Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Shabana's remarks

There is no gainsaying that Muslims the world over are facing humiliation, thanks to tags like `Islamophobia' and `Islamic terror' ascribed to their religion ("What made Shabana Azmi conscious of her Muslim identity," May 8). The events of 9/11, 7/7 and 26/11 have only made matters worse for them. There is hardly any country in the West today where a Muslim is not required to pass through the goggles of suspicion. The genesis of the problem lies in the unjust policy being pursued by the United States in West Asia and the AfPak region.

Syed Sultan Mohiddin,

Kadapa

An important side-effect of 9/11 has been the increasing tendency among Muslims to openly display their religious identity. Girls suddenly took to covering themselves in burqas while clean-shaven men started sporting beards. Everywhere Muslims meet they talk about how they are being discriminated against in countries where they are not in a majority. The fight against terrorism is seen as a war on Islam and the invasion of Iraq is cited as proof that the non-Muslim world wants to grab the resources of Muslims.

Shakir Lakhani,

Karachi

I was shocked and saddened on reading the sentence "a lot of their [Muslims'] difficulties are of their own making" - a generalised and unqualified aside. Can the author elaborate on it or justify the statement? It will be of immense help to the Muslim community in India.

Gulnar Khan,

Chennai

Was Ms Azmi's moderate outlook on religious matters so fragile that it was transformed into one of acute consciousness of her religious identity after the Babri Masjid demolition and 9/11? If yes, the unfortunate incidents succeeded in their purpose of promoting hatred and harming liberalism. Research shows that from a very young age - as early as five years - identity formation starts taking shape.

Although in most cases, religious identity intrudes into one's consciousness, as a person's thought process matures, he or she must learn to take a stand on religious issues and stick to it. That is the true test of one's conviction.

L.S. Vishwanath,

Bangalore

The Babri Masjid incident is certainly a black mark in the history of secular India. But that is no reason for Ms Azmi to become defensive. If the demolition of the mosque could make Ms Azmi take her Muslim identity more seriously, everyone can find thousands of reasons to become defensive about his religion.

Karthikeya Indrakanti,

Bangalore

Of late, we seem to have become paranoid about everything even remotely associated with religion. I am sure Ms Azmi is large-hearted enough to forgive those who attempted to desecrate a place of worship. But she should have the right to say that she is a Muslim as much as she is an actor and an Indian. To be a good Muslim or Hindu or Sikh or Christian is to be a good Indian.

Jacob George,

Changanacherry

The fame, money and position Ms Azmi has enjoyed for years did not come to her because of Muslim patronage. The quality of life Muslims enjoy in India is much better than what their counterparts do in Pakistan, Iraq, and many other countries.

M.A. Sastry,

Hyderabad

Ms Azmi is known to her fans as an actor and not as a Muslim, because her religion hardly matters to them. If she and her husband were unable to find a house of their choice in Mumbai, it might not have been because of religion. It is, in fact, unfair to make such a suggestion.

K.M.G. Vivekanandam,

Madurai

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