Sex education in schools
Vijay Nagaswami’s “We don’t need no (sex) education” (July 12) couldn’t have come at a better time. There is no doubt that India is progressing rapidly in terms of technological advancements. Consequently India is also one of the most sought after education hubs in the world in view of its remarkable standards. But sex still continues to be a subject of avoidance to many. It is surprising to note that many still feel uncomfortable discussing sex in spite of being trendy in other matters. This article rightly advocates the need for Indians to crack open the shell of inconvenience they have built around themselves in the context of sex. It is true that if adolescents are educated about sex in the proper way then there will definitely be a reduction in sex crimes in the country.
S. Arjun Prasanna
Chennai
Who teaches sex to bees, birds and bulls? Nature, of course, empowered with unalterable and uncontrollable behaviour. Human beings are no exception if left to fend for themselves. With time and age, as we grow, everything slowly and steadily gets unfolded, and in the present world of visual electronic media exposure, computers etc. there is hardly anything effortlessly unknown at much earlier stage. The placard /banner displayed in the article reading ‘Sex education is not a subject of education. Time and nature will teach everything’, are the right words in the right perspective. Nature puts a prince and the pauper in the same queue of learning/knowing sex without a classroom.
B.M. Singh,
Amritsar
It is really surprising and saddening to know that 53.22 per cent of children all over India have been a victim of some kind of sexual abuse. Many of the social problems ranging from molestation to sexual abuse have their roots embedded in lack of sexual awareness at a younger stage in life. Sex education is a very sensitive issue where we have been showing a non-pragmatic and biased approach. It is high time we open up and welcome sex education in schools. This will not only equip the young generation with knowledge and maturity but also help them to remain aware of disadvantages of unprotected and unplanned sex.
Rishabh Tiwari,
Varanasi
Benefits of running
“Why a marathon?” by Rahul S. Verghese (Magazine, July 12) made interesting reading. Especially in the present context of IT-dominated lifestyle, where the younger generation does not have enough time for physical fitness, the article proved to be an eye-opener regarding the mental and physical advantages one can get from such runs.
R. Sekar,
Visakhapatnam
Struggle for freedom
Kudos to Ms. Kalpana Sharma for her bold portrayal of Iranian women’s suppression under the unkind boot of the male chauvinistic regime (A silent revolution, July 12). As long as Ayatollahs are regarded as Supreme Leaders of Iran women will continue to struggle for their basic freedom. Only democracy, that too absolute democracy which negates overlordship of male in family and religious matters can ensure full liberty and freedom for Muslim women all over the world. The Prophetic tradition upholds full freedom and liberty to women. Access to all levels of higher education must be created for women.
G. Azemoddin
Anantapur
When religious leaders suppress women’s rights or impose so many dos and don’ts on them, it is not necessarily because the scriptures of that religion say so, but male chauvinism in the religious leaders prompts them to misinterpret the text according to their whims and fancies. The men believe them without a second thought. The women in Iran have set in motion a healthy trend or rather, a wind of change, which will, hopefully in due course, spread to neighbouring countries.
P.U. Krishnan
Ooty
Musical confluence
It was nice to read about Aruna Sairam’s unique experience of giving a Carnatic music concert in Salzburg, the birth place of Western musical genius Mozart (“Mohanam, magic and Mozart” July 12). It is really fascinating to know that the wealth of Western classical music and that of ours were created more or less in the same period, from the mid-18th to mid-19th centuries. The audience at Salzburg should be appreciated for welcoming our elaboration and improvisation of raga bhava with which they are not familiar.
V.S. Ganeshan
Bangalore
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