Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Uncalled for

The brouhaha over moral policing in Tamil Nadu is uncalled for. Various B-schools across the country have dress codes for students. They have never been subject to criticism and the institutes have continuously produced results, proving that no relation exists between Western attire and education standards.

Hrishikesh Kulkarni,
Pune

* * *

Unfortunately it is the youth who are victims of the beliefs of the older generation. The controversies over Sania Mirza's sporting attire and Anna University's dress code bear testimony to this. In the era of globalisation leading to a new world order, do we really want the next 50 years to be like the past 50 years?

Shabbeer Ahmed,
Bhopal

* * *

Increased opportunity for higher education and the growing economic independence of women have ushered in a healthy equation and mature relationship between the genders. With closer interaction and understanding, long-held values have also undergone radical changes. These are facts of life and there is nothing Western or Indian about them. Actress Khushboo was only being honest in recognising the ground reality.

K.X.M. John,
Kochi, Kerala

* * *

Politicians excel in the art of making a mountain out of a molehill and exploiting it to the hilt. And those from Tamil Nadu seem to take the cake. Khushboo, when her opinion was sought on pre-marital sex, would not have anticipated the proportion to which it would stir the country.

A.G. Balasubrahmanian,
Chennai

* * *

A curious point missed out in the on-going debate on Anna University's imposition of a dress code for students is whether any systematic survey and data collection have been undertaken to correlate dress type with academic performance. And whether the questions who is getting distracted by girls wearing jeans and sleeveless tops, have students complained about the dress, and whether girls have complained that they are being targeted have been adequately analysed. It will also be interesting to know what is Anna University's cut-off date for culture.

S. Raghuram,
New Delhi

* * *

There was a time when even salwar kameez was rare in Tamil Nadu. Today, it is a major part of sartorial elegance. There were days when those wearing jeans while attending formal functions in colleges were asked to cover them with half-saris to protect Tamil culture! But no one protested against what has come to be widely called moral policing today. Does anyone remember the Hindi agitation days when culture policing was legitimised by political satraps in the name of preserving Dravidian culture?

Janet Xavier,
Hyderabad

* * *

Here are some more steps to prevent erosion of culture and distraction. The very presence of girls on the campus may distract some. Therefore, there should be separate colleges for men and women. The authorities should ensure that women not prescribing to the code are not seen anywhere along the route taken by young men, lest they get distracted even before reaching the college. Students should be banned from seeing movies and reading books which have scenes/photos of those not observing the dress code. In fact, the authorities should release a list of movies that can be safely viewed by students.

R. Radhakrishnan,
Chennai

* * *

There appears to be an unseemly clamour for uniforms in colleges. College students are adults, even if they depend on their parents for sustenance. A person who has completed higher secondary schooling can be employed as a soldier, and most college students can vote.

If an age line for uniforms needs to be drawn, a clear and justifiable one can be drawn at the end of school.

P.N. Krishnan,
Westbury, New York

* * *

The whole point of democracy is that everyone is equal, and everyone's opinion counts equally, with the majority being adopted as law. But one section of the population being forced to adopt a certain opinion is unacceptable — it defeats the very purpose of democracy because a decision has been made even before the process of decision-making is complete. Why do the moral and culture police not realise this? Do they not see the danger in adopting a stance based on what they feel is right?

Navin Kumar,
Irvine, California

* * *

Many of the responses appearing in this column seem to be overkill. The logic that as long as no one is affected, persons can enjoy uninhibited freedom is unacceptable. If extended, the argument can become the basis for questioning the existence of institutions such as the Censor Board, and the ban on smoking scenes in movies and television serials. Such arguments are born out of an excessive dose of consumerism.

K.P. Kesavan Nair,
Chengalpattu, T.N.

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