producer Pranlal Mehta rightly observed that being a sex symbol helps only a point, talent is important. dhuri is living proof of ." (Gorgeous Ghatans, Febr-y 28). It somewhat made up the insufficient coverage on dhuri in the article. Her soars much above the sexless Bollywood girls who irritate more than they titillate. In these times when these ‘actresses’ display more than their anatomical assets, and dances have been reduced to mere mockery of the lessons from the Kamasutra, Madhuri comes as a relief. She has been able to diffuse a clear line between sensuality and vulgarity in a style which is entirely hers. It is the aesthetic appeal in her movements and the natural body flow that numbers otherwise ordinary have become classics. It is, in fact, this charismatic dancing that without having shown even an iota of her actual potential, she is already a legend. To her goes the credit of catapulting the female of the Indian silver screen from a seductress to an actress, a woman of substance. And the fact that she comes from a middle-class background makes her success even more admirable.
Rajiv Ranjan Roy, New Delhi
As a non-resident Indian on home leave, I was delighted to discover at last, in Outlook, an excellent newsmagazine with balanced and perceptive coverage, brilliant language and layout.
However, I was dismayed at your story on Azharuddin (Azhar’s Maiden Trouble, March 6). The cricketer’s alleged infidelities portray him as a somewhat pathetic husband and father. While this is not the first marriage in history to have failed, it is expected that a sportsman of Azhar’s distinction displays more honesty. Perhaps the story of his private exploits would be of more relevance to tawdry gossip columnists than to serious readers of your newsmagazine.
M. Edwards, Middlesex, UK
Nobody can object to "genuine mass conversions" if they are brought about with "conviction" and a "change of heart" (The Cross and the Trident, February 21). But this is hardly the case with regard to the 94 tribals converted to Christianity, most of whom are poor and illiterate. In such a situation, the judiciary cannot be found fault with for terming the conversions as wrong, even if only on technical grounds.
The Indian Constitution gives every one the right to choose the religion of his choice, and profess, propagate and practise the same. But nowhere does it give anyone the right to convert others, and especially to indulge in mass conversions. No doubt the Christian missionaries run schools and colleges and maintain hospitals. But the Central and state governments aid these institutions as well. Also, it is a reality that Christian missionaries have other aims too in running these institutions, apart from their professed motives.
L. Rohini, Tiruchy
Celebrating the Nude (February 21) was a bold step in introducing a taboo subject under the banner of ‘art’. The quest to combine the aesthetic and the erotic is not only courageous, but also path-breaking. This is acceptable to some and not to others. But one thing is quite clear: photographing nudes is not art and cannot be called so. Paintings by M.F. Husain can be called art because he recreates, while Prabuddha only reprints the object on the other side of the lens. Besides, Indians are god-fearing and the majority of us are quite clear about ethics and morals. Let us look to the West only to see their downfall vis-a-vis these values and learn from their experience. It would be worthwhile to remember that even magazines like Penthouse lost money for the first time last year.
Ajeet Gorey, Bombay
This has reference to Where Women Live in Fear (February 7). It is extremely shocking and disturbing to read that women are harassed in Delhi. Unless the police are lax, conniving and callous, anti-socials who terrorise women cannot flourish. DCP T.N. Mohan’s statement that most of these crimes are not preventable is an extremely irresponsible one and is encouraging for eve-teasers. If the law handles anti-socials with an iron hand, no one would dare trouble a woman.
S. Raghunatha Prabhu, Alappuzha
Technology upgrades itself to ke our lives more comforte, so why leave out the purohits (Jetsetting Purohits, ebruary 28)? But the confident motion of Rajesh Sharma at our gods are patriotic raises questions. Haven’t our scriptures maintained that God is omnipresent and that there should not be any disction between gods?
If that is the kind of message we're going to spread, it calls a certain amount of introduction. But, this is certain, oking at the lifestyles of purohits, all one can say "God sure has a way of going global."
M. Sriramana, Mysore
This refers to your cover story (The Trial Begins, March 13) on the accused in the hawala scam. There is a mistaken presumption that the judiciary is unnecessarily assuming the role of the executive and the legislative, particularly when the apex court has directed the CBI to take instructions only from it. This directive has dispelled the fear that the apex investigating agency of the country is nothing but an extension of the Prime Minister’s Office.
