What American Peace Corps Volunteer Donald Camp has described in his article, “ >It happens only in India ” (May 31), is something that has been happening in India and still continues. It reminded me of my days in a small town in central Travancore, as a student, and as a Hindu. A group of us, schoolmates, used to halt before the icon of Virgin Mary in front of a chapel on the way to the exam hall to pray and sometimes to light a candle. In the school run by a Christian missionary, students used to attend the prayer session before class began and even participate in festivals at the chapel.
It must be said that some churches have adopted some of the symbolism from Hinduism. The Hindu-style nilavilakku or bronze oil lamps, temple-style golden flagstaffs and sandalwood paste are examples. People lived in perfect harmony. Things have changed so much since then.
K.R. Unnithan,
Chennai
