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

Equal status eludes the fair sex

The article, “No more moral policing please” (May 2) by Rajesh Gill was thought-provoking. A woman lives in a man’s world. From the very initial stage of human civilization, a woman has been a constant source of mystery and fascination for man. He has desired her, loved her and worshipped her but has never been able to grant her equal status. I share the writer’s objective perception that women have made a phenomenal progress in all walks of life. They have done a commendable job as academics, doctors, sportswomen and politicians but they have yet to attain equality with men in real life. As far as the questions of dress code and stalking are concerned, we must take a close look at our age-old beliefs about girl-child and women. From the tender age of five, we discourage our daughters to mix with boys.

As they grow up, the distance between two also widens. Instead of allowing both sexes to develop a healthy attitude towards one another girls are continuously made aware of their being weak and vulnerable. They are expected to eat less, speak less and remain silent in the face of male aggression. Her worth as an individual is reduced to her body. She must suppress her sexuality and hide herself from peering male eyes. In other words, girls are taught from their childhood to remain passive and submissive whereas boys are taught to conquer the world and win most beautiful girls as their wives. This male aggression is manifest in our public places, moving trains and buses, in desolate streets where the shameless and mindless stalking takes place. We must take help of psychiatrists and social workers to counsel and educate our urban middle classes about the need to develop a healthy and sensible attitude towards the fair sex.

Dr RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad

Ideology of terror

The editorial “World after Osama: Now time to combat his ideology of terror” (May 3) briefly sums up the story of hide and seek between the US Armed Forces and the world’s leader of terror squads. Cutting across party lines, the Americans are in a celebratory mood. Both in Washington D.C. and New York the crowds were ecstatic and hailed it as a victory of human goodness over the forces of evil. 

The men and women on the streets are applauding the efforts of the US Special Forces in keeping this sensitive operation a secret from their Pakistani counterparts. The US’s past experience in sharing vital information with authorities in Pakistan has been very bad. The US had virtually entrapped him in the Tora Bora Hills of Afghanistan several years ago, but the intelligence agencies of Pakistan tipped him off and he escaped unscathed. This time the US did not make the same mistake and succeeded in killing him.

The Americans wanted this kind of good news to generate a “feel good effect”. The Republicans have also hailed this operation carried out under the orders of US President Barack Obama. Just as the divided America rallied unitedly under President George W Bush in September of 2001 after the destruction of the World Trade Centre, a similar feeling can be felt all across the US. This is likely to boost the morale of the people and will rejuvenate the economy of the country.

HARJAP SINGH AUJLA, New Jersey, USA

II

It is heartening to know that the most dreaded terrorist of the world, Osama bin Laden is no more. That he has been shot dead by the US forces in a combat operation on the Pakistani land has exposed Pakistan’s lies that Osama was not in its country.

Surely, Pakistan had been misleading the world all these years. Now it is time to celebrate the victory of good over evil, but the world should not lower its guard against terrorism. Instead, the fight against terror must be intensified to eliminate all the remaining terrorists to make the world a safer place to live in.

Hats off to the US army for bringing to an end the most wanted terrorist of the world. Of course, Osama’s death will benefit President Barack Obama who is likely to be re-elected.

R K KAPOOR, Mumbai

III

The editorial has aptly highlighted the need to arrest Osama’s ideology of terror. The operation has exposed Pakistan’s hypocritical approach. It is difficult to believe that anyone can sneak into a dictatorial state like Pakistan, remain in a hideout without state support and enjoy all basic amenities like paid supplies of water, electricity and all other essentials for survival.

Pakistan will have to pay for misleading the world for all this and many other questions as rightly raised in the editorial. The call upon Islamic experts to combat Osama’s ideological legacy of terror with the support of all other well-meaning leaders of the world is timely and must not be ignored at any cost.

TEJINDER SINGH BEDI, Faridabad

Doctors’ image

Ravi K Gupta’s article “Need for cleansing the medical profession” (Apr 28) was interesting. The author is right in asserting that in a country where we find rampant corruption in politics, bureaucracy, and business and now, even in the Army; how can the medical profession remain immune?

But, the fact is that unlike other professions, if ethics take a beating in the medical profession the result would be a disaster. In the eyes of the common man, a doctor is the image of God and this perception should not be diluted.

Dr V K ANAND, Chandigarh

Cherished moment Raj Chengappa’s column Ground Zero titled “Sathya Sai Baba and life after death” (Apr 29) was interesting. The message of love and peace promoted by Sathya Sai Baba has been wonderfully portrayed. Indeed, the writing has extensively dwelt on the mission of Sathya Sai Baba to help the poor and the needy. The article has highlighted both the mission and the message of Sathya Sai Baba. I too have been blessed by him and I also had a personal audience with Sathya Sai Baba when I was invited to perform a “Sufiana qalam”. I will always cherish that occasion. HANS RAJ HANS, Jalandhar