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Feathers in women’s cap for bravery

The editorial ‘Safe in her hands’ (June 12) is a befitting tribute to the two Air India women pilots who safely landed an aircraft which had lost one of its nose wheels and saved 52 precious lives. The duo displayed highest degree of professionalism and kept their cool while handling the grave emergency. Aviation is like a game of chess; one wrong move and the game is over.

There is another feather in the cap of fair sex in the wake of the brave act by two women BSF constables who shot dead two intruding Pakistani militants at the Punjab border. This is indeed a whiff of fresh out amidst suffocating female foeticide, dowry deaths, honour killings and ‘Apna Ghar’ exploitations.

The nose wheel of an aircraft is not a major load-bearing component but during the landing time, first the main wheel touches the ground and absorbs the landing shock. It’s the nose wheel that keeps the aircraft in a straight line during take-off and landing down. Steering is governed by the nose wheel, through rudder pedals in the cockpit. The editorial has aptly highlighted that Air India has many professionals like the two women pilots and the airline can still find a safe landing, even though damaged and facing turbulence. It can still regain its lost glory.

Air India, is presently running without a nose wheel and direction. Happy landings!

HARBANS SINGH, Ambala Cantt

Wait and watch

The Murree Brewery was established in the hill station of Murree in 1860 and later shifted to Rawalpindi. This is in reference to the article, ‘Pakistan keen to export Muree Beer to India’ (June 10). It was once owned by the family of General Renegad Dyer which also set up the Mekin distillery at Solan. Though the current owner of Brewery is Isphanyar M. Bandara, who is a Parsi but all other  employees are muslim. The plant also produces other alcoholic beverage like rum, gin, vodka, brandy and whisky. Apart from Murree, (Rawalpindi) there are two other distilleries in Pakistan at Quattr and Karachi. There are retail outlets in five star hotels in Lahore which present a look of a CSD canteen.  

It is good as well as a fascinating idea to sell Pakistani beer in India. But let us see how the fundamentalists back and react to it. Under the prohibition law enforced in 1976 by Bhutto to win over fundamentalists, export of alcohol was banned  from Pakistan.

MANJINDER SINGH JOHAL, Ludhiana

An initiative

This is in reference to the article, “NHRC notice to chief secretary” (June 15). As a reputed news paper, The Tribune has served its duty to highlight the plight of an under privileged victim in a forceful manner. So, that the deaf and blind authorities are forced to take appropriate action in the matter. The National Human Rights commission has taken up the issue with the Himachal Government following the initiative by The Tribune.

In a Chamba village, a 10-year-old boy came in contact with the live electric wires and his both arms have to be amputated. The add insult to the injury, the concerned department paid a paltry compensation of Rs 5000. Without his arms, the victim would remain dependent on others for the rest of his life. The CM of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Dhumal should take prompt action against the erring officials and immediately release a compensation of rupees ten lakhs and a monthly pension for the survival.

KARNAL SINGH, Kharar

Plight of the old

There is a special class of abusers, mostly females, abusing their spouses. There is no dearth of Lalita Pawar’s and Manorma’s in the film Sita aur Gita, where the old man suffers at the hands of his partners. Sons generally have a soft corner for their mothers and they prefer either to keep aloof from the fracas of their parents or side with the mothers. The old men having gone physically week, not knowing kitchen activities and possibly having no earning capacity has to silently tolerate whatever treatment is given to him, thus losing all charm to live more. Any solace or solution for  such husbands?

RAMAN TALWANI, Ludhiana

Male egoist

I read with immense zest and interest Ashok Yadav’s middle, “Wanted a perfect life-partner” (June 9). He has weaved an ineresting sory which made his piece vry readable.While every male invariably wants his beloved to be perfect wife, he reserves for himself an unfettered right of freely grazing in greener pastures.

For a typical male egoist the following verse culled from the piece is exceedingly pertinent: Some girl-friends come and go like seasons, but one will stay back in my life; surely for a special reason.

One hopes that the piece should spell out a workable recipe to locate a perfect life partner as to make one’s existence worth while. But alas! It didn’t!

TARA CHAND, Una

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