That a picture is worth a thousand words has been proved by the two photographs of Charminar at different times (Nov. 21). It is only because institutions like the Archaeological Survey of India fail to maintain heritage structures that vested interests distort history to their advantage.
N. Azgar Ali,
Bangalore
The report “As protests roil Charminar, no one to speak for Hyderabad’s vanishing heritage” bears testimony to the high ethical standards set by The Hindu in journalism. All social activists, cutting across religion and party lines, should fight to restore the glory of protected monuments.
S.M. Basha,
Kurnool
The author has used a photograph that he claims may be 60 years old, and alleges that the claims of Hindu groups on the Bhagyalakshmi temple’s historicity are false. The recent unrest in Hyderabad was triggered over not the historicity of the temple but allegations of its expansion.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed that the status quo be maintained on the temple issue, and the situation in the Old City is limping back to normality. At such a critical juncture, such a report accompanied by photographs need not have been published.
M.S. Suraj Krishna,
Hyderabad
The photographs and the report seem to be prematurely conclusive. One should attempt an in-depth study into the possible presence of a temple or an equivalent structure on the site — even before Charminar was built — from other information sources. Only then can we arrive at an informed conclusion.
K. Maruthi,
Hyderabad
