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LETTERS
Taming of the Shrewd
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Areas of
Darkness
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Notwithstanding
the praise being bestowed on V.S. Naipaul, the fact remains that
some of his writings on Muslims and the Islamic world have been
shallow, bigoted and malicious ("A Prize for Sir Vidia",
October 22). His book, Among the Believers, is a prime example of
calumny against Islam masquerading as dispassionate, observant reporting.
In fact, a lot of Naipaul's work betrays his denial of and contempt
for his own cultural roots. His is a parasitic rootlessness that
feeds on ridiculing what is dispensable and peddling what is self-elevating.
Nonetheless, I must concede that Sir Vidia is a talented novelist.
—Sajjad Husain, Dhaka
Naipaul's Nobel victory has come as a great
boost to the emergence of Indian writing in English globally but
it raises a pertinent question: why did it take so long for the
English-spouting population of the world to acknowledge the existence
of its colonial cousin-the Indian English? It speaks volumes about
the nascent state of Indian English and its inability to capture
the subtleties and nuances of the English way of life, of course
with the exception of a few writers.
—Jinu Mathew, on
e-mail
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Your article suggests that Pervez Musharraf
is having his way too easily ("Islamic Backlash", October 22).
The sacking of the ISI chief has not met with any opposition and Musharraf's
military commanders too seem uncharacteristically eager to toe his line.
Could it be that all the developments are stagemanaged to placate US sentiments
so that Pakistan can extract maximum concession?
H.R. Bapu
Satyanaarayana, Mysore
The Two Voices
Shabana Azmi deserves to be lauded for speaking
out against the Shahi Imam ("Newsnotes", October 29). People
like Syed Ahmed Bukhari have always been the face of political expediency
rather than religion. Who has appointed him the leader or spokesperson
of all Muslims in India? It is people of his ilk who have given Islam
a negative image. Their utterances are seized upon as the gospel truth
by people waiting to malign the religion overlooking the fact that there
are many facets to Islam. The realisation that they are a constitutional
minority has inculcated in them a ghetto mentality. Azmi comes across
as the face of a moderate, educated Muslim. Unfortunately she is in a
minority. More sane voices like hers will go a long way in bridging the
gap between Islam and the other religions in India.
B.S. Keshav, Bangalore
It must have taken a great deal of courage for
Shabana Azmi to suggest that the Shahi Imam be airdropped into Kandahar.
Her voice gives expression to the opinion of a majority of Muslims who,
as usual, choose to remain silent. Who is the Shahi Imam anyway? Only
a self-appointed leader of the Muslims in India.
Qais Jamal, on e-mail
Distorted Vision
It is really unfortunate that the censor board
leaves no stone unturned in nipping talent in the bud ("Total Recall",
October 22). The board's defence that movies cannot be allowed to deprave
the society is hogwash. What is the harm in showing the society as it
really is? The grim reality is far better than the 11-song-ear-splitting
melodramas that pass off as masala movies. What the board needs are not
a few changes here and there but a complete revamp.
Shivendra Shivam, Ranchi
Stop Preaching
I appreciate the sentiment in your edit that
Begum Khaleda Zia's accession to power doesn't exactly fill India with
joy ("The Begum's Moment", October 15). Admittedly, there's
widespread antipathy and disdain in Bangladesh for India's callous and
exploitative attitude and policies towards Bangladesh. Your barb that
our country today is characterised by its lack of a "sense of gratitude"
is precisely the sort of crass mindset that puts off most self-respecting
Bangladeshis. Bangladesh is a burgeoning democracy. We reject high-minded
sermons-indeed, thinly veiled threats-from a neighbour, governed as it
is by dyed-in-the-wool religious zealots, about the perils of promoting
religious extremism in our midst.
S. Husain, on e-mail
Out of Bounds
Your article on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Transcendental
Meditation (tm) reminded me of a recent incident ("Heavenward With
Mahayogi", October 15). After moving to the US last year, I spoke
to a tm centre at Greenwich and even viewed a tape on its benefits. Motivated,
I went through the first session of practice, at the end of which I was
asked to pay $1,200 to learn the technique from a guru. What is the purpose
of spiritual awakening if it is inaccessible to most?
Anu Gupta, Connecticut
Primary B-Schools
Your article on designer playschools made me
realise that everything that glitters is not gold ("Business at Play",
September 17). These playschools are merely business ventures. And what
teachings can money-minded entrepreneurs impart?
Romesh Ahuja, on e-mail
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