Editor,
Firstly, my condolences to the families who had lost their loved ones at the recent tragic incident near the Raj Bhawan. The aftermath has been the government’s belated action of identifying and proposed felling of over 500 trees in and around the city. However, now with the High Court’s order, the felling of these trees will be a lengthy process. When time is short, one quick way of nullifying the danger posed by these trees is to resort to a practice which we used to carry out in the tea estates known as ‘pollarding’ – pollarding is cutting off of the main trunk of the tree at about fourteen to fifteen feet above it’s base. Pollarding completely nullifies any danger posed by trees with a heavy overhang and weak roots but does not destroy the whole tree and the remaining roots, relieved of their burden above, are strong enough to keep the remaining trunk in place. Yes, the 15 foot trunk remains in place and new branches do sprout in the course of time but these branches take years to develop and do not attain massive sizes again. The remaining trunk is, therefore, not a danger in the foreseeable future and in due course the leaves on the new branches start producing oxygen again. This method will allow the forest department to remove the immediate danger quickly and will then give them enough time to draw up and to implement an effective control plan in course of time.
Yours etc.,
D M Pariat,
Via email
Have empathy for women
Editor,
The most shocking fact about the ‘Nikah Halala’ has recently been brought to light by the India Today media. This media certainly deserves a pat on its back for broadcasting to the world the darkness of lust that invariably frightens away the very spirit of womanhood. How on earth such practices which openly dehumanize women are sanctioned by law is difficult to fathom. A woman is sexually exploited by an unknown person for over a night. Is it not outrageous? Though many Islamic countries have long banned it but in India this practice often forces desperate women, who want to regain the warmth of the past husband, to depend on the cleric scholars around. Such lecherous people put themselves up for the job. Is it not humiliating that apart from spending one night with a complete stranger, the divorcee is required to cough up anywhere between Rs 20,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh? This shocking “one-night-marriage” makes only a divorcee eligible to further seek the formal reconciliation with the first husband. Is not sex without “love” itself spiritually a big sin? Alas, this retrogressive and godless practice is still prevalent in the 21st century while the demand against the triple talaq is getting shriller!
Though no scream of protest against this bizarre practice is heard, a few conscious Muslim men and women are up in arms. Maulana Maqsood-ul-Hasan Qasmi, the head of the Imam Council of India, retorts – ‘This is lust. It’s not permissible in “Islam”. This is a “criminal offence” committed in the name of religion’. One friend of mine Mr. Shafiq Alam bursts out in deep anguish “As a father of three daughters I know how such anti-female practices have brought “grief” to millions of households. Much of the texts of the Koran have been either misread or deliberately distorted and misinterpreted by the vested interests which they use to justify any inhuman activities.” Indeed, most of the “explosive activities” that have often been rocking and shocking the world have their roots in the “wrong interpretation” of the holy texts.
There is nothing secret how countless females across the globe suffer under the veil of chastity which only contributes to stifling their “vigour” of individuality, feminine potentiality, and creativity. I guess, more vocal Malalas should take birth to raise the relentless voice against ‘Nikah Halala’, gender discrimination and irreligious prejudices strangling Islam. Oh Allah the Almighty, save us all from evil mongers!
Yours etc,,
Salil Gewali,
Via email