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LETTERS
A Tall Order
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi could put his vast empire
and pragmatic ideas to better use than building a heaven on earth to "create
coherence in world consciousness" ("Heavenward with Mahayogi",
October 15). Perhaps his foundation could go public and make a fortune
on the New York Stock Exchange. Or, he could even lend money to India
to help the country tide over its fiscal deficit.
— A.S. Raj, on e-mail
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Schisms of Prejudice
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Tavleen Singh's article reflects
her RSS ideology ("Unsecular Faith", October 15). She
has never made an attempt to understand Islam and believes all the
misinterpretations from hearsay. Using a veil or resorting to polygamy
in no way denigrate the status of women. Why doesn't she mention
the Devadasi system common in some parts of India or the unequal
status of a Harijan vis-a-vis a Brahmin? If the ban on SIMI is justified
on the grounds that India is a tolerant country, why doesn't Tavleen
write about the atrocities committed on Christian missionaries?
Is this equality and tolerance?
— Ismail Tusker, on e-mail
The column should have been addressed
to the fanatics and not to the Indian Muslims who want neither the
Taliban brand of Islam nor the Sangh Parivar type of Hindutva. Moreover,
Tavleen should know that Urdu is not the language of all Indian
Muslims. The state language is the mother tongue of most of the
Muslims in almost every state. Muslims are as much a part of this
country as any other community.
— V.M. Khaleelur Rahman,
on e-mail
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The ostentatious mansions, posh Maharishi nagars,
air-conditioned campuses and facilities of profligate investment in the
name of religion and Transcendental Meditation seem incongruous. The massive
investment in the proposed construction of temples of glory at Karondi
and similar extravagant ventures at 12 "Maharishi Time Zones"
are hardly in keeping with the tenets of religion and spirituality. In
a world bedevilled by poverty and depreciating standards of education
and health, and visited by various deep-rooted social malaise, this effort
evades religion's primary goal: uplift and welfare of humankind.
—Alok Kumar Sinha, Varanasi
Ambivalent Move
The ban imposed on the Students' Islamic Movement
of India (SIMI) is counter-productive ("Simmering Fanaticism",
October 15). We have enough laws to prevent any organisation from spreading
hatred and violence. Bans on such outfits will lead to their going underground,
thus making it more difficult to track them and take punitive action against
them. Also, why weren't other outfits which advocate hatred and violence
similarly banned? We have to tackle such misguided movements at a political
level rather than take recourse to bans to minimise their influence. The
ban on SIMI should be lifted after a review in the next few months.
— D.B.N. Murthy, on e-mail
There is no way one can draw a parallel between
the Bajrang Dal and SIMI because the Dal has never been involved in anti-national
activities. However, if it is found that the Bajrang Dal is a "criminal"
organisation, one can take legal action against it. The basic pseudo-secular
logic of banning one Hindu organisation to balance the ban on a Muslim
organisation exposes the weakness of the so-called Indian intellectuals.
— Man Mohan K., on e-mail
Springing to Life
The article on voluntary blood donation could
not have come at a more appropriate time ("Transfusing Hope",
October 8). The movement, which was gaining ground, has been crippled
by the misunderstanding created when the official machinery linked blood
donation with aids, raising fear in the minds of would-be donors. However,
it is up to dedicated volunteers and motivators to fight for the cause.
— WinG Commander (Retd) T.V.E. Narayana,
on e-mail
Dress Code
I was amazed to read about the row over the
dress code in the Military Nursing Services ("Nursing the Uniform
Grouse", October 1). Like every commissioned officer, MNS officers
also receive a parchment signed by the President of India expressing his
pleasure in granting them commission. Therefore there is no necessity
for them to try to be someone else, as alleged. Moreover, the very idea
of having a uniform-to inculcate a feeling of solidarity-demands that
it should be the same for everyone in the army. Even on practical considerations,
the shirt and trousers are the most convenient clothes to work in.
— Lt-ColOnel (Retd) Sarah Bharatiya,
Allahabad
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