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MAIL BAG

The articles on heart as part of World Heart Day (Magazine, September 27) were enlightening and educative and threw light on many a dark spot in our understanding of heart diseases. They will stand us in good stead either to prevent heart attacks or take immediate remedial measures at onset of attack .

B. Premananda Bhat

Manipal

This is with reference to a series of articles to mark the World Heart day, which is observed to spread awareness about the imperative need to have a healthy heart. It is all the more important that we wake up from our lethargy because cardiovascular disease (CVD) today is the No. 1 killer disease worldwide. According to the WHO, Indians will comprise 60 per cent of the world’s cardiac patients by 2010. Workplace stress, lifestyle diseases, addiction to smoking and drinking are contributing to a rise in cardiac problems. It is important that we do something to reverse the lifestyle changes that are taking a toll on our health. So we need to plan our activities. There is space for every activity in a day of 24 hours. Walk, exercise and sleep are as important as work and food. But we must say ‘no’ to smoking, drinking and oily and junk foods. Work-related stress is an unavoidable component of our modern life culture. We can only get relief by judiciously planning our activities.

B.H. Shanmukhappa

Davanagere

“What I learnt from Naren” by Harsh Mander (Magazine, September 27) was a touching tribute to a social worker and great humanist. It was fascinating to see the initiatives taken by Naren for the upliftment of dalits, farmers and other oppressed sections of society. The untiring fight by Naren to eradicate the dreaded symbols of untouchability was noteworthy. That Naren’s invaluable contribution for the cause of the landless and his timely intervention in family and land disputes have helped resolve many a dispute are indeed a standing testimony to his insatiable hunger for social work.

J. Anantha Padmanabhan

Srirangam

Harsh Mander’s life sketch of Narendranath Gorrepati shows the great concern and love Naren had for the dalits and the other voiceless people of his village, the betterment of whose lives he made the mission of his life. Like Vinobaji he led a silent revolution in his village, gathering 12,000 acres of land for distribution among the landless dalits. He led by example by treating everyone as his equal, totally effacing his high caste status. No wonder the entire village turned up for his last journey. The author deserves gratitude for making the noble work of this simple, unassuming champion of the deprived sections known to the wider world.

C.P. Srinivasan

Apex, NC

“Typically British” By Bill Kirkman (Magazine, September 27) reminds me of the toddy shops in my native State Kerala. They disappeared when prohibition was in force and sprang up in every nook and corner as soon as the prohibition was lifted. A little away from shops and restaurants, the toddy shops had identical looks and seating arrangements and they became very lively after 6 p.m. Rich and poor, old and young without any caste discrimination, gathered there and discussed various subjects ranging from politics to scandals. But, unlike the British pubs, the toddy shops do not have any names as such, though the owners of the shops follow the tri-lingual principles on the boards. Put up in front of their toddy shops are ‘Toddy shop’ in English, ‘Kallu shop’ in Malayalam and ‘Kallu Kadai’ in Tamil!

P.U. Krishnan

Ooty

The article “Community is the key” by Alex George (Magazine, September 27) has underpinned the bitter truth: child labour is a serious social malady in India. It is a glaring paradox that India, which boasts of being an international brand and the largest democracy, is also home to the largest number of children employed in hazardous jobs, around 30 million! What makes the problem serious is the apathetic attitude of society towards the problem. The book Communities for Children: Selected Good Practices in Improving Children’s Well-being through Community Participation will add immense strength to our pursuit of making India Child labour free. The best solution lies in educating those small hands for they can handle pen better than the petty work. Remember, Amartya Sen said “School deprivation is often causal antecedent of child labour, rather than other way round.”