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A \u2018reconnect\u2019<\/p>\n

The election of M.A. Baby as the new General Secretary of the CPI(M) party marks a new chapter in the annals of the party\u2019s history. The challenges before the general secretary, who has inherited a crown of thorns, are manifold. The biggest failure of the Left movement in India has been its inability to adapt itself to changing times. It needs to initiate mass mobilisation programmes and address the bread and butter issues affecting the common man. <\/p>\n

B. Suresh Kumar, <\/p>\n

Coimbatore <\/p>\n

A prominent Left leader\u2019s assertion that \u2018Only [the] Left can counter the neo fascism of Hindutva forces\u2019 (April 3), sounds great on paper. But the track record of the Left parties does not inspire confidence in the public. Without mass support, they have almost always piggybacked on an alliance in every Lok Sabha election to win a few seats. They would then talk of extending outside support, on the basis of a \u2018common minimum programme\u2019, aimed at uplifting the poor and protecting the labour \u2014 no doubt lofty ideals. And then pressure the government at every step, preventing it from closing even a single, chronically sick, loss-making public sector unit. During the first term of the United Progressive Alliance, one saw the Left withdrawing support, citing India signing the civil nuclear agreement with the U.S., which was to its obvious advantage. <\/p>\n

V. Jayaraman, <\/p>\n

Chennai <\/p>\n

RBI and its services <\/p>\n

According to the Reserve Bank of India, 98.21% of the \u20b92,000 notes have been returned to it and \u20b96,366 crore worth of such notes are left with the public now. That said, the central bank must now consider \u2018restoring\u2019 its erstwhile services relating to the exchanging of soiled\/mutilated of various denominations apart from issuing fresh currency notes. The RBI must observe the relevant provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 by urgently opening its \u2018closed doors\u2019 with respect to some services. <\/p>\n

Kumar Gupt, <\/p>\n

Panchkula, Haryana <\/p>\n

Complete health <\/p>\n

World Health Day may have passed but health in general does not only mean the absence of diseases or treatment for diseases. \u2018Health is a status of five dimensions \u2014 physical, mental, social, vocational and spiritual well-being and not merely the absence of diseases or infirmity\u2019. So, every person needs to analyse their state in terms of these five health dimensions. <\/p>\n

Dr. Gitanjali Sharma, <\/p>\n

Chennai <\/p>\n

Manoj Kumar <\/p>\n

Manoj Kumar\u2019s debut 1967 Hindi film, Upkar, as a director, was an off-shoot to the 1965 India-Pakistan war. The ever-green song, \u2018Mere Desh ki Dharti\u2019, by Mahendra Kapoor won a national award and topped the listeners\u2019 choice in Vividh Bharathi in the late 1960s and 1970s. Such films which stirred a nationalist fervour are rare now. It was said that then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Sastri was instrumental in making a film based on the \u2018Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan\u2019 slogan. It was remade in Telugu, as Padipantalu, in 1976. <\/p>\n

A.V. Narayanan, <\/p>\n

Chennai <\/p>\n