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Points Of View

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Best Letter
SHUKRAN, SHUKRAN
As a working mother for whom finding a work-life balance would have been next to impossible without the support of my maid, I was very touched by the community initiative launched by the Shukran Workers team (Saying a Real, Reel "Thank You", Oct 2).
During the last 10 years, I've been associated with many of these helpers - some of who have humbled me by their love for my children and others who have even motivated me to try for better jobs. Whatever their background, they all had one common quality - an amazing strength of spirit marred only by the physical alienation from their loved ones and the psychological alienation from the community they serve.
Although most of them make up for the physical alienation by accepting their new home as theirs, they usually miss feeling like part of the community out here. As the article rightly pointed out, there is a need to recognise their contributions to our lives.
What makes the initiative laudable is that it is a win-win for all the parties involved and a perfect example of what Bill Gates mentioned as the two great forces of nature - self-interest and caring for others. While it gives the domestic workers the much-needed sense of community and the feeling that they are worth something, it is also just as ?rewarding for the volunteers, as it gives them a sense of significance and improves their self-esteem. To achieve all this through films that have the amazing power to bond people together is very impressive.
I hope the various governments that take very stringent steps to safeguard their workers - and, in the process, often deprive them of an opportunity to make a living - take a cue from these youngsters and come up with similar initiatives that will be beneficial to all.
Congratulations on your winning entry, S Viswanathan! We will contact you shortly.
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BEATING BACK THE BIG C
The October 2 issue of the mag carried some heart-warming stories on the two types of cancers affecting our society today: the cancer of the body and the cancer of indifference towards people who are struggling to meet basic requirements in this materialistic world.
It was eye-opening to read about the youngsters from Shukran Workers (Saying a Real, Reel "Thank You", Oct 2). I am sure they must have inspired many, as they did me, to give a second thought to the many who do our menial jobs for us, making our lives so comfortable. A friend of mine for instance, having a credit card that gives her one free cinema ticket on the purchase of another, once sent her houseboy and his friend to a movie. It was the first these lads had been to in Dubai - and even though it was a late night show, and they had to work the next day, I'm sure that simple gesture made them smile that day.
K Abbas, Dubai
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The word cancer reminds me of John Green's bestseller, The Fault in Our Stars. From the book on the star-crossed romance between two quirky cancer-ridden teenagers, my favourite quote is from the hero, who claims: "I am on a roller coaster ride that only goes up, my friend." Positivity at its best.
I loved the way the duo strove to lead ordinary lives despite their extraordinary routine of chemotherapy, medication and nose-tubes. The climax of the story, depressing though it was, portrayed the harsh reality of cancer beautifully.
Last week's issue on breast cancer proved to be a fresh change from the depressive quality of the dreaded C-word (How Breast Cancer Changed My Life - For The Better, Oct 2). It was nice to read about cancer survivors and how their positivity helped them not only to overcome the disease but also to achieve so much, and lead an active, fulfilling life. Like Kylie Minogue, these ladies are stars too in the way they modified perceptions, fought hard and won.
Thazleena, Sharjah
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THOSE WERE THE DAYS
The Sixties were called the 'Golden Era' of Hindi cinema. The decade was unique as many cult films that broke box office records were released during this time. Films like Bandini, Mughal-E-Azam, Kanoon, Parakh and Guide were true cinematic gems (The Everlasting Guide, Oct 2).
The 1965 movie, Guide, considered ahead of its time, is a celluloid poem that depicts the unlikely love story of Raju and Rosie. An engaging storyline, taut direction, lilting music, spellbinding cinematography and convincing acting made the movie a rare gem in the history of Indian cinema. It swept the Filmfare Awards - as it deserved to - and will, quite possibly, go down as the ultimate masterpiece in the history of Indian cinema.
Jayashree Kulkarni, Abu Dhabi