Pak must stop fundamentalists from holding its legacy to ransom
This refers to Ayesha Siddiqa’s article Caught in a vortex (The Otherside, November 7). A truly democratic society will only exist in Pakistan when the government stops giving in to pressure from fundamentalists as it did by putting off its plan to change the name of a chowk after Bhagat Singh after receiving threats from Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Dawa. A revolutionary like Bhagat Singh, who sacrificed his life for the freedom of undivided India, is part of the common legacy that India and Pakistan have inherited. Moreover, by paying heed to Saeed, the 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind, Pakistan is sending wrong signals to the world about its fight against terrorism.
SD Sahay, via email

The attack on 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai for opposing the Taliban and being vocal on women’s education typifies everything that is wrong with Pakistan’s attempts to become a tolerant society. To create an environment that is progressive and tolerant in its outlook, the Pakistani government must stop playing into the Taliban’s hands.
AK Bundi, via email

Something to crow about
Gopalkrishna Gandhi’s diatribe against crows in A symbol of Kakayuga (Incidentally, November 3) is interesting but one-sided. Drawing on Salim Ali, the birdman of India, Gandhi dwelled upon crows’ scavenging skills rather than giving more insight into their intelligence using which they make tools with twigs, play tricks with each other and raise alarms against intrusion. It is sad that such an intelligent bird has a negative image in society.
VS Negi, via email