M A I L B A G

Lata’s success: Of virtue and virtuosity

This refers to M.L. Dhawan’s “Music greats through Lata’s eyes” (Spectrum, Sept 26). In her humility, Lata Mangeshkar gives credit for her success to music composers like Madan Mohan, Naushad, C. Ramachandra but it was her vocal virtuosity and her Midas touch that made every song sung by her successful.

Lata’s stature in the world of music is unparalleled. Singing for more than six decades, her name has become synonymous with music. Usually, it is an artist who follows the art but in Lata’s case, art has followed her. When one hears her songs, a spell is cast which can be better felt than described.

R.K. MALHOTRA, Panchkula

II

Lata’s voice, in all its splendour and magnificence, has given expression to all emotions over the past six decades. Lata Mangeshkar is a legend. Everything else pales into insignificance when one hears her enchanting voice.

Music companies should release songs from her shelved or unreleased films like Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke, London, Pinjra, Kabhi Tum Kabhi Hum, Mehek Pyar Ki, Kabhi to Milenge, Mera Sindoor. It would be a pleasure to hear Lata in Yash Chopra’s Veer-Zaara in which she has sung songs composed by the late Madan Mohan.

Dr Nitin Batra, Chandigarh

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor, neatly hand-written or typed in double space, should not exceed the 150-word limit. These can be sent by post to the Letters Editor, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030.

Letters can also be sent by e-mail to: letters@tribuneindia.com 

Articles of faith

This refers to Khushwant Singh’s “Candid confessions” (Saturday Extra, Sept 25). Mirza Ghalib had declared, “I am a kafir if I have abstained from wine on a single day and a sinner if I have recited namaaz even once during my whole life”.

On being asked about his religion by Col Browne, he called himself half-Muslim since he drank wine but avoided pork. He played chess or dice even in the holy month of Ramzan. Yet, instead of chiding him, Islamic scholars and even Hazrat Ghaus Ali Shah Qalandar of Silsila-e-Qadriya, Panipat, held him in high esteem.

BHAGWAN SINGH, Qadian

II

Khushwant Singh seems to be haunted by the fear of death. He should now leave aside all bookish knowledge and remember Nanak lekhe ik gal, hore haume hakhna jhaka, (Nanak says everything is futile except One Thing). Knowledge of God is the key to the secret of life.

NACHHATTAR SINGH, Ludhiana

The slip is showing

Himmat Singh Gill’s ‘Op Bluestar: Questions remain” (Spectrum, Sept 26) tears away the shroud which P.C. Alexander has tried to put on one of the most catastrophic happenings in the history of independent India. The slip clearly shows in his book.

The questions must be answered sincerely and honestly, irrespective of the ramifications. Certainly, there were misconstrued decisions resulting in the blame game that went on after the misadventure.

BHAGWANT SINGH, Mohali

Vanishing species

This refers to Arup Chanda’s, “Wildlife in peril” (Spectrum, Sept 19) highlighting the declining population of wildlife species. Besides animals like star tortoises, sea horses and tiger, birds like peacock, sparrow, kites, vultures and koels are also in peril.

The need of the hour is to save the flora and fauna. Strict action should be taken against those indulging in their smuggling. Poachers should be penalised and put behind the bars. The Wildlife Act needs to be amended.

SOURABH BAMBA, Ferozepore

Refreshing couplets

Bhagwan Singh’s letter (Sept 19) reminded me too, of an Urdu couplet from an unknown poet, which I want to share with the readers of The Tribune: Ik musibat hai lambi zindgani/ Bazurgoan ki duaon ney maar daala (Old age is a curse/ It is due to the blessings of my revered elders.)

Bhagwan Singh’s letters are always refreshing and readable. He has got a couplet for every occasion. His memory is remarkably young at his age (Chasham-e-badoor)!

NARINDRA KHOSLA, Chandigarh

Sex and the law

Apropos of Sanjay Sharma’s “Call of Cash” and Reeta Sharma’s “Don’t moralise, make it legal” (Saturday Extra, Sept 4), it is mind-boggling that the city which was once so reputed is now morally polluted.

For the sake of a luxurious lifestyle, many of these call girls and their pimps do not mind sacrificing their conscience.

The remedy lies in listening to the voice of conscience. The article reminds me of Rousseau who said, “God makes all things good; man meddles with them and they become evil”.

UPASNA TABYAL, Amb (HP)

The divine comedy

Darshan Singh Maini’s “Vision of sin & redemption” (Spectrum, Sept 19) makes a capsule-analysis of Dante’s The Divine Comedy. Dante had called his poem simply The Comedy (La Commedia) and the adjective “Divine” was added by the later generations because it is not a comedy in the modern sense of the word.

The present title was used because it depicts a progress from grief to joy, from damnation to bliss. The poem was written in his native language.

Prof SURJEET MANN, Sangrur