This refers to your cover story on pornography (Adults Only, August 16). Sex has been an inseparable part of human life from primordial times, perhaps from the very day the first man and the first woman appeared on Earth. Just like food, which is essential to provide energy and strength to the body, sex, which is primarily the means to procreate, is necessary to make life pleasant and joyful, if not meaningful and resourceful. Had there been no such thing as sex and attraction of males towards females and vice versa, there would never have been procreation and proliferation of human beings on Earth. Even animals, birds and insects would not be there, and the world, including human life and the animal kingdom, would have come to an end long time ago. We would not have been here to talk, debate, educate ourselves, seek employment, marry etc. While erotica and porn were much too common in the West decades back, they have also started taking root in India and the cat is now almost out of the bag. The laws are there, but there are no definite and foolproof definitions for obscenity, erotica and porn, and no perfect demarcations. The government needs to come out with a clear policy and strategy to set certain limits and boundaries before it is too late. Child pornography should be totally banned and severely punished, as also abduction and trafficking of girls and women.
M.Y. Shariff, Chennai
This refers to your story on diamond mining in a forest in Madhya Pradesh (Diamond: 34 million carats, Buxwaha: Priceless, August 16). It is indeed ironic that when the entire world was crying over oxygen and thousands died because of its paucity, including in India, our policymakers preferred to extinguish one of its sources for the sake of a gem destined for the rich and famous. This paradigm of development is bound to bring devastation. In fact, Covid was just a warning and the real disaster is climate change, which will surely be aggravated by sacrificing more than two lakh trees in the pristine forest of Buxwaha, so that a private company can mine diamonds in this age of neo-liberalism. According to one estimate, a sq km of forest yields oxygen