Mail Bag
Art and religion
With reference to “Whither creative freedom” and “Why we spoke up”, (May 27) the author says “art may be right or wrong, good or bad, the artist has the right to express”. I strongly disagree with such observation. Artists too live in this society and cannot be considered as above others. Nudity in art has never been questioned, but when it is used to depict the pious symbols it becomes questionable. There is also the fact these debates are initiated by minds focusing on market. The “artist” has become famous not because of his or her art but because of the controversy he or she has successfully created.
Dr. Beena AmarBodhi,
Delhi
The writer’s contention that “the art may be good or bad, right or wrong, the artist has the right to express him/herself” is definitely misplaced. The work of Husain, Chandramohan, and the like has certainly offended the feelings and sentiments of a large section of society and hence deserves to be condemned. The argument that Chandramohan is working in the private studio of the University is not tenable as the University itself is a public institution. Such irresponsible artists deserve to be punished.
J.N.Mahanty,
Puri
While briefly articulating academic freedom in “Why we spoke up” amid the general din of artistic freedom and the overarching freedom of speech, Priyamvada Gopal missed mentioning how the Indian academic community has made itself conspicuously absent in the debate. It was the artists who raised the “chorus”.
Raghuram Ekambaram,
Delhi
It may be argued that art is a medium of expression of our feelings and thoughts and every artist should have the freedom to express himself. But it should be noted that there is a difference between such art and the deliberate lampooning of the beliefs of a particular community. Nobody, not the tallest intellectual or celebrated artist, has the right to hurt anybody’s religious sentiment. None stops artistes from painting voluptuous women or male hunks in various disagreeable forms and enough models are available to serve their purpose. But, for God’s sake, let them not use our gods to satiate their intellectual perversions in the name of art.
Megha A.,
Hyderabad
Mutual respect
Ramachandra Guha’s article “Reconciling the Nagas” (May 27) is an eyeopener, with regard not only to the Naga issue, but also other problems like Kashmir or Naxalites. Solution or reconciliation comes not by imposing the will of dominant culture but only through mutual respect for each other’s culture and traditions.
Justin Mang-kai Chang,
By e-mail
Role of media
Sevanti Ninan’s article “Ambiguous role” (May 27) was an interesting analysis on the role of media houses in determining the prospects of political parties and politicians. It has been proved over the years that extensive media coverage and projection alone is certainly not enough for success in the electoral arena.
J. Anantha Padmanabhan,
Srirangam
Female literacy
“Getting ready for the information age” (May 27) clearly brings out the sad plight of females, especially in rural India, due to inadequate exposure for attainment of literacy. The inequality with respect to their male counterparts is well pronounced in the rural north. In Kerala, female students are more than a match for their male counterparts especially in the IT field. When female foeticide is an accepted practice elsewhere the progress achieved in promoting uplift of girls in Kerala is commendable.
O.B. Nair,
Poonithura, Kerala
Tackling female foeticide
In her interview “Targeting the girl” (, May 27), Gita Aravamudan has suggested various measures to tackle the problem of female foeticide. In a male-dominated society, a female child is seen as an object of huge expenditure, thanks to the dowry system. Every life has equal dignity and value and every human being, be it a girl or a boy, is a precious human resource.
S. Ramakrishnasayee,
Ranipet
Gita Aravamudan’s efforts to track down the root causes of female infanticide are commendable. Hopefully her book will be an eyeopener for the middle class, who mostly resort to abortion of girl children due to social pressures.
Koothappakkam R. Murali Kumar,
Srirangam
Enchanting islands
Was it by design or accident that two of the most enchanting islands, “Serendip” and “Tassie” (not “Tess”,as mistakenly stated), appeared side by side, on in the Magazine(May 27)? The blue-green waters of Tasmania are picture-perfect.
Subbiah Venkataraman,
Thiruvananthapuram
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