Letters from the past

Gulf News looks back over the years at concerns and issues raised by readers in their letters to the newspaper. It's a retrospective that offers an insight into the community and the country. These letters are from 1984.

The wrong meaning
This is in reference to a caption of a photograph appearing in the sports page of Gulf News on January 13, 1984, wherein you mentioned, "One such person can be seen in this picture - trying to repulse an attack spearheaded by two Sardarjis." I fail to understand what you meant by "two Sardarjis".

In this context, I find the word "Sardarji" extremely offensive and quite contrary to the unbiased publishing spirit a newspaper of your calibre should follow. Internationally, newspapers are required to project an unbiased, fair and truthful attitude.

I wonder if you always mention in captions the nationality and the coined common name. I think it is ridiculous to refer to players as "Sardarjis", "Pathans" or "Malabaris". If you were not aware of the players' names, you could refer to them in innumerable ways, not by deliberately offending the Sikh community.

"Sardarji" is a respectful word meaning "Leader". However, in some incomprehensible way, the term has assumed connotations bordering on offensive, which makes it quite shocking for a newspaper to repeat it. The Sikh community is one of many ethnic communities in India, and enjoys the same privileges as other Indians.
From Mr Rajvir Singh
Abu Dhabi

No parking
I am happy to see a national touch in the thinking of our institutions. However, most of it is not translated into action. One of the bounties of nature to Dubai is its creek, which is now in perpetual use of traders from other countries.

If one takes a stroll along the creek and its surroundings, most of the time one sees scores of pick-up trucks with wooden number plates. Many of these vehicles are from other countries on their way to some foreign country. The matter does not rest here.

I have an office along the creek and I very often have to wait for 20 minutes to find a parking place. This is due to many vehicles blocking valuable public parking spaces. I hope the Dubai Municipality is fining these people.
From Mr P. A. Ali
Dubai

An unfair loss
This is regarding the unsporting atmosphere prevailing in the India Social Centre where the Badminton Open Tournament is currently being held.

I have been the reigning champion in the Women's Singles event for the past three years both in the Dubai and Abu Dhabi open tournaments. My semi-finals match in this tournament was scheduled for 7.30pm on December 3.

When I reported on time, on the due date, the organisers informed me that the match had been rescheduled to December 2, 1984. Since I did not report then, a walkover had been awarded to my opponent.

When I asked how I was expected to play a match without being informed about it, I could not get a satisfactory answer. Sporting events are conducted to promote goodwill and healthy publicity for sponsors.
From Ms Vidya Manghnani
Dubai

A fair response
This is in reference to the letter in Gulf News on December 6 regarding the open badminton tournament. On behalf of India Social Centre, I strongly deny the allegations made by Ms Vidya Manghnani. India Social Centre is a premier institution in promoting sports activities, from its very inception, in 1967.

Open tournaments conducted by us are governed by certain rules and regulations, copy of which is invariably made available to the participants well in advance. Clause two of the rules reads: All participants are requested to contact ISC office for the day's events and the timings that will be put on the ISC notice board.

The events were rescheduled, taking into account the holiday on December 5. It should be realised that all the participants from Dubai, including Manghnani's semi-final opponent, turned up for the events according to the changed schedule except the complainant.

On December 4, at 8pm, a letter was delivered to ISC general secretary containing these baseless allegations. Ms Manghnani requested a decision from the general secretary. Before a decision was arrived at, for which she did not even have the courtesy to wait for, what prompted her to go to the Press is beyond comprehension.
From Mr John Mathen
UAE

- Reader letters from October and November 1978.