The Bald are Beautiful

The Bald are Beautiful

SIR Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel - all great men with an invincible deter­mination. They were strong-willed. They stood like solid Towers in different continents of the world. And all of them had a common physi­cal feature - a bald head. And perhaps looking at them, the wit said, "God made some good heads. The rest He covered with hair."

The long, lustrous, yellow golden locks are nature's ornament for a woman. Dusky tresses are the crowning glory of man. It has been said that the slender, flexible thread like hair are God's gift to the living beings. But it is also known that the hair is only an outgrowth of the epider­mis. They have no blood vessels. No nerves. These are chiefly composed of "elongated and modified epidermal cells". Yet, the lifeless and insensitive hair demand all the attention. A regular massage, preferably with almond oil, to preserve the luster; trimming, to keep the shape; innumerable chemical processes to tint, wave, curl, strengthen and condition the hair. To add to all this, an endless wait at the hair-dresser's saloon. What a big bother!

Probably, to avoid all this botheration, the ancient Egyptians, men and women alike, shaved their heads. The sages, in particular the Buddhist monks, still follow this old practice. And what a relief! No hair. No shampoo. No hair dye. No hair tonic. No combing. No barber. No allergic reac­tions to the chemicals. No visit to the dermatolo­gist. No appointments at the anti-allergy clinics. A goodbye to so many problems. And, to top it all, baldness is so neat. The only thing that a bald man may sometimes wear on his head is a few beads of per­spiration.

The medical science suggests that baldness has a hereditary basis. Some doctors opine that it is dependent on the "male hormone levels" in the blood. Its causes may include the "scar producing skin diseases, inborn lack of hair development and severe injury to the hair germ centers by chemical or physical agents." It is known to have been produced by exposure to X-rays, ingestion of metals, malnutrition, chronic wasting diseases, endocrine disorders and fungus infection. But, whatever be the cause, a head as bald as a "plucked chicken" with not "even a wisp or two of hair" is a good gift of God.

Baldness has various patterns. In certain cases, the hair loss progresses gradually. It begins with a recession of the hairline at the front. In others, there is thinning of the crown hair. There are also those who have only a thin rim of hair at the sides and the back of the head. This form of baldness has been aptly described as the "Hippocratic Wreath". Each pattern has its own beauty.

Disheveled hair give a slovenly look and mul­tiply the wrinkles on the face. The unshaven man generally goes unnoticed. Shave makes the man look suave. It is a cosmetic for a man's face. Makes the person look presentable. A well-shaven, silken smooth skull has a peculiar shine. It glistens and  glows. It makes, the person look different. So easily recognisable. Ronaldo, the super-star of soccer, was spotted from a distance even before he touch­ed the ball.

These days, some of us tend to be carefully careless. It is becoming common to appear casu­al in clothes and looks. But let us remember that even an emperor may not be noticed if he goes around in his night-cap. The king is really recog­nised and respected when he is wearing the crown. Had Socrates delivered his orations with only a sheet around his shoulder, more men may have laughed at his attire than admired his elo­quence. The casual generally go out of countenance. 

The baldies constitute an exclusive dub. It con­sists of the poets, the politicians, the scientists, the actors, the actresses - men and women who have won distinction in different fields. In our own times, we have seen Yul Bryner and Persis Khambatta rise in name and fame after the razor had removed the dusky tresses and golden locks of hair. And then what was the difference between Lord Mountbatten and Jawahar Lal Nehru? Lady Edwina would have told you.

       The bald are beautiful. Is it not?

MOZART the Musician

‘The Magic of MOZART THE MUSICIAN’

By

J.L. Gupta

A visitor to Austria would find something or the other of interest. For me, it was Mozart and his music. Despite the fact that I cannot claim to have even a nodding familiarity with any kind of music. I had just heard some of his renderings. The music was relaxing. To me that seemed to be a good reason for a special interest.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was the 18^th century composer. He was born in Salzburg, an Austrian city, on ‘Jan.27, 1756.’ He   had shown   a “prodigious ability from his early childhood. He was a prolific and influential composer of the classical era. He could write music before he could write words. His father was a violinist but by the age of three, Mozart was playing PIANO” 

God also likes the good. So, Mozart died young on Dec.5, 1791 at the age of approx. 35. He may have gone from the land of the dying but he left behind a rich legacy of scintillating music that is played today and shall be heard for centuries to come. More than that, the future generations shall continue to feel its impact  in various ways for a long time. This was obvious during the visit to the cities likeVienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck . (Parts of “the musical ‘The Sound of Music’ were shot in Salzburg.) 

A bust of Mozart in Salzburg

The rare rhythm and the sweet sounds that Mozart has left behind are a great gift. A perennial source of pleasure to all. To the young and the old;    the able and the disabled. These appeal to emotions and manifest themselves in a myriad ways. Are a marvelous medicine for the mind. Simply soothing for the soul. Seem to have become a way of life for everyone throughout  the length and breadth of  Austria. Every thing you look at bears testimony to a highly evolved sense of aesthetics. It is obvious in almost everything. Big or small. Simple or sophisticated. Like the chimney at the garbage disposal unit. Totally different and distinct from those in any other place in the world. Clean and colorful. Looks more like a work of art sculpted by a craftsman than a mere conduit for the discharge of dirty smoke from the garbage disposal unit.

The Chimney Garbage Disposal Unit

Swarovski store(outside)

Similarly, the Swarovski store in Innsbruck.Totally different from all else. Anywhere in the world. In décor and design. It is graceful, grand and green. The place mingles well with the landscape and the mountains around it. At first flush, it looks like a resort with lots of greenery, open spaces and running water. On getting closer and walking in, I realized that there was a display of finely crafted pieces of what looked like glass in different colors and sizes. These were apparently expensive.  Were handled with care and caution by the salesmen. With gloves on their hands,  I could not see even a speck of dust at any place in the entire store which is spread over a sizable area of land.

Swarovski store (Inside)

A conference facility

Also, the multi-storeyed facility for conferences

The effect and influence of Mozart's music on the Austrian people is clearly perceptible. Just as each note makes a different sound; each individual’s actions leave a distinct impression on the minds of the people he meets. To illustrate: I had requested the Cab company to send a car to the train station to pick us up. The company sent two cars. However, only one was enough. The company charged only for one. It has not happened ever in any other place. The gentleman told us categorically – “Pl. pay for only one. We had brought the second car for use in case you had shopped and there was need for more space. A clear case of care and concern for the Customer’s comfort. In Austria, Yes! But where else in the world? Frankly, such a good gesture is a           
 truly rare experience. Any connection with Mozart's music? Why not? May be, it is the effect of Mozart's music on attitude.

The gentlemen looked after the guests well.

During the visit, I had picked up a set of CDs - the complete works of Mozart. Sometime back, I was diagnosed with a medical problem. Listening to the music has been a help. Elevating for the spirit, relaxing for the body and the mind. Such is the magic of Mozart the musician!

DAME DEMOCRACY

 ‘Dame Democracy’

By

J.L. Gupta

The author of the Gettysburg address, the 16^th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was the artist. He painted a beautiful picture when he said,  “the deaths of so many brave soldiers would not be in vain. Slavery would end as a result of the losses, the future of democracy in the world would be assured” and that "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth". The picture was perfect. But age inevitably changes the image.

We, the People, declared India to be a ‘Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic.’ Conducted our elections. Jawahar Lal Nehru was the first PM for the longest period of 6131 days. Then, Sh. G.L. Nanda for two terms of 14 days each. After him, Sh. Lal Bahadur Shastri for 582 days from 9.6.1964 to 11.1. 1966. Then, Smt. Indira Gandhi from 24.1.1966 to 24.3. 1977 and from 14.1. 1984 to 31.10.1984 for a total of 5,831days. Then Rajiv Gandhi assumed office on the assassination of his mother on 31.10.1984. He continued till 1.12.1989 when his party lost the elections. S/SH. Morarji Desai, Charan Singh, V.P. Singh; Chandra Shekhar; P.V. Narsimha Rao; A.B. Vajpayee; H.D. Deve Gowda; I.K. Gujral adorned the office of the Prime Minister at different intervals. In May, 2004, when Smt. Sonia Gandhi was elected by the partyMPs, she nominated Dr. Manmohan Singh who had been brought to the Rajya Sabha via Assam. He has never won an election to the Lok Sabha. Thus, except for the brief intervals, the line of succession has been maintained. Now, Rahul Gandhi is being projected by the Congress party as the Prime Ministerial candidate. One wonders - Is it Rule of Democracy or Dynasty? Is it Government by the people, progeny or puppets?

 Today, the politicians and the parties are only paying lip service to the principles of democracy. The wise choose to be indifferent. Some do not even exercise the right to elect. The multitude of people prefers the pliable to the able. Inevitably, those who ‘prescribe prejudices and proscribe principles’ become leaders. They talk of principles but act on interest. Was the congress claims to be secular. Was it being Secular when it proposed to replace Dr. Kalam, a distinguished scientist, with Smt. Patil? Such actions only help the pliable rather than the able to become powerful. But the lack of competence costs the country.

Actually, a majority of the voters in India are illiterate. Why? Despite more than six decades of independence and the levy of various taxes including the ‘Education Cess?’ How many schools has the government opened after it enforced the levy and collected substantial sums? Going by the media reports, the national assets have only been frittered away in various scams and scandals.

But for the members of the dynasty, nobody could have inflicted various persons like the present day leaders on the people. Once selected, a majority of them have assumed that they are the Rulers. They are entitled to dictate terms to everyone in the country. Each and very citizen is bound to bend and bow before them. They develop a good appetite for ‘excitement and excesses.’ The people have experienced the rigors of National Emergency at the hands of such people. The trend continues. To prove themselves right, they are passing the kind of orders, which no one in the right frame of mind shall ever do. The recent directions regarding gas cylinders provide an amusing but apt example. Ironically, untold misery is being inflicted on the innocent and poor people by following wrong policies leading to virtually a total lack of governance, unbridled inflation and a policy paralysis. Then, Reservations. That too, in the name of the poor and weaker sections of the society.  Not vote banks? Some cheek. The authors of Coalgate and 2G talking of the rights of the poor. Then, there is no democracy within the congress party. No wonder, its members were sitting in Dharna at Jantar Mantar. They also raised protest in the Parliament. As a result, the proceedings were stalled. Yet, the Members draw all the allowances. It costs a fortune.

Still more, the members of Parliament are seldom seen debating issues of importance. It is long since one may have heard a clause by clause consideration of a Bill in the Parliament. Now, it is often en-masse pushing of business by voice vote.  

In our country, the good cannot normally fight an election. More than that, it happens very often that the vanquished, if blessed by a member of the dynasty, is made the winner. The ministerial berth is given to the person who had lost at the hustings. The disapproved are brought in via the back door. Through the States they may not have ever represented. The peoples’ mandate is made meaningless.

At election times, slogans like “Garibi Hatao are raised. False promises of ‘Roti, Kapda aur Makaan’ are made. None have ever been fulfilled. Failure is the only thing, the Congress party has been a success at. 

Nearer home, in Chandigarh too, the position is interesting. Till recently, the ‘City Beautiful’ was the residents’ pride and the visitors’ delight. Neat and clean. Spick and span. The Public Health Department regularly removed the garbage. There were no flies. No mosquitoes. The Parking places were free and open. The roads were well maintained. Life was simple and smooth. And then suddenly some wise men had a brain wave. They thought that ‘dame democracy’ must be brought to the town. She came. As a Municipal Council. And in a short while, the results are visible. The garbage is not removed despite payment to the contractors appointed by the Council. We have to pay for parking. Also for the Councilors calling each other corrupt. And as if this is not enough, they are busy finding more ways to subsist and sustain themselves. By taxing the electors. Even their property.

Then, watch the elected representatives on the national television. Is it not an interesting diversion from the day’s drudgery? Yes! It does give you a chance to smile. Also to cry. Often, the leaders have ‘nothing to say. But they never hesitate to prove it’. Some appear to be a ‘monumental embarrassment’ to their constituencies and countrymen. And let us remember that ‘Vice’ even if added before President does not mean a virtue.

Despite everything, an optimist should never lose hope. Hopefully, the wise shall begin to exercise their right to elect. ‘Aristocracy of merit’ shall replace the rule of mediocrity.  

Shall we ever experience it?  May I say with Lincoln - “Fondly do we hope—fervently do we pray—that this mighty scourge of war (corruption) may speedily pass away”.  And then alone we shall experience the true charm of the beautiful dame called democracy.