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L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R

Love gets stronger with time

I don’t agree with the views expressed by Khushwant Singh in “What is love?” (Saturday Extra, Feb 14). Lust is a primitive instinct, which may be necessary for reproduction, but love is a benign feeling.

Lust is momentary whereas love is forever. Physical attraction fuels lust, but love is a sublime feeling which blossoms on hidden qualities of heart and soul. Lust gives birth to aggression love brings togetherness.

Love between Laila-Majnu, Shirin-Farhaad and Sohni-Mahivaal did not sprout because of lust. Had it been so, their stories would not have survived over the centuries. So, it is wrong to say, “As lust begins to abate, love begins to lose its shine.” Rather love gets stronger with the passage of time.

Younger generation’s crazy behaviour on the Valentine’s Day can’t, by any stretch of imagination, be called an expression of love. It surely is an expression of lust.

LAJPAT RAI GARG, Chandigarh

Unethical practice

All ancient scriptures of religious and ethical importance have held the institution of marriage in high esteem (“Living in the Twilight Zone”, Spectrum, Feb 15).

Marriage is a harbour in the tempest of life. It acts as an aid in the mental and spiritual growth of a person. It instills the sense of responsibility, duty and social obligation.

The socially accepted tradition of marriage is quite different from practice of live in relationships. No society, sect or scripture has advocated this type of relationship.

Prof ANUP K. GAKKAR, Haridwar

Save tigers

The main purpose of national parks and sanctuaries like Kanha National Park (“A tryst with Tigers”, Spectrum, Feb 8) is to protect the endangered. But it is agonising to know that despite there being 25 sanctuaries and national parks in 14 states, tigers are being hunted ruthlessly. The population of tigers in the country is reported to be a little over 1,400 and the day is not far when this majestic animal would be completely wiped out if poachers are not given a crushing blow. The preservation of wildlife is in our own best interest. Tigers play a crucial role in the eco-system. Their disappearance will cause an ecological catastrophe. So to endorse the views of the writer it is time to speak up against the traditional Chinese medicine, which is the main cause of tiger hunting. Wildlife protection laws must be enforced in letter and spirit.

TARSEM S. BUMRAH, Batala

Inimitable Ghalib

Azra Raza and Sara Sulari, translators of Ghalib’s 21 ghazals, have remarked “poetry loses much of its verbal music in translation” (“Ghalib: Lost in translation” Saturday Extra, Jan 24).

According to Dante, whose own poems have been rendered into many languages, no poetic work can be translated without losing all its sweetness and harmony.

His verses are very obstruse. Some metaphors and phrases defy expression in any other language. Being profound and hard to understand no one’s translation of Ghalib’s verses can be faithful and true to the spirit of the original.

BHAGWAN SINGH, Qadian

Waiting for Sainik Sanman pension
I read Lt-Col Chanan Singh Dhillon’s letter, “Brave face of India” (Spectrum, Feb 15). The British raised New Delhi’s India Gate to perpetuate the memory of those heroes who died during World War I.
The writer has mentioned about a similar Manin Gate built in Belgium to highlight the sacrifices of soldiers in World War I and even the names of Indian soldiers engraved in it.
The writer has lamented the government’s apathy in not raising such a memorial for soldiers who died during World War II and in 1947, 1965 and 1971 wars. Mercifully, the welfare of the soldiers is the last item on the government’s agenda.
As a result, hundreds of soldiers and freedom fighters died facing acute poverty.
The Tribune highlighted the plight of many soldiers, particularly in 2006 the case of Major Gurdit Singh who revolted against the British in February 1946 and was dismissed as he pleaded guilty.
He ran from pillar to post during the last six decades for the grant of Sainik Sanman pension but our babus are too busy to listen to his petition on priority.
It was only in 2006 that the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Centre to grant him the Sainik Sanman pension.
Maj NARINDER SINGH JALLO (retd), Mohali