A place for dreams
The dialogue between Michael Wood and Vibhuti Patel (Magazine, March 8) made interesting reading and brought to mind the words of the renowned historian Romain Rolland: “If there is one place on the face of the earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dreams of existence, it is India”.
P.M.Gopalan
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More power
This refers to the article “Power unlimited” (Magazine, March 8). Over the last few decades, vast changes have taken place in the lives of Indian women concerning education, culture, freedom, equality at workplaces, job opportunities, economic status and social relations. Now we have women serving as auto-drivers, pilots and army officers or as CEO of giant business organisations. However, this change has not taken place with rural women, particularly in the lower strata. They continue to discontinue their studies at the age of 10 or 12 and get married at the age of 15-16 which is against law. Women and social organisations should concentrate on rural women and bring about changes in their lives which are on par with urban women.
Dr. R. Thirunarayanan
Chidambaram
The article “There is more to life than marriage” has helped me understand the issue of living single from a different perspective. Bound by tradition and conventional thinking I always thought a young woman should get married and live with her husband for the sake of her safety and security. The thought that she may choose to remain single never occurred feasible to me at all. My servant maid is living single with two children, having been deserted by her drunkard husband. She earns enough and says she is happier now than when she was living with her husband. There are other cases of career women who prefer living single. I have now begun to appreciate the fact that staying unmarried is a viable option and indeed a right for young women who prefer for whatever reason to live that way and other people, be they parents or relatives or others, must respect their choice.
C.P.Srinivasan,
Chennai
Though the article is inspiring to read, the realities of life are rather different. The truth is that though the younger men look modern outwardly, they tend to be conservative in their values. In India, men of the younger generation advocate ‘equal rights and opportunities to women’ as a ‘Sunday sermon’ but when it comes to their own wives or daughters, conservatism still rules the roost. Even in the corporate environment, men find it hard to digest his woman colleague’s growth and if she surpasses him, both in talent and hierarchy, he becomes disgruntled and cynical. They still feel that a woman’s place is in the kitchen. Time for men in India to reset their clocks.
Ashok Jayaram, ACA,
Bangalore.
Marriage is a social institution and it will be in tact if husband and wife adopt a “give and take” policy. It will develop cracks if this is missing, and at one stage the separation of partners becomes inevitable. In a conservative society such as ours, a woman not living with her husband or a widow or a single woman is, of course, subject to ridicule and abuses. But fortitude is the key. She should have the mental strength to take everything in her stride and lead a normal life.
S. Ramakrishnasayee,
Ranipet
Inspirational
Harsh Mander’s “Celebrating true grit” (Magazine, March 8) about former street children’s reaction after watching the film “Slumdog Millionaire” was quite appealing. The film has had its share of praises as well as bitter criticism already from many sections of society. That these children were able to review the merits and demerits of the film in a dispassionate manner revealed their mettle and maturity which were the fruits of the harsher life experienced by them in the past. Though they were deprived of the normal life and happiness a child ought to enjoy, the truth that they never miss a hearty laugh and fun in their daily lives should be a lesson to others. They let us know that pain is inevitable but suffering is optional.
Thangam Krishnamachary,
Chennai
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