Immortalising in wax

Sir,

An interesting article was published in the Sunday Edition of this paper (Apr 13) on wax museum by Dr Pragya Khanna.

In this regard I would like to say that it was for the first time that such an article was published in this paper. The write up was highly readable and eloquent. Infact it proved a point that there is no dearth of good write ups and writers, the only thing is that we have to take an initiative. Madam Taussaud's wax museum has a history of its own. I will not go into the history of the Museum as such as it has already appeared in this paper in the write up. Instead it would be quite interesting to see the real motive behind endevours of such kind.

Man has an innate urge to immortalise himself. He knows fully well that his sojourn in this world is short and brief. In order to escape the eventuality of time man tends to engage himself in such activities that ensure his immortality to some extent. Wax museum is one such endeavour. But the medium chosen by Taussand's is bold. Wax is considered a fragile and inflammable medium. It has a good quality of workability. It is soft. And hence can be sculpted to the minutest detail. Besides the advances made in fire resistant technology has almost ensured that these figurines in wax are preserved well. Indians too have found place in the wax museum which houses some of the most brilliant minds that the world has seen. I wonder is there another way that can immortalise people. Well I think the author knows it well perhaps that for some people wax may not be an alluring medium. They try to preserve the memory of very special people in their own hearts, souls and their very being. They recite their names in every breath they inhale. Is this perfect immortalising with love or not? Think and ponder please.

Yours etc...
Rashmi
Pathania
Sidhra,
Jammu

Wild life

Sir,

Wild life is dwindling in our State. There was a time when the forests of the State were full of wild life. But the things have reached to such a pass that the wild life now is in real danger of getting decimated.

Many factors are responsible for it. The rampant felling of trees in the forests of the State have resulted in a sharp decline in the population of wild life in the State. There was clandestine poaching also continuing in the State, which resulted in the near extinction of animals like deer and leopards etc. when militancy struck the State a very curious thing happened. Due to militancy a number of militants camps were established in the forest areas which created fear among habitual poachers, hunters and fur smugglers. They did not venture out in the forests. The result was that the wildlife got a breath. It started multiplying. Now we have registered a marginal increase in the number of wild life. In the recent heavy snowfall that lashed the hilly areas of the State wild animals in scores came out of their natural habitat and went directly to the valleys for foraging and for food. Many were caught also.

But there is now a precipitable rise in the incidence of man animal conflict. Many cases have been highlighted in the press where wild animals like leopards and bears have been brutally killed by the villagers whenever they entered human habitations. The rise in the incidents of man-animal conflict has definitely raised a big question. What are we doing to conserve the wild life of the State. ? We have to preserve the wild life under all circumstances for it is the pride of the State.

Yours etc...
Prakash Singh
Nagrota
Jammu