MyVoice: Views of our readers - 14 Jan

Sankranti is no more a festival

Sankranti is one of the biggest festivals that is celebrated all across the country with different names such as Lohri, Bihu, and Pongal with gaiety, pomp and traditional fervour in every household in the company of family members and relations.

The festivities spanning three or four days are marked by people wearing new clothes, preparation of sweets, and special dishes in every home besides decoration of all houses with whitewashing and hanging of mango leaves(thoranam) at the entrance.

The entire village wears a festive look with colorful rangavallulu or muggulu in several designs drawn in front of every house by enthusiastic women in the hope of bringing prosperity and wealth.

Haridasulu visiting the houses singing bhakti songs, gangireddulu or decorated bulls taken to all houses, prabhalu, bhogimantalu or bonfires, kite flying all make Sankranti a cynosure of all eyes.

Many people from far off places also visit kanaseema for Sankranti to enjoy the feast to the eyes going around the villages The harvest festival unites families and friends, promotes good relations among all communities in villages.

The agriculture families find it an occasion for revelry with the harvesting season coming to an end promising prosperity and new hope for the future. In fact, all our festivals reflect our rich culture and traditions.

However, it is disgusting to observe the grand festival being marred by cockfights and related gambling at many places despite a ban on the evil practice.

It is a pity that the practice results in the death of many birds with grievous knife injuries which are claimed by onlookers as mere fun and joy. What is more reprehensible is that under the guise of fun, gambling has been going on unabated creating a tempting environment for innocent youth.

Many people belonging to the middle class and poorer sections are investing huge amounts of their hard-earned money and eventually losing it on gambling.

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 which prohibits inflicting of unnecessary pain and suffering on animals is binding on all the organizers of cockfights.

It is appreciable that the authorities have given a stern warning against organizing cockfights and even conducted mike announcements against the unlawful activities such as cockfights and obscene dance programmes during these festivals.

It is unfortunate that many influential and responsible people remain silent without condemning the evil practices which spoil our youth and vitiate an otherwise peaceful environment in our areas.

It is time the intellectuals and all people's representatives take some measures to strengthen the hands of the law-enforcing authorities to put an end to the unlawful activities and safeguard the noble cultural traditions which are hailed by many foreign countries also.

These traditions should be passed on to future generations in their true spirit lest we should lose our unique identity.

Dr E R Subrahmanyam, Amalapuram

Release J&K leaders

Even though five months have passed since the abrogation of Article 370, ex-J&K Chief Ministers including National Conference chiefs, Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, and PDP supremo Mehbooba Mufti continue to remain in preventive detention.

Despite being a democratically- elected MP, it is a pity that the senior Abdullah is deterred from representing his constituency, Srinagar, in the 17th Lok Sabha. The Centre must consider taking the necessary steps to ensure their timely release.

Adrian David, Chennai

Engage the youth productively

At a time when opposition parties were deeply divided over joint protests over the CAA-NRC, the student community came to the forefront and took over the reins of protests from them. They must be congratulated for the part they have been playing in the protests.

Their participation has given an extra dimension to the protests. Their voice echoes the voice of the public. However, the student community must never be under the illusion that their main aim in life is to protest against the wrong policies of the government.

Their first and foremost duty is to study. They must realise the seriousness of the situation and their future roles in society. They must ensure that they do not harm themselves and the future of the young people of the country. They must not disrupt the functioning of educational institutions.

A democratic government should never be a silent spectator of students' protests. It must shed its arrogance and take initiative to discuss with the agitators their concerns.

It must understand that the feelings of the youth cannot be repressed by brute force.

Venu G S, Kollam

Wake up, Centre!

The report that country's retail inflation soared to a 5 year high at 7.35 per cent may be a bad news for many but certainly not to the Modi led government, which boasts that every thing is fine in its governance (Retail inflation hits 5 yr high of 7.35 %, January 14).

Modi government always give priority to the matters such as revoking Article 370 in Kashmir, Ayodhya temple , CAA, NRC and other issues that will fetch votes to the party.

So, growth of retail inflation does not bother the government; the way demonetisation, GST, agrarian crisis , growing un-employment, bad loans in PSBs, declining GDP had not unmoved the government.

Kshirasagara Balaji Rao, Hyderabad