This refers to Jyotirmaya Sharma's article Revise, Revive, Survive (August 24). Confusion has been created about Golwalkar's views on the Hindu Rashtra, Muslims and Christians. He elaborates that the term 'Hindu' denotes nationality, which lays emphasis on devotion for the motherland. He said Hindus and Muslims can live in harmony, provided everyone accepted themselves as citizens of the State. The only way to defeat personal or casteist trends is to look at politics from the view of national interest.
Balram Misra
Ghaziabad
No religious allusions
Apropos of Pankaj Vohra's Country music (August 28), if singing Vande Mataram is considered objectionable, soon people will also declare 'Jai Hind' 'un-Islamic' on the plea that it amounts to worship of the motherland. The stanzas we sing of Vande Mataram have no religious allusions.
R.K. Malhotra
Delhi
Weak policies
The report Terror trail kicking (August 25) indicates one more weakness of the Indian government. In tackling its neighbours, whether it be Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka, India has always acted like a soft State. It was a foolish to sit back and watch Bangladesh turning into a fundamentalist country.
Satyam sharma
Delhi
Reservation reality
The editorial Curdling social justice (August 24) provides no solace. The range of privileges and benefits accruing to OBCs is bewildering. Things are even worse in Tamil Nadu, where OBC politicians are raising the pitch for the minority 'non-backward' Brahmins. Does a mere accident of birth constitute oppression?
Raghu Ram
via e-mail
Raghu Ram
via e-mail
Unfortunate detention
The detention of 12 Indians at Schipol airport was unfortunate. But the Indian cloth merchants had no business in behaving in such an erratic manner when they knew that security systems were on edge.
Ashok K. Ghosh
Kolkata
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