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Anarkali: Chughtai’s creation?

While Muhammad Abdul Rehman Chughtai (“Chughtai’s world of colours”, Spectrum, April 5) was an artist par excellence, Sayyad Imtiaz Ali Taj was a celebrated playwright. He wrote many plays, but Anarkali was his magnum opus.

Anarkali was a maid in the seraglio of Akbar, who did not like his son Salim’s love affair with her. She was buried alive in a wall. When Salim ascended the throne as Jahangir, he built for her in 1615 at Lahore a beautiful marble tomb bearing the passionate Persian verse: Aah! Gar man baaz beenam ree-e-yaar-ekhesh ra / Ta qiyaamat shukr goyam kirdgaar-e-khesh ra.

(Ah! Could I behold the face of my beloved once again, I would thank my God till the Day of Resurrection).

No authentic picture of Anarkali is available. Even that made by Chughtai with a crested diadem is apparently the creation of his mind. A maid in the palace could never afford such a gorgeous headgear.

BHAGWAN SINGH, Qadian

TARSEM S. BUMRAH, Batala

Caring for the aged Life in the last lap’ (Spectrum, March 1) highlighted the apathy, indifference and neglect suffered by the aged even today in the so-called modern and civilised world. The tricks of the “trade of law” can save those who commit such offence — neglecting their parents. Only religious teaching can come to the rescue in such circumstances. The Bible says: “Honour thy father and mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord, thy God, giveth thee” (Exodus 20:12) Children should be taught that if they want to live a better and longer life, they ought to honour their parents. Their parents blessings would help them a lot. The Koran says: ‘Thy Lord has commanded that ye worship none but him and has enjoined benevolence towards parents. Should either or both of them attain old age, never say: “Ugh’ to them nor hide them, but always speak gently to them. Be humbly tender with them and pray: Lord, have mercy on them, even as they nurtured me when I was little (Chapter 17 Verse 24-25) Prophet Mohammad would not let such men join the fighting against disbelievers as had aged parents to care for. Once a man came to him and asked permission to join in the fighting. The Prophet asked him if his parents were alive. The man said, ‘yes’. The Prophet asked him to find his fighting in serving his parents. The story of Shravan Kumar’s love and obedience towards his senile parents, the noble example set by Lord Rama (obedience to one’s father) can make the younger generation realise their duty towards their parents. Of course, law has its own importance but it has its own limitations and loopholes too. The real foundation can be based on religious values only. BILAL AHMAD SHAMIM, Qadian

Religious freedom

I agree with Khushwant Singh (“Faith and fear”, Saturday Extra, April 11). Muslims should thank Aatish Taseer for his view in Stranger to History that in countries where people are free to choose their own faith and practice it in their own way, there are few problems and where the government dictates religious preferences, people conform out of fear of punishment.

Consider Pakistan. Muslim militants are targeting their own brethern!n

SUBHASH C. TANEJA, Rohtak