The purpose of installing statues of leaders is to remember them and their influence on society. These recent acts of vandalism are once again a wake-up call for the Central and State governments to tackle rising intolerance in the country (“PM flays vandalism on statues”, March 8). The government has failed to tackle intolerant activities that have ranged from lynching to cow vigilantism. What is the progress in the investigation in these cases? These activities pose a serious threat to democracy. While it is good that the government has condemned these attacks, it needs to do more by taking serious action against these offenders.
Vinod Kalapala,
Nuzvid, Andhra Pradesh
If some of the leaders whose statues are being destroyed were alive, they would have probably had a hearty laugh. These incidents remind me of ‘Andhra Kesari’, Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, whose statue was erected at Vijayawada when he was alive. In 1953, when he selected Kurnool as the capital of the newly formed Andhra State, there was a lot of unhappiness. He once received a telephone call saying that his statue would be demolished if he didn’t rethink his decision. Prakasam replied: “Who asked you to erect my statue? Break it if you so desire.” This silenced his critics. As Shakespeare said: “These violent delights have violent ends/ And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,/ Which, as they kiss, consume.”
K.C. Kalkura,
Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
Gopalkrishna Gandhi pointed out some good things about Lenin, especially how he has been an inspiration to many Indians, but he left out Lenin’s dark side (“Be alert to Operation Dhakka”, March 8). Lenin took away the fundamental rights of the citizens of the Soviet Union such as the right of the press and people’s right to protest. The Cheka (the secret police) made mass arrests and executed those who were the so-called “enemies of the people”. Every coin has two sides and we should consider both while assessing someone’s legacy. Communism has never been successful and has led to dictatorships in many countries.
Pranjal Singh,
Faizabad