A civilisation that teaches tolerance

THIS refers to M.S. Menon’s article, "The two streams of Indian civilisation" (August 29).

The tolerance and liberalism of the Hindus has not only nourished the Indian civilisation but also enabled it to withstand the turbulence of times. All faiths and modes of worship are tolerated, and respected here.

Whether an Indian worships God is his manifest form or meditates on him as unmanifested, he has a firm faith in the Divine Grace and Justice. His devotion to God compels him to perform noble and pious deeds, to love all his creatures, to serve the sick and the poor.

S.K. SHARMA
Lucknow

Crusade for gender justice

In an interview given to Belu Maheshwari (August 29) the radical feminist Urvashi Butalia vehemently laments the denial of equality and justice to women. She alleges that we live in a patriarchal society with customs that are inimical to women. Generally, the only option available to a girl-child is to become a housewife when she grows up. She is trained in household chores and little else. Women’s work is underpaid and they have few choices. Radical feminists say that it is the patriarchal system that oppresses women. Can a change in laws alone help? Probably not, because attitudes towards women need to change.

It is not easy to change deep seated cultural values or alter traditions that perpetuate discrimination. Law by itself is not enough. It is only an instrument which must be effectively used. There has to be a social will to change. An active social reform movement if accompanied by legal reform, can transform society.

A crusade to ameliorate the condition of women and bring about a radical change in society’s attitude towards them is the need of the hour. Educated women had provided a challenge in some matters of their employment. There was a case of airhostesses who had stood up against service conditions which sought to debar them from service during pregnancy. Women in the Foreign Service were sought to be ousted at marriage.

Anyhow, equality given to women in the Indian constitution must be implemented in real life. What needs to be looked into is: Activation of public opinion, training of judges, special training classes for the police and the bureaucracy and increased women cells in police stations all over the country.

K.M. VASHISHT
Mansa

The caste factor

This refers to the article: "A forward march backward" by Manohar Malgonkar (August 29). It is pity that even after fifty years of attaining Independence, for most of the people in rural areas the caste of the candidates is the most important factor during elections. It is a sad commentary on the mindset of our voters.

Even the selection of the candidates by our political parties is made on the basis of caste. I sometimes wonder whether our experiment with democracy has failed. As brought out in this article, in Indian politics economic prosperity of the people and well-being of the nation at large have long ceased to be election issues. Our election campaigns have degenerated to all-time low persona with attacks being made in election speeches on woman candidates.

ONKAR CHOPRA
Ludhiana.

The game of the name

Apropos of I.M. Soni’s article "The game of name is still the same" (August 29), certainly, every individual wants to see his name in print. The name mania has overpowered our psyche to such an extent that to perpetuate the family name, a son’s birth is considered a matter of jubilation and celebrations. The love for one’s name drives one to use visiting cards, name plates, tattoos and other modes of printing the name.

Moreover, human beings have many weaknesses and to get name and fame is one of them.

ARIF QURESHI
Sunder Nagar

K. L. Saigal

Apropos of "He poured his soul into songs", by Pran Nevile (August 29), K.L. Saigal was a sensitive poet, ace actor and brilliant classical singer and musician. There was magic in his voice and when he sang, he gave fresh interpretation to each word and syllable. In her autobiography, renowned singer and actress Kanan Ghosh wrote "Saigal was always tuning his swara, sitting or standing."

In 1935, the annual music conference of the Prayag Sangeet Samiti was held at Senate Hall of Allahabad University. Saigal had gone there to listen to great classical musicians of the time such as Pandit Onkar Nath

Thakur, Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Narayan Rao Vyas and Vinayak Rao Patwardhan. The audience wanted Saigal to come on the stage and sing. Saigal sang all his hit songs and bhajans based on classical Indian music. At the end when Saigal touched the feet of the doyen of classical Indian music, Ustad Faiyaz Khan, he blessed him and said "There is nothing I can teach you that you do not know. I myself have learnt a lot from you."

VIJAY SHEEL JAIN
Ludhiana

Power of integrity

Apropos of Taru Bahal’s article on "The power of integrity" (August 22), in today’s materialist world, people generally behave honestly because they fear that being caught doing something dishonest will cost them dearly. More often than not, ordinary men live neither by faith nor by sight but by calculated compromise

SURINDER KUMAR MARWAHA
New Delhi.

Gifted children

This refers to "give a Gift to the gifted ones" by Nonika Singh (August 22). The writer does not seem to have concluded as to who is gifted. Although academic brilliance should not be confused with giftedness but academic brilliance is the only measures of giftedness. Otherwise what it the rationale for having pre-conditions of merit and enterance tests for all professional and even post graduate courses? I agree that under-achievement is the difference between potential and performance but what merit does potential deserve if it cannot perform? How many Einstens and Churchills must have gone unsung because they failed to prove their potential and lost all opportunities to perform.

Harleen Kohli’s argument quoted in the article that education in India is fraught with political nuances is not an apprehension but a reality. A candidate’s ability to secure payment seats in professional colleges make the need to qualify entrance test redundant.

KUNAL SURI
Kakira

Legendary poet of Punjab

Apropos of Narinder S. Kapoor’s article "Legendary poet of Punjab " August 22), the writer has written very little on the secularism of Waris Shah.

Waris Shah was a staunch Muslim but not a bigot. In Islam strict purdah is prescribed for women. But in Heer, Waris Shah has vehemently criticised purdah by writing — Ghund annian kare sujakhian nu —". Similarly he has written about Balnath sect of Jogis in which Ranjah got himself admitted. This means that the Jogi sect of Balnath was open to adherents of different religions and was secular in nature. All this shows that secularism was the main plank of the Punjabi society in the times of Waris Shah.

O.P. SHARMA
Faridabad

Ex-servicemen’s woes

Apropos of K.S. Bajwa’s article" Old soldiers never die" (August 29), I fully endorse the writer’s views that pensions even though liberal are not always adequate. It may not be possible for an ex-serviceman to make ends meet within his pension. Resettlement is a genuine issue and it requires serious attention and deft handling but this issue has taken a back seat. This is one of the major reasons why young people are not attracted to a military career. The government must accept the long standing and legitimate demands of ex-servicemen or for one rank one pension without delay.

PARTAP SINGH
Dasuya