Opinion - Letters to the Editor

The blame game

Sir, — If Gail Omvedt's article `What went wrong?' (April 8 and 9) purports to be an explanation of the recent carnage in Gujarat, it sadly falls short of the mark. It is little better than a studied attack on the Vedas and Hinduism/Brahminism. Religious affiliations are rarely a strong motivation for human activity. What galvanises men to act are social, political and monetary issues, sometimes in the guise of religious fervour, not to mention greed, envy and revenge. But to seek explanations along these lines is a long-drawn, arduous and intricate job.

By the same token, should we cast aside the Bible because the most Christian of European monarchs patronised slave trade? Should we lay at the feet of the Messiah the horrors of the Spanish inquisition or the tragedy of the war in Ireland?

Leela Sampath Kumar,
Chennai

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