India is a land of diversity. A very commonly used catch phrase for India is ‘unity in diversity’. Though this might have been the case in ages past, this diversity has today become a barrier and a strong sense of ‘regionality’ prevails in present day India. This issue has been brought to the fore very well through the article written by Mr Saptadip Saha. Globalisation has turned the world into a large village where people from very diverse backgrounds are now able to meet and interact with each other. People from across the country are flocking to the metros in search of occupation and education. Mr. Saha has brought up a very important point when he states ‘Beyond the borders of the country, a Chinese is always a Chinese, irrespective of whether he hails from Shanghai or Hunan……’ and I totally agree with his contention that ‘If we can, for a change, keep our regional differences aside, and work in unison, maybe we can give our global competitors, a serious run for their money’.

Damein Shanpru,Shillong

There is something very fishy in the way that the illegal mining issue has been pushed to the side before the poll to the 40 member Assembly in Goa. Maybe the political parties in the state realize that this is too big a fish to fry at the present point of time and therefore do not want to commit themselves to such an enormous task. I don’t know how to react to this as two possibilities could be causing it. On one hand, even though politicians have been known to make tall promises before any election, the politicians in Goa have not cashed in on this issue by promising to clean up the messy mining scenario of the state and I would like to believe, however far fetched it may seem that these politicians have turned a new leaf and realized the folly of their ways. However, on the other hand, it may be the matter has been relegated to the back burner because nobody wants to address the problem and as such, things will go on as usual after the results of the elections are declared. Call me grossly optimistic but I would give the politicians the benefit of the doubt and subscribe to the prior possibility even as I won’t be surprised when I am proven wrong.

Neelkamal Kalita,Silchar

It was surprising for me to learn that no Bangladeshi Prime Minister has visited any state of India’s North East region prior to the recent visit of Sheikh Hasina to Tripura last month. In light of the North East region being the gateway to Bangladesh and the South Asian countries and the vast trade opportunities that these countries offer India, I feel that many more visits of the kind should be happening. Bangladesh and the North East states of India have a lot to gain through a good relationship. Trade between the region and its neighbouring country will result in much needed development of both and such visits have been known to promote such trade. Sheikh Hasina’s recent visit to Tripura was a magnificent precedent and an increase of visits of such high ranking dignitaries will bode well for both countries.

Sunita Kalai,Agartala

It is troubling to hear of Dawood Ibrahim’s plans on the North East. The region is at present at a crossroads where we are seeing the surrender of numerous militant outfits which had previously held the region in a grip of terror. In the absence of these militant outfits, is Dawood Ibrahim trying to fill the void? If the reports are to be believed  the security forces need to cut this threat in the bud and thereby ensure that the region does not transfer from militancy to organised crime.

R. Dey,Mumbai