Sir — This refers to the article, “Substance over symbolism” (April 21) by KG Suresh. It is indeed a tragedy of our times that symbolism has largely overtaken substance in most spheres of our life, and with telling effect. This is especially more so in religious matters.
The wearing of a skull cap and donning a tilak are touted as proof of one’s secular credentials, regardless of the communal actions of those who wear them.In playing this game of secularism, we go to absurd lengths. People and the all-knowing media are not aware that some two decades ago, All India Radio came up with a gem of an idea for promoting secularism in the country. In its classical music programmes, it made the Hindu artistes ‘Ustads’ and the Muslim artistes ‘Pandits’.
At this distant date I do not recollect the exact names, but it went something like Ustad Bhimsen Joshi and Pandit Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.
The brainwave did not survive long. It was killed by the artistes themselves or by some communal forces in the Government. Those who are interested in genuine research or are doubtful about the veracity of what I have said, can dig out the truth from the AIR archives. One hopes the archives contain the episode.