This refers to Farah Naqvi's article “The battle against forgetting” (Feb. 28). It is indeed heart-breaking to see a community getting tired of its battle for justice in a country where equality is promised by the Constitution. Although it is clear that the State of Gujarat, whose responsibility was to protect its people, colluded in their massacre, justice still eludes the victims. If someone today feels that India is not the right place to live in, he or she cannot be blamed.
P.A. Syamkrishnan,Thiruvananthapuram
Ms Naqvi's recollection of a young girl's perception of rape sent a shiver through my spine and brought tears to my eyes. If we are to preserve the secular fabric of our nation, it is imperative that the Gujarat riot victims get justice. It will be a great day in the history of India when the court delivers a verdict that brings to book all those who perpetrated the horror.
Balkrishna Darji,Ahmedabad
If we allow indifference to cloud our memories of Gujarat, it will become a permanent blot on the collective conscience of humanity. Justice for the riot victims should be expedited so that future generations can remain unscathed by the wave of rage and resentment that has scarred several lives.
Gayathri Varma,Chennai
If we treat the communal riots of Gujarat as a thing of the past, there would be no meaning in our claiming to be secular. The murderers, looters and rapists should be brought to book and a sense of confidence instilled in the minds of the ravaged. Unpleasant memories need to be raked up time and again to ensure that the social fabric remains intact.
B.R. Sajith,Thiruvananthapuram
There are some people in my peer group (whom I am ashamed of) who justify the “anger” vented out by Hindus on Muslims in 2002, as the situation called for a “tit for tat.” They don't realise that the women who were raped and assaulted and those who were killed were not involved in burning the S6 coach of the Sabarmati Express in Godhra. Why should an entire community suffer because of a handful of sinners? These questions will never find their answers unless each citizen starts believing in the legitimacy of all communities and religions.
Disha Pandey,Dehra Dun
The culprits are free with none of them wondering whether the consequence enforced on the riot victims was fair. They should be given stringent punishment.
M.S. Tauseef,Bangalore
Justice and closure will keep eluding us for decades unless we pledge to un-bandage our communal wounds — the scars of thousands of Muslim families of Gujarat, the lacerations of Hindu families whose kin were burnt alive in Godhra, the wounds of the Sikh families that suffered in 1984, etc.
Yes, the battle is against forgetting. Let us have the courage to look at and treat all the wounds once and for all.
Sankalp Pratap,Kolkata
Even as the riot cases are being tried in courts, the media are harping on the Gujarat riots, thereby rekindling the rancour among communities. Our history is replete with communal clashes; it will be an endless process if we start digging the past. Time is the healing herb and forgetfulness the boon for mankind to overcome unpleasant feelings.
B. Gurumurthy,Madurai
