Shining light

Alfred C. Stephan8217;s optimism that religious intensity would deepen democracy in India is commendable.

8226;Alfred C. Stephan8217;s optimism that religious intensity would deepen democracy in India is commendable . It is often argued that the democratic model was adopted from the top without the requisites of literacy and secularisation on the ground. This 8220;tension8221; jeopardised democracy in the third world. However, India, despite phases of emergency, managed to sustain its democratic ethos. The violence in Delhi 1984, Gujarat 2002 and Orissa 2008 are stumbling blocks but there is hope, given the limits to tolerance and accommodation among Indians.

8212;Ashwani Sharma

Ghaziabad

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Aussie anger

8226; Adam Gilchrist may have been a great cricketer but his outburst against Sachin Tendulkar is out of frustration and jealously over Tendulkar8217;s record-breaking career 8212; more so because of Sachin8217;s exploits against the Aussies. We Indians give unnecessary importance to Australian players: we should realise that Tendulkar does not need a 8220;character certificate8221; from Gilchrist.

8212;S.N.Kabra

Mumbai

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Dangerous division

8226; Mumbai is on the boil again, but this is not new. About two decades ago,nbsp;India witnessed the beginningnbsp;ofnbsp;8216;Divide and then Misrule8217; policy getting adopted by most parties opposed to the Congress. If the BJP built its political empire blatantly on the basis of anbsp;communally divisive plank, regional parties cynically exploitednbsp;the dormant caste divides to build up vote banks in states like UP and Bihar. The only remedy is to amend the Constitution, if need be, to derecognise all such visibly communal and casteist partiesnbsp;8212; or at least make the Election Commission powerful enough to do so whenever a party uses such means for its growth.nbsp;

8212;Shahabuddin Nadeem

Bangalore

Parents8217; failurenbsp;

8226; I refer to the news item, 8216;Students8217; take out their anger on trains in Bihar8217; . I am a grandfather of 8 children. I have met scores of their friends. Not once have I found the younger generation disrespectful. I wish to ask a pointed question to the parents of the violentnbsp;8220;students8221; of Bihar. What have they done to set a good example to their wards? Is it not necessary for us adults to realise that our younger generation will do what it perceives the elders doing, not what they preach?

8212;Parimal Y. Mehta

Mumbai

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No discrimination

8226; The Maharashtra CM8217;s proposalnbsp;for proportional representationnbsp;for 8220;sons of the soil8221; in railway jobs violates Article 15 1 of the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination on grounds ofnbsp;place of birth, religion, race, caste or sex. It would not be surprising if therenbsp;may be further amendments to the Constitution, adding more sections under Article 15 enabling the Government to provide reservation. This would make equality a farce.

8212;Sharad C. Misra

Mumbai