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Miles to go

The injustice to victims of the notorious Hashimpura massacre case have once again been reopened by TSI’s cover story "Forget Babri Masjid…." (TSI, Nov 30-Dec 6). Both the riots, Hashimpura and Bhagalpur were a chilling reminder of the apathy of the state towards access to justice for victims. It's really shocking to learn that no conviction has been made against the perpetrators of this atrocity. It is the fight against the system, to get justice, stretched over 20 long years that makes these massacres even more heart-wrenching. It is commendable that the victims in both the cases still have faith in the judicial process and are following the due process despite all the hurdles. Hopefully the government make sure that justice is delivered to the victims and the guilty are punished.

Tina Jose

Via mail Stopping the cruelty

Prashanto’s column "A Wail" (TSI, November 30-December 6) was really an eye opener. We all keep receiving such important mails but hardly have time or rather impulse to take any action and think that what can we do. His noble thoughts have really touched my heart. Whaling is cruel, unsustainable and unnecessary. Whales are sensitive, social animals with highly developed nervous systems. They have a profound capacity to suffer distress, terror and pain. Most disgustingly, the Faroese celebrate the butchery of their victims in an carnival atmosphere of entertainment. Children are often given a day off school to watch the fun. They run down to the bay and clamber over the carcasses of slaughtered whales. What values are they instilling in young minds. This is an act of barbarism and pointlessness. By slaughtering 100 whales at a time, the Faroese are wiping out entire pods and family groups. In fact, any type of killing for selfish reasons in inhumane. This all should stop now.

Shobha Das Gupta

Siliguri Making the history

India loves to go back in the past instead of looking at the future. Our obsession for celebrating events is dangerous. We celebrate the event instead of understanding why it took place. After the assassination of Indira Gandhis,we awaited 25 years before celebrating the event. Then we got involved with the Bhopal gas tragedy which also took place 25 years ago. When we feel low, we keep revisiting the 1983 world cup triumph. The Babri Masjid episode is one more example of our attachment to the past. We just cannot let go and move forward. For every step that we take forward, there are more steps that pull us back. India finds it very hard to forget the past. We have become a nation that glorifies the past and we just need an anniversary to be set loose. We pine for the day and are not concerned with the reason for it. We just light a candle and take part in the process. We idolise the 'candles in the wind' but do not look at the scandals in the wind. Our nation has been married to the past and an anniversary for us is something to be looked forward to. We need to create a history instead of getting stuck in the history.

Sunil Melwani

Pune