of the Gour Banga University and the wife of a Trinamul Congress leader, was reportedly caught copying. When the university cancelled her answer script as per the rules, TMC supporters vandalized the premises and even assaulted the principal. One wonders whether the step announced by the government will be as effective against those who enjoy the party’s patronage.

Yours faithfully,
N.K. Das Gupta, Calcutta

Broken promise

Sir — In “Leave it to history” (Jan 11), Ramachandra Guha tersely highlights the good and the bad aspects of Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure as prime minister. But Guha seems to have overlooked a significant point. Rajiv Gandhi is the original reformer of India’s economy. The reforms of the 1990s must be credited to his vision.

Rajiv Gandhi assumed high office after his mother met with a violent death. He undertook some steps that were indeed the precursors of economic liberalization. Even within the framework of a mixed economy, he took measures to check the notorious licence permit raj. The salaried middle class, the most compliant tax-paying group, was surprised to find a substantially reduced tax burden in the first budget presented by the finance minister of Rajiv Gandhi’s government. He also recognized the potential of information technology to bolster economic growth.

Rajiv Gandhi had many shortcomings. His limitations were mostly visible in the sphere of politics, especially in foreign affairs. These limitations notwithstanding, the former prime minister hoped that the nation would become a world leader in the new millennium.

The resignation of the Congress-supported prime minister, Chandra Shekhar Singh, who was accused of spying on Rajiv Gandhi, dragged the country into an untimely mid-term poll. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated as he campaigned for the elections.

In his piece that talks about other Indian prime ministers, Guha wonders, and with good reason, whether the country would have charted a different course altogether had one of India’s youthful prime ministers been alive.

Yours faithfully,
Buddha Deb Chattopadhyay, Kulti

Unsung hero

Sir — Cricket in Bengal has a long and illustrious history. One wonders whether someone will end up writing a few chapters on the contributions made by Laxmi Ratan Shukla to Bengal cricket. We would certainly need help from the ten-armed deity while counting the number of times this talented cricketer has bailed Bengal out of trouble (“Shukla leads fightback”, Jan 11). Shukla continues to inspire confidence. He is a far more effective player than Manoj Tiwary. But Shukla remains out of the spotlight. Is it because he is shy and refuses to outrun others to grab a front-seat in a photo shoot? It is a pity that Shukla’s talents remained under-utilized in the national team.

Yours faithfully,
Dipak Datta Roy, Bagdogra

Parting shot

Sir — Isn’t it ironic that an iconic actress who chose to stay out of the limelight had her health bulletins featured prominently in the media before she died? Couldn’t we respect her right to privacy?

Yours faithfully,
Pratap Gupta, Calcutta