WITH reference to the article A noble dream (December 26), it is indeed the need of the hour to promote interfaith understanding. But until such a huge reform takes place under the hands of those powerful enough, there is also a strong need for us as individuals and followers of different faiths to work to promote this noble dream.

Each one of us must look deep inside ourselves and shun any feelings of hatred and ethnocentrism. We must look to our own attitudes when we meet members of a different faith. We must look to what ideas we transmit to our children by our attitudes, and to what our children learn at school and through the various media. We must also stop attaching negative stigmas to any religion, some of whose followers spread havoc and terror. We must understand that violence and terror have no religion and that no religion can preach such brutality. Only when we change ourselves deep within will we be able to change the world.

NAUREEN AQUEEL

Karachi
 

A critic with a difference

WITH reference to Intizar Hussain’s column A critic with a difference (December 19), I always enjoy reading Intizar Hussain’s insightful columns on Urdu literature and literary personalities, some of whom, despite notable contributions have been swept away by the tide of time.

His remembering Mumtaz Shireen and crediting her contributions is yet another valuable contribution in this perspective. What I wish to add, however, is that Mumtaz Shireen, though well known for her critical acumen in Urdu literature, was also quite an accomplished and acknowledged short story writer, in her own right. This, however, is generally not well known and not mentioned by writers when they review the performance of Pakistani short story writers.

I am not sure whether Intizar Hussain would like to make a mention of this fact not only to give credit to an erudite and sensitive writer who was not courting publicity for the sake of it, but who also contributed some beautiful short stories.

Maybe Intizar Hussain is aware of Deepak rag Malhar and quite a few others which unfortunately I cannot recount. Intizar Hussain would render yet another valuable contribution by recounting her works and if possible, to use his influence in getting them printed after the lapse of so many years.

J. Zafar

Islamabad

 

Sex, security and nannygate

WITH reference to Anjum Niaz’s column Sex, security and nannygate (December 26), she has very graphically brought out the peccadilloes of the UK Home Secretary.

We should keep in view the fact that the Western attitude to sexual relations is not quite the same as the Eastern views in this matter. It is quite normal in the West to have sex before marriage and outside it after marriage. It is also quite common to have children before marriage. As my nephew, who lives in London, once remarked, “By the time a girl is 25 years old, she has had three kids, all fathered by different men, before she thinks of getting married!”

However, even in Western countries it would appear that people tend to apply double standards; one for themselves and quite a different one to their public figures. But this is only apparent. In reality, the higher standard of sexual behaviour expected of their public figures is only a cover to rationalize their prurient interest in the titillating sexual escapades of the VIPs.

While these are enjoyable to read, one must view these things in a proper perspective. We should not seek to apply Eastern standards and mores of sexual conduct to Western situations. And, above all, we should not become judgmental in these matters. We should remember that our own lives are filled with cases of double standards.

Man Mohan Kapur

Gurgaon, India