We must awake

• The SAARC summit in Islamabad has ended on a happy note. Prime Minister Vajpayee must be congratulated for his unceasing efforts to pave the way for good neighbourly relations with Pakistan. The “historic handshake” and the “composite dialogue” are good omens for both the countries. President Musharraf’s change of heart and advocacy of mutual and sincere efforts by the two countries would definitely bear sweet fruit. It is a win-win situation for the moderate mindset on both sides of the border. However, sabotage by fundamentalists on both sides has to be guarded against. Hopefully, in due course of time love, peace, and prosperity would prevail on both sides of the border.

— F.S.K. Barar On e-mail

Hindutva, Goa style

• Apropos of ‘Hindutva on the beach’ (IE, January 8), the writer shows her ignorance by describing Hindutva as anti-woman (what about Uma Bharati?), anti-minority(what about Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi?). The fact is that Goan Christians are basically Hindus who were converted to Christianity under the swords and guns of the Pope’s Portuguese tyrants. Hindutva is about all religious, spiritual and philosophical systems that originated in undivided India, and is the most non-violent and tolerant of all the religious systems in the world.

— K.A. Buch On e-mail

• Sagarika Ghosh’s column is well-researched and well-crafted. It has delved masterly into the subtleties and nuances of Goa’s life and culture. It is also piece of positive journalism.

— P.J. Joseph On e-mail

Helping jawans

• This is with reference to your editorial, ‘Let’s not forget’ (IE, December 31), and a reader’s letter (IE, January 7). It is high time that we started treating our soldiers with the kind of attention and gratitude they deserve. The nation, and the government, are responsible for not only their economic well-being, but also their psychological well-being. In this context, I think a special allowance for maintaining a telephone connection at every soldier’s home is not too far-fetched, considering that such allowances are routinely given to bureaucratic and clerical paper-pushers. Of course, where a land-line is not feasible at present, a mobile phone must be provided.

— Ramkumar Perumal On e-mail

A good break

• The article by Renuka Narayanan on Dravida politics is really appreciable. It is really a much-needed shift from the secular-communal axis the English media regularly features.

— Venkat On e-mail