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Vinod gave memorable music

Harjap Singh Aujla’s article on music director Vinod (June 15) was interesting. Vinod was a gifted music director but, unfortunately, his talent remained underutilised in the film industry. The film with which his name became well known was Roop K Shorey’s Ek Thi Ladki (1949).

However, big banners never considered him for their films. His compositions for even nondescript films like Anmol Rattan (1950) and Aag Ka Darya (1954) were superb. He made excellent use of Talat Mahmood’s voice for both these films.

In Anmol Rattan, the duet by Talat Mahmood and Lata, Yaad aanewale phir yaad aa rahe hain and in Aag Ka Darya the solo by Talat Mahmood, Ek dil hazaar ghum, kaise jee saken ge hum were such haunting melodies that even today listening to them is a spellbinding experience.

I am afraid, Harjap errs when he says that music director Pandit Amarnath, the eldest brother of music directors Husnlal and Bhagatram, died in 1945, because Pandit Amarnath composed the music of Noorjehan and Trilok Kapoor starrer Mirza Sahiban which were made and released in 1947.

Pandit Amarnath composed some of the most melodious songs that Noorjehan ever sang for this film. He also gave memorable music for some other films like Shehr Se Door.

KAMLESH TULI, New Delhi

Mega Maya

Shahira Naim’s review of Mayawati’s biography, “The world of Maya” (Spectrum, June 15) was a splendid job. Democracy in a heterogeneous country like India often catapults non-entities to important national political firmament that has no parallel in history.

Mayawati is a political leader who is a blend of contradictions but a soldier of fortune. Had there been a strong government at the Centre with a clear majority, Mayawati would have been serving a jail term because of her financial misdemeanors.

But the fragile coalition in Delhi is too weak to take any tough stand against such political offenders who have considerable clout in the Legislature and Parliament. In such circumstances, the law of the land becomes a plaything in the hands of political masters. Here, one postulate surfaces — that the law is different for the ruler and the ruled.

L.R. SHARMA, Sundernagar

The majesty and mystique of Mt Everest This has reference to Lt-Gen Baljit Singh’s article, “Lure of Everest” (Spectrum, June 22). The writer beautifully and meticulously traced the history of how the summit was conquered first and what happened subsequently. The beauty, majesty, grandeur, splendour and magnificence of Mt Everest pose a great challenge to those who want to surmount it. It is believed to be a gateway to communion with God. It is the ultimate test of one’s endurance, persistence, will power and stamina. The experience of conquering the summit changes one completely. One gets transported to another world by its beauty, aloofness, might, ruggedness and the obstacles it poses to the mountaineers. Of late, however, its dignity is being trivialised. People have talked of playing cricket on the summit. Its reduction to a vulgar commercial enterprise (US $ 60,000 per head) and then making it a pawn of petty, political power play has dented the pride and grandeur of Mt Everest. And recently the carrying of the Olympic torch to the summit by the Chinese is nothing short of vandalising the summit, which is the highest and the mightiest. The sanctity of Everest should not be defiled thus. The mystique that surrounds it ought to be upheld. Otherwise, it will lose its lure and its physical, emotional and spiritual aura that has always beckoned the adventurous, daring and courageous mountaineers. TARSEM S. BUMRAH, Batala

Serial show

According to Amita Malik’s column, “Cricket stumps serials” (Saturday Extra, June 7), the serials might have been once “syrupy” but at present they have become offensively cloying. Hence not only cricket but these serials too should be extirpated from the TV channels.

There is a myriad of subjects of everlasting interest that should be highlighted instead of these soaps. The trash of sport shows and soap operas and other serials must be replaced with healthy and wholesome productions.

GEETANJALI SHARMA, Amritsar

A fitting tribute

I read Sukhdeep Brar’s article, “Tribute to a father” (Saturday Extra, June 21). I appreciate deeply the feelings of the writer towards her father. While I was engrossed reading the article, I was reminded of my deceased father, who inculcated the strong and deep moral and spiritual values in me.

The biggest, the most precious gift that a father bestows upon his children, no doubt, is education. But apart from that the right ethical, moral, social and religious values which are the foundation of a strong character, are imparted to children, is the real gift a child receives from his parents.

My father, who was ahead of his times, a very enlightened person, advised me to read books instead of indulging in other wasteful pursuits. Like the writer’s father, my father was also a devout Sikh, without being superstitious and without believing in rituals. We can repay the debt of our parents by emulating them and by passing on the right values to the coming generations.

RISHAM, Patiala

Not Om Puri

In my article “Call of the countryside” (Spectrum, June 29) it has been mentioned that in Shyam Benegal’s Ankur (73) Surya (Anant Nag) seduces Lakshmi (Shabana Azmi) after her deaf and dumb husband Kishtaya (Om Puri) runs away. Actually, Sadhu Meher had played the role of Kishtaya, not Om Puri as was inadvertently mentioned.

M.L. DHAWAN, Chandigarh