The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Memories of war

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 22, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Memories of war

The article “Fighting for the memories of a war” (Nov. 21) is an excellent narration of the Japanese belligerence during the Greater East Asian War. Japan, a secular state, has rightly dismissed General Toshio Tamogami for his ultra-nationalist comments. In India, too, there is no place for such an ideology, especially in the secular corridors of the army.

Vipul Grover,

Chandigarh

The article is timely. The reference to the “majority religious symbols” in the Indian armed forces is particularly relevant. As a civilian officer posted in the Jammu & Kashmir border, I served with the soldiers in pickets and base camps. I was shocked at the explicit show of religiosity in the evenings in the form of aartis and bhajans. The rituals were more elaborate if a senior officer of the unit came visiting. I could sense the discomfort among the small minority of soldiers who were clearly unwilling participants. Army units have their own temples and gurdwaras. Despite the revolt by some Sikh soldiers after Operation Bluestar, the forces have not given up these colonial vestiges. It is hoped that the Purohit incident will make the authorities ‘secularise’ the armed forces.

C.K. Ramachandran,

Kozhikode

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

Opinion

News Update

Stories in this Section

Mutually reinforcing trends

Bridging gender gaps

What lies ahead in the Maldives?

Recession and ‘strategic’ realities in East Asia

Shell cannot drill off Alaska

Corrections and Clarifications

PM and Advani

BJP exposed

Memories of war