Running the show ... her way

THIS refers to the article "Running the show .... her way" by Taru Bahl (July 8) wherein the writer has analysed the ways in which men and women exercise command and control by showing how their brains operate differently, but not necessarily at different levels of efficiency. They operate with slightly different strategies and are complementary, but not superior or inferior to one another.

Today women are doing well in almost all the spheres, including those that demand long working hours and the use of physical strength. Earlier women joined the army only as doctors and nursing officers, but now they are in it as regular officers, going tough exercises, handling all sorts of weapons and huge vehicles. Our confident and strong women do the men of our country proud, for just as there is a woman behind every successful man, there is mostly a man behind a successful woman, too. And this supportive and healthy attitude certainly augurs well for our society as a whole.

AMRIT PAL TIWANA
Kalka

Apropos of I.M. Soni’s article "The importance of leisure" (June 17), in any machinery, if there is unnecessary friction, the power consumption goes up. Similarly if we become unnecessarily highstrung, a great part of our energy goes to smoothen this friction and our overall efficiency level declines. Relaxation means unwinding when we are tense and overworked. Leisure or relaxation smoothens out our tensions and we become buoyant enough to start work again smoothly and efficiently.

O.P. SHARMA
Faridabad

Apropos of the two lead articles on the Dasam Granth (June 17), I fully agree with the logically concluded views of Dr Gurbhagat Singh, which should lay every controversy, with regard to its authorship, to rest.

In fact I find Guru Gobind Singh’s Akal Purakh not different from Guru Nanak’s Akal Murat. The only difference seems to be in their interpretations. While Guru Nanak delved more on sufiana explanations, ("He cannot be proved, for he is uncreated; he is without matter, self-existent" — from Guru Nanak’s Japji Sahib translated by Khushwant Singh), and remained vociferously critical of the then prevalent ritualism of different religions, Guru Gobind Singh’s ethereal canvas seemed not only extensive but also without any religious rancour, as is rightly described by the writer.

Since the Dasam Granth has not been accepted as a part of the main Guru Granth Sahib, which was personified as the future Guru of the Sikhs by Guru Gobind Singh himself, the controversy is not new. Only the players are new and appear to be focusing their controversy on political mischief alone. However all the right-thinking Sikh scholars should grab this opportunity to have a sincere look at the Dasam Granth so that it could honourably be added to the main Granth.

BALVINDER
via e-mail