It is fitting that Kamal Haasan has been chosen for the prestigious Chevalier de L’ Ordre Arts et Lettres by the French government (“Kamal Haasan chosen for prestigious French honour”, August 22). His acting prowess is unparalleled. If the government can award the Bharat Ratna to Sachin Tendulkar, I don’t see why it cannot do the same in Kamal’s case.
V.N. Gopal,
Chennai
The wrong directive
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat’s obsession with increasing the Hindu population is misdirected (“‘Which law asked Hindus to have fewer children,’ asks Bhagwat,” August 21). Preserving a nation’s civilisation does not depend on its size. England, Israel and Japan are tiny countries compared to us but they have all maintained their traditions. Apprehensions about the rise in numbers of other communities are also misplaced. It is not numbers, but the spread of hatred that needs to handled.
Y.G. Chouksey,
Pune
Mr. Bhagwat sometimes makes one laugh. History says populations grow rapidly where poverty rules the roost. The fact that a particular community produces more children is an indicator of the level of poverty prevailing among its members. Such statements seldom carry any logic. RSS activists who are overactive in protecting cows are not even able to nourish them where they are sheltered. First let us provide people with education, employment and food. These are the areas that the RSS should be looking to improve.
A.G. Rajmohan,
Anantapur
