Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

On protests

The Karnataka bandh, by and large, has thankfully passed off peacefully. But leaders who gave the bandh call should do a lot of soul-searching on whether it was really required. What did it achieve apart from bringing life to a standstill and causing inconvenience to passengers at the airport, bus stops, and railway stations? Not all the people who oppose the award support bandhs. If it is absolutely important to call for bandhs, it should be done on Sundays so that their impact on the economy is minimised. The most novel way to protest is to work voluntarily on a Sunday and donate the day's wages to the cause.

H.K. Seshadri,
Bangalore

The final award has come after a lot of groundwork and detailed study. It is impossible to satisfy everyone. Instead of taking a confrontationist stand, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka should resolve the issue peacefully and plan to use the water from the Cauvery effectively.

J.V. Narasimha Raju,
Vijayawada

That the Kannada outfits sought to burn Girish Karnad's effigy (because he said Karnataka should accept the award) has once again illustrated the enthusiasm with which we demonise people. The clauses of the award are yet to become clear to those driven by frenzy. It is painful to see a Jnanpith award winner bearing the ire of chauvinistic elements.

Sukanya Kanarally,
New Brunswick, New Jersey

It is becoming increasingly obvious that court verdicts and tribunal awards will not be complied with unless they satisfy all the parties to the dispute. Where do we go from here? Stagnate, be recalcitrant or wage war against one another? We have maintained that Winston Churchill's foreboding about Indians' incapacity to manage their affairs was unfounded. Unless we show wisdom and maturity, Churchill may have the last laugh yet.

T. Santhanam,
Chennai

I was in Bangalore the day the final award was announced. Companies closed early, parents queued up in front of schools to pick up their children well ahead of time, bus services were withdrawn, cable operators blocked Tamil television channels, the police were out on the roads — all this fearing violence. What was obvious from the reaction was: there is no guarantee in our country that tribunal awards and court verdicts will be automatically accepted and followed by the people.

Mahalaxmi Subramaniam,
Coimbatore

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