Pranab at Nagpur

June 09, 2018 12:20 am | Updated 12:20 am IST

Luminous flashes marked former President Pranab Mukherjee’s speech at a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh function (“We derive our strength from tolerance: Pranab”, June 8). Those who vehemently objected to his participation have been left embarrassed as he did not deviate from the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. He also attempted to lay out a road map to find solutions to India’s numerous problems. There is no doubt that we derive our strength from tolerance, as the former President has said. Vibrant India has different religions and steps must be taken to overcome the sectarian divide. Mr. Mukherjee needs to be complimented for bearding the lion in its den with his careful and straightforward analysis of the spirit of India.

C. Rajasekaran,

Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu

Mr. Mukherjee’s visit and speech were a pointless exercise, as it is well known that those in Nagpur will never see reason. What binds them is a narrow path of nation-building based on encouraging communal antipathy.

Karthik G.,

Chennai

Mr. Mukherjee did receive a lot of flak but what is commendable is that he took the decision to address such a hardline organisation and speak of matters which the organisation is very orthodox about. The thin lines between nationalism, patriotism and communalism is an aspect he managed to portray profoundly. It should be remembered that he represented his old political party and did a great job in doing so. Democracy in India is not a notion and has been earned after a hard struggle.

Wini Fred Gurung,

New Delhi

Mr. Mukherjee has proved his critics wrong with his exemplary articulation of what defines nationhood while warning that any attempt to define the country through religion will only undermine the country’s existence. By emphasising the fact that India’s soul resides in pluralism, the former President has proved himself to be a bold and visionary statesman. In today’s climate of fear, hatred and intolerance, his speech is a whiff of fresh air.

M. Jeyaram,

Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu

There is an inherent dichotomy in Mr. Mukherjee describing the RSS founder as “a great son of Mother India” and, at the same time talking about upholding “the plurality of our society”. The RSS founder’s belief was quite the opposite and as a logical extension of this doctrine, the RSS has been for creating a “Hindu Rashtra”. The RSS, as an organisation, is alleged to have stayed away from joining the freedom movement. One cannot erase embarrassing historical facts.

S.K. Choudhury,

Bengaluru

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