[world-vedic] Celebration of India's best - letter from Embassy of India

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>[indianembassy] A Celebration of India's best - letter from

>Embassy of India

>Sat, 05 Feb 2000 09:25:24 -0800

>

>

>A Celebration of India's best

>

>Chicago Tribune, February 4, 2000

>

>A letter from

>Navtej Sarna, Counsellor (Press & Information), Embassy of India

>

>February 4, 2000

>WASHINGTON -- Uli Schmetzer's depiction of India's Republic Day parade

>as a parade of "military might" (News, Jan. 27) betrays a superficial

>understanding of the country and the event. The Republic Day parade has

>been held in India for the last 50 years--in times of peace and in

>difficult times. Its purpose is not to convey any aggressive military

>message or pose a threat to Pakistan or to any other country. The parade

>is to honor India's heroes and armed forces. But above all it is a

>celebration of India's ancient traditions, multicultural society, the

>state of defense preparedness and progress in modern fields of

>advancement.

>Ceremonial military units and symbolic floats marching past, as well as

>ceremonial fly-pasts by air force aircraft, have always formed a part of

>this colorful parade, as indeed they do in similar parades in several

>countries of the world. The presence of camel brigades and modern

>missiles is not by any means to show vast economic gaps in Indian

>society, as Mr. Schmetzer would have us believe, but to show the

>existence of different units in the Indian army that have to secure

>India's borders in different terrains and under difficult conditions.

>This year's parade had special significance as it marked the 50th

>anniversary of the formation of the Indian secular democratic republic.

>The same Mr. Schmetzer in his report "Letter from Agra, Paying through

>the nose" (News, Jan. 21) showed a pronounced fondness for negative

>reporting. Foreigners are not charged at different rates in restaurants

>or in Indian shops. If that were so, India would not be a paradise for

>tourists and shoppers from the West, who pick up bargains and services

>on the cheap.

>Several countries apply different rates to foreigners for certain

>facilities. Public parking lots disclaim responsibility in more than one

>country, including the U.S. A parking fee request for less than $1.25

>U.S. is hardly monstrous.

>To miss seeing the Taj on this score and to complain instead of the

>crowds, pollution and traffic is indeed sad. Mr. Schmetzer has missed a

>great opportunity to see an architectural marvel for extremely petty

>considerations.

>One hopes he would overcome his peevishness and enjoy the Taj Mahal

>before leaving India.

>

>

>

>------

>Embassy of India

>Press & Information

>Washington, DC

>http://www.indianembassy.org

>

>------

>

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