The Hindu : Identity crisis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 19, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Identity crisis

Sir, — In her forthright analysis, `Identity crisis' (Feb. 17), Malini Parthasarathy has tried to open the hearts and eyes of the majoritarian bigots who suggest that the religious minorities are guests in a `Hindu India'. The Constitution recognised that all the citizens of the new democratic republic and all communities living in the country regardless of their numerical strength enjoyed equal cultural and religious rights.

If India has to emerge as a modern, developed nation, all the fissiparous tendencies based on caste, creed, religion, language, etc. have to be crushed with single-minded vigour and determination.

K. Ramamurthi,

Chennai

* * *

Sir, — Malini Parthasarathy's article while reflecting on the destructive nature of communal politics, refuses to address the key questions that have brought the so-called secular Opposition to their present sorry state of affairs. While the Congress has declined dramatically over the last decade, the Left has not made any headway against the BJP. These parties ought to ponder over the reasons for this failure. Ms. Parthasarathy repeatedly accuses the BJP of destroying secularism and suggests that the Hindu upper middle class has not realised its dangers in sufficient depth. She really is missing the point, however. These parties have given no straight answer to several questions that the BJP raised right from inception and which happened to catch the imagination of the educated middle class. Why have these parties refused to accept the need for a common civil code that can only strengthen equality and secularism, the cornerstones of the Constitution? By refusing to support it, are they not tacitly supporting minority communalists who demand special laws under the garb of secularism?

While the Left has a progressive social agenda, it has refused to endorse common sense ideas and popular wisdom on political issues. It is time it undertakes some serious rethinking.

Dilip Rao,

Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.

* * *

Sir, — The article reflects the fact that history is a chronicle and cannot be subordinated to the whims and fancies of the proponents of majoritarianism. It is an irony of fate that those who abhorred the ill-conceived communal "two nation" theory adopted while partitioning the subcontinent are now throwing to the winds their principled stand as though they are justifying it. Thus, the BJP and its Parivar are diverting the polity to a perilous path by resorting to an approach whereby the minorities would be under a perpetual state of fear as second grade citizens.

With all the tall talks of appeasement of the minorities, especially the Muslim community, the progress of the latter is gradually recording a downward trend in every walk of life, thereby compelling one to draw conclusion about its veracity. This is sure to reflect on the homogeneous growth and prosperity of the nation.

Syed Gowher Ali,

Chennai

* * *

Sir, — One is at a loss to understand why the author has taken umbrage to `Hindu India'. The majority community's demand for more cultural space is valid. That there has been appeasement of the minorities is a fact — for example, which country allows its citizens to be governed by two civil codes? Why should minority religions be allowed to control their own lands while those of the majority religion be controlled by the Government? The malaise is so deep that the minority community considers it a right to be treated with preferential appeasement.

This is why I would say that the Hindus are on notice in this country.

Hilda Raja,

Chennai

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

Stories in this Section

The trials of undertrials

Resilient in tough times

The apex court's Ayodhya burden

Consequences of a war - II

A ritual robbed of solemnity

Leader vague, followers specific

Identity crisis

Only a game

Conserve resources