Actions speak louder than words
With reference to the letter published by Mr Ganeshan Srinivasan, it is true that numerous incidents of communal violence have taken place in India (‘Letters to the editor: Instigation behind the scenes’, Gulf News, November 7). Also earlier, many sporadic and many large scale acts of violence occurred, such as in 1984 and 2002. Then there was a sense of outrage, but those were considered as aberrations and people carried on peacefully.
What is happening now cannot be compared with what happened earlier. Nowadays, some peoples’ religious sentiments are hurt very easily and can happen based on a rumour. There is a problem when a person is pulled out of his home and beaten to death, or when another person writing against caste systems is threatened, or another one has ink thrown on his face, a writer expressing rational views is killed or when a person criticising the policy of a government is arrested on charges of sedition.
We are not a banana republic where people take law into their own hands. But, we do not see any action against these law breakers. In addition many people in positions of power overtly or covertly support these law breakers.
Hence, the perception that our country is becoming intolerant can only be counteracted if corrective action is taken. Actions speak louder than words. In such a situation, claiming that we are not intolerant is like taking an ostrich type view and burying our heads in the sand.
We should remember that there were many people like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, founder of an influential Bengali socio-religious reform movement, and famous author Rabindranath Tagore. They both advocated and fought for social reforms. People in those days were more conservative in their outlook, yet none of them killed the reformers.
From Ms Kamala Devi Subrahmanyan
UAE
Intolerance sparks the wildfire
I would like to express my concern over the rising intolerance in countries through the newspaper (‘Counting of votes in high-stakes Bihar polls takes place today’, Gulf News, November 8). Tolerance and harmony are two sides of a coin. Only if there is tolerance will harmony prevail. It is intimidating to see the public is ready to take any life for their own selfish reasons. The Dadri lynching and Manipur lynching in India are cases that are heart wrenching and the reason for this slaughter is pathetic. Militant intolerance in Syria brought it down to rubble. The culprits of all these cases are intolerance. Intolerance is a spark that causes a wildfire.
I want the public or official body of any country to ponder about the fact whether a life is paramount or selfishness when they are to make a decision that might spark intolerance. When wisdom will dawn, tolerance will prevail and the world will be a better place.
From Ms Akshitha Unnithan
UAE
Bihar chooses secularism
India is truly a secular country and its citizens really believe in secularism except for a few fringe elements. This message has gone out loud and clear within India and abroad with the defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar. The victory of the secular forces combined proves that people are no longer willing to be swayed by communal passions, what they rather seek is development and peaceful co-existence. The shining stalwarts of the BJP, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the BJP Amit Shah, have realised that playing the communal card, the cow issue and Pakistan bashing won’t take them anywhere. Now, we can say that the good days are here for all Indians irrespective of caste and creed boundaries. Long live the country.
From Ms Nigar
Dubai
Over confidence in BJP
It was a dramatic outcome during the Bihar results. The BJP should analyse this defeat for the reasons it occurred and they should have a good strategy for the future elections in other states. The main attributing reasons for this was the unwanted comments from their leaders. Recent intolerance debates and, above all, over confidence. Now they should plan and work for the future elections. Over confidence is dangerous. Will Modi and Shah take up this important call?
From Mr K. Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
Meeting favourite authors
In the 21st century, an age of computers, reading storybooks has lost its importance in the development of a child (‘Fiction is an escape from ‘bitter reality’, Gulf News, November 8). In such a time, the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) helps children like me to discover the joys of reading. I went to the fair last year where I was able to meet my favourite author, Chetan Bhagat. I, as a student, would like to take this opportunity to thank the organisers of the SIBF for enabling fans like me to meet our favourite authors.
From Mr Kailas Satheesh
Dubai
Conquer your dreams!
Just recently Gulf News published an article on the triumphant Samina Baig who successfully scaled the colossal 8,848m Mount Everest (‘First Pakistani woman to summit Everest urges women to ‘climb own mountains’, Gulf News, November 7). Her climb of the tallest mountain in the world was not the only prodigious part of her expedition. She is also the only Pakistani woman to have pulled off this feat. We know how girls don’t have much of their own choice for their careers other than being a housewife, especially in developing countries.
That brings up what Baig dedicates her climb to - to all the Pakistani women who have had their dreams and hopes drowned with what society hopes for them - every person, man or woman should be allowed to strive towards what they dream to become. An epitome of someone breaking societal norms to do what they dreamed of is Baig.
From Ms Saamish Zaidi
Dubai
Dilemma with rent
For Abu Dhabi, the rent relief is not coming to support many of the city residents (‘Rent relief temporary for Abu Dhabi tenants’, Gulf News, November 8). It has been always a sizable increase for renewals. Apartment owners are making increases on an annual basis, and it forces the existing tenants to submit to the renewals. Even if you have a say, they don’t bother. Sizable increases are at the top of their priorities for renewals. If the increases don’t fit in to your pocket, you are advised to move out. Demand in affordable areas are in limited supply.
These rent increases have led tenants to find alternate housing because pressing complaints are a threat to their family life. I hope the Abu Dhabi authorities will take note of this and help us find solutions to ease the tenants’ burden soon.
From Mr M. K. Gunaseelan
Abu Dhabi
Helping all citizens
Now that the dream of the BJP has been shattered in Bihar, it is going to be still more difficult for National Democratic Alliance to increase its tally in the upper house of parliament, Rajya Sabha (‘Why Bihar rejected Modi-Shah and embraced Nitish’, Gulf News, November 9). In fact, the number could come down, too. Hence, it is better for the BJP, especially Modi, to become more active in India and try to fulfil his developmental promises. This loss should have also taught Modi a bitter lesson not to take goodwill for granted. After the Delhi drubbing and now Bihar, it is going to be a grand alliance in all the state elections to take on Modi. Hence, it is all the more necessary for Modi to take the defeat in good spirit and thank Kumar for giving another opportunity to deliver on the promises made during the general elections, rein in motor mouths in the party, especially his ministers, and respect the Opposition parties in parliament to pass on vital pending bills benefiting the common people.
From Mr N. Mahadevan
Mylapore, India
Disappointed in abuses
I don’t think it’s fair to only say that the maid in Saudi Arabia lost her hand because, quite frankly, it was chopped off (‘Maid whose hand was chopped off returns’, Gulf News, November 8). I am Saudi and I feel ashamed of this barbaric act and similar cases of abuse that happen from people who exploit the innocent. Furthermore, the respective embassies and governments should take immediate action. No amount of money can replace her hand.
From Ms Zarah Binth Rahman
UAE
Facebook comment
Valuing all lives
People like Ms Zarah Binth Rahman can make a change. I am proud of your attitude and value for life. With people like you around, there is hope for all.
From Mr Preston Viegas
UAE
Facebook comment
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