Letters To Editor – Sep 2006

Achal Mehra’s Editiorial “Say a Prayer for Parvati” (August 2006) really hit home for me, literally. Sitting here in the United States, it is all too easy to forget that poverty is still very much a part of India. There are so many people living in the shadows of Indian economic growth, still poor, still suffering. It is easy to forget that these people exist. All we see is the glitter and glamor of the booming development India is experiencing.

Human life in India does not really have much value. If ten people died here in the United States, it would be a disaster. If that many people died in India, no one would even blink an eye, unless of course the victims were all educated upper-class citizens who “contribute” to society.

Most of the time, we just blame matters on politics and move on with our daily life. But we don’t really do anything about it. It would really help if each of us said that the change really begins with us. Contributing whatever we can to a worthy cause in India would actually make a difference. But, there are so many pitfalls to this. It is very difficult for us to sit here and gauge which charities are authentic and which ones are not.

It would be of great help if Little India could feature an article listing all the legitimate non governmental organizations in India that actually do something to help and also contribute a significant percentage of their revenue to charity.

Arathi Kumble Malden, MA

Your thought provoking editorial on Parvati reflects the paradoxical irony of India’s “economic miracle” and rightly comes on the eve of Independence Day. The funds allocated to the welfare of the poor are misappropriated at each stage and do not reach them. It is therefore no surprise that the tears and suffering continue even after a century of Nehru’s tryst with destiny. A clean political system and governance sans corruption is the need of the hour and perhaps it is another myth. So long, god bless the outsourcing firms and Starbucks and the like.

Vimala Satyanarayana Via Email

I read your magazine with deep interest. All your sections are valuable. I especially appreciate that you show both sides of the coin. All of us have different points of view and you may agree or not, but your magazine reflects all viewpoints.

Vinita Via Email

It’s been less than a month since I arrived in this land of opportunity. And trust me whenever I see a gorgeous Mercedes or a nice good house I wish it were mine. Well the road to heaven is not easy, but then when you read real life stories of NRIs such as Rocky Patel and Shashi Tharoor you are inspired by example. And suddenly the rough hard road ahead seems manageable. Every year, thousands of Indians come to the United States, some as students, some for jobs, while some others to join family. Truly speaking, life isn’t easy for any one of them. Whatever you bring here is divided by 45, the conversion rate of the dollar to the rupee. But when you read stories of Indians doing so well, it gives you courage. Courage to benext to M. Night Shayamalan, Amartya Sen or anyone you have dreamt of. What more can I say other than that Little India truly brings the Indian alive in me.

Raghvendra Singh Via Email

In the article ” Neutralizing Accent” (August 2006), call center employees are asked to be assertive and aggressive: “They teach, everybody to talk back and to be aggressive – that is not a piece of Indian culture” she said, adding that, Indian workers are polite to a fault.”

I’m afraid with high disposal money in their hands, aggression and assertiveness can translate into painfully different consequences. The Indian culture is subtle. Of late, affluent young professionals test opportunities with their money power, which can be dangerous. The process of “assertion” culminates in juvenile aberrations, including promiscuity, drug and violence. Paradoxically another article in the same issue, “India’s Cocaine Fears” confirms my apprehensions.

T N Srinivasan Naperville, Ill
 
Little India carries outstanding articles and interesting stories.

Rajesh Patel Los Angeles, Calif.

Every month, I turn to two features first, the ones by Kavita Chhibber and Lavina Melvani. I was terribly disappointed to see an article on Zayed Khan “The Son Rises” (July 2006). Chhibber has written such classy and candid interviews or articles on Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Imrat Khan, Shaan, Gen2 Gen, Anoushka Shankar and Anglo Indians. But what are the achievements of Zayed Khan as an actor? He is a new kid on the block born with “silver spoon in the mouth,” probably in a golden crib, with beautiful genes from his parents and in the shadow of a yesteryear handsome actor father. Even if we are dedicated to the so called “Bollywood” stars, there are many more other accomplished sons and daughters rising on the horizon with their hard work. I hope to see more articles on truly deserving sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, even grandpas and grandmas, who have contributed much more in various fields.

V.K. Murthy Via email

I am responding to Allison Hanken’s comments on the article of “The Problem of Legal Immigration”(June 2006).

You should emphasize the difficulties of obtaining H4 dependant visas for spouses and children. I am a H1B holder and have been working as a consultant for the past 5 years, paying taxes regularly. I was married in November 2003, but even now I can’t bring my wife on a H4 visa to this country. We are continually responding to queries from the Chennai Consulate. Every time I submit the relevant documents they demand, officers don’t bother to look into them and ask for additional documents. I spent all of 2005 in India to bring my wife, but came back alone in December.

I have a friend who married two years ago and is still waiting for his wife’s H4 visa, which is languishing in administrative delays, so he is returning to India next month. Another friend, who supplied all the original certificates to the consulate is still waiting for almost a year and is repeatedly told only that his case is “under administrative process.”

These are just a tip of the iceberg. Many families are separated and suffering. Bill Gates and others are lobbying for increasing the H1B quota, but no one is bothered about the sufferings of their spouses. If the government grants a primary applicant an H1B, then why is it blocking the dependant visas?

We consultants help the American economy and its people with our technology services, We deserve better treatment. There is talk of amnesty for illegal immigrants, but there is no consideration for the professional community that is servicing the country and paying its fair share of taxes.

Kannan Viswagandhi, Via Email