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Greatness of Gurudev

Apropos ‘Gurudev was genius’ by Khushwant Singh (Jan 22), I would like to mention a little known fact about the reverence with which Rabindranath Tagore is held worldwide. During my recent visit to Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-on-Avon, I was pleasantly surprised and proud to see Gurudev’s bust adorning the garden path in the house where Shakespeare was born (now converted into a memorial).

He is the only other poet who has been given this honour. There is no statue of any other poet except Shakespeare in the whole of Stratford-on-Avon. This goes to prove Gurudev’s greatness as a poet and the recognition he has earned internationally.

Mohinder Bhatnagar, New Delhi

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Men sans vision

This is with reference to the book by B. R. Nanda (Spectrum, January 2), wherein there are many players like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Jinnah.

The British were ruling India with the policy of divide and rule. The Muslim League was hostile towards the Hindus as well as the Sikhs, an enmity which is evident from history.

These big leaders never thought over how a peaceful Partition could be carried out without the killing of innocent people and confiscating of each other’s properties.

It seems these very leaders themselves wanted to rule a divided India. Thus, the architects of Partition cannot be called men of vision.

Sher Singh, Ludhiana

Balance labour-management interests
Raj Chengappa’s interview with Union Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge (January23) has touched the major issues concerning India’s labour, especially rural unemployment, tremendous shortage of skilled labour and the problem of child labour.
It has brought out how the government intends to remove the labour inspector raj by providing workers with social security, ensuring equal wages for equal work and reducing the exploitation of contract labour by initiating reforms in the unorganised sector.
Mr. Kharge intends to make a balance between labour and management to protect the interests of both. The government plans to encourage skill development by enhancing the intake capacity of ITIs. Compulsory education of children between 6 and 14 years along with mid-day meals in schools will solve the child labour problem. Indeed, the government is taking care of their food, education and even health needs. Cooperation is sought from NGOs, trade unions, employees and the media to speed up the reforms.
Capt. S.K. DATTA, Abohar

Public-spirited actor

The Profile column by Harihar Swarup published in The Sunday Tribune (Jan 23) has reminded me the hit movies of national awardee B. Saroja Devi like Sasural and Paigam. She has acted in more than 180 Telugu, Kannad, Tamil and Hindi movies with leading actors. She could not get fame as did other actors like Vijaynthimala and Hema Malini from the South but she will always be remembered for her commendable work for the weaker sections of society.

She opened rehabilitation centres and took up health programmes, which is rare in the film industry although many have a lot of wealth.

O P Garg, Patiala