Letter to the Editor

Mangalore crash

Air safety of passengers today is at utmost risk with airlines flouting safety norms and no checks on them. Just few days after the Mangalore crash, a domestic airplane also off shoot runway but the vigilant pilot took off at the right moment and circled the airstrip till he got a clearance to land and got the aircraft to a safe halt. While mid-air technical faults are not within human capabilities to be averted, so are human errors and misjudgments. But conducive working conditions for pilots can certainly go a long way in preventing such mishaps. Overworked pilots and laxity in application of safety rules are two major concerns for passengers whose lives are at risk from the time they board a plane. And in this day and age where air travel is unavoidable, precious lives will remain forever at the mercy of airlines.  
-P Mahadevan, California

Jai ho Double trouble

Though I couldn't make it to any of the Jai Ho concerts, it was quite interesting to note the fact that we had the music composer, A R Rahman as well as the singer, Sukhvinder both cashing in on the Jai Ho success under different banners. While A R Rahman got all the adulation post Academy awards, he did acknowledge Sukhvinder's contribution in front of the desi media and Sukhvinder too denied any misgivings between the two. The fact that now we get to choose between the master and the singer with their shows coinciding around the same time tell a different story. Surprisingly Sukhvinder was denied US visa when he wanted to join the Jai Ho crew at the Oscars.
-Sima desai, new Jersey

Will nikki haly repeat history?
The way Nikki Randhawa Haley has given a tough competition to her opponents in the upcoming gubernatorial primary in South Carolina, it won't be long before we can boast of our second export to the US politics. The recent attempt by a Republican to harm her reputation too didn't hold much steam and in fact got her supporters to endorse her candidature all out. I find her intelligent and enterprising - the kind of people we need at the helm of affairs. If she gets through the primary, I am sure she stands a huge chance further and we may just get our second Indian American governor after Bobby Jindal that is.
-Vivek Srivastava, Maryland 

Hrithik Mania
It was a pleasant surprise to the catch the cast of the much hyped ‘Kites' in Manhattan. I am a big fan of Hrithik Roshan and like most his fans worldwide waited eagerly for his new release in two years. While I couldn't manage to watch the first day first show, my day was made when I caught his glimpse near Times Square. He's far more charming in person and ran all the way breaking the security cordon to meet his fans. It will remain one memorable episode in my life. I have lived in Mumbai for years and celebrity spotting is a common feature there but getting to see an Indian heartthrob in the US has its own charm. Being a Bollywood fan even I was disappointed with Kites though The New York Times raved about it. I strongly feel Hrithik can be our big export to Hollywood. He has the looks, which can get him into the global league plus he can act!
-Deep Saran, New york City

God's wedding in USA
I consider myself very lucky for having got the opportunity to attend the celestial wedding of Lord Venkateshwara with Padmavathi in New Jersey itself. I moved to the US 30 years back and despite couple of efforts couldn't make it to Tirumala for the occasion. I am grateful to the Tirumala- Tirupati Devasthanam, which held the wedding in collaboration with the Hindu Temple and Cultural Society that runs Sri Guruvayurappan temple in Morganville, NJ and the Hindu Temple-South Bay that runs Sunnyvale temple in San Jose, California. The utsava vigrahas (procession deities) were especially brought down to the US for the benefit of thousands of devotees like me. Over all a very well managed event and I hope and pray the practice is continued in future so that senior citizens who can't travel all the way can benefit from the lord's darshan in the US itself.
-Vishwanath Gopal Sarma, Chicago 

Love thy Neighbors? 
I moved to the US recently and among lots of positives and negatives, which I have listed about life out here the one that worries me the most is the utter noninvolvement of neighbors in each other's lives. Having lived in the bustling cities of Delhi and Ahmedabad I find it extremely annoying that none of my neighbors in this whitedominated community cares to go beyond the cordial ‘hellos.' In India my kids spent more time at the neighbors than at home, not because I wasn't available for them 24 hours a day but because they liked staying there and our neighbors too enjoyed their presence. In fact they would come asking if my boys wouldn't visit them on any given day. Here, on the contrary and as even my friends who live in different parts of the US apart from New Jersey, which is heavily dominated by Indians say, the neighbors exchange mere courtesies. I don't really understand why can't people be close to their neighbors? Why can't they share their little privacy with the people around? They need an orientation to Indian lifestyle where people staying next to each other mingle and share their culture, traditions, everyday joys and sorrows. Isn't life after all about that as well? Or is it merely centered around individual freedom all the while? 
- Nutan Agrawal, Pennsylvania

Brothers Bonding
It was heartening to read the news about Ambani brothers agreeing to bury the differences and get on with their business. The Supreme Court of India's verdict which went in favor of Mukesh Ambani is commendable as it puts the nation's interests above everything and Anil Ambani accepting it with due respect only adds to his charisma. Am sure both brothers have plenty to achieve and getting over with their personal differences will be step in right direction not just for them but for the country as well.
-Ankit dholakia, Ohio.