Sri Lanka

By unilaterally withdrawing from the Cease Fire Agreement, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has manifested his determination that the annihilation of the LTTE is possible only through military aggression (Cover Story, February 1). His government is perhaps acting under the illusion that the end of the LTTE will bring the ethnic conflict to an end, irrespective of whether the grievances of the Tamil people are addressed or not. War would only isolate further the already marginalised Tamil minority and add to their resentment. All political parties in Sri Lanka should keep aside their parochial sentiments and come up with a devolution package that would meet the just aspirations and concerns of ethnic Tamils and Muslims.

B. Jayanna Krupakar Surathkal, Karnataka* * *

The LTTE is no longer a liberation force; it has acquired all the qualities of a terrorist organisation interested only in indiscriminate killings for revenge and for publicity. It has lost the sympathy of the world, especially of Indians after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. No agreement between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government will last unless it is brokered and guaranteed by the Indian government. For that, Prabakaran must apologise to the Indian people for the murder of Rajiv Gandhi.

S. Raghunatha Prabhu Alappuzha, Kerala

The Cover Story has pictured the Sri Lankan scene pretty much as it is in Sri Lanka. It is sad that the CFA has to come to an end. As a Sri Lankan, I am ashamed to see our inability to propose a solution and bring prosperity to all Sri Lankans. I request Frontline to do a Cover Story on the abduction and murder of civilians and Members of Parliament in Sri Lanka.

Shan (Place name withheld on request)Basheer

I was fascinated by the write-up on Vaikom Mohammed Basheer, a legend of the Indian literary scene (Sultan of story, February 1). K. Satchidanandan has succinctly brought out the beauty of his writings besides providing a moving account of the poetic life of the author. His observation that his stories are tales of men and women everywhere, trapped in the ironic irrationality of the human condition, is laudable.

S.V. Venugopalan Chennai* * *S. BALAKRISHNAN JamshedpurPIL

This refers to the article In public interest by Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer (February 1). The trend of judicial activism deviating to judicial adventurism is a negation of the limitations that the Constitution has imposed on the three organs of the state. The abuse of the doctrine of PIL for private and publicity purposes is not infrequent, and the note of warning issued by the Supreme Court in Janata Dal vs H.S. Chowdhary reflects judicial wisdom. I may quote the author himself. In the article Judicial processes and the Indian masses, he says:

The why, when and how far of public interest justice now left to the mood and temper and ad hoc composition of the Benches, must be replaced by clear legislation, if this jurisdiction is not to become a bull in a China shop.

V.K. Sathyavan Nair Kottayam, KeralaM.F. Husain* * *

Though Partha Chatterjee has eulogised the art of M.F. Husain (Tribute in acrylic, February 1), the fact remains that his paintings mostly centre around Hindu gods and goddesses in nude forms. He pursues his art with passion, overlooking the fact that his artistic expressions are bound to offend the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus. His form of art is flourishing only with the patronage and support of rationalists and a handful of liberal-minded intellectuals. The painter himself is responsible for incurring the wrath of fundamentalists.

K.R. Srinivasan HyderabadSachar report* * *

This refers to the article Kabir & Sachar (January 18). The backwardness of Muslims cannot be set right by commissions. The main cause is the existence of the madrasas, which not only impart outdated education but also breed fundamentalism. Unless this fact is accepted by the moderates among Muslims nothing tangible is going to happen in the lives of Muslims.

R.N. Agarwal Bikaner, RajasthanCORRECTION

The reference to Oomerabad in Response ("Baseless charges", February 1) occurs in the article "Building new bases" , and not in the article "Uneasy in paradise". Both these articles formed part of the Cover Story ("Terror links", December 21, 2007).

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