Secular values

India has become a country of politicians who, through their manoeuvring, try to divide people (“ >Pranab warns against letting go of India’s core values ,” and “ >Centre pulls up leaders on comments ,” Oct.8). There is no political party that has worked honestly to defend the secular values enshrined in our Constitution. Indians, apart from a few hate-mongers, are all peace loving. The common man gets misled by some sinister elements and becomes part of the hate campaign. It is high time people educate themselves through inter-faith meetings. Cultivation of tolerance requires dialogue.

Farheena Hussainy,

Margao

Nayantara Sahgal’s act of returning the Sahitya Akademi Award is surely worthy of appreciation (“

>Nayantara Sahgal returns Sahitya Akademi Award ,” Oct.7). The act, yet again, shows her determination to take a stand against the communal forces. She has demonstrated that a firm resolve to stand up against what one considers wrong is needed. It needs to be remembered that she had, during Emergency, resigned from the Sahitya Akademi Advisory Board to protest against its excesses.

Saumya Sinha,

Lucknow

I am unable to understand why writers like Nayantara Sahgal and Ashok Vajpeyi are bringing the Sahitya Akademi into the picture while expressing their anger against the Central government. The Sahitya Akademi is not a trade union to take up the causes of writers. Its duty is to judge writings purely based on their literary merit. When the writers are given these awards, they get not only the prize money but also fame. Will the writers also consider returning the fame and the royalties they got? What can a literary institution do when a lynch mob kills a person? Leaving politics aside, the writers can do better by donating their prize money to writers not fortunate enough to make money from their writings.

Karavadi Raghava Rao,

Vijayawada

I am shocked by the anti-vegetarian turn the anti-communal protests have taken following the Dadri lynching (“ >Dadri lynching: activists ‘beef’ up protest ” Oct.8). Time and again, secular activists have revelled in eating meat, especially beef, in public as an act of dissent against the imposition of vegetarianism. Several States in India are still reeling under drought and farmers continue to commit suicide on account of debts. In the circumstances do we need to celebrate killing of animals and eating meat as a form of protest? The need of the hour is to seek justice for victims like Mohammad Akhlaq and his family and demand stern punishment for the perpetrators of the crime. Exhibitionism of any kind distracts from the issue.

Nagesh Havanur,

Bengaluru