Dear Panditji,
Someone teaching evolution will invariably show religiosity at home and in public life. Obviously, such people suffer from split perso-nality. Anyone with scientific tem-per cannot accept the relevance of religions today, though historically they played an important role in human societies.

Religions have led to hatred and bloodshed through-out human history, although they stood for truth. This conflict is because different religions have dif-ferent dogmas. Many religions created and flourished in the past, have now become extinct.

Today, science is the only option for seeking truth. We can observe evolution in nature and a laboratory Evolutionary science is often talked and taught in terms of competition and survival of the fittest. But it also explains co-oper-ation, altruism, love and affection.

Once we realise that all human beings have a common origin irrespective of their religion, there is unity in diversity. This promotes goodwill and a feeling of one-ness among people. Science promotes universal brother-hood while religions divide people. Thus, there is no meet-ing ground between science and religion. They cannot and should not co-exist.

Prof. M Edward Gururaj,
Mysore, Karnataka

Dear Panditji,
The back cover feature of "God as Scientist" was very intriguing. It has had me wondering ever since I learnt about evolution. Here is an analogy, consider a machine made by man. What does he do?

He keys in all the commands in a computer and then it can func-tion by itself without any manual inputs. Similarly, some supernatu-ral element created a computer (in this case, the earth) and allowed a program (nature) to take its own course under fixed conditions.

Here’s the answer that religion and science could co-exist. Also, almost all rituals and beliefs in all the religions are
purely based on science and since our ancestors did not have enough tools, they acted on what they saw and believed. And not on theories of evolution.

Navneet Vasistha,
Via Email

Dear Panditji,
We, the students at St. Marks Girls School are very happy about the revival of Gobar Times. This is our favourite kid’s magazine. It tells us about the problems on environ-mental issues. Your magazine also helps us in our eco-club activities. I liked your report on lifecycle for butter. It was really an eye-opener for us. I appreciate your efforts. I hope it will now be continued forever. I also want to join your GT reporters’ team.

Arushi Khanna,
Divya Pandit,
Ananya Sen
Class V, St. Marks Girls School,
New Delhi

Dear Panditji,
What a sign of relief to see our much loved and lauded Gobar Times back in print!! Your team needs to be congratulated for your valuable inputs in the field of Environment Education. It always deals with relevant issues pertain-ing to the present day scenario (Holi/Tigers) and is such a big help. Your well-defined and researched articles are simplified to the core and make for ready-made lesson plans for educators. The maga-zines — Down To Earth and Gobar Times are really a source of inspira-tion to me.

Dear Panditji,
The cover stories on colours (DTE Vol 13, No.19, Feb 2005 and Gobar Times) are timely and very informative. As synthetic dyes are non-bio degradable, they play havoc with the environment and often with persons who handle them. The alternative is to go for natural dyes. But this is a piquant situation. Similarly, in agriculture, chemical fertilizers and pesticides play with people’s lives. Here, the alternative is, of course, organic farming. But can we switch over to organic farming in a stroke? Even, if we do, how long is it going to take to popularise organic farming? So is it with respect to chemical dyes and natural dyes.

In Gobar Times you had spoken of traditional natural dyeing prac-tices.  Incidentally, we have been documenting  and conducting research on natural and vegetable dyes; and have found its applica-tions in fibre, paper and candles.

M R Rajagopalan
Gandhigram, Tamil Nadu
Via Email

Dear Panditji,

Dear Panditji,
I am thrilled to see the February and March issues of Gobar Times. They are indeed a treasure, for they present information in a format and at a level that children can under-stand and enjoy. And of course the issues are excellent teaching aids. I am glad that the good work has been resumed and wish you all the very best. We are sending in our subscription for Gobar Times. Is it possible to get copies of the back issues?

Dear Panditji,
Can you give me ideas to spend my vacation usefully in contact with nature?

Dear Swathiji,
Oh! Your letter has come at the right time. And this issue is just for you...full of holiday ideas! Have an eco vacation!

Dear Panditji,
We are very happy to read Gobar Times. We prepare biodynamic manure and find your magazine useful for our programmes.
Sri Radha Govinda Gow Raksha
Samiti, Tirupati

Dear Panditji,
It was indeed a pleasure reading through the pages of GT, with its host of information, and a creative design. Your story on colours made an interesting read for the uninformed about the world of colours. It makes one introspect on the consequences of the use of synthetic colours. Your sections on lifecycle, open forum and eco futures were very interesting.

Jhara Roy
Delhi Public School, Gurgaon