Belan lesson

“Patels and Valentine” (Sat Extra, Feb 14) was informative. It was amusing to learn that the colourful custom originated in India and that the “belan” was the mother of the popular custom. No doubt, the handy “belan”, deftly used, can bring an erring husband on the right track. The harried husband could wriggle out of the ordeal only by offering attractive gifts to the irate “bitter-half”.

Thus, “Valentine” is doubly blessed. That the western culture has given it a nasty twist is, of course, a different matter.

TARA CHAND, Ambota (Una)

Worthless pursuit

‘Living in the Twilight Zone’ by Shoma A. Chatterji was a comment on the emerging trend of live-in relationships as an alternative to formal marriage. In fact, live-in relationship is a marriage without responsibility.

Though the general perception is that live-in relationship comes without the bondage and responsibilities of marriage, the reality is that in such a relationship, too, one has to make a lot of adjustments and compromises.

Thus, the point is that whether doing all this for a temporary relationship is worth it or not.

The recent Supreme Court ruling in this regard would only promote bigamy and trample the rights of legally wedded woman.

In this context, National Commission for Women Chairperson Girija Vyas has rightly said, “We feel that law should clearly define a person in a long-term relationship so that this clause is not misused.” Besides, both mistress and wife are victims in case the man is married, as such there is no provision in the Domestic Violence Act, 2005.

If this trend of live-in relationships is not checked in time, then it would affect the social system.

RAJINDER SINGH TAGGER, Gurdaspur

Shocking expose

The write-up ‘Nun’s expose’ (Spectrum, March 8) was shocking. A former nun’s autobiographical account of sexual abuses prevalent in Convents, besides ill-treatment being meted out by superiors to nuns was appalling.

Fifty two-year-old author of the book, Sister Jesme, said that with this book, “I want society to know what is happening to the sisters in Convent”. Her superiors described her as a mentally sick person and sent her to a rehabilitation centre.n

SIARA SING MANAV, Batala

Belan lesson

The item “Patels and Valentine” (“This Above All”. Saturday Extra. Feb. 14) is interesting and informative. It was amusing to learn that the colourful custom originated in India and that the “ belan” was the mother of the popular custom. No doubt, the handy “belan”, deftly used, can bring an erring husband on the right track. The harried husband could wriggle out of the ordeal only by offering attractive gifts to the irate “bitter-half”. Thus “Valentine” is doubly blessed. That the western culture has given it a nasty twist is, of course, a different matter.

TARA CHAND, Ambota (Una)

Two sides of the same coin

Reference Khushwant Singh’s write-up (Saturday Extra, Feb 14) followed by comments of Lajpat Rai Garg (March 1) on “What is love”. I would like to add that lust and love are inseparable emotions. The temporal and the spiritual go hand-in-hand. Mother symbolises both in the true sense. Maternity is both her privilege and pride. Often, she is a martyr at the altar. She stands for purity and eternity. The present embarrassing controversy is the bi-product of an unethical competition, rather than an ethical cooperation between these two natural instincts.

SHANTI SWAROOP SHARMA, Dharamsala