Cricket: A commercial venture

APROPOS of Ashwini Bhatnagar’s article "The 10 memorable sights in World Cup ‘99" (June 13), where in the writer has included images of three Indian players — Sachin Tendulkar, the superman of cricket, Saurav Ganguly, the player with a magic touch and Rahul Dravid, Mr Correct. It is surprising, the list of images does not include the name of Ajay Jadeja, a versatile player. Besides, the writer has failed to delve into the question of commercialisation of cricket.

One could not help noting, that cricket has been reduced to just another commercial venture. The corporate giants and MNC’s make use of live coverage to advertise their products. Our players appear to be advertising for all kinds of things, including cold-drinks, credit cards, tooth pastes, shoes, shampoos and even tyres. The players spend more time promoting products than practising on the field. Whenever one switches on the TV one sees player pushing one product or another. Is it any wonder then that our cricket team failed to reach even the semi-final stage?

O.P. SHARMA
Faridabad

Work styles

"Different work styles" by Taru Behl (June 13) was very interesting. Here I would like to quote David Grayson’s saying "Happiness I have discovered is nearly always a rebound from my hard work". Hard work is the ladder to success. But, as given in the article, there are numerous ways of accomplishing your work. Of the many examples given by writer (turtles, sharks, teddy bears, foxes, owls, donkeys) my view is that owls are the best. These people achieve their goals on the one hand and also take care of their various relationships on the other as compared to sharks and foxes who are ready to hurt anyone for their self-interest. Also one should not be like Teddy bears, always sacrificing one’s own interests for other people and neither should be one protective like turtles nor inferior like mules. So be steady, achieve your goals, taking care of other people’s feelings too.

NISHIMA WANGOO
Chandigarh

Work is worship

Apropos Taru Behl’s write up ‘Work is Worship’ (June 6) the writer has rightly observed that fruits of labour are sweeter than the gifts of luck as they are based on the solid foundations of diligence and single-minded devotion. Truly, the world belongs to those who work. Even God feels happy to see those who work in order to create. Hard work purifies the character and makes man a fit soldier for the battle of life. The writer echoes the eternal message of The Gita when she says that selfless action alone keeps the soul free. An action without any selfish end becomes a source of joy and contentment.

ANJNA SABARWAL
Ambala Cantt

Violent generation

In the context of Aradhika Sekhon’s write-up "Generationext generation violent"(June 6), although violence is not a new phenomenon and has been around since times immemorial, yet is has never been as prevalent and as profound as it is in our society today. The cult of violence has spread its vicious tentacles like a malignant tumour so much so that the mindset of a whole generation seek to be changing very rapidly. Juvenile delinquency and especially violent crimes have accelerated as a backlash of children imbibing the knowledge of violence at a very early age, as rightly viewed by the author.

The various incidents of violence as mentioned in the write-up can be traced to a two-way reaction on the mind of a youngster. One part starts from the childhood while the other comes down from elders. The psyche of any child starts getting influenced by violence at a very early age with television and films being the main culprits. Though the influence is induced very subtly and escapes notice by elders yet it delves very deeply in the child’s raw psyche.

As the child grows and gets faculties of analysis and understanding he picks up all sorts of seemingly harmless violent rhetoric which keeps on seeping in. By the time he steps out of adolescence, he has already become part and parcel of society and he either becomes a silent spectator or a party to violence. A combination of subtle infusion in early childhood and percolation of violent signals from a society of elders forms too lethal a concoction and more often than not youngsters succumb to it. General apathy to violence also plays a part and makes them adopt an attitude of complacency towards violence.

Although the situation has deteriorating steadily yet, in my opinion, it has still not reached a point of no return. The attitude of complacency by society has to be shed and a more serious view of violence has to be taken. On the other hand, a set of clear and transparent values has to be inculcated in children by parents and teachers alike. Similarly the media too has to pay its part more responsibly by abstaining from both sensationalism and a glorification of any kind of violence.

K.M. VASHISHT
Mansa

II

This refers to the article: "Generationext generation violent" by Aradhika Sekhon (June 6). We certainly cannot wish away the fact that expressions of violence are constantly visible and audible in Indian life. That should make us sit up and seriously deliberate and ponder over the causes of adolescent violence in urban India and the role of the entertainment media.

It is the increasing exposure of youth to liberal doses of sex and violence via the media, films and satellite TV which is doings the maximum harm. We must be conscious of the harmful impact of viewing violence – ‘it increases the fear of becoming a victim of violence with a resultant increase in self-protective behaviours and mistrust of others’ as as has been highlighted in this write-up. As the rate and intensity of violence involving youth and children is escalating in alarming proportions, the solutions provided by the author in this write-up to rectify the situation merit serious consideration and immediate action.

ONKAR CHOPRA
Ludhiana

Individual as resource

This refers to A.P.N. Pankaj’s article "Individual as a resource" (May 16). An entrant in the institution comes with his personal beliefs and values. This may hamper harmonious relationships with his peers, superiors and subordinates. This is a ticklish situation which needs to be handled tactfully. The individual should be equipped with the necessary skills. His unique abilities should be valued and put to use and he should also be helped to discover his latent talents.

It is true that an individual’s family life is badly affected due to his involvement in the organisation’s work. The author lays the blame for this on the organisation. But have not family members over-reacted in the situation. After all, they are the direct beneficiaries of his position in the organisation; their status and prosperity derive from his growth in the organisation.

AKHILESH
Berampur

Valour of Sikhs

Apropos of "Sacrifice valour hallmark of Sikhs" (June 6) T.V. Rajeshwar has committed a few mistakes that I would like to correct. The tenth Guru baptised himself, the Panj Piaras and the Sikhs to initiate a new faith and established the Khalsa Panth at the age of 33 and not 38, as the writer mentions.

The author describes Jat peasantry as the prime vehicle for militant Sikhism, which is also against the very fundamentals of Sikhism, which has no belief in caste, race, colour or creed. The Sikh community as a whole is the vehicle. Sikhism is above all diversities and preaches oneness. Banda Bairagi (Saint man) or Banda Bahadur (Brave man) was not a Hindu, but a Hindu converted to Sikhism. He was baptised and named Gurbuax Singh. The writer deserves kudos for making the concept of Raj Karega Khalsa as "the pure shall rule", crystal clear.

H.S. DIMPLE
Jagraon