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Language and Chomsky
It is a misreading of Chomsky to attribute to him the notion that "language is embedded in structures of thought" ("The loss of language", February 10). What Chomsky argues is that the "language instinct" (as Steven Pinker calls it) is genetic, that is, that the brain is hardwired with the capacity to acquire language(s). To conflate this with the notion that "the interplay between language and thought processes is deep" is wrong. Chomsky says nothing of that sort. The notion that the sloppy use of language is a consequence of a lack of clarity in the thought processes themselves can easily be traced to Orwell's 1946 essay "Politics and the English Language". There he goes further and argues that a consistent abuse of language may itself lead to sloppy thinking: "But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought."
VAIJAYANTHI M. SARMA
Hamas victory
The Hamas victory in the Palestinian elections is a clear verdict of the people against uncontrolled corruption and administrative inefficiency ("The rise of Hamas", February 24). The U.S. and Europe should continue financial assistance to the Palestine Authority without blackmailing it. The international community should persuade Israel and the Hamas to accept the "two-state" solution.
Sambi Reddy Endreddy
Latin America
It is interesting that Gerardo M. Britos, former Argentine Ambassador, chose to respond to my letter regarding Bolivia rather than Aijaz Ahmad's detailed essay (Letters, February 24). It is also interesting to note how the very word `socialism' makes many people see red. Perhaps Britos would be aware that there was an Indian leader, Jawaharlal Nehru, who had the longest tenure as Prime Minister and who was perhaps most popular among the masses, who was fascinated by the word as well as the idea of `socialism'. That he was not able to give shape to the idea is a different matter. Salvador Allende was also not allowed to pursue socialism. May be the new leadership in Latin America will not be able to build up a socialist system in the true sense. Their rise reflects the expectations and feelings of large mass of people of these countries.
Prof. Chaman Lal
Iran vote
THE article "Sacrificing sovereignty" (February 24) was an eye-opener. The vote against Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency and the removal of Mani Shankar Aiyar indicate that the government is inclined to bend its knees before the West. It is shameful to see David Mulford trying to undermine our sovereignty.
Deepankar Bhardwaj
Conservation
There are some glaring omissions in the article "Goat's own country" (February 24). The early heroes who stopped poaching and littering in the Eravikulam National Park should be given their due. Mohan Alembath, who was made Ranger in the 1970s, succeeded in putting an end to poaching, often with unconventional methods. One set of marauders were blindfolded and left overnight in the forest; shots were fired over their heads and they were told that they would be finished off. In another incident, Mohan and his staff picked up the litter left behind by a group of students, gift-wrapped it and sent the packet to the professor who was leading the young people. Mohan handed over the baton to officers such as Sivadas and James Zachriah, who recorded significant achievements in securing people's participation in conservation.
Thomas Mathew
Role of NGOs
Non-governmental organisations riding on the back of so-called humanitarian intervention and regime transformation can be very disruptive ("A dangerous doctrine", February 10). Nepal has some 30,000 NGOs; more than one for every thousand of the population.
Where does the money go? Quite a lot goes to fund the lifestyles of the largely urban elites who staff them. The political parties also cash in on the bonanza, indirectly, by appointing party cadre as the staff and accepting funds for programmes on the pretext of "civil society development".
Mithun Jung,
Samira Munir
There is no doubt that many women around the world suffer because of violent actions of men ("Veil and a warning", February 10). This holds true for Norway as well. However, the examples that Rafia Zakaria cites from Norway are not correct.
It is correct that Samira Munir was a critical voice in Norway. She provoked many Muslims and said herself that she had received death threats. However, her death is no mystery, and was not connected to her political activities.
Rafia Zakaria's article is based on an article published by Human Rights Service on November 14, 2005. Here is an article published in Norwegian on November 15, 2005 where Human Rights Service gives a clear statement that her death was not caused by any criminal act (www.rights.no/innv_gen).
It is also correct that Rahila Iqbal's death was being investigated as a suspicious death and that three people have been indicted, including her father and grandfather. But the trial has not started as yet. No one has been convicted of anything up to now.
It has still not been proved that she was murdered. It has not been proved so far that she was drugged or raped either.
It is therefore improper for the author of the article - who is an advocate herself - to declare that she was murdered - and that this was an honour killing. It would have been more in form to speak directly to the police, advocates, families and friends of Rahila Iqbal and Samira Munir - and to exercise some caution.
It hurts those of us that mourn Samira Munir's death to read that we "welcome the assumption that she simply took her own life" because we are unable to grapple with the complex political issues surrounding her death. Most people do not welcome the news of a suicide. When a person takes her own life, it often has extended effects on the people who knew her.
Atta Ansari
Religious practices such as hijab must be a matter of personal choice in civilised societies. However, obscurantist ideas have a terrible influence in so-called modern societies also. The mysterious end of Samira Munir's life is a blow to individuals, groups and organisations committed to establish freedom, equality and justice for women.
Neerajkumar Jha
Faith and science
"Enlightenment", which had such illustrious proponents as Thomas Jefferson, Adam Smith, Immanuel Kant and Marie-Jean-Antoine Condorcet, never discounted religious belief ("Vedic creationism", January 27). Enlightenment does not imply being an atheist.
Also, Vedic creation theories are closer to Darwinism than the story of Genesis propounded by the Judaic religions. Belief and science go together. After all, Albert Einstein was not an atheist and neither was Darwin.
Anant Sahay
Keezhavenmani
I watched the well-researched, painstakingly made, moving documentary by B. Krishnakumar ("Keezhavenmani revisited", January 27). I felt as if time had rewound itself to 1968.
N.C. Naidu
Child abuse
Undoubtedly, child abuse has become a serious problem ("Dimensions of child abuse", February 24). It is unfortunate that the Internet is used for the distribution and exchange of child pornography.
Shitanshu Bharti
Verdict on Bihar
The judgment of the Supreme Court on the dissolution of the Bihar Assembly has vindicated the stand taken by the Janata Dal (United)-Bharatiya Janata Party combine on this issue earlier ("Unresolved questions", February 10).
The judgment draws attention to the malafide use of power by Governors and emphasises the need to formulate a national policy on the appointment of Governors, who should, in all fairness, be apolitical and eminent persons.
S. Balakrishnan
Karnataka fiasco
The main question about the Karnataka regime change is: who were the real players behind the scene ("Uneasy sits the crown", February 24)?
It is unthinkable that Kumaraswamy has rebelled against his father. Is this a clever move by Deve Gowda, who was frustrated by the ill treatment to his party by the Congress in Karnataka? Maybe his aim is to teach the Congress a lesson. The whole drama looks like a ploy to install his son as Chief Minister.
Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee
James Laine
Books should enlighten and not confuse ("Politics of a ban", February 10). The changes in history books made during the BJP regime were criticised. But people talk about `freedom of speech' in the case of James Laine.
The issue is not about freedom of expression or sentiments. It is Laine's use of words that has created the confusion.
Ranjan R. Sarode
ANNOUNCEMENT
Letters, whether by surface mail or e-mail, must carry the full postal address and the full name, or the name with initials.
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