M A I L B A G

Mandate of society is missing

The proposed Hindu Succession Bill planned for introduction in the current session of Parliament does not have the mandate of the Hindu Society. To say that majority voting in the Parliament speaks for 80 crores of Hindu population is far from reality. The Bill, which affects the fundamental ethos of society, must have the voluntary acceptance of society. Otherwise it will cause social ripples, resulting in harmful resultants rather than any good which the Bill intends.

The consequences of the legislation on prohibition and dowry demands are well-known examples. Has the legislative measures eliminated drinking or curses of dowry?

The legislators will do well to ponder over the experiences. Unless society is prepared to accept the social changes; the legislation will be considered as vote-capturing gamut.

Air Marshal P.K. Jain (retd), Chandigarh

II

Your editiorial “Fair share of property” of December 17 will silence those who go into hysterics and proclaim that if girls retain the right to inherit property, heavens would fall and Hindu society would go asunder. It is hard to see why property should be poison for daughters when it apparently is a blessing for sons.

Daughters must get their due even though heavens fall. Justice is more important than expediency.

D.V. Joshi, Bartana (Zirakpur)

Of Lahore days This has reference to the write-up, “Holiday in Lahore” (December 10). I am a Lahoria and I am proud of it. In thirties and early forties I lived on Lawrence Road which lead to Lawrence Garden. I regularly took long walks through the garden which was not far from where I lived. The garden was certainly not known for young couples “embracing each other”. In fact, the Indian culture before partition was such that nobody could kiss or embrace under public gaze. However, it is well known that when one is “tipsy” one can get hallucinations. The garden was like Vrindaban gardens. It was well known for flower beds, well kept lawns, wonderful roads, bushes and trees. One could see students studying under the trees. The other attractions in the garden were Montgomery hall, cricket ground where the Indian team defeated the formidable M.C.C. before partition and matches between India and Pakistan were held in fifties. The ‘Mount’ referred to by Mr Kakkar was a man-made hillock about 60 feet high full of flowers, bushes, shrubs and trees and was called “Shimla Pahari”. Dr I.J. DEWAN, Emeritus Professor, PGI, Chandigarh

Sterling gesture

By gifting away Rs 2 crore for the welfare of the retired IAF personnel and their families, Arjan Singh, the distinguished Marshal of the Indian Air Force, has proved yet again what he has always been: as large-hearted for the care and upliftment of his troops as he has been lion-hearted as a commander and a pilot.

His gesture will forever be remembered by the Indian Air Force. How one wishes our bureaucrats, leaders and stalwarts in many fields of national life also take a leaf out of the Marshal’s book and emulate the noble example set by him for the good of the common people of the country!

Mrs Santosh Kapoor, Lecturer in History, Noida (U.P.)

Outdated

I am working for an NGO. Recently, I got myself enrolled with Indira Gandhi National Open University for postgraduate diploma in rural development assuming it will be of great help in my field work.

On December 13, I received study material from the IGNOU. But I was shocked to read the very first book of the study material (RDD 1), “Rural Economic Structure”. The book is designed to familiarise the student with the latest population situation in rural India. But all the data, tables are based on the 1981 census. In the year 2004 one cannot work on the data of 1981.

I want to ask the university authorities if they are really sincere about the course contents. They should either submit fresh study material on latest census or should provide supplement of latest demographic trends.

Sushil, Jhalera (H.P.)

Handicapped ignored

The Staff Selection Commission, Haryana, has finalised a list of 1444 candidates for appointment as social studies teacher in education department, Haryana, on December 5. But no handicapped candidate is selected despite government provision of 3 per cent reservation for the handicapped.

I am a physically handicapped person and I had applied for above said posts.

VED PARKASH, Rohtak

Alternative fuel

Apropos of the write-up “Rising cost of petrol: Need for long-term policy” (Dec 8), the writer has aptly shown the true havoc the widespread use of petrol could cause in the coming years. In this regard, more emphasis should be laid on alternative, non-depleting sources of energy, like in the developed countries. In India, the stress on the vehicle manufactures is to extract more and more mileage for a litre of petrol rather than dwelling upon the use of any other eco-friendly alternative fuel that could bring revolution in the oil sector.

Recently, the oil extracted from jatropha, a herbal plant, has begun to replace diesel in the compression ignition (C.I) engines and will soon wipe off diesel completely. It gives the same mileage as obtained from diesel. Similar tests are required to be done on petrol because of its soaring prices.

Sumiti Vasudeva, Ambala Cantonment