What I relish are the uninhibited responses in Outlook, never priggish by any standards. Almost all my love-hate sentiments are a direct consequence of my many letters published in my favourite weekly. The uninhibited use of the four-letter word (New York Diary, January 13, 2014), Khushwant Singh and Punjabi men having “a thing” for big breasts with Madrasi men like me not far behind (May 10, 2014), the centrespread of Sunny Leone (April 15, 2014), reminiscent of your editor’s (not the canine!) Debonair days, Katy Mirza nostalgia, Gangadhar’s outrageously filthy secret diary of sex counsellor Mahinder Watsa (July 4, 2014), Mani Shankar ‘I’- yer’s insipid monologues where he drops bricks ad nauseam, the graphic description of open-air defecation–quote from John Keay’s Into India (Where do they Squat?, October 25, 2014). Often irritated by the Secret Diaries concocted by Gangadhar, I had written a ‘Secret Diary’ of the proverbial bore himself (December 12, 2014).
Vinod Mehta of course is quite the sport. He smilingly accepts not-so-fair digs at him. “Mr Mehta—the quintessential prig as usual—being completely loco to have called the IPL an obscenity...” (May 3, 2013).
I wouldn’t say I hate, but would rather have Outlook tone down its cruel digs at Narendra Modi. Thank God for minor mercies, the magazine has totally stopped pampering Rahul Gandhi and started ignoring his mother Sonia. These two are no more relevant. Incidentally, I read your very first edition in Delhi. Believe me I was pronto impressed by your elegant get-up, clear and soft reading print and the crisp, simple but hard-hitting prose.
Colonel C.V Venugopalan, Palakkad
Outlook’s left-of-centre outlook has endeared me ever since it was launched. It’s a magazine for the intellectuals, by the intellectuals and of the intellectuals. The late R.K. Karanjia described his fiery weekly Blitz as “Free, frank and fearless”. That epithet is now more apt for my favourite weekly Outlook. Until I retired from service 13 years ago, believe me, being a voracious reader I was subscribing to some 15 periodicals and now the number has trickled down to two, and one of them is Outlook. I will be looking out for it every week, forever.
K.P. Rajan, Mumbai
My love affair with Outlook dates back to the time when it was only 2-3 weeks old. In fact, there was an invisible Khushwant Singh hand in bringing the two of us together. Having been fed on a fortnightly India Today diet and looking for something more savoury, I stumbled upon an adulatory comment made by him in some daily on the newly launched Outlook. It has been an enduring, abiding, rewarding, occasionally sexciting relationship too, over the years. I have loved Outlook for its boldness, understated but unflinching and unmistakably discernible all through. It has exposed corruption, graft and political shenanigans. I think what makes Outlook unique is its openness to new ideas and innovations in objective, daring and non-monotonous journalism, with an ability to laugh at itself. There have been some personal grouses too, but my love affair is more enduring. And I’m celebrating that with a swig or two of Old Monk.
Subhash C. Sharma, Palampur
Outlook invites readers to take part in its 20th anniversary celebrations. Send us your bouquets and, more importantly, your brickbats. E-mail your entry to editor [AT] outlookindia [DOT] com
