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Need to take on politicians

Apropos to N Vittal’s viewpoint that India should think big, let’s be specific: It is the Indian policymakers who need to change their narrow mindset. Indian think-tanks get trapped in the vicious circle of greed and wants of politicians. A look at the assets owned by politicians such as Mayawati, Jayalalitha, Mulayam Singh or Narendra Modi will make one realise that these people who rose from nowhere are sitting on mountains of wealth. How come? By filling bank accounts before the other party takes over.

Harender Thakur

Nasik Uniform civil code

If India wants to be truly secular, then it must work towards bringing in a uniform social code. In November 1948, in the constituent assembly, BR Ambedkar, A Munshi and others said that they were working towards eventually achieving a uniform civil code. Were these people to reiterate this today, there would be an outcry. The Shah Bano case is no doubt an extreme example of religiosity being used to violate the fundamental rights of a woman citizen, who was thereby reduced to destitution.

Nimisha

Via mail Let’s face it

Unity in diversity, secularism – all these words mark Indians. We all are hyphenated citizens - we carry with us our linguistic, caste, and religious identities. Before the Hindu Civil Code of 1956 was enforced, Hindus were subject to the Civil Code of 1898. Why was it that Hindus wished for a separate law? Because they desired for a structure in keeping with their practices. I would like to mention here that the visionaries of the constitution did not specify any deadline for implementing the secular civil code, because each community would need to take their own paths to this code. The Muslims will be happy to submit to a law, but it has to be one that they themselves will define. The issue is not that of Hindus versus Muslims or Hindus versus Christians. We should see it in relation to our national integrity.

Akshay Kumar

Via email