Are the sounds of music hollow?

JAGJIT SINGH, the ghazal singer in his interview with Belu Maheshwari (January 31) says in response to a question that the "so-called ‘competitive’ programme on TV are just an eyewash" and that "the producer has to run his programme and so they make tailor-made software".

The observation is surprising. Eminent people connected with the field of music often appear as judges in such programmes and shower rich praise on their organisers. They tell the viewers things like how "useful" such programmes are in scouting for and promoting talented singers. In fact, Jagjit himself has often acted as a judge in the TVS Sa Re Ga Ma programme of Zee TV and, like others, spoken highly about it.

A question that arises is: If such programmes are, indeed, an "eyewash" and "tailor-made", why do these eminent singers, composers, etc speak as highly about them before the camera? Is it that they allow themselves to be a part of the "eyewash"? If yes, will it not be better for them to refuse to participate in such programmes rather than compromise with their conscience in such a manner?

SURENDRA MIGLANI
Kaithal

Snakes and ladders

This refers to Vandana Shukla’s article "Snakes and ladders" (January 10) towards the end of the article, the writer expresses the fear that we may slide into a male-dominated society in the name of gender equality via reservation.

"Back" to a male dominated society? When were feminine attributes apotheosised in the first place? Our development pattern unequivocally follows the western model, which necessitates the glorification of masculine traits.

So long as the mind of the elite is not freed of western shibboleths and an alternative model of development with gender bias towards femininity is not adopted, it is difficult to foresee femininity ever being put on a pedestal as masculinity in socio-cultural terms.

In the absence of such an arrangement, women can have no escape from the gender equality pervaded by male values.

AKHILESH
Chandigarh

II

Are women defining a role for themselves in a society that recognises achievements spelt out in a male parlance? Are we heading back to a male dominated society in the name of equality. The basic point while discussing sexual equality is that real freedom proceeds from the realisation that we are all human beings trapped in a web of circumstances and it is the cooperation and not confrontation between the sexes that will lead to mutual liberation.

The role of women in contemporary society is caught in a constant flux of new equations. The wiredup world makes no critical distinction between the sexes in terms of the old divides of brute physical strength and the constraints of the child-rearing, biological model in which women are cast. Both sexes have to prove themselves anew in the new information environment. The author’s assertion Rabri Devi’s becoming a CM is a mere chance is flawed. It is the strength of the system which has facilitated her becoming a CM.

Men should now adapt their role playing to incorporate the female strengths, rather than it being the other way round.

ONKAR CHOPRA
Ludhiana

How boring!

Surbhi Kalra’s article "Why are the classroooms boring"? (January 17) was thought-provoking.

Teachers have forgotten their moral responsibility towards the nation. Most government teachers say yeh to sarkari kaam hai, apne aap hota rahega.

Various suggestions given by the writer are praiseworthy. However, unless clean buildings, proper seating arrangement for students and necessary teaching material for the teachers are provided by the government to the institutions, such suggestions can’t produce fruitful results.

SHAMMI SHARMA
Sunam

II

Commercialisation has caused this noble mission to become a profession. Persons who don’t have any inclination towards teaching have started joining this profession.

It is the only profession where a person can exhibit and nourish his talents through his students. Besides patience and perseverance, a teacher should have a sparking effect to provoke the hidden talents of his students. He should be competent enough to create a conducive atmosphere in the class thus helping to ward away boredom.

NEERU SAHNI
Jalandhar

III

The true duty of a teacher is not only to feed the students but to also know what exactly to feed them and how to make the subjects more palatable and easily digestible.

Like clay models, students too can shaped or misshaped — according to the type of the teachers they get. Many persons living in isolation could have gained recognition and fame if they were lucky enough to have a right teacher at the right time. Quotes such as "Parents give birth, teachers give worth" and "I am indebted to my parents for my living and to my teachers for my living well" can maintain their validity these days if only persons with the sole ambition of becoming teachers join this profession.

ANUP K. GAKKHAR
Jalandhar

Bridging the gap

Apropos of T.G.L. Iyer’s article "Bridging the gap between aspiration and achievement" (January 24), I wish to say that we live in an environment in which man is measured by his material achievements. As a result, he is preoccupied with things to accomplish and ends to reach. Gaining material success is important, but it is not the only thing that makes a man happy and efficient.

Efficiency means learning/aspiring to do things in the best, easiest and quickest way to achieve not only material accomplishment but other goals as well.

Therefore achievement is purpose, practice, patience, the ability to use our passions and emotions, likes and dislikes, habits and experience. It is alertness and readiness to adjust ourselves to the unexpected.

Bridging the gap between aspiration and achievement, therefore, means controlling ourselves, our family, and our work. It means making use of our time and talent so that we live to the full in all the important fields of our life, work, play, love and service.

O.P. SHARMA
Faridabad

From bondage to ...

Y.P. Dhawan in his "From bondage to freedom" has rightly concluded that the war of freedom is essentially between father and sons. In other words, it is due to the generation-gap.

Human institutions tend to be static and lose their original relevance after some time. With the people, who established the institutions at a given point of time, having gone, the latter get congealed and the new generations feel that they are being ruled by the dead from their graves! That is the real tragedy.

No doubt, most of the institutions of the past become deadwood, but not all of them. Restraint and discipline, to some extent, has to be observed by every generation. If the need for the same is internalised by the generation concerned, then it takes the form of self-restraint and self-discipline. Restraint and discipline when imposed from without, are termed as bondage. But some times it becomes necessary to impose the same from without for the benefit of those whom we love.

It is a totally different matter if our perception of the right proves to be wrong. It also does not mean that the power-hungry dictator be allowed to have his way in the name of restraint and discipline or anushasan parv!

The viveka (the discriminating intellectual power) of man holds the key to this enigma. That is why the Buddha declared: Be your lamp yourself. Let your viveka be your guide.

SURINDRA AJNAT
Banga