LETTERS

Secularism at stake

Headscarves are not the "most hotly debated issue" in Turkey; nor are they the reason per se why the ruling Islamist party (the Justice and Development Party, or the AKP) candidate was rejected as the future President ("Turkish delight", June 15). Headscarves are only a symbol of one of the most important issues facing Turkey's people: the future of secularism. More serious have been the AKP's efforts to use Islamic law to criminalise adultery and to privilege Islamic courts over secular courts and religious education over non-religious education.

The writer perceives the Aya Sofia's Islamic calligraphy to be "ill at ease" with the Christian structure. On the contrary, I have always felt that Sultan Mehmet's decision to retain the original structure, as well as Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's decision to declare Aya Sofia a museum, reflected mutual respect.

KAAN ORAN TORONTO, CANADA

Immigration

THE increase in the numbers of illegal immigrants is a matter of grave concern. In order to combat this problem, we need to evaluate the factors that compel people to take such a drastic step (Cover Story, June 15). Lack of employment opportunities and corruption are some of the major factors that tend to dissuade youngsters from staying on in their own country.

Brij Bhushan Vyas
Lucknow

HISTORY after the Second World War has been marked by mass migrations across international boundaries. The Cover Story shows how Punjabis in search of a better life fall prey to conmen.

Kausik Dutta
Kolkata

THE Cover Story presents a fine analysis of the problem of illegal migrants. If we are agitated about any ill treatment meted out to Indians in foreign countries, should we not show the same sympathy to immigrants who come here driven by poverty? However, a long-term solution can be found only if countries come together to solve the problem of poverty and communal friction. A Jacob Sahayam
Thiruvananthapuram

Gujjar agitation

THE recent protests by Gujjars in Rajasthan and the neighbouring States reflected their frustration at the way the community has been betrayed by the Bharatiya Janata Party ("Gujjars' anger", June 15). However, the Supreme Court was right in describing the vandalism that took place as a "national shame".

Dr. Vitull K. Gupta
Bhatinda, Punjab

Punjab conflict

THE conflict between Akalis and the Dera Sacha Sauda might develop into a serious political rift, which is a frightening prospect given Punjab's history of militancy in the recent past ("Faiths at war", June 15). This is not a simple religious clash. The Congress' support to the Dera has already made the issue political. The Centre and the State government should come together to find a solution before it is too late.

S.K. Aggarwal
Amritsar

Periyar

A TOUCHING scene in the film Periyar, which is based on the life of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, is when Periyar calls his first wife, Nagammal, to preside over a self-respect marriage. Nagammal comes up to the dais and addresses her husband as "Comrade Periyar".

S. V. Venugopalan
Chennai

AS a Brahmin, I, too, am indebted to the great Periyar. If it were not for him, I would have become a temple priest with a hand-to-mouth existence with too many children, like my father and my grandfather. If it were not for Periyar's influence, I would not be what I am today - a man with a decent living and respect for all fellow human beings.

N. Krishnamurthy
Chennai

Art & freedom

WHEN I first heard about the attack on an art student at the M.S. University in Vadodara, I felt sad for the artist ("Attack on art", June 1). But when I saw his work in your magazine, I felt sad about his work.

A. Premji
Thiruvalla, Kerala

VIOLENT acts by self-proclaimed defenders of religion cannot be condoned. But most people would probably agree that the paintings in question show a perverted mind at work.

Vinu Gopinath
Alleppey