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Corrections and clarifications

* * In an article “Iran and India, yesterday and today” (Op-Ed, June 25, 2009), its author, former External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh, began by first (and incorrectly) referring to Iran’s supreme leader as Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, and then narrating instances of his meetings with him. The third, 16th and 17th paragraphs also referred to the Ayatollah in the present tense, leaving many readers confused. Mr. Singh was only reminiscing about the first Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini (September 24, 1902 – June 3, 1989) and not his successor and current Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Hoseyni Khâmenei.

The blurb of the article said “In the context of an episode from the 1990s, some thoughts on what stand India could take with respect to the present situation in Iran.” The incidents referred to in the article were specifically in 1982 and 1986. The blurb should have said “from the 1980s”, especially as Ayatollah Khomeini, the subject of the article, passed away in 1989.

The first paragraph also said “There is a Persian saying which in translation reads thus: The unspoken word is your slave, the spoken word your master.” The Arab proverb is: “While the word is yet unspoken, you are master of it; when once it is spoken, it is master of you.”

* * A report “Swraj Paul appointed Privy Councillor” (June 24, 2009) said that Lord Swraj Paul, Labour peer and leading U.K. industrialist, has become the first India-born Briton to be appointed a Privy Councillor, a rare honour for any British citizen. A reader points out that the late Rt.Hon. V.S. Srinivasa Sastri (1869–1946) was also a member of the Privy Council. The British Government conferred on him the honour for his services to the cause of world peace, disarmament, and democracy. The Hindu, August 15, 1921 edition, quoting an Associated Press of India report of August 13, 1921, says Mr. Srinivasa Sastri, Indian delegate to the Imperial Conference, was made a Privy Councillor.

The Special Correspondent clarifies: The report was based on a statement issued by Lord Paul’s office which said he was “the first Indian-born Asian to be appointed to the Privy Council”. Lord Paul’s office said what they meant was that he is the only living Indian-born Asian Privy Councillor.

* * In connection with a Mumbai report “Protesting Shiv Sena leaders detained, freed” (June 25, 2009) and the seventh paragraph “Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna … alleged that companies had increased the tariff to compensate for their own losses, which were beyond the permissible limit of 15 per cent as per the Electricity Act of 2003”, the Staff Reporter clarifies: “This is an error in translation from Marathi, which is the language the Saamna is published in. The Electricity Act limits the profits earned by the power companies to 15 per cent. The mouthpiece alleged that the companies were making huge profits despite the clause in the Act.

* * A Reuters item “Zhu dropped from Chinese squad” (“Sport”, June 24, 2009) said that World champion Zhu Lin will not defend her title in India this August after being left out of the China squad for the World championships, but did not mention the sport. It should have said badminton.

It is the policy of The Hindu to correct significant errors as soon as possible. Please specify the edition (place of publication), date and page.

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