"The wedding industry is thriving because people who have money but no ideas of their own need to hire the services of those who have ideas and want the money."

Seema S. Chandra, on e-mail

Emerald Aisle

Your cover story indicates that austerity is no longer a virtue ("The Great Wedding Bazaar", December 10). The gaudy display of wealth at wedding ceremonies is an extension of the nouveau riche culture that has swept the country ever since it opened up its economy. Small wonder then that savvy entrepreneurs and trousseau designers are having a field day capitalising on the one-upmanship obsession of the consumerist privileged class.

Nalini Vijayaraghavan, Thiruvananthapuram

Letters

Stepping Over the Crease Picking Mike Denness as one of its five cricketers of the year for 1975, Wisden had stated: "He has always said that he will undertake whatever job he is given to the best of his ability, treating each responsibility he is given as a job ("Picking on India", December 3)." In trying to do a job too well Denness has muffed up his human instincts. His attempt to adhere to the letter and spirit of Law 42 has ended up creating a schism in cricket. Dr K.S. Gupta, Dar es Salaam Ignorance of a statute is no excuse and the violation is greater when it is the world's leading batsman who has overlooked a legal provision. To castigate Mike Denness either for not going by the "spirit" of the law or for ignoring Sachin Tendulkar's squeaky-clean reputation is incorrect because he was only going by the book. While the BCCI can rightly protest against the match referee's injustice, backing players even when they are not right could make them think that they are above authority and discipline. S.K. Pitty, Kolkata

Weddings with an obscene display of greed and wealth accord secondary status to the bride and groom with the pride of prominence being given to the swishy dos. Such extravagant show of wealth is bereft of any emotion and disparages the sanctity of marriage. One should take lessons from Priyanka Gandhi who, despite the means, chose to marry in a simple manner.

Preeti Trivedi, Mumbai

The Indian wedding industry may be worth Rs 5,000 crore but it is naive to think that only extravagant festivities and colossal expenses ensure a happy married life. Not even one marriage worth that amount would ensure happiness because it is not pomp and lustre that make for a happy married life but trust and love.

Dr Aachi Mithin, on e-mail

While the Bangurs, Agarwals, Sarins and others of their ilk ostentatiously display kilos of gilt, do they feel even an ounce of guilt at the obscenity?

Shaila Sondhi, Delhi

Phasing Out

M.M. Joshi's Laws of Perspec-tives may emphasise textual criticism but lack accuracy, moral conviction and social concern ("Here's a New Yesterday", December 10). The debate and measures to change our history-or efface it-are actually tussles between the "saffron" and the "red". Left in the lurch are students of the subject.

A.S. Raj, on e-mail

It was amusing to read your article on the rewriting of history. But I am worried that the process will rob the subject of its intrigue and render it lacklustre and unilateral. It is a pity that in the hands of the present Government Hinduism, the most tolerant of religions, has acquired the intolerance of the country's monotheistic religions. But before trying to change India's past, the human resources development minister, who professes to be a scientist of sorts, should read the environmental science textbooks written by his minions-they convey an appalling ignorance of the subject.

J.C. Daniel, on e-mail