Mahmoud Darwish

K. SATCHIDANANDAN paid an apt tribute to Mahmoud Darwish (Lover from Palestine, September 12). Poetry expresses the profound feelings of a nation. Darwish never denied the existence of Israel as Palestines neighbour. He understood the excruciating agony both the peoples had suffered and described the Arab-Israeli conflict as a struggle between two memories. The phrase evokes nostalgia for the people in both the confronting nations. (Satchidanandan forgot to mention this beautiful line in his article, though he lined up many others.) Only a beautiful mind can deliver such a mellifluous line to soothe the hearts of people living with xenophobic attitudes.

Prem Nizar Hameed Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaJ&K crisis

THE imbroglio in Jammu and Kashmir can be resolved only if the Centre views the problem in a proper perspective (Cover Story, State of divide, September 12). Amarnath pilgrims every year are helped on their way by the Muslims of Kashmir. This fellow feeling is under threat in the vitiated atmosphere prevailing now.

Steps should be taken to ease the situation in the valley. The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway should be opened, which has been a major demand in Kashmir.

S. Murali Vellore, Tamil Nadu

JONATHAN SWIFT once said: We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another. How true he was! Kashmir, the heaven on earth that it once was, has now turned into a cauldron of hate. The religious divide in the State does not augur well for anyone.

Amitabh Thakur LucknowNot diplomacy

THE opinion expressed by Praful Bidwai in his column that India ought to have expressed solidarity with the Pakistani peoples fight for democracy when Pervez Musharraf resigned can only be termed an emotional reaction (Wrong, yet again, September 12). It would certainly not be diplomatic. Would it be all right for Pakistan to tell us how to run our affairs? Surely, we are not yet into the business of exporting democracy?

R. Sajan Ernakulam, KeralaTibet

THE article Transforming Tibet presented a perspective that ran contrary to most prevailing views (September 12). But the writer should have addressed the allegation of the pro-Dalai Lama groups that Tibet is Chinas dumping yard for nuclear wastes. Also, why does China not give better publicity to all this development taking place in Tibet?

Alin P. Alexander New DelhiSolzhenitsyn

THE obituary A famous dissident was excellent (August 29). Notwithstanding the accusations that Alexandr Solzhenitsyn did not understand how brilliant Stalin was or the Soviet regime and its policies of that era were, he cannot be denied a superior place in Soviet history for his moral courage.

Geetha Krishnamurthy New DelhiTerror

THE Cover Story feature on terror was thought-provoking (August 29). Residents of Bangalore and Ahmedabad deserve praise for the way they faced the terror strikes.

Sipra Sagarika New Delhi

HAREN PANDYAS killers have been given life sentences (Driven by hate). But what about people who have participated in organised killings in riot after riot in India since 1947? What about the rioters who went after Sikhs following Indira Gandhis assassination? Why should Hindus and Muslims in India hate each other for worshipping different forms of the Creator? Must this fight go on forever?

Syed Ahmed Manali, Himachal Pradesh

IT is unfair that after every terror attack Muslims find themselves branded as terrorists. It was not a Muslim who assassinated Indira Gandhi. The people who first hijacked a plane from the United States to Cuba were also not Muslims.

Khatibah Rehmat AllahabadChakmas plight

THE article on Chakma, Hajong and Buddhist refugees was informative (State of denial, August 29). The country is morally bound to see that the Chakmas get a good deal.

Amit Sukuna DarjeelingANNOUNCEMENT