The Hindu : More than scraps

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 21, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

More than scraps

Sir, — Kancha Ilaiah's article `Sharing more than scraps' ( April 15 ) was an enlightening attempt to give the non-Hindu religions their due place in Indian nationalism and to bring on the block the issue of relations between Muslims and Dalits. The efforts of Jamiat-Ulema-I-Hind will, therefore, be wholeheartedly supported by any liberal and progressive Indian. However, while praising the Jamiat, Mr. Ilaiah makes an unnecessary and factually incorrect comment on Savarkar. The RSS, in the past, never had reverence for Savarkar's ideology. He was a strong proponent of the cause of discarding the caste system in Hindu society and spent all his life attacking the Hindu conservatives and arranging Sahabhojans (sharing the plates with the so-called untouchables — exactly the same thing that the Jamiat plans to do). His agitation for opening the doors of temples to Dalits is now a legend in Maharashtra.

Mayuresh Prasad Kulkarni,
Pune

Sir, — Kancha Ilaiah says, "Children of all religions can study in these schools (run by Christian missionaries) and take an independent decision on their religious beliefs." But one event proves contrary to what he has written.

There were widespread protests when the anti-conversion law was brought in Tamil Nadu and the schools run by Christian missionaries were closed for a day. The anti-conversion law is of no concern to the students. This is the kind of religious independence the Christian missionary schools give.

S. Hariharan,
Bangalore

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