The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : The Sindh controversy

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Wednesday, Jan 05, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

The Sindh controversy

Sir, — I refer to the Supreme Court's notice to the Government on a petition seeking the deletion of the word, "Sindh," from the National Anthem. The Government has said Sindh does not refer to the province (now in Pakistan) but to the Sindhi culture.

Neither the river Sindhu (Indus) nor the province Sindh is in India now. In the changed situation, it is worth pondering whether the word should find a place in the National Anthem.

At the same time, will its deletion not amount to disrespecting the author who had no way of knowing India would be partitioned when he wrote the verses?

S. Bakthavathsalan,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — Those who look for only geographical connotations to the word, Sindh, are mistaken. Tinkering with a song, which has become part of the national consciousness, merely to accommodate political changes is questionable.

It will be as superfluous as adding purab (east) and paschim (west) to the words Punjab and Banga to denote the division of the two States.

J.M. Manchanda,
New Delhi

* * *

Sir, — Sindh also refers to the river Sindhu, which is part of our civilisation. In fact, many women are named after the holy river. Deleting the word is unnecessary.

J.S. Acharya,
Hyderabad

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