From: Francois Gautier
Date: 2011/7/8
Subject: your article in the New York Times
To: josephmanu@gmail.com
Cc: letters@nytimes.com, editorial@nytimes.com, nytnews@nytimes.com
Sub: your article in the New York Times (Link)
Mr. Manu Joseph,
I am journalist like you: correspondent in South Asia of the French daily Le Figaro for ten years, now editor of La Revue de l’Inde (Editions l’Harmattan, Paris) the only magazine solely dedicated to India in the French speaking world (20.000 copies per issue).
Subject: your article in the New York Times
To: josephmanu@gmail.com
Cc: letters@nytimes.com, editorial@nytimes.com, nytnews@nytimes.com
Sub: your article in the New York Times (Link)
Mr. Manu Joseph,
I am journalist like you: correspondent in South Asia of the French daily Le Figaro for ten years, now editor of La Revue de l’Inde (Editions l’Harmattan, Paris) the only magazine solely dedicated to India in the French speaking world (20.000 copies per issue).
Also a writer, author of a dozen books in French and English. Amongst them ‘The Art of Healing (Harper Collins, 2010), The Guru of joy (Hay House USA, 100.000 copies sold), La Caravane Intérieure (Paris, Les Belles Lettres).
I am a too born Christian. My father, a very good man, was a devout catholic; my uncle was the parish head of the famous church Saint Jean de Montmartre.
I also live in India and am married to an Indian from Delhi. But the comparison stops there. I have respect for India’s ancient culture and would never dare running it down the way you did.
The history of respect and devotion to Gurus is a very ancient tradition and is something that is both spontaneous and natural to millions of Indians. I have also interacted for many years with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and observed that he is engaged in countless charity works, both in India and abroad; that he gives selflessly his time to others, never getting angry, never getting impatient, in the nearly 20 years I have known him. His Sudarshan Kriya technique has brought joy, energy and well-being to millions of people, including me – I would recommend it to all journalists, who are subjected to so much stress and unhealthy life styles.
What I have also observed during my many years in India is that not only both the Hindus and Indian media will never run down the Pope or Indian bishops, but will even go to churches, even if they are Hindus, because they recognize that God takes many forms and incarnations. But apparently you, and many other Christians in India, do not reciprocate this respect.
What you have indeed shown is that your Christian identity takes precedence over the impartiality you should show as a journalist. With no direct knowledge of the Art of Living foundation, or of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s work, you have used the power of the Word, to slander your own culture, that too in such a prestigious publication as the New York Times, taking advantage of the innocence and ignorance of India of most of its readers.
Shame on you!
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