4 5 august 2019gods help those...
India has never had a dearth
of godmen and godwomen
(‘Gods and Godmen’, July
29th, 2019). Some very much
genuine, others fake to the
core. Their tribe will
flourish as long as
superstition remains
attractive. The genuine had
an indelible impact on people
but made no history. Even
today, they are remembered
with respect and reverence.
They were highly spiritual,
very simple, didn’t have
huge following or political
connections or commercial
ambitions and when they
died, they died an ordinary
person. On the other hand,
there were those whose only
goal was survival and
success. The way to God is
direct, not through godmen
or godwomen.
MY Shariff[email protected]better than marx
Communism is an addictive
and a toxic ideology (‘Zero
Marx’, July 29th, 2019). For
those looking to detoxify, I
recommend Basic Economics:
A Citizen’s Guide to the
Economy by Thomas
Sowell. The book beautifully
describes capitalism and
communism, and how and
why communism fails.
Amar Jresorting to politics
It is rather unfortunate to see
elected representatives being
transported to resorts for fix-
ing deals to bring one or the
other party to power (‘The
Last Resort of Politics’, July
22nd, 2019). It is their moral
duty to decline inducements
or money to defect to other
parties. I think tough anti-
defection laws is the only
solution to put an end to themenace of resort politics.
Anish Estevesher country
When we talk about women
empowerment, it is usually
about those living in rural
and semi-urban areas who
need to be supported, given
that they are the ones who
face most kind of stigmas
in society, and that is why it
is heartening to see women
self-help groups (SHGs) like
the one in Chandu village
in Haryana flourishing
(‘Remember Her’, July 22nd,
2019). The state has always
been in the news for women
being discriminated against
by their own family
members. Which makes it
all the more reassuring to
read about women like Pooja
Sharma setting up their SHG
in the state. After the recent
Budget announcement of fi-
nancial aid to SHGs, I am sure
more strong and independent
women will be encouraged to
take benefit of it to break free
of the limits imposed by their
communities and fulfill their
dreams. Right from local
panchayats to district
magistrates, all authorities
need to create a country
conducive to their flourish-
ing on their own terms.
Bal GovindC
letter of the weekCongratulations to the whole team—past and
present—at Open for completing 10 years! The July
29th anniversary issue summed up a changing India
aptly through its list of the 50 minds that have
impacted us between 2009 and 2019. In a decade of
upheavals, the magazine has continually given us
perspectives that go beyond the obvious and the
newsy. Once a crowded print market, the Indian
media is now going through the same digital churn
that its counterparts in Western countries are
going. Yet this magazine has kept us hooked on to the
physical product in a time of short attention spans
and smartphone ubiquity. What the magazine said
about people on its ‘Soft Power’ list is equally true of it:
As readers, we are all fascinated by those publications
which go that bit farther, those which push the
envelope just a bit more. And in this, most of readers
would agree with me, this magazine has rarely
disappointed. I hope the magazine continues
opening our minds to the world over the next decade
and beyond. A changing India needs brave voices and
incisive storytellers.
Monica Jabbaropen mail
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volume 11 issue 31
for the week 30 July-5 august 2019
total no. of pages 68
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