Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

War of words

The war of words between the BJP and the Congress on the Vande Mataram issue is amusing. Our politicians think nothing of wasting their time on petty arguments. It looks like Sonia Gandhi's absence during the Vande Mataram `celebration' organised by the Congress on September 7 is of greater concern to the BJP than the Malegaon blasts.

Bibin Varghese Babu,
Kalanjoor, Kerala

That an innocuous slogan stirred a hornets' nest is unfortunate. After nearly six decades of independence, we are still quarrelling over sanctimonious slogans. What a pity!

P.K. Varadarajan,
Chennai

After four full days, the Congress leadership came out with the rejoinder that September 7 was after all not the centenary of adopting Vande Mataram as the national song. Who fixed the date for the `centenary' celebration? Why was it not checked before a circular was sent to the States asking them to ensure that it was recited in all schools and colleges?

H.P. Murali,
Bangalore

Whether Vande Mataram instils patriotism or not, it certainly reminds us of the wonderful things we have been deprived of in a matter of about 100 years. As opposed to sujalam (rich water streams), we have contaminated water sources; instead of suphalam (orchards), we have pesticide-infested fruits; we breathe polluted air and not cool air of south (malayaja seethalam); our crops are destroyed by either floods or drought and are certainly not thick with harvest (sasya syamalam). As for the glory of moonlight dreams (subhrajyothsna pulakita yaminee), we have only acid fog and mist that cause skin rashes. Our forest cover and greenery have all been destroyed and there are no blossoming trees (phulla kusimita drumadala sobhinee); we come across glum faces and swearing youth everywhere (not suhasinee, sumadhura bhashinee) and the nation is full of misery and poverty (and not sukhadam varadam).

U. Madhusudana Rao,
Chennai

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War of words

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