After Vidhana Soudha and the Vidhan Bhavan, the grand inauguration of the new Assembly building in Chennai that transcends the architecture and style of earlier constructions like Valluvar Kottam has evoked a new interest and raised interesting questions (Power symbols of a new era? A. Srivathsan, March 28). It is said to be a green building, a model to others and the future. Perhaps it is the “product of the age”. And posterity will decide the worth of the symbol.
Jacob Sahayam
Thiruvananthapuram
I really enjoyed the article. It felt nice to read about the architecture and some of the Legislative Assemblies built after Independence. It made one appreciate the great work and effort the architects put in planning such huge buildings with care and concern. But, we being Indians, I feel we should adhere to our cultural styles of architectural designs
Kishan V.
Mysore
The much publicised Rs.480-crore TN Assembly complex looks more like a mega mall than a Legislative Assembly. The building has no character when viewed against the Rajaji Hall next to it. Tamil Nadu has centuries old architectural heritage and traditions and the present government has wasted crores by building a monstrosity ignoring those rich traditions. One has to only look at Thanjavur, Madurai, Mamallapuram, Chettinad etc and see temples and buildings with character in them echoing our cultural heritage. Even the Citi Centre Mall on RK Salai has a nice aesthetic look about it. I only wish wiser counsel had prevailed when the go ahead for such a building was given two years ago. Just imagine, the people of Tamil Nadu have to live with such a building as their seat of power for decades to come. If this was the best this government could come up with, then it would have been more than appropriate to have built such a complex on the OMR with the rest of the IT complexes where it would have blended well. The idea of abstract architecture would have found good companions in those surroundings.
A Tamizh Anbu
Chintadripet
The new Secretariat at Chennai is an architectural beauty. It is a fitting example that even in these days there are people who can produce beauty. But one thing to be considered is the location of this building. Whenever the Assembly is in session all the roads will be blocked and many more inconveniences to the public who have paid from their pocket for this grand architectural beauty.
Dr. V. Ramaprasad
Tiruchirapalli
Valuable insights
The revelations of poet and author Aruni Kashyap of Assam regarding the rise of militant organisations like the ULFA throws light on the circumstances which led to the forming of such organisations. The voice of the oppressed and the downtrodden which remain unheeded for a pretty long time may lead to the rise of terrorist organisations. Brutal insurgency against them would often fail to eliminate the roots of the problem, instead posing a perpetual threat to the country. It is crucial to understand and study a particular region at its grass root level and address the problems systematically with a humane touch so that the rise of unwanted organisations detrimental to society and the country can be avoided.
Petson Peter C
Kochi
Their Lordships
Britishers apart, people in general interested in the functioning of the British Parliament will endorse Bill Kirkman's view that award/offer of Lordship to eminent personalities need not automatically entitle them to become members of the House of Lords also (March 28). In our own country, winners of the Bharat Ratna Award do not become members of the Rajya Sabha, though there is ample provision in the Constitution for nomination to the Upper Chamber. As to the utility of the House of Lords, long ago, writers had commented that the House “did nothing in particular and did it very well” (Gilbert and Sullivan). Someone else was more cynical, saying, “a large majority of the House of Lords are members because they gave themselves the trouble to be born”.
K.Gopalan
Bangalore
Common problem
At a time when there is a tremendous growth in white collar jobs in our country and continuous standing has become an integral job hazard, varicose veins have become the norm. It is true that an equally good number of people are silently suffering and have reconciled to a frustrated situation. In this context Dr. Pankaj Patel has given much-appreciated advice in “Never in vein” (March 28).
P.M.Gopalan
via email
Wrong priorities
Harsh Mander's article “For the wretched of the earth” (March 28) was indeed thought provoking. Isn't it ironic that while close to half of Indian children languish on account of hunger and malnutrition, the nation shamelessly stakes its claim as the next economic wonder and super-power? Our polity has always been tardy with reforms and when reforms do occur, there is no sense of priorities. For example, financial reforms have been brought on par with international standards while food security reforms for the impoverished have taken a back seat. The draft of the new Food Security Act, 2010 points to one inefficient system getting replaced by another.
Dr. Sunil P. Shenoy
Mangalore
