Want to walk on water? No problem

THIS refers to the article, "Want to walk on water? No problem" by Roopinder Singh (April 10). While enlightening readers on characteristics of digital photography, the writer has also made comments on the future of conventional photography. It was interesting to note that photo-manipulation is now within the grasp of mainstream consumers.

As per my understanding, it has both positive and negative implications. The writer unfolds an important fact that in India, only 21 per cent of the urban households have cameras, the figure drops down to 4 per cent in rural areas. Photography is about self-satisfaction — it enriches and fulfils the mind. Photography also satisfies the thirst to discover and know more about life and nature.

Why then more and more of Indians have not taken to photography either as a hobby or as a profession? Is it because "Happy clicking" is a costly affair?

ONKAR CHOPRA
New Delhi

Age of disposable things

The article "Age of disposable things" (April 17) by Suneeta Chahar, was interesting and thought-provoking. Human beings, today, care only for the immediate utility of things. We have little sense of attachment. We seek help from others when in difficulty, but as soon as our purpose is served, we forget everything.

It is ironical that this phenomenon of disposable things is applied to human beings as well. There are instances when young men, after getting married, force their parents to spend the remaining days of their lives in "Homes for the old" because they think, that their parents are no more "useful" to them.

DEV VIDYARTHI
Nurpur

Poor maintenance of monuments

K.G. Dutt’s articles "A town replete with religious and heroic feats and "A rich past but miserable present" (April 17) in the column Regional vignettes present a correct picture of Kaithal.

The attitude of the authorities as regards the maintenance of historical buildings in the town has been rather lackadaisical. Leave alone taking steps to preserve these symbols of the town’s glorious past, the administration has demolished some of them. A major portion of Bhai Udai Singh Palace was dismantled a few year ago for reasons best known to the authorities.

The remaining part of the palace has been declared ‘unsafe’. One of its walls collapsed sometime ago, resulting in the death of six labourers who were working there at that time.

The Archaeological Survey of India should adopt the aforesaid palace and the maqbara of Razia Begum immediately for maintenance. The reminders of our glorious past must be kept alive.

SURENDRA MIGLANI
Kaithal

Ode to immortality

Aimed at readers who would like to admire the medieval art and architecture of the temples in and around Khajuraho and think deeply about the erotic images that have, adorned its temple walls,"Ode to immortality" (March 20) by Ashwini Bhatnagar was a well-conceived, informative, and interestingly thought-provoking article. The article’s last portion, in particular, where the writer ponders over the question as to why sexual images decorate the walls of these temples, reminded me of what the images had made me think about human sexuality when I first saw them.

There is something great to be learnt about sex from our ancient civilisation, particularly from the erotic images on the temples of Khajuraho. They demonstrate an exciting idea that where there is life there is sex. Therefore sex is as sacred as life. The images — which depict beauty, fineness and ecstasy — communicate an idea of the entirely indestructible relationship between the whole world of sex energy and God symbolised by these magnificent temples.

The explicit images (with their far greater range of complexity and acuteness) on the temples implicitly warn the viewer neither to hate sexual desire, nor feel ashamed of it, but to accept it as a divine gift rendering beauty to the relationship between man and woman. This relationship devoid of any perversions is to be experienced before one passes from the realm of the manifested and embodied aspects of reality to that of God’s Kingdom inside the temple. In other words, the experience of the physical, the flesh and the emotional is one of the indispensable conditions of spiritual enlightenment. This is what the images convey to us.

B.L. CHAKOO
Amritsar

On Nahan

The Regional vignettes on Nahan (April 3) by Romesh Dutt were an informative and vivid account of the place. It not only covered the history of the town but also gave a beautiful description of its social, economic and environmental aspects.

Being a native of this place, I wish to give some more information about the town.

As per a folklore, Nahan acquired its name from the word naahar, meaning a lion or a tiger in Sanskrit. The areas around Nahan abounded with tigers and panthers till about 60 years ago.

This version is further supported by the fact that some letters received from distant places like Mumbai in the 19th and early 20th centuries by local traders have the name of the place as "Naahar, Umbala district, Punjab."

The founding of the capital of Nahan is connected with a Vaishnav saint, Bawa Banwani Dass, whose meditation cave is still preserved at Shri Jagan Nath Swami Temple at Bawa Chowk. It is believed that tigers lived in his ashram.

P.C. AGGARWAL
Nahan