Sunday, May 12, 2002		Feedback

Time to save Chandigarh

APROPOS of Ashwini Bhatnagar’s article "Talking about Chandigarh... and it is not yet 50" (April 14), Chandigarh is fast losing its sheen and shine.

The city’s environment, fragrance and flavour has given way to insanitation, stinking heaps of garbage, water shortage, pollution, water-borne diseases and muddy water in taps. Shortage of safe drinking water, pressure of the burgeoning population on the educational institutions, hospitals and the public transport system have created a near-chaotic situation in the city.

Twenty per cent of the city’s population lives in slums and jhuggis. These children of a lesser God defecate in the open, thus polluting the environment further.

Durga Bhardwaj, Solan

The article "The year of path breaking films" (April 14) by M.L. Dhawan was nicely written, but I regret to say that the author hasn’t done much research. A few facts are wrong. First in the movie Janne Bhi Do Yaaron, Satish Shah is not a Police Commissioner but Municipal Commissioner and second, in the movie Mandi its not Saeed Jaffery but Kulbhushan Kharbanda who displaces the kotha as he owns the place. Saeed Jaffery has been shown protecting Shabana Azmi and her girls.

Atul Sharma, California

Apropos of Taru Bahl’s write-up "Male bonding out of its depth" (April 7). It is a strange paradox of the modern world that while the whole world stands reduced to a global village, the gap between individuals has increased manifold.

Man has become so self-centred that he fears discussing or sharing his aspirations and plans with his friends for fear of being exploited, betrayed or outsmarted. It is really pitiable that one should always be tormented by fears of being betrayed by ones near and dear ones or should doubt the sincerity of advice one gets from close friends and relatives.

While man may have taken long strides in his material growth, emotionally he is on the verge of bankruptcy. Man’s false concept of dignity and self-respect has not only put him in his self-made closed chambers, howsoever cosy and comfortable, but has also broken all lines of communication with the people around.

Ved Guliani, Hisar

Apropos of Pran Nevile’s write-up "Stories of royal romance from Mughal India" (March 31).

Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah’s eldest son, Muizz-ud-Din (Jahandar Shah) was a weak and dissolute monarch, addicted to losthsome vices. He indulged in nocturnal drunken frolics with worthless people. Devoid of shame or honour, the licentious Shah, while passing through the bazars, seized wives and daughters of helpless people.

Lal Kunwar, a vulgar concubine, had complete control over him. He conferred the title of Imtiyaaz Mahal Begum (the most distinguished lady of the palace) on her. She imitated the style of Noorjahan. Because of her immense influence over the decadent King, her relatives got high positions and became so fearless and impudent that they misbehaved with the highest dignitaries. She had the audacity to insult Zeb-un-Nisa, the highly learned daughter of Aurangzeb. She got her friend Zohrah, a petty vegetable seller, promoted to a very high rank.

Khafi Khan writes: "In the brief reign of Jahandar, violence had full sway. It was fine time for minstrels and singers and all tribes of dancers and actors".

Bhagwan Singh, Qadian