EDITOR'S COLUMN

Friends,

Are we upbeat at I&C ! YES & NO ! Yes because, this issue of October 2015, completes our 15 years in the print media, some even call it CRYSTAL JUBLEE. Either way, we are happy. Our first issue was released in November 2000. Its been a long and very demanding journey of ups and downs. What saved us is our commitment and support of some of our well wishers. Indeed there were souls, who regularly came back to tell us that we are doing a good job. We are grateful to all of them.
Coming to the growth of I&C, we must admit that it is growing in popularity, in acceptance, so also in circulation. However, when it comes to circulation, the growth has been very slow. It needs more participative support of readers and well wishers. I&C is a movement towards a better India and hence need participation of all those who feel concerned.
It is true that there were souls, who supported us, Kaaya, Waacha, Manasaa, some of them have been exemplary. Dr. M.V.Kamath, a doyen of Indian English journalism, a Padma Bhushan, passed away on 9th October last year, has been a pillor of strength for us. He had continuously contributed without fail until his last day. We are beholden to him beyond words. Prof. B.M.Hegde, a former V.C of Manipal University also a Padma Bhushan, has been continuously writing in I&C. We are grateful to him as well. There were corporate houses like Nitte group and Ramco group of companies who supported us by way of advertisement over a longer period. We are touched by their participative spirit. Its a BIG THANK YOU to them too.
Ofcourse, there were others, who reached out in both cash and kind to be part of our journey "TOWARDS A PURPOSEFUL REGIMEN", we are grateful to all of them who kept us going, to reach the 15th milestone. The month that went by saw the killing of noted Kannada scholar M.M. Kalburgi allegedly by some fundamentalist Hindu group. Karnataka              government has handed over the probe to the CBI for the sensitivity involved in the case. While it is true that violence has no place in a civilized society, the intolerence of differences is stretching too far. While killers have to be dealt with sternly in accordence with the law of the land, it is imperative to find out what precipitated the act of killing. Allegedly Kalburgi had remarked negating the relevance of 'Shivlinga' that instead of worshipping it, one should urinate on it. If it is true, then it is extremely inciteful. Why the government of the day did not take action under the respective statutes? He could have been saved. In matters of this kind, having already witnessed similar killings in the past, the police should have acted with speed, rather than react. It is indeed true that, killers deserve no mercy, but can our so called intellectuals control their urges to go to market to remark tasteless barbs only to hurt people's sentiment, all in the name of freedom of expression! So, it takes two for a company. Both Kalburgi and his ilk and these idiots who kill in the name of their faith should be severely dealt with by both the government as well as the media in public space.
As usual we have taken up some of the other relevent happenings of last month in the Month-in-Perspective. The reservation controversy ignited by Patels in Gujrath prompted us to revisit the issue of quota in India. In Focus we have tried to deal with it on issue basis rather than group dynamics. Hope readers would find it interesting. Do revert with your inputs. Rest as usual.