Culture &  agriculture

While I had said that framers have become art historians, so vitiated is the art atmosphere in India, the inimitable computer of The Tribune changed ‘framers’ into ‘farmers’ ( June 5 ). In a larger historical perspective, however, the entire spectrum of miniature paintings in India is the legacy of the peasantry of India. In fact the entire folk art and folk music was developd by the tillers of our soil rather than he deans and dons of our universities. Bulle Shah, Warris Shah, Dadu, Dhanna Dayal were all cultivators. In Punjab, the land once crossed by five rivers, there is a close affinity between agriculture and culture because, when you cultivate the soil, it is agriculture but when you cultivate the mind, it is culture. Aristotle had said that the function of art is to make the invisible visible. Our modern artists are doing exactly the opposite. They are making the visible invisible and fooling the gullible public.

— K.K. Khullar, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi

Not alone

Vandana Shukla’s article , “ Single and left alone” (May 5) was moving. In many cases the elderly widows are not treated well by their ‘Kalyugi’ sons and daughters-in-law, who undoubtedly incur the wrath of God. But it is also the responsibility of relatives, neighbours and the society at large to lend a helping hand. The ‘single woman’ deserves our whole-hearted support. Laws need to be tweaked, wherever necessary, to look after their interest and the government ought to explore the possibility of reserving jobs also for them.

— S.K. Sharma, Panchkula

Slog for century

Appropos Harihar Swarup’s profile “ At 93, fit as a fiddle” (May 29 ), it is worth noting that in 1792 , 218 years ago, one William Buchanan had written, “ It is evident from the structure of the body that exercise is not less necessary than food for the preservation of health”. Along with physical health, it is important to nurse mental and emotional health as well.

— Dr Avtar Narain Chopra, Kurukshetra