Opinion Sacred games
Apropos Pratap Bhanu Mehtas God in Gods own country the influence of religious politics has blurred the integrative role of religion across the world.
-
Share -
-
-
Apropos Pratap Bhanu Mehtas God in Gods own country (IE,September 14),the influence of religious politics has blurred the integrative role of religion across the world. Instead of checking the temptations of power,religion is now a means of holding power as al-Qaeda has shown. Religious organisations are sharpening social divisions which has led the way for politics to exploit religious beliefs. In India,the meaningful concept of secularism,which should have created a healthy respect for all religions,has degenerated into singling out minorities for special attention to create votebanks.
Y.G. Chouksey
A teachable moment
Apropos the report Sushil hurt after Gill insults coach (IE,September 15). I fail to understand how Sushil Kumar,who created history by winning Indias first-ever gold at the World Wrestling Championship in Moscow,could be cowed by our publicity-hungry sports minister. How could he even stand with Gill after his guru Satpal was snubbed? This incident should teach M.S. Gill how to treat coaches (he behaved in a similar manner with Saina Nehwals coach Gopichand),and one hopes that he will apologise to Dronacharya awardee Satpal.
Bidyut K. Chatterjee
Faridabad
Credit hog
Your front-page report,Stay away,Sport Minister tells wrestling legend Satpal (IE,September 15) was disturbing. M.S. Gills desire to hog the limelight of champion wrestler Sushil Kumars success is unsurprising. But the insult to his coach Satpal is unpardonable. A coach trains his students to achieve success,but politicians who had no practical contribution to the process end up grabbing the glory. Let sports be run by sportspeople,and the dynamics will visibly change. We are sure to become a world-beating sporting power in the years to come.
S.N. Kabra
Two of a kind
Israel,even as it attends talks with Palestinian leaders,continues to use military force in the Gaza strip. The provocation this time was the Hamas attack that killed four Israeli settlers. In response,Israel conducted air raids at one of the tunnel exits ostensibly run by Hamas and smashed it completely,resulting in multiple fatalities. Hamas is a terrorist outfit,and has every intention of derailing the peace talks. But should the Israeli government react similarly? By involving itself in precipitate military action,doesnt Israel risk derailing the talks? It needs a little patience,and judicious application of the mind.
S. Kamat
Goa
-
Share
-
-
-
Share
