These days, if one has the misfortune to attend a marriage or Mehndi function he has to hear loud music that is painful to ears. The musical bands with their vulgar songs so jarring to the ears depict a decadent culture taking roots in the country. The poet philosopher Dr. Iqbal had said that the destiny of nation is that they begin with the sword and spear and end with the musical instruments. The author (William Dalrymple) who wrote The Last Mughal has stated that one of the queen of Bahadur Shah Zafar was the daughter of court musician and the crown prince would indulge in wayward activities for which he was often scolded by his mother. Later on when the British quelled the mutiny and arrested the king and his son, the latter disclosed the diamonds of queen mother after being given 200 Cheroot or cigars by the British army. This is a point to be pondered if history is going to be repeated in our case by the mushrooming of musical culture that may sap the foundations of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. DR. MUHAMMAD YAQOOB BHATTI, Lahore, November 29.