I knew a much respected judge in the Karnataka High Court, Justice Saldanha, who is an embodiment of simplicity and accessibility. He was committed to public interest litigation, which in turn incurred the wrath of the bar which feared that its brief would come down. But once the judiciary becomes the real friend of the common man, many of the problems which take a lot of time for correction can be resolved easily. When the judiciary is active, others cannot sleep.
U.S. Iyer,
This is with reference to Vinod Mehta’s Delhi Diary (Puerile Puppet Shows, March 6) asking readers for their most hated television programmes. Different channels have identical programmes involving youngsters who waste a lot of time and effort cramming up all sorts of details about films and, in the process, ignore their studies and thus ruin their careers and lives. One such show on TV is the Usha Uthup Show.
O.P. Bajaj, Jabalpur
I hate Nirma Aahaa on Zee.
Anil Mehta, Ankleshwar
My TV hate list: Film Diwane (Zee), Horror Show (Zee), Sansad Samachar (DD), Khana Khazana (Zee), Aghori (Zee), Vikashparak Geet (DD), Rojgar Samachar (DD), One Two Ka Four (Zee), Narasimha Rao (DD).
Pradeep Tiwary, Varanasi
Writing about just one programme which I hate is difficult. But I suppose it would be A Mouthful of Sky. Even the props are more expressive than the actors.
Arijit Ghaki, New Delhi
The programme I hate most is Gumrah.
Divya Sharma, New Delhi
The worst programme is Samachar DD1.
Madan Lal, Ranchi
The Sarkari News on DD1, particularly Parliament News, is terrible.
Hemant Hegde, Bangalore
The first and second most important persons in India—Pamulaparti (PVNR) and Padgaonkar (Dileep)—have prime time. Maybe, the print media could re-absorb a top-notch erudite editor and Machiavelli’s Academy of Political Science its professor emeritus.
Satyindra Singh, New Delhi
I hate The News on Doordarshan.
Pradeep Nair, Hyderabad
I dislike Tara because I don’t want to be led through darkness. God knows where it began and where it’s heading for.
Sreerekha, Hyderabad
I hate to watch the news on Doordarshan. Everything is official about it.
V. Jayaraman, New Delhi
I hate the soap opera, Tara, as it shows the degradation of women. A woman is shown getting into wedlock several times, drinking and smoking. This is really a bad example for youngsters.
S.N. Kabra, Bombay
The serial I hate the most is Tol Mol Ke Bol.
N.B. Nair, North Parur (Kerala)
This soap’s been on the air ever since I was a toddler. Sansar just goes on and on.
Kim Mahadevan, Bangalore
The programme I hate most is Chandrakanta. It is a bottomless morass.
Brajendra Singh, New Delhi
The one programme on TV that I simply abhor is Philips Top 10. There are less songs and more corny and absolutely senseless "jokes" in it. After "seeing" the jokes you don’t even feel like listening to the songs.
Vishal Subba, Darjeeling
First Edition on DD2 is the worst.
Arun Kumar, New Delhi
The programme I hate most is Superhit Muqabla.
Veena Shurpali, Secunderabad
The programmes I hate most on TV are the senseless countdowns.
Sudha Chadha, New Delhi
I hate The Bold and the Beautiful the most.
K. S. Sundaran, Bangalore
I hate Aap Ki Adalat because it is scary, stupid and sanctimonious. The sweet-talking host, Rajat Sharma’s well-crafted and calculated darts end up usually as damp squibs.
P.C. Sinha, Patna
Vinod Mehta’s write-up in Delhi Diary (Mr Rao’s Spectacular Transformation, February 21) is correct and crisp. The public perception of the Prime Minister has changed from a full-time ditherer to an all-purpose Machiavelli. He has killed many birds, not just two, with one stone. The piecemeal targeting is keeping everybody on tenterhooks. No one seems to know at whom the missile is targeted or what it contains. And PVNR’s bag of tricks is not yet empty.
S.N. Srivastava, Gonda
Madras housewife Jaya Satish’s mments on government spitals in your cover story fe in the Time of Reforms, February 28) took my breath . What does she mean by ing they are "pigsties any-y"? May I remind her that it in these "pigsties" that the -star hospital doctors she its were trained and where thousands of our desperately or people get reasonably good medical care and even gh-tech treatment free of age. It is in these "pigsties" at what little medical rese-h goes on in this country is conducted. I think Swami vivekananda had people like in mind when he spoke people who, having been educated at public expense, no heed to the poor of land.
Muthusethupathy, Madras
