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Magazine
Divisive agendas
The recent spate of violence in Mumbai will not only change the demographics of the city but other cosmopolitan cities in India as well (“Façade of cosmopolitanism”, March 2). Bangalore sneezes when Mumbai catches cold and the call for local chauvinism is getting shriller, which is definitely not in keeping with a secular country like ours. Culprits like Raj Thackeray who fuel the fires of regionalism should be reprimanded so that his actions are not imitated in other states.
K. Chidanand Kumar,
Bangalore
Mumbai’s cosmopolitan nature has indeed taken a beating due to the fulminations of Raj Thackeray and the resultant violence and vandalism. It is a pity that his parochial campaign has not been challenged in a forthright and effective manner. As the author rightly says, if we fail to resist and oppose such “sons of the soil” campaigns, it will affect all our lives.
J. Anantha Padmanabhan,
Srirangam
Recent developments have put a big question mark on the very idea of Mumbai being a cosmopolitan city. What is more disturbing is that not many have come forward to condemn the bullying tactics and parochial agendas of either the Shiv Sena or its offshoot. It is unfortunate that regional and sub-regional exclusivist sentiments are being aroused either to gain or retain power. True, metros are over crowded and some decongestion is needed so that public utilities can keep pace with the population, but the methods used by the MNS rowdies are neither appropriate nor acceptable.
Dr. R.K.Malhotra,
New Delhi
Raj Thackeray has exposed his political immaturity with his parochial campaign. In a city like Mumbai, where different cultures coexist, none can be considered an outsider. Saying that the attack was a result of anger building up over a period among Marathis is a blatant lie to cover the serious lapses committed by his men. Three decades ago the Shiv Sainiks attacked South Indians but soon retracted their stand. By allowing the situation to deteriorate and then acting under pressure, the Maharashtra government has shown that it has an eye on the 2009 elections. But it only played into the hands of Raj Thackeray and hurt the sentiments of North Indians and also degraded the cosmopolitan culture of Mumbai.
K.R.Srinivasan,
Hyderabad
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