Editor
The recent news items in the dailies have rightly shifted focus from the invisible enemy to the visible one. Both are designed to kill people. The only difference is that the corona virus kills people and we see them in hundreds and thousands every day but the virus of coke factories kills people slowly but surely. We will notice them when it is too late. The basic necessities of life, namely air and water will become so toxic that people either die or leave their own land. The UN are currently debating on climate change and how we can reduce carbon emission, while we are busy producing carbon emission. It baffles any common man with basic common sense as to how the so-called knowledgeable members of the Single Window Agency could recommend so many coke factories as many as 50 or 60 in an area of hardly 10 to 15 square kilometers. If the coke factories work to their full capacity, the whole area will become a gas chamber reminiscent of the gas chamber of Adolf Hitler.
The SWA members are all living in a fool’s paradise. We are killing our own people. We remember the slogan in the sixties – ‘No Hill State, No Rest’ and how our leaders had demanded the state so that they could develop it according to their own genius. Mr Modi and Mr Amit Shah must be laughing out loud. Here are these people who demanded ILP so that they can protect the indigenous people from the outsiders. How can you protect them when they themselves are killing and exploiting their own people? Nobody can protect them; the god of mammon has blinded their eyes. Only the divine Creator can change people’s hearts and protect His people. The Psalmist wrote, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it, Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psalm 127)
Those whose thought is only of amassing wealth to enjoy life will get disappointed as Jesus said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?”
Yours etc
T. Mark
Via email
Olympics medal tally
Editor,
The USA topped the medal tally at the Tokyo Olympics with 113 medals. Although the USA trailed China for the most part of the Olympics, they succeeded in racing past their arch rivals on the last day of the Games. However, USA’S medal table slipped considerably from the Rio Games. They had won 46 gold medals in 2016 but they won only 39 in Tokyo.
The Tokyo Olympic Games were held under Covid-19 conditions. The Olympic Games were to be held in 2020 but had to be postponed due to the pandemic. Until the opening ceremony there were protests against hosting the Games. However, the authorities were able to host the Games without any major incidents. Even though the players put up brilliant performances, the events had to be held in front of empty stands.
India participated in the Tokyo Olympics with its biggest contingent and finished with their biggest-ever medal tally. In spite of the disappointments in sports like shooting and boxing, there were plenty of positives for India. The Tokyo Olympics witnessed India’s hockey renaissance. Both men and women’s hockey teams reached the semi-finals. India’s 41-year old wait for an Olympic medal ended when the men’s team won a bronze. In golf, rowing and race walking the players put up brilliant performances. India’s campaign started with a silver medal from weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and ended with a long-awaited gold medal. When Neeraj Chopra won the Men’s gold, it became India’s first gold in track and field. It will definitely boost the morale of Indian sportspersons and prospective Olympians in the country. If the winning of the gold is a herald of what is to come, we can expect great things for India in future Olympics.
However, India cannot afford to be complacent about its total medal tally of 7 and its 48th position on the medal table. A country with a population of over 138 crore must be in any one of the first 10 positions on the medal table. India must learn lessons from the countries that excel in the Olympic Games. The Government of India and the sports authorities must understand why a small country like Jamaica always puts up electrifying performances in Olympic sprinting events. Young runners are groomed by recruiters and coaches. The country’s living legends also play a vital role in developing champions. Coaches in Jamaica go through intense training and educational programmes. Similarly, India needs to learn lessons from countries that win the most medals like the US, Russia, Great Britain, Japan, China, Australia, Ethiopia and Kenya. They concentrate their resources on “focus sports”. India must identify its “focus sports” and concentrate the resources on them. Apart from this, there must be focused Olympic training facilities. Sports must be made a viable career option for athletes. Grass-root level scouting and talent identification are essential for creating a positive environment for the players to push for greatness.
Yours etc.,
Venu GS.
Kollam