The Hindu : Saving diversity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 21, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Saving diversity

Sir, — This is with reference to the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani's statement that India can never be a Hindu state. If one were to ruminate on the issue of national integration on a macro scale, the ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity of the populace would strike us with amazing alacrity.

It was, in fact, this ensemble of the Indian polity that was responsible for the forefathers of our Constitution to have adopted secularism as its cornerstone. After five decades, there has been a resurgence of Hindutva forces. The need of the hour is for responsible sections of society to ensure that these ill-conceived notions of the Hindutva brigade are given up.

D. Jayant Ratna,
Secunderabad

* * *

Sir, — It was quite heartening to hear from L.K. Advani that India would never become a `Hindu rashtra'.

It is also true that Hinduism also does not envisage a theocratic state. But what is being practised is quite the opposite.

One finds that most government offices are adorned with pictures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses and official ceremonies are generally performed amidst the chanting of `Vedic shlokas'.

It is also a matter of great relief for Indian Muslims who have now been acknowledged as "sons of Mother India". It is a different matter that they are treated like "stepsons" by those at the helm of affairs.

S. Tajuddin,
Hyderabad

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