This refers to your cover story How to Save the Future (May 10). If one were to summarise in a one-liner what went wrong in our handling of the pandemic, it would be our inability to see grey as grey. When all around us was a surge of dark clouds, we insisted a sunny day was in the offing. At a time when a blitzkrieg to combat and contain the virus should have been our strategy, we smugly declared the pandemic to be in its ‘endgame’. As the world watches, India is gasping for oxygen. But the fault, as they say, is not in our stars but in ourselves.
Sangeeta Kampani, New Delhi
This refers to the column ‘Smother the Third Wave’ (May 10) by Gridhara R. Babu. The problem with India is that every issue is looked at through a political lens, whether it is a military blitzkrieg against a neighbour or a grave health crisis. Thus, the BJP was quick to declare victory, rather prematurely, against the virus, taking disproportionate credit for having come out of the situation relatively unscathed. And the result now is that we have been caught napping when this second wave has hit us. But, why just blame the government? The unfolding tragedy has shown both the leadership as well as the citizenry in poor light. We were asking for trouble when we did not heed the warnings of the virus mutating and revisiting. While the complacent tone was set at the top, we simply followed the Pied Piper to our graves. What is most strange and funny about us is that we have very short memories as far as tragedies are concerned. Once the surging numbers ebb, it’ll again be business as usual. I am afraid history will keep on repeating itself, as we refuse to learn any lessons from it.
Vijai Pant, On E-Mail
This refers to your cover story The Scream (May 3). The Covid situation has gone out of the hands of the country’s rulers, who had made tall claims of containing it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initial claim after announcing the first lockdown last year was that while the Mahabharata war was won in 18 days, the war against coronavirus will end in 21 days. How ridiculous it sounds in retrospect! How did we come here and who is to blame are valid questions, but now it is beyond the powers of anybody to salvage the situation. What happens to the people is a big question. Reports suggest that the peak of the ongoing second wave of the pandemic is expected in mid-May. It will be a disaster. Patients are already dying across the country due to non-availability of beds in hospitals, while hospitals are gasping for oxygen and governments are still planning to set up new oxygen plants. The prime minister and the home minister had been busy managing their vote-banks in West Bengal and other states that went to the polls, which stretched over two months. No doubt, because of their primal need to grab and hold on to power, those running the show have sacrificed all commitment to people’s health.
M.C. Joshi, Lucknow
This refers to Unfinished Chapter from the Pandemic (May 3), your story on “unprepared government and under-prepared education boards push millions of Class 10 and 12 students into anxiety and hopelessness”. The story highlights the short-term measures needed to overcome problems in education during the pandemic, which resulted in schools shutting down. Education has changed dramatically with the rise of e-learning as teaching has shifted to digital platforms. Researchers suggest that this mode of education increases retention capacity and takes less time. It is important to invest in laying down optical fibres across the country to ensure that teachers and students have access to high-speed internet connections. The government must take the initiative to provide computers to every student so that no one is left behind.
Ashok Sharma, Patna
Puneet Nicholas Yadav’s concise and exhaustive article, appropriately headlined Omission and Commission, has left no scope to supplement it any further (May 3). The Citizens’ Commission on Elections has clubbed all the malaises with which the Election Commission is seriously afflicted, particularly during Sunil Arora’s tenure up to April 12 as chief election commissioner, by posing a straight question about the electoral fraud on democracy: “Are elections in India free and fair?” The image of the ECI “as a guarantor of democratic tenets in the conduct of elections” has taken a beating since its brazen partisan attitude during the 2019 general elections and the recent assembly elections. It is perceived to be a close ally of the BJP, instead of being an independent and autonomous entity. Critical observations by high courts indicate that the ECI has acted in an irresponsible manner and failed to do its duty of safeguarding public interest during elections. Unless the appointment of known sycophants and pliable bureaucrats is checked and the system made transparent, the performance of so-called autonomous bodies cannot improve.
M.N. Bhartiya, Alto-Porvorim (Goa)
The skewed move last month of considering Sunil Arora for the post of governor of Goa just days after his retirement as chief election commissioner was in bad taste and utterly inappropriate. Meanwhile, the BJP’s resounding defeat in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala has once again exposed the divisive politics of the saffron brigade. The manner in which we have been witnessing the erosion of the Election Commission’s independence is very disturbing and a matter of great concern. The fundamental principles of our nation as a secular democratic republic must be protected and preserved at all costs. Our secular fabric cannot be allowed to be ruptured. Unity in diversity must always remain our strength. Babasaheb Ambedkar and others, who burnt the midnight oil to draft the Indian Constitution for ensuring that our country becomes secular and democratic, would never have imagined that thick-skinned persons without integrity would be occupying seats of power.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar (Goa)
This refers to Game Theories (May 3), your story on India’s need to engage with the Taliban in international talks over the future of Afghanistan for securing our country’s interests. US President Joe Biden’s announcement of withdrawal of military personnel from the strife-torn nation by September to end America’s longest war brings great relief to Americans as well as to countless Afghans. However, Afghanistan may now find it tougher to counter the ruthless Taliban fighters in the absence of American troops. As Pakistan’s interference in Afghan affairs through its links with Taliban is bound to get a fresh lease, the concerns expressed by New Delhi over Afghanistan staring at an uncertain future are not off the mark. Iran, Pakistan and China are likely to exploit the situation and dictate terms to the Afghan government. India should keep a close vigil over the developments and tread carefully to keep intact its ties with Afghanistan.
K.R. Srinivasan, Secunderabad
This refers to your cover story 50 Dalits Remaking India (April 26). At the grassroots level, things have largely remained as they were in B.R. Ambedkar’s time. Caste feelings in India have several layers. When in government service many years back, I had seen a Yadav peon attached to my section refusing to take water from an Ambedkarite Dalit. My domestic help used to refuse water served by our barber. Prejudice is deeply ingrained in our people.
T. Santhanam, On E-Mail
