Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Hindutva
rules India
India is ruled by a religion called ‘Hinduvta’, that is supported/sponsored by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya RSS. The hijab row in the state of Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and other BJP-ruled states of India still continues. Muslim girl students have been asked not to enter school and college premises wearing hijab (headscarf) and burqa. Those found wearing them are sent back home.
Why are Muslim girl students denied their rights when the Constitution of India allows people to eat what they want, drink what they want and wear what they want.If Muslim girl students are asked not to wear hijab (headscarves) and burqa in educational institutions, same should apply for Hindu students too (both male and female). They too should be told not to come to schools and colleges with a bindi, pottu, vibhuti or a tilak on their foreheads.
The hijab (headscarf) is a veil that many Muslim women wear in accordance with their religion. It encourages them to dress in a modest manner. The hijab also has a long history. This type of head covering has been in existence long before Islam came into existence.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Hijab
Public expression of “Hijab” is a very controversial issue nowadays. In many regions of the world, Muslim girls are forced to stop wearing hijab. Freedom of expression is one of the basic right of every human being.
In this era, if no one points a girl wearing short clothes, then why Muslims are not permitted to display their religious attires and symbols? If a feminist can choose what to wear and what to not, then why not a Muslim girl is allowed to clothe herself modestly ? Muslims round the globe should come together to support our Indian sisters in their war against this pathetic oppression.
FIZA SAJID
Lahore
Decline of theatre arts
We are the students of Beaconhouse School Clifton Campus, PYP Year 5 G, and we are writing this letter to call your attention to the decline of theatre arts in Pakistan. As part of our International Baccalaureate Grade 5 exhibition project, we studied in depth theatre in Pakistan, and how the interest and viewership of people has decreased over time.
Pakistan has historically cherished arts and culture, and theatre adds immense value to society while highlighting important topics that audiences must reflect upon as well. We interviewed many artists and those involved with theatre and learned that due to lower public interest, artists are no longer able to perform and earn decent incomes.
We believe that plays especially designed for children with positive messages can be very engaging for kids like us. As part of our exhibition action, we created awareness about the importance of theatre within our school, parents and extended community. While we are joining hands to participate in theatre, we also urge the Government of Pakistan and the Pakistani society at large to once again devote their attention to this precious art form.
NABILA ARSHAD
Sindh
World cricket, war & Shane Warne
It is hard to believe that Shane Warne is no more with us. First up, his death was sudden, saddening not only for the cricketing fraternity but also the whole world. Just like birth, death is not uncommon. But someone we have been admiring leaving so soon will leave us in the most painful situation. In that event, we would turn to someone for a word of comfort. That said, this Australian cricketer had many achievements and milestones to his credit. One of the greatest bowlers, Shane Warne had come a long way in his cricketing career almost spanning more than a decade from 1992 to 2007.
At the beginning itself, he started performing well and showcasing his bowling skills. In the 1990s, Warne’s mastery of leg spin was clearly known to the world and all his fans. At my end, I had beautiful memories of many cricket stars like Shane Warne during my schooling and early college days in my native areas like Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu in the 1990s. Added to this, cricket has always been something cutting across borders, regions, countries and languages. It is just about the players and the game of cricket.
As a matter of recap, we had enjoyed watching the game played by players like Inzamam-ul-Haq from Pakistan and also by cricketers from other countries – all for their original talent and personality. Just interestingly enough, almost all the Asian nations have tremendous cricketing skills – like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India – Nepal being the latest. In fact, cricket has been instrumental in nurturing camaraderie and between countries and fans.
Finally, the current Russia-Ukraine crisis has been a matter of concern to date. As the final strong point, the game of cricket has the power to heal the human wounds and help prevent a war-like situation over there on the horizon.
P SENTHIL S DURAI
Maharashtra, India
