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Distressing tale of Noida sisters
It was quite painful and shocking to read the tragic tale of two starving Noida sisters who remained cut off from the outside world, living in self-confinement and self-deprivation for months. It is much more distressing to know that none of their relatives, friends or neighbours bothered to knock at their doors and help them in any manner. Even their brother, who was living separately from them, did not know about their subhuman existence. Both sisters, Anuradha and Sonali Behl, were educated and had doctorate degrees. The heart-rending manner in which a retired Colonel’s daughters starved themselves for months together in their flat reflects poorly on our claim as a cultured and civilised nation. We might have made tremendous material progress with five-star hotels, beautiful malls and imposing residential buildings in our urban areas but as human beings, our hearts have perhaps stopped beating. The emotions of genuine love, affection and concern seem to have shockingly dried up in us.
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With the joint family system having collapsed, our family ties have come under a severe strain. More and more of us are losing our mental balance because of individualism and a blind hunt for worldly pleasures. As human beings, we are becoming increasingly hollow, shallow and frighteningly practical. Just like robots, under the unavoidable impact of urbanisation, we have begun to behave like unfeeling, insensitive and abrasive tools of production in the new industrial world. I appreciate the gesture, even though belated, of Vipin, the Behal sisters’ brother, to bear the expenses of hospitalised younger sister, Sonali. It is also touching to read that he has promised to look after her. Perhaps the traditional roots of Indian family life and the gory details of his sisters’ horrible fate appearing in the media have inspired him to behave in asensible manner. Let us all living in towns and cities of India draw a lesson from this most unfortunate and tragic incident. Dr RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad Lokpal Bill
The editorial “No policy on Lokayuktas”
(Apr 12) was thought-provoking. The irony is that instead of implementing the prevailing law, the government takes the easy path of creating another law to ensure the enforcement of the previous law. So now the need of the hour is to pass the Lokpal Bill with honesty and integrity. R.K.
MALHOTRA, Chandigarh Multi-pronged strategy
Wheat bonus is merely a lip service for the farming community and more politics than economics (news report,
“Centre okays wheat bonus of Rs 50”, Apr 16). Indian agriculture needs a multi-pronged strategy with political will and commitment to ensure food security on the one hand and improving the economic happiness index of the farmers on the other. Dr M M
GOEL, Seoul Panchayat elections
I am happy that there was brisk polling in the first round of the panchayat elections in J &K (editorial, “Brisk polling”, Apr 15). It shows that the common people in the state want peace. That is why they did not respond to the boycott call given by the separatists. Both the public and the common people deserve our appreciation in this regard. Dr AMAR JIT SINGH
GORAYA, Tackle corruption
The article “How India can reap demographic dividend” (Apr 15) by
R.K. Luna was enlightening. Sheer numbers is not growth. It’s the quality of that number that matters. The writer has given facts with reasons and probable solutions. But he has missed out on corruption which has shaken the very foundation of our society. If all the black money is collected and everyone swears to work earnestly, I am sure we would be able to educate, nourish and uplift all, for good. So, along with education, public health, family planning etc. a corruption-free society is a must for reaping demographic dividend. Dr PREETINDER JIT
KAUR, II
The main obstacle in the nation’s development is corruption. The corruption in CWG and 2G Spectrum scams shows the exploitation of the common man and the greed of rich people. Now the cancer of corruption has affected all fields. Today many educational institutions or schools have started making money in the name of donations and this ruins the career and future of deserving persons. AMARJOT KAUR, Mohali Cherish daughters
Geetanjali Gayatri’s middle “Daughters
of a lesser god” (Apr 7) vividly portrayed the dismal position of girl child in our society. Our mindset with regard to the birth of a girl child has not changed at all. Women, too, fall in line with their husbands and in-laws and yield to pressure and abort the female
foetus. CHAMAN ARORA, Ferozepur City
II
The writer describes the bitter truth of our so-called modern society. I was second daughter in my family and my mother did not even remember my date of birth. My relatives say that it was month of May but my school certificates’ record show that I was born in the month of August. Now I am married and a mother too and I can understand the mental stress my mother might have undergone at that time. I request everybody to accept and love their daughters as well as daughters-in-law as much as their sons. SAPINDER
KAUR, Jalandhar
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