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Noble aims
The article “The making of the eternal Guru” (October 26) was illuminating. It is to the credit of the humility of the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh that he decided to elevate Guru Granth Sahib as an eternal Guru. The result of the decision is a formulation of a beautiful religion which believes in the Bhakti cult to perpetuate a casteless society and formless God as the creator of the Universe.
P. Esakki Muthu,
Udangudi
It is a good article on the many aspects of Guru Granth Sahib — the richness of the philosophy, the beauty of its poetry and the rhythmic quality of the Shabds. The Guru Granth Sahib encompasses many aspects of life and knowledge. However, the irony of the situation is, and I say this as a Sikh myself, that the Sikh community at large has failed to imbibe the spirit behind the holy book. They have turned it into a mere idol. I wonder what Sikhs are celebrating now because they have failed the Philosophy of the Gurus.
Areet Kaur,
Chandigarh
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Need of the hour
This is in response to the article “The bogey of forced conversions” (October 26). Organised conversion using trained recruits and agents, deploying huge domestic and foreign funds, executed with definite planning and strategy is a reality in this country. One can’t veil this activity by bringing in historical references of untouchability among Hindus or legal gibberish or excesses of Hindu militants gaining strength today. Conversion is seldom a choice of an individual after a rational weighing of merits and demerits of two religions, and then abandoning one for the other.
Any sensible human can see that the need of the hour is peaceful co-existence. Organised conversion sabotages that possibility because it essentially aims at increasing the numbers in one religion at the cost of another. Peaceful co-existence and organised conversions can never go together for long.
Shunmugham.T.K.
Thiruvananthapuram
It is nothing but gobbledegook when people say “Muslim terrorism” or “Hindu terrorism”. In fact, religion has nothing to do with terrorism. It is chauvinistic attitudes fuelled by corrupt minds that lead to schisms between different communities. Just a few conservative Hindu organisations and misguided Muslim groups do not portray the mentality of the entire community. It was the miserable conditions of the dalits that influenced them to embrace Christianity, enabling them to live a respectable life. The reforms that should have come earlier in a positive manner for the minorities never turned up. Indeed, anti-conversion laws are nothing but a bid to justify outlandish stereotypes.
Kayyum Khan
Aligarh
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Nature of news today
Sevanti Ninan is quite right in saying that the TV news has shown itself to be an ephemeral commodity, compared to the old media (Changing fortunes, October 26). In the old media, there were sub-editors who would peruse the story filed by the reporters and check and cross check the veracity. In Television, the news reports are filed from the spot through cameras and they are televised fast so that the company may stay ahead of others with similar stories! It is purely about one-upmanship, in order that the revenue earning of the channel goes up. But now the story is totally different. Under these circumstances, how can one expect the TV news story to stay immortal and imperishable?
B.R.Kumar,
former Deputy Director-General,
Akashvani & Doordarshan,
Prasar Bharati, South Zone
Chennai
Being a student of Mass Communication, I was wondering what impact the current economic slowdown (or recession) had on the world media houses in general and Indian media organisations in particular. The column helped me get the right perspectives in this regard. It was heartening, although not for very right reasons, that the values of listed newspapers on the stock exchange are much more than the TV news channels listed there. I was surprised to know that respectable names in the Indian electronic media sector like NDTV and TV Today are facing serious cash crunch. For a vibrant media society like ours, it is indeed a matter of concern. The government should continue initiating measures which help the market come out of this crisis.
Muthi-ur-Rahman Siddiqui
Bangalore
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Timely intervention
Dilip Chitre’s autopsy of Shiv Sena (October 26) has appeared at a crucial time when our motherland is being divided on the name of religion, region and language. Such divisional activities have been supported by the State Government who ever was at the helm of affairs. Unless and until such secessionists, divisive, fascists and racists elements, parties and organisations are banned we can’t make our motherland a secular State.
Kamal Sani
Hyderabad
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Feel-good movies
This is with reference to “Tales on Terror” by Sunil Patel (October 26). People are wary about problematic and heavy-hearted themes in movies and are not keen to be hounded by them in theatres. They want a solution to the underlying problem of terrorism. It’s about time film-makers learn to make movies that portray feelings of goodwill, harmony and peace in society. This would make a great difference as a message to the masses.
Viraj R.
Bangalore.
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