Sowell's picture of India and its people was distorted

Sowell's picture of India and its people was distorted
EDITOR:
In & quot;Getting a real picture of India & quot; June 6, Thomas Sowell levels a barrage of accusations against India and Hindus. According to him, "a wholly fictitious India has been created by the intelligentsia and used for too long to make the United States look bad by comparison." I have never heard/read any speech/writings comparing India in a favorable light vis- & agrave;-vis the U.S.A. in every field. Every country and every religion has its good and bad aspects. I have spoken about India on many topics. I have brought up the topic of the caste system, discussing its origins by different accounts, its entrenchment in rural areas, the constitutional aspect of it and the current state and federal quota systems in educational and vocational areas. Many states have reserved 30 percent to 70 percent of the seats for the scheduled caste, even though their percentage of population is only about 17 percent. This disproportionate quota is what is causing riots. India has tried to improve the lot of everyone, including its downtrodden, and has been slowly and steadily successful to a great extend in the past 50 years of her independence.
I agree that there is corruption in India. Every country has corruption to different extents and with different names.
Sowell says that when India became independent, an enormous number of Hindus and Muslims were killed, but does not say that it was because of the British partition of India. When India became independent, her peninsular part was divided into West Pakistan, India and East Pakistan on the basis of religion, even though every part was housing Hindus and Muslims. Thousands of Hindus and Muslims fled to India or to Pakistan and riots broke out. How does Sowell blame this on India? Why did the British divide India on the basis of religion and create havoc?
He also says the "people from India tend to prosper in countries around the world -- except in India." Between 1950 and 2000, the Indian population has tripled and the per capita income increased from Rs. 1,100 to Rs. 24,000, while U.S. population has doubled and per capita income increased from $2,000 to $35,686. Considering its poverty, meager GNP and natural resources at the time of independence, floods, droughts, millions of refugees and population growth, this is not a trivial improvement for people living in India.
Any time a riot occurs in India, Hindus are bashed in the Western media. But Hindus have been peace-loving people for thousands of years in India and elsewhere.
AHALYA KRISHNAN
Youngstown
Column writer is right about Traficant's trial
EDITOR:
The ring of truth never rang more loudly than it did in the July Fourth column by David Skolnick, "Crime does pay if fed prosecutors need you."
His column expressed my feelings about ex-Congressman James Traficant's trial perfectly.
It wasn't justice that the federal government was seeking by putting Traficant on trial, but instead a conviction. They knew they weren't persecuting some master criminal. People who spied against our country and sold American secrets to other countries received less notoriety.
The embarrassment the feds must have felt in failing to convict Traficant in 1983 was viewed by many as David slaying the giant Goliath.
Those who committed perjury to save their own hides would be wise to remember that "what goes around comes around."
The ex-congressman's trial to me was a "juggling act " case. I'll always believe those who testified against the ex-congressman juggled the truth to save their own skins.
Any time convictions are obtained by lies bought with power and money, justice is mocked and stained with shame making society the loser.
The words with liberty and justice for all should be sacred. Every American's freedom depends on it.
MARY LOU JURINA
Youngstown