Mint (23 October 2008)

If a ban on short selling is sought during a bear market, then, by the same logic, why doesn’t anyone demand a ban on buying during a bull market, especially since many stocks (realty, power sector, etc.) were trading at obscene valuations? (Why short sales ban won’t work, Our View, Mint, October 21). The truth is that severe correction in valuation was imminent as many stocks, especially of mid-cap & small-cap firms, had gone up merely on speculation by operators & cooked-up stories about prospects.

Ketan R. Meher

The Asian Age Columnist’s reply

The Asian Age (21 September 2008)

Novels based on history

Dear Sir,

There are good novels in Marathi, which are based on history & written with extensive research like Panipat & Mahanayak (the latter based on the life of Subhash Chandra Bose) by Vishwas Patil, Chaavaa (based on Sambhaji) by Shivaji Sawant, Chhatrapati Shivaji by Babasaheb Purandare, etc. (Magnificent History, Book Worm – Sunil K. Poolani, The Asian Age, September
21). These novels are bestsellers in Marathi & renowned publishers in English (as they are financially more equipped), should take initiative to translate these works into English (alongwith a proper marketing strategy), so that, it will reach a far wider audience & in the process, doing justice to these great works.

Ketan R. Meher

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The Asian Age Columnist Sunil K. Poolani’s reply is as follows:-

Dear Ketan,

Thanks for the mail and I do agree with what you say. But you know the publishing scene in India, forget translations, even quality English books by Kiran Nagarkar are not published by Indian publishers. Sad, but true. Be in touch.

Thanks,
Sunil K Poolani
Executive Director & Publisher
Frog Books

Worship or business

Mint Lounge (6 September 2008)

Worship or business

I agree entirely with the views expressed in ‘Ganesh goes live’ (Mumbai Multiplex – Priyanka P. Narain, Lounge, August 30). Due to the marketing strategies of trustees, even seconds (leave aside minutes) of peaceful darshan have become impossible for the common man in temples such as the Siddhivinayak.

Ketan R. Meher

The Asian Age Columnist’s reply

The Asian Age (25 August 2008)

Dear Sir,

Most of the students dread mathematics because of unfriendly & unimaginative textbooks, as well as, equally uninspiring teachers in schools (Of raw life, math and show-off, Book Worm, The Asian Age, August 24). Many times, mathematics teachers, due to their strictness, are the most unpopular among students. It is high time that, right from primary levels, mathematics syllabus is designed & taught in a way (a la, Shakuntala Devi) which will attract students towards it & make them feel at home.

Ketan R. Meher

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The Asian Age Columnist Sunil K. Poolani’s reply is as follows:-

Dear Ketan,

Thanks a lot for your mail. Appreciate your concern. Well, please be in touch. And also try to send your mail as a Letter to the Editor

Best,
Sunil K Poolani
Executive Director & Publisher
Frog Books

Mint Lounge Columnist's reply

Mint Lounge (31 July 2008)

Dear Sir,

While recent special issues on Olympics & Batman are a delight for their respective fans, please make sure that regular columns aren't sacrificed in the process. I think, you can easily accommodate regular columns by adding more pages to your special issues.

Ketan R. Meher

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Mint Lounge Columnist Seema Chowdhry's reply is as follows:-

Dear Mr Meher

Thank you for your feedback and we are happy that you take time out to write to us. I am writing to you on behalf of Lounge with reference to your letter. I am keen to understand which are the regular sections you have been missing in Lounge. In the Batman issue, we carried all the regular columns and also carried The Good Life and Pursuits in both issues. In the Olympics, since it was a special theme issue, we changed the sections around... but it is good know that our regular pages (and special issues) are appreciated.

Thank you for writing in

Seema Chowdhry

Smoking ban is unenforceable

The Asian Age (19 July 2008)

Smoking ban is unenforceable

I doubt if a complete ban on smoking in public places like malls, cinema halls, etc. can be implemented effectively (Take it outside!, The Mumbai Age, July 18). The government’s earlier decision to ban plastic bags & spitting in public places met with hardly any success. Just like those previous initiatives, after some initial euphoria, this ban too, would be forgotten in a matter of few days.

Ketan R. Meher

The big picture

Mint Lounge (12 July 2008)

The big picture

The cover story about cool jobs (I still want your job, Lounge, July 05) was very interesting. It is good to see people making careers in fields they are passionate about. All jobs require a lot of hard work, but a job becomes enjoyable when you are passionate about it. The story devoted precious space to large photographs, which was disappointing. You should have given more information about these people & their jobs.

Ketan R. Meher