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To the Editor

Letters will only be considered if they carry the writer's full name, address and telephone number (if any). The identity of the writers will be protected. Letters must be limited to 300 words. All letters will be subject to editing.
Cricket
I read with avid interest the writeup of Megasthenes "Of and for cricket" (D.S. 29/5/004)whichtook medown memory lane .
While discussing cricket commentators of yesteryears, the writer perhaps inadvertently forgot to mention Berry Adhikari (I hope I have not mis-spelled his name) who was one of India's most profound and proficient cricket commentators.
Discussing Lala Amarnath, India's great all-rounder for nearly two decades, it is on record that he became India's Test captain by an accident.
He captained India against the formidable West Indies team in 1948 when Vijay Merchant, the Indian run-machine declined the captaincy due to personal reasons.
Lala besides playing for India in the Jardine-led England's visit to India was also selected to play for India in 1936 under Vizzy's
captaincy and later selected again in 1946 (when India was given Test status) under Nawab of Patuadi (Sr.) stewardship. He also toured Australia in 1947 and played against Don Bradman's unbeatable team which then had players like Arthur Morris, Sidney Barnes, Ray Lindwall, Keith Miller, Ian Johnston etc.
Lala's most memorable innings on that tour was his magnificent 228 against Victoria, a strong state side.
He was in the series in which Vijay Hazare, another batting stalwart, made history by becoming the first Indian to score a century in each innings in the fourth Test played at Adelaide.
The Indian team's tour of Australia in 1947, unfortunately, was married by handicaps when Vijay Merchant, Mushtaq Ali and Rusi Modi, all key batsmen, made themselves unavailable and the young Fazal Mahmood opted out, for just before the start of the tour
Pakistan came into being and Fazal stood by his new country.
Robert Kadet
34,Mehedibagh Chittagong
The gravity of the situation
Our over-enthusiastic politicians have to learn one grave lesson from the recent launch disasters. Keep your center of gravity lowfor stable equilibrium.
What is this center of gravity? Any college textbook has the definition, but it is the application in daily life which matters. We are weak in applied science in the under-developed countries, as the pocket and stomach keep us preoccupied. The concentration is more on the self than on public service. Multiply by several thousand public service providers, and the image that comes clearly is that of Bangladesh.
Our corruption and poverty indices are stuck at the bottom layer. Our political social workers are playing with the leftovers. Is this a vague statement? Yes, that is the way the politicians speak. To one who believes in micro-sheba to our chasi bhais and sisters. All are looking for macro-credit of selfachievement.
Besides the center of gravity, there is another point: the centre of a circle. Centralized sheba is not good for national health. Center means the ego, opposite to selflessness. Attract attention to the self or to the project in hand? We are moved by stones- with the name etched on it. Posterity haunts our dreams.
Where is the centre of this vast universe? No one knows. Lately even he scientists tend to conjecture that hyperspace has no center. The definition of time is also getting more and more complex, as mysticism leaks into science. The effect of an endow-
ment is not radiated from a center. It is diffused in the society, and becomes a culture, good or bad. Our local culture is changing, but the leaders are shy to point it out, as detached views are avoided. Negative collusion prevails in the society. It is malice, not goodwill.
During our lifetime we have met with some mature and wise personalities who never seem to be ruffled or excited (inner capacitypouring a glass of water into the sea does not change the level of the sea). This calmness (of the mountains and the deep sea) is foreboding to ordinary minds, and generates some mysterious kind of respect and humility. Ambition destroys such ambience. These personalities are the real hidden leaders, and their center of gravity is low. Make a list of self-effacing politicians, here and abroad.
Keep a low profile, and search parties would be active. Too much publicity spoils the service mood. Political commercialization is the
style of the day. Philosophy is not a dry subject, but it is there in the background as cementing bond. It determines the approach to an issue- the rest are nuts and bolts (technical). Before entering the jungle, the recommendation is to go around the perimeter for reconnaissance. It is necessary to listen to second and third opinions while planning public services. This is universally recognized " service before self."
We are familiar with the aphorism "Give away the profits, and retain the losses." A big order for us tiny mortalsfrom underdeveloped to developing, and then to specialization (the usual seven stages?). If the politicians are in the acquisitive stage, discarding is not possible (grab, grab, grab).
A leader follows the people? Yes, he follows the wishes of the people, and leads to their realisation. In Dhaka, the other side of the coin is missing. There is a subtle difference, which only personal
equations can illuminate. While facing the people, is it necessary to put up a front? The heart of the matter is not in the frontit is in the background!
Apart from the center of gravity issue, there are some other prequalifications for success in public life: the silent practice of selfsacrifice; and to be willing to suffer for principles. These virtues must have public visibility for credibility. There is no purging without personal suffering; although the latterhas several forms.
Also, compromise at high level of leadership is fatal, and harms the community. It is easy to cheat one's own self with illusory arguments. The ultimate result is harming others, which is an unpardonable sin. The punishment of this violation is familiar to the carriers of the virus-loss of health and peace of mind, which money cannot buy. Moral: Do not cheat the people.
It is time to decide: to refurbish the
background, or perform diversion shows on the stage.
AMahasen
Dhaka
Mobile phones for government offices
I refer to the letter (DS May 26) on providing mobile telephones for government officials. The bureaucracy has to keep pace with technology.
Landline telephones are going out of date (if not already the case), as FIXED wireless telephone network may become cheaper (capital, operation and maintenance) and easier to operate and maintain.
The government may review the future policy of fixed line telephone system in Bangladesh. ITU may advice on feasibility.
MD Abad
(Retd.BCS)
Dhaka.