Preference for sons

"FOR the cause of Daughters" by Priyanka Singh (July 22) was a thought-provoking article. It is true that people prefer sons to daughters. Parents believe that sons will look after them when they become old. On the other hand, they shun daughters whom they think are incapable of performing all such deeds, rituals and acts that sons can do. They regard daughters as liabilities .

To some extent women are themselves responsible for the predicament. They themselves prefer sons to daughters.

If this preference for sons continues, a time will come when women will be declared an endangered species. Already the relation of maasi (maternal aunt) is fast becoming rare.

TARSEM S. BUMRAH
Batala

I read with keen interest "An Ode" penned by Nidhi Arora (August 12). An ode is said to be having a single but dignified and exalted theme and is, therefore, of a stately character. It is in the nature of an address. The poem has been addressed to parents.

The ode has an invaluable advice for sons, daughters and even parents. Parents are the most experienced guides and well-wishers that children can have. They support them, they sacrifice their own comforts for their sake, they love them as no one else can. They are the greatest blessing which the children can have. It is their duty, therefore, to revere them, to obey them and to make them happy. When they correct children’s faults by gentle hints, by persuasion or even by rebuke or chastisement, they have the best of motives.

VIJAY SHEEL JAIN
Ludhiana

Apropos of Khushwant Singh’s "This Above All" (August 12), I would like to share with the readers some lines written behind buses, cars, three-wheelers and other vehicles in Hindi, Urdu and English.

l People who jump traffic lights often meet a dead-end.

l Rash drivers break more than just rules.

l Drunken driving can get you an entirely different set of wheels and will give a lot of rest.

l Leave better things behind — not smoke.

l Paidal chalne walon se (Pedestrians) — Aye bhai zara dekh ke chalo. Aage hi nahin peeche bhi.

l What the speeding motorist says to life ? Farewell.

O.P.SHARMA
Faridabad