Letters to the editor

Undivided spiritn READING the article, 8216;In the name of gods8217; IE, July 27 by Tahir Mahmood, made me feel quite a few inches talle...

Undivided spirit

n READING the article, 8216;In the name of gods8217; IE, July 27 by Tahir Mahmood, made me feel quite a few inches taller with pride. A Muslim coming out in justification of a Hindu prayer in the US Senate? Surely, this could happen only in a great civilisation? Even the Western countries which talk so much about tolerance could learn from such a nation. Mahmood has once again proved the 8216;heavenly8217; levels of our culture and once again to the world that the much publicised 8216;incidents8217; are only aberrations engineered by politicians. He reminded me of an occasion when a devout Muslim friend and his family from Bombay came to us for tea. While everyone was exchanging pleasantries, he called me aside and requested for a small sheet or rug. I found him one even while wondering about the reason. My friend quietly spread the rug behind the sofa and started his prayers. The very fact that a Muslim could presume the right to say his prayers in the house of a Hindu friend made me a very proud Indian that day. I have witnessed Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad, the then president of India, light the first Diwali lamp at our house on Diwali night. Each of these experiences helped my pride attain its present 8216;height8217;. Then I hear some politicians highlighting our differences, and I feel my spirits sinking.

8212; Satish Dayal, New Delhi

8226; IT was gratifying and encouraging for me as a Hindu and an Indian, deeply desirous of social harmony in this land of ours, to read the well-informed piece by Tahir Mahmood 8212; 8216;In the name of gods8217;. I would like to thank the writer for the information he has shared about Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janan and Maulana Shams. This is the first time I have read a contemporary Muslim highlighting the spiritual truth underlying the Hindu dharma over the ages. Hindus will be found to be the most agreeable co-citizens by all those who believe, as Hindus do, in mutual respect.

8212; R. Venkatanarayanan, Noida

Australian ambit

8226; IT is a big relief to all Indians that Dr Mohammed Haneef, after 25 days, is back home, with all charges against him having been dropped. The turnaround came after glaring inconsistencies in the doctor8217;s case were found and the evidence against him turned out to be flimsy. Sadly, a great deal of damage has already been caused to Haneef, his family, and the community. Was this the right way to handle a terror 8220;suspect8221;? I feel it was either done with the intention of causing damage or it arose from a biased and careless attitude. Under which provision of the law could charges be framed by the Australian authorities for acts purportedly committed by Dr Haneef in the UK? What was the jurisdiction of Australian courts to entertain such cases? These questions remain unanswered.

8212; M. Ziyaullah Khan, Kondhwa Khurd