Global ostracism danger

I am writing this in response to your editorial ‘Muslim neglect of secular education’ (EW September). I had raised certain points in my earlier letters to you about how this minority community is just not interested in entering the mainstream of national life. After the recent 11/7 Mumbai bomb blasts, Outlook had published an article in which an apposite observation was made. “All Muslims are not terrorists. But all terrorists are Muslims”. How true! Looking at the events unfolding in India and elsewhere in the world, I am increasingly coming to the conclusion that it is because of neglect of secular learning that Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism is rising. The only solution is secular education and a transformation in the thought process of children in the minority community. If this doesn’t happen soon, the day may not be far when all Muslims across the world will be branded ‘terrorists’ and ostracised. I hope Muslims reading your magazine acknowledge this and promote more secular education institutions to educate their community and lead them out of the clutches of fundamentalist clerics. Rahul Vashist on e-mail Really impressive Your cover story â€˜Pushy parents driving kids over the edge’ (EW August) was really impressive. My compliments to you for highlighting one of the most compelling issues of our times. Parents have to be made aware of the need to make the world a more joyous place for the next generation. A.K. Khetan CEO, Kidzee Pvt. Ltd Mumbai Not by segregation I read your special report ‘Resurgence of single-sex education institutions’ (EW September) with great interest. In India the revival of interest in single-sex education institutions especially for girls is a regressive development, because unlike the West, it’s fuelled by illiberal prejudices against women and the role they should play in society. The government and all right-thinking people should oppose this resurgence simply because women-only schools or colleges don’t represent the real world. Co-educational insti-tutions provide opportunities for healthy, uninhibited interaction and competition between the sexes, which eventually facilitates personal and professional success. Sharada Nair Trivandrum Worst deprivation I was shocked to read your cover story titled ‘Is India dangerous for children? Very’ (EW September). When I first read about the Reuters AlertNet poll in the mainstream media, I felt that its purpose was to demean India by branding it among the riskiest countries for children in the world. My opinion was supportive of those journalists who disparaged the poll results and questioned its methodology and conclusion. Given our strong family system, it was assumed that children are well cared for. However I realise that I was wrong. In many aspects of life, children are suffering daily. As you rightly point out, children are facing numerous dangers every day. Yet of all the dangers education deprivation is the worst. If a child is malnourished or homeless or even suffers sexual abuse, she can bounce back and lead a normal life given a good education. But unfortunately our establishment doesn’t seem to have understood this. It is only voices like yours, which time and again warn us…