LETTERS TO EDITOR

Loving Realism
    This has reference to your cover story ‘Cracking small-town India' by Vijay Chawla (Dash, February 08). The likes of Prasoon Joshi and Piyush Pandey have defied the norms by presenting conventional wisdom in the crucible of modern lingo without destroying the essence of knowledge shared by the common people.

A primary reasons for many present-day writers/lyricists' inability to strike a bond with masses is the absence of Indian-ness in their work. Having little connection with the lives of rural people who represent real India, these writers fail to leave an impression on listeners/ readers with their Hinglish. A good thing about Prasoon Joshi is that he is trying to follow the footsteps of lyricists of yesteryears, especially Gulzar .Probably, he is right in his observation that a song writer should have ability to record the happenings of real life in simple manner. His songs of Tare Zameen Par, Fanaa Hum Tum and Rang De Basanti bear testimony to his ability. Needless to state, such powerful expressions cannot surface without having a deep bond with vernacular literature.

Arvind K. Pandey, Allahabad

Nano: Auto Substitute
    Refer to ‘Nano: India's Giant Stride' (Dash, February 08). Tata's name must be entered into Guinness Book for manufacturing the cheapest car in the world. It is the car for Indian middle class.

It can easily replace auto-rickshaws in all metros and other cities as it will have lesser running cost and buying cost and pollution as compared to auto-rickshaws and carry more passengers. In competition with Tata, other car companies will also -manufacture low-priced cars.

Mahesh Kapasi, Delhi

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