M A I L B A G

Blind faith leads us nowhere

Khushwant Singh’s write-up “Matter of belief” (Saturday Extra, Feb 18) cannot be digested by the so-called theists who are averse to scientific thinking. They think an embodied figure or a physical God is there. It is entirely wrong. Blind faith in a so-called God leads us nowhere. Almost everybody accepts that nature is there, but worshipping, imploring and entreating God for blessings is unscientific and futile.

This tendency of total dependence on God has made us socially weak and impotent. We start thinking that we can do nothing and everything is predetermined. This is the root cause of our poverty.

PIARA SINGH MANAV, Batala

II

Since ages it is firmly believed that human beings are destined for death on a fixed date, time and place on the basis of their karma (past deeds). It is the karma that shapes the destiny of man. The fact that we reap what we sow gives credence to this belief.

Deaths occurring during pilgrimage have nothing to do with the belief and devotion of pilgrims. The Almighty does not condone sins. Fear of the Almighty is a deterrent to the burgeoning venality, cupidity and felony.

Dr SOSHIL RATTAN, Amritsar

A true karma yogi This has reference to “Princess who became a spy” by Boyd Tonkin (Spectrum, March 12). With Tipu’s blood in her veins, Noor also inherited strong pro-Indian leanings from her illustrous musician father Inayat Khan who had once annoyed the British when he sang a rebellious song. When Pandit Nehru visited his Parisian Sufi centre, it left an indelible mark on little Noor’s psyche. Even as a British secret agent in France, she gifted herself his autobiography on her birthday, risking punishment from authorities. She excelled in veena (Goddess Sarasvati’s instrument), also often taking recourse to Puranas and Jatak tales. Noor translated the latter, publishing them in England (George Harrap & Co, 1939) under the title Twenty Jatak Tales. Noor had studied the Bhagavad Gita. With a background of Sufism and the Gita, she apparently believed in their doctorine: Work is thy duty, reward not thy concern. Noor reportedly said that she approached her work like a true karma yogi. ROSHNI JOHAR, Shimla

Bold strides

This refers to “Of Women, By Women” by Naveen S. Garewal (Saturday Extra, Feb 25). Women these days are making bold strides in every field. The stories of Nihar Das, Pawan Kumari Sachdev and Anju Bala speak volumes of their remarkable courage, readiness to accept challenges and instinct to survive in this male-dominated society. They have proved true the old saying “The day dawns only to those who are awake.”

What has made these entrepreneurs different is their power of decision-making, determination to do something new and constructive, indomitable spirit, and finally the strong will not to quit in the face of difficulties.

Dr GEETA GOYAL, RKSD College, Kaithal

Rudraksha beads

This has reference to “Tears of Lord Shiva” by Rajesh Kumar (Spectrum, Feb 12).

According to the Shiva Mahapurana, rudraksha, the aksha (tears) of Rudra (Shiva), are four in colour i.e. shvet (white), rakta (red), peet (yellow) and krishan (black). Rudraksha comes in three sizes.

A rudraksha of the size equal to an amla is considered to be of high class and that of a size equal to a ber is considered to be of middle class and one of size equal to a chana (gram) is considered to be of lower class.

The trees of rudraksha are found in Mathura, Sri Lanka, Malayachal, Sahasragiri and Kashi, etc.

RAVI CHANDER GARG, Ludhiana

Maulana Rumi

The words mentioned as qalaam and sema in the write-up “The best of Rumi” (Saturday Extra, Feb 25) are actually kalaam (poetic works) and samaa (music, hearing of music, qavvaali, etc). The ecstasy caused by music is called vajd-e-samaa.

Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi was a great mystic and poet.

Sufi saints hold his Masnavi (narrative poems), consisting of didactic couplets couched in plain straightforward language preaching pantheism, in high esteem. For them, it is a holy book.

When asked by Sehba, the First Lady of Pakistan, at the lunch hosted by him for Gen Pervez Musharraf, as to who influenced his thoughts most, President Abdul Kalam named Rumi, recited a verse from his kalaam and translated it in English.

I quote a couplet: Az mukaafaat-e-amal ghaafil ma-shou/Gandum az gandum bi-royad jau zi jau (Do not remain unmindful of the retribution for your deeds, for wheat springs from wheat and barley from barley).

BHAGWAN SINGH, Qadian