Sunday, November 12, 2000		Feedback

APROPOS of Aradhika Sekhon’s article "The no-child family" (October 29), it has rightly been observed that a new generation of vocal women has emerged, who prefer to be without child, in order to enhance their careers. Yet in our society, a woman without child is looked upon, if not looked down upon, as some sort of oddity to be shunned. She has to face social and family pressure. Though the couple decide in favour of a "no-child family" and do not feel inadequate in any sense, yet their relatives lose no opportunity of reminding them of the fact that they do not have children.

But the woman without child is happier, more successful, more sympathetic, more helpful than the disgruntled mother, whose child either goes astray or revolts against her. In this age of baby boom and population explosion, if the couple decides in favour of a no child family, no eye/brows should be raised, and they should be allowed to lead their lives in their own way.

RISHAM
Rajpura

With reference to T.R. Ramchandran’s article "The law takes its course" (October 22), it will perhaps be too optimistic to say that the rule of law is finally beginning to reach out to the rich and the powerful in India. The significance of the fact that in the course of a fortnight two major political figures have had reasons to rue their indiscreet past cannot be denied. True, their cases are still in the early stages of judicial review and nothing can be said at the moment about the final verdict. But undeniably the travails of former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and former Chief Minister Jayalalitha show that the cherished ideal of no one being above the law is slowly being achieved. Clearly, a dent has been made in the widely prevelant belief that it is only the small fry who pay for their indiscretions while the arm of the law is never long enough to touch the high and the mighty.

There was a time in the 1990s when a slew of corruption allegations were filed against politicians and for a brief moment the country told itself nobody is above law. But as case after case either came unstuck or ended in acquittals, the country had to take back its words.

So when Judge Ajit Bharihoke handed former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao a conviction in the JMM bribery case, people were not ashamed (of having had a prime minister who had been found guilty of corruption) but actually felt proud of being Indians because the order was taken to mean that nobody was above the law of the land.

K.M. VASHISHT
Mansa

This refers to the write-up on Githa Hariharan by Belu Maheshwari (October 29).

Her upbringing is described as being "middle-class". Well, she grew up in Manila in the Philippines, went to college in the USA and also worked on her first job in the USA. I would have liked to have a "middle-class" upbringing like that!

N.S. DHAMI
Ludhiana

This refers to the article "Officers and gentlemen" by Manohar Malgonkar (October 15) in which he describes the "gentlemanly" facet of an army officer’s behavious.

True, army officers are supposed to be, and mostly are, gentlemen, too, their behaviour on the whole being sophisticated and polite. This decency, sophistication and chivalrous touch is specifically evident from their habitreferring to the wives of others as "lady wives". Maybe, bravery and gallantry have been going together for the last thousands of years.

AMRIT PAL TIWANA
Kalka

The principle that a military officer is also a gentleman, continues to be the main source of strength of the Indian Army. Even when there is a sharp fall in moral and ethical standards in our society, an army officer is still held in esteem. In the Indian Military Academy where officer training is imparted, a cadet is known as "GC" (Gentlemen Cadet).

Even the Army Act lays down penalities "for conduct unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman." As one passes through Delhi Cantt, one sees display boards along the roadside which highlight the importance of qualities like honesty, loyalty and gentlemanliness. I appeal to our new Chief of Army Staff Gen Padmanabhan, to ensure that all ranks live up to these high ideals and that the unwritten code of behaviour for the officer class is kept alive in our Army for all times to come.

ONKAR CHOPRA
New Delhi

After reading "Ways to beat boredom" by Dharmendra Rataul (October 22), I am reminded of what Herbert Tree said on the subject. He once commented, "He is an old bore; even the grave yawns for him".

The Devil’s Dictionary has defined a bore as "a person who talks when you wish him to listen".

ROSHNI JOHAR
Shimla

The writer has given useful tips to beat boredom. Man aspires for what he has not. Young or old everyone is a victim of boredom. Boredom damages us both physically as well as mentally. Man is a pleasure-seeker and when he faces some impediment he loses patience. But remember that every dark cloud has a silver lining. We must treat our profession as a hobby or change it. We should prefer reading to watching TV. While walking, listen to the sound of a brook and chirpings of birds.

DES RAJ PATHANIA
Hamirpur

Apropos of "How beneficial can dairy writing be?" by Mohinder Singh (October 15), to keep a diary means to record one’s reactions to various events, one’s changes of moods, one’s impressions of people and places,one’s triumphs and defeats, one’s hopes and fears, one’s hates and loves — in short one’s whole experience of life. It is a source of profound pleasure to sit down for an hour or so and enter every day in a diary whatever has interested, angered, intrigued, stirred, astonished, shocked or scandalised one. If there is some burden on one’s mind, putting its down in writing will bring immediate relief.

Above all, diary gives a retrospective view of life. An old, grey-haired man can revive the dead irretrievable years of his golden youth. The glory of his romantic love will revisit his heart and old forgotten sensations will surge through his body. He will feel gripped by his own account of his day-to-day life. Even if his life has been of the prosaic, humdrum kind, he will not fail to derive pleasure from his recollections and reminiscences.

Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction and a diary and that too a personal diary may prove even more interesting than a novel. Every one must have heard of Samuel Pepsy who left behind him a unique diary which besides giving us a supremely interesting picture of the writer himself, affords no less interesting picture of the times in which he lived.

VIJAY SHEEL JAIN
Ludhiana

This refers to "domesticated sons are not sissies" by Tarn Bhal (October 8). I believe if one can manage one’s home better than he shall be successful in all in endeavours. Working at home makes one completely self-reliant. It saves boys form distraction and they also learn the technique of time management. It’s only because girls manage both domestic chores and their studies that they are able to bear the stress in almost all time-bound jobs. Thus, boys can also live a life that has time for creative work and can contribute a lot to the development of nation.

It gives them confidence of arranging things, dealing with people and attending to their quests. They learn decision making at an early age because their opinions are sought. Being involved in home matters also give them an idea about financial management. They become cooperative and better human beings.

B.M. PURI
Solan

Apropos of M.L. Dhawan’s article "Simplicity is his metier" (October 29), Hrishikesh Mukherjee deservedly won the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award for the year 1999. His life is an interesting saga of rise from a small beginning as a laboratory assistant to becoming a famous film director. He was at his best while directing films like Anari, Asli Naqli, Anupama, Anand, Ashirwaad, Abhimaan, Namak Haram, Chupke Chupke and Golmaal, among others.

Undoubtedly, Hrishida has left an indelible impression as a film director on the minds of film goers and carved a niche for himself in the annals of Indian film industry.

ASHWINI BHASKAR
Yamunanagar