The fermion mass problem

In this talk I review the `puzzles' associated with the fermion mass matrices and describe some recent attempts to resolve them, at least partially. Models which attempt to explain the observed mass hierarchy as arising from radiative corrections are discussed. I then scrutinize possible inter--relations among quark and lepton masses and the mixing angles in the context of grand unified theories. It is argued that the absence of CP violation in the strong interaction sector (the strong CP problem) may also have its origin in the structure of the quark mass matrices; such a resolution does not invoke approximate global $U(1)$ symmetries resulting in the axion. Arguments in favor of tiny neutrino masses are summarized (the solar neutrino puzzle, atmospheric neutrino problem) and ways to accommodate them naturally are described.