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Promoting literacy and peace

I read Shariq Majeed’s write-up “Schools of hope and peace” (Saturday Extra, Dec. 12). The Christ school and the Raza-ul-Uloom Islamic School are excellent examples to copy.

Humanitarian organisations and public-spirited people should set up such schools to spread literacy and preach peaceful coexistence. The message of the Islamic school is very correct and courageous: “the word Islam itself means peace. Try to make the world peaceful and happy. A Muslim is not a terrorist. A terrorist is not a Muslim. Be proud to be an Indian”.

The principal of the school has rightly remarked that the Prophet was “man of peace”. A couple of years ago some Ulema had declared that a person ceased to be a Muslim when he became a terrorist. I say, he ceases to be a human being and becomes a minion of Satan.

During his 23-year ministry, the Prophet never committed even the slightest aggression. In his last historic sermon, he unequivocally declared, inter alia, that he crushed under his feet till doomsday any desecration of human life and terminated the blood shedding of the days of ignorance for ever.

BHAGWAN SINGH, Qadian

Gadkari: Leader with a difference After reading Nitin Gadkari’s profile by Harihar Swarup (Sunday Oped, Dec 20), I am happy that an exuberant, hardworking, honest, dedicated and efficient person (a rare commodity in politics) has taken over as the BJP president. His track record as Maharashtra’s PWD Minister has been outstanding. Today people desperately need a robust leader like him who clearly understands the role of infrastructure development for poverty eradication. The erstwhile BJP chiefs (other parties are no exception) talked about politics alone but Mr Gadkari rightly promises to infuse a new life in his party which has been hamstrung by political clichés and shibboleths. The BJP’s opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal cost the party dearly and it will take a long time to refurbish its image. Mr Gadkari is an RSS activist which is still overpowered by orthodox ideas. I am sure, he will not be bogged down by the dormant RSS baggage and take the party forward in tune with the aspirations of the masses. I wish him well. ASHA MALIK, Gurgaon

It’s far-fetched

I read Maitreyee Boruah’s “No words worth” (Spectrum, Dec. 20). Nalini Jameela’s demand for legalising her tribe’s profession seems to be far-fetched and fanatic.

Irrespective of the views of Nalini Jameela, no woman of substance would like to adopt sex work as a profession. Impelled by circumstances, Jameela had no option but to turn to flesh trade as a last resort. Admittedly, as India, a closed society, is fast becoming promiscuous, it is not ready to recognise sex work as a vocation.

Jameela is a wife, mother, author, social activist and sex worker.Yet she commands no respect because of the stigma of prostitute attached to her persona. Who will wash down that stigma to help her become a respectable member of society?n

TARSEM S. BUMRAH, Batala