Editor,
When Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose appeared for the Indian Civil Services examination in 1921 he was asked in the interview his opinion about the British Raj in India to which he replied, “Divide and Rule”. This apt description was not only seen in British invasion over Asia alone but also in Africa and elsewhere wherever this empire ruled. The Raj may have ceased for long but the aptness of this description continues till today. This “Divide and Rule” policy is a blood ingredient of the English people, which displayed once again during the recent Brexit vote that paved the way out of Britain from the European Union. But many Englishmen may not have thought that this policy would haunt them one day and history will repeat itself. What Britain would see now is what their empire had done in the past by cutting and dividing nations into pieces and ruling over them. It would be a misnomer to prefix the word ‘Great’ before Britain post Brexit. It would be again a misnomer to term it UK (or United Kingdom) since Scotland would in all likelihood seek another independence referendum from Britain to join the EU to be followed by the merger of Northern Ireland with Ireland and the long desire of the Welsh people for a Republic of Wales. So what will Britain be left with, only London and some counties? Nonetheless, the EU exit of Britain has left behind many new words for the Oxford University Press, Collins Dictionary and others to coin like ‘Brexit’, ‘Regrexit’ – a poll term used by the American Free Press about those who regret the exit decision, ‘LeoMexit’ – the exit of football giant Lionel Messi from the game after the defeat of Argentina in the recent Copa America Cup. Now, it is to be seen if we can have our ‘MS-exit’ – the departure of Mukul Sangma in the face of growing dissidence in the Congress.
Yours etc.,
PK Dwivedi,
Via email
Drug peddling a serious offence
Editor,
This refers to your report “Drug peddlers arrested” (ST, June 29, 2016). Drug trafficking is a major crime. Killing someone or helping someone to kill himself is equal to murder. This is what common sense and human sense says. The ones who are trafficking and helping such drugs reach each and every corner of the country are committing a heinous crime. Drugs and drug dealing is a scourge that can bring down a mature and intelligent society to intolerable levels of depravity. It is better to nip this crime in bud so that our country doesn’t follow the horrible western malady. There should be no leniency when talking about peddlers and pushers who destroy the victim and his kith and kin and put the victim into unalterable habit which will make the individual take to all crimes including murder and rape. If we need to stop this menace from spreading we need harsh steps and stringent punishments. Only love and affection can help the youth from falling into the clutches of drugs. Societal control is necessary along with a legal framework. Let us develop our Lives, our Communities, our Identities…Without Drugs.”
Yours etc.,
Vinod C. Dixit
Ahmedabad- 15