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Magazine
MAIL BAG
No literary worth
With reference to “Potter mania” by Samanth Subramanian (July 22), why read if what you read will not enrich mind or spirit or personality? Harold Bloom’s question assumes tremendous significance given the mind-boggling success of Harry Potter. The millions bowled over by the Potter should understand that entertainment cannot be the sole criterion for objective evaluation of literary work. Writers should ennoble, educate and enlighten, apart from entertaining. Unfortunately, Rowling must be deemed a big failure in this respect. Rowling might have acquired huge fame and wealth by her Harry Potter, but they are totally disproportionate to her real literary worth.
T.S. Pattabhi Raman,
Coimbatore
India vs. Churchill
Ramachandra Guha’s “Churchill pére and India” (July 22) about the two Churchills was exquisite and illuminating . It is simply a masterly description of the inner feelings of the father and the son towards the country during the days of the Raj. What perplexes the mind is that how could the father and the son have such opposite feelings towards one country! While the father wished Gladstone to take the heavenly step from Varanasi, the son regarded ours as beastly religion. What a contrast.
V.K. Joshi,
Lucknow
Give it to the professionals
With reference to “Need for debate” (July 22), Sevanti Ninan is perfectly right that nobody in Prasar Bharati has the confidence and conviction to give Doordarshan its own distinctive persona. The management of both wings must be wrested from the civil servants and handed over to the broadcast professionals. All policy decisions must be taken only by the professionals and not by the ruling elite class of civil officers.It would be a great loss if AIR and DD are allowed to die.
B.R.Kumar,
Chennai
Unite not divide
This refers to Shashi Tharoor’s “Different takes on the faith” (July 22). The emphatic disagreement from some quarters with his views on temple entry are not surprising, for the simple reason that many lack the vital quality of religious tolerance, while they profess to be staunch believers in religion and God. Many Hindu temples in the U.S. admit all devotees irrespective of the religion they belong to. No one feels the sanctity of these temples has been lost because people from other religions worship here. Why then should there be a different approach in India?
K.D. Viswanaathan,
Nashua, the U.S.
Hinduism should unite people, not divide them. There is nothing wrong in non-Hindus visiting temples. Hindus should welcome such non-Hindus instead of objecting. Prohibiting non-Hindus from entering temples is againstSanatana dharma. Temples are places of worship even for the non-Hindus.
K. Pradeep,
Chennai
Memorable speeches
In his interview “Words should stand the test of time” (July 22), Rudrangshu Mukherjee has correctly remarked that a good speech stands the test of time. The opening sentence of Nehru’s speech at Gandhi’s death “The light has gone out of our lives” will long be remembered. It’s the habit of extensive reading and wide experience that make such extempore speeches feasible and memorable too. Nehru was a voracious reader and a prolific writer. That’s why it is said India’s freedom struggle was born in the libraries of Harrow.
S. Ramakrishnasayee,
Ranipet
The present generation has not been lucky enough to find leaders with great oratorical skills . However , Narasimha Rao , Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Chandra Sekhar, to name a few , did manage to steal the showwith some great speeches. Leaders of the earlier times possessed a deep understanding of human affairs and were devoted to their causes Moreover they were people of character. Thus they were able to speak in a way that touched people. Today’s leaders are neither well-read nor do they have an inspiring persona .No wonder why their words are erased from our consciousness in no time.
Arvind K.Pandey,
Allahabad
Compulsive shopping
Dr. Mohan Raj’s article “The urge to splurge” (July 22) was very useful. It has clearly brought out the effects of compulsive shopping. Yet the problem continues unabated. Excessive spending power and keeping up with the Joneses are other reasons for this problem. Knowing fully well that the satisfaction and pleasure from this are transient, people continue to indulge in it. There are other activities that can dispel loneliness and boredom.
V. Ramamurthi,
Tiruchi
Though this is not a disease per se, compulsive shopping needs to be understood by one and all.
S.S. Venkata Subramanian,
Chennai
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