M A I L B A G

Yoga is great, quackery is not

Apropos of your editorial “Yogi or charlatan” (January 5) I appreciate your argument that “Quackery has been widespread in the country in the garb of Indian systems of medicine”. There is no doubt that Swami Ramdev enjoys nationwide popularity as a yogi and countless people who visit public parks or go out for morning walk have come to benefit from his yoga lessons telecast on a particular TV channel. Much of his fame rests upon this TV channel. It was quite pleasant and glorious to us to hear that he hailed from a small village and yet shot into prominence as a committed yogi who was far away from worldly considerations. But his commercial ambitions have landed him into a fierce controversy.

For the last two years, he has emerged as a successful merchant in herbal medicines (which no longer strictly remain herbal). Of late, he has been articulating his ideas about strike, moral values and other issues in Hindi dailies as an article writer also.

RAJ BAHADUR YADAV,  Fatehabad

II

Not only me but most of the countrymen know how fruitful the simple but valuable teachings and thoughts of Swami Ramdev are. As regard “Divya Pharmacy” products, one cannot even imagine about so-called mixing of human/or animals remains in the medicines prepared there.

Swamiji had been an eyesore for MNCs as he was always outspoken about the harmful effects of the products of MNC. Apparently, Mrs Vrinda Karat is playing as a puppet in the hands of MNCs. She, in addition, wants to earn cheap and quick popularity and get herself raised in the political arena.

Even if human/animal remains are used, it is only to save hundred and thousands of human beings. Has she spoken anything against thousands of slaughter houses in existence in the country?

In an era where human organs like eyes, kidney, heart, and liver are being used to save sick “living human beings”, her cries about use of human/animal remains has no value or importance in the modern science.

R.P. VAID, Amritsar

III

Brinda Karat and Ramdev have done some tough talking on the ingredients of certain Ayurvedic preparations thereby dragging the issue into the wilderness of unending politicking.

Watching Ramdev on TV channels, one can gather that he is a strident opponent of allopathy and goes too far in his rhetoric against this time-tested system of treatment. The traditional stream of medicines such as Ayurved and yoga are proven and well documented in ancient Indian text but the blind and indiscriminate usage which usually feeds on financial compulsion, easy reach, callousness of people and weak legal system, is neither safe nor ethical.

Does it make sense to use ayurvedic medicines bearing no details of ingredients and expiry date on the plea that these medicines are safe to use? Soft pedalling on the issue by the government is not understandable.

Dr SOSHIL RATTAN, Amritsar

Name game Names are changing the world over. Burma is Myanmar, Ceylon is Sri Lanka, East Pakistan is Bangladesh, Japan may soon become Nippon! International cities like Rangoon have switched to Yangon, Beirut to Beyrouth, Rome to Roma, Milar to Milano, Florence to Firenze, Venice to Veneza, Naples to Napoli, Moscow to Moskva, Vienna to Wien, Prague to Praha, Bucharest to Bucurste, Geneva to Geneve etc. So what is wrong with Bengaluru in place of Bangalose. In fact it should be Bendakalooru. While at it, we can also call our country “Hindustan” and get rid of “India” - a British hangover. Wg-Cdr H.P. HANDE (retd), Bangalore

Flexible approach

This refers to the news item “Clergy to call meeting on turban issue” (Dec 28). There are some traditions in every religion which cannot be followed strictly by every individual. They may also come in conflict with the State rules.

Some Sikhs cut their hair and go about without a turban and many carry no kirpan but just its small symbol. Many Hindus do not wear “Janeyu” sacred thread, around the neck. Every Muslim doesn’t sport a beard. They are no less devout. They are only being flexible.

The solution to many religious problems lies in adopting a flexible approach. Rigid postures do not help.

Wg-Cdr C.L. SEHGAL (retd), Jalandhar