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Dress codes or not
I was quite surprised to read Kalpana Sharma’s “The dressing down at work” (November 4). I agree that not many women in Kerala wear jeans or short skirts, but does it mean that they are conservative? Modernity is not about wearing jeans or short skirts, it’s a way of thinking. And how does she say that nursing and teaching are the most preferred options when, for 15 years, a large percentage of girls in Kerala opt for professional courses. Many women continue working even after marriage. It’s not attire that makes one modern; attitude matters more.
Indu B.,
Thiruvananthapuram
Kalpana Sharma’s article raises a pertinent question about women being made to adopt a dress code in the name of modesty at work places. The view that women can escape harassment by being modestly dressed is baseless. It is not apparel but attitude that evokes responses. Harassment cannot be blamed on dressing. The author is right in observing that a woman need not be a beauty queen in order to be fair game for unwanted remarks, stares and touch. The attitude of men towards women has to change so as to treat them as equals.
N.K.Vijayan,
Kizhakkambalam
Laudable effort
Anjali Gopalan’s mission is a laudable effort that every individual should support. Her intentions of shaping the lives of 35 children despite all odds is a reminder to other organisations to help thousands of affected children. Her lead should be followed by many more.
K.R.Srinivasan,
Hyderabad
Gender discrimination
The article “An unequal music” (November 4) throws light on the prevalence of gender discrimination in Carnatic music. One finds egocentric persons in all fields but the author’s view that male musicians do not accompany female musicians because of chauvinism sounds incredible. But, no good musician, whether male or a female, is ignored by the genuine lovers of classical music. At least, for the listeners, it’s the performance, not the gender, which matters.
S. Ramakrishnasayee,
Ranipet
Remembering Noorjehan
This refers to “The original nightingale” (November 04). Noorjehan was, indeed, the ideal example of the composite culture of the pre-partition days. Though she had attained starry heights, she remained down-to-earth all through her life. Her evergreen songs never let her presence fade-out from our memories.
Arvind K. Pandey,
Allahabad
Weekly shandy
“Trading Tradition” November 4) vividly tells of the weekly shandy in Pollachi. But the shandy is gradually facing diminution due to a variety of economic reasons and changing times. Nevertheless this more than a century-old shandy is bound to remain a place of attraction for patronisers in future also, though not with the glamour of yesteryear.
A. Ranganathan,
Coimbatore
“India lives in villages,” said Mahatma Gandhi. The urban upmarket shops cannot stand on par with the weekly shandies in the villages. The traders in the sandhais are friendly unlike their counterparts in the city, who are often loud-mouthed and rude to the consumers. Our marketing gurus should learn from these traders about the importance of polite and pleasant marketing.
K. Pradeep,
Chennai
High priestess of feminism
This has reference to Zerin Anklesaria’s profile of Doris Lessing (“Belatedly enNobeled”, November 4) in the Literary Review. At last, recognition has come to Lessing; better late than never. Lessing has been criticised for her plainness or direct style but that is her strength. She is more down-to-earth than any contemporary writer, portraying reality with a disarming simplicity and an unparalleled honesty.
B.H. Shanmukhappa,
Davanagere
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