It’s Gudhi and not Gudi Padwa!

It’s Gudhi and not Gudi Padwa!

It was nice to see DNA giving its best wishes on the occasion of Gudhi Padwa, to us, the readers, on March 30. Thanks a lot and same to you all. But I would like to draw your attention to the glaring spelling mistake in the word, Gudhi Padwa. It is Gudhi Padwa and not Gudi Padwa. I really wonder, not only you, but almost all advertisers err on this word regularly every year. Why should you not take care and write the correct spelling of your own festival, and that too a very auspicious one like Gudhi Padwa?

Mangesh Nabar, Mumbai.

Rajiv Desai got it wrong

As a Pakistani reader of the DNA website dnaindia.com, I was most distressed to read Rajiv Desai’s article ‘Riding into the sunset’ (March 22), which contained many misconceptions about the life of Mohammed Ali Jinnah. First, Jinnah did not form the Muslim League. It was formed in 1906. He joined it later as Gokhale’s representative within the League to make it more in line with the Congress.  Jinnah, in fact, did not completely commit himself to Muslim separatism till 1940. Please read Durga Das’ India From Curzon to Nehru for more information. And on how Pakistan came into being read HM Seervai’s Partition of India: Legend or reality—both books by Indians of great integrity. Further, Jinnah did not want Muslims to migrate to Pakistan.  One of the things he told Muslims in India was to be completely loyal to the country and choose the best leadership.

Yasser Latif Hamdani, via email.

MMRDA projects

Recently MMRDA projects were in the news and a mention was made about rehabilitation of displaced persons and that the World Bank was not satisfied with the programme. I wish to mention that usage of the word ‘Rehabilitation’ is totally out of place in the case of MMRDA projects. What MMRDA has to give is alternate accommodation. All these dwellers in hutments have jobs and nothing happens to these jobs on account of demolitions. Those who carry out businesses on the premises under acquisition have to be provided with alternate or substitute places to start their businesses. Rehabilitation phraseology has to be used in instances like Narmada oustees, who on account of increase in the height of the dam lose everything. In such cases alternate employment is called for—but certainly the MMRDA case in Mumbai city is totally different.

PR Vijayaraghavan, Mumbai.

Sindhi new year too

Many people do not know that Sindhi New Year i.e., 1st Day of the Chaitra month, is also celebrated by Sindhis all over the world, along with Gudhi Padwa. It is unfortunate  that media never highlights this important festival. None of the Indian  dailies even wish the Sindhi community on this occasion. I wish this practice will be changed soon. 

Manohar H Belani, Mumbai.