Received a “Dear John” letter from the New Indian Express to day afternoon! My last column was published this morning in this paper and uploaded to this blog. The e-letter from the person running the op-ed page ran thus:
Dear Bharat,
We have decided to reformat our edit page and bring new columnists. I therefore regret to inform you that we will not be using your fortnightly column from now onwards. However, we will inform you if and when require an article from you.
Best regards,
I’ll take a break from column-writing for a little while, and see what comes up. But I’ll continue writing my blog when I’m moved, or provoked, to do so. What will also keep me busy is proof-reading. etc. of my new book — ‘Why India is Not a Great Power (Yet)’ that Oxford University Press is publishing late August — around three months from today.
Indian Express’ loss
Loss is ours. As long as blog is on, limited enrichment would continue.
Please continue to blog. We need your expertise. Thanks, Bharat ji.
I guess the termination of your contract is directly related to your article on purchase of un-required US military hardware!! You touched a raw-nerve it seems!! How times change!! Arun Jaitley had said more than six months ago (he was taking care of both Defence and Finance ministries) that the M-777 Howitzers were too expensive! In-fact, in September last year Bharat Forge had said that they were developing indigenous ULH which would go for field trials in January this year!! In ULH, the conventional barrel is replaced by Titanium barrels, thus reducing the weight; Titanium is 10 times lighter, but 10 times stronger than steel.
Keep writing Sir, dont give a damn for the presstitutes. We need your point of view. Good Luck and Best wishes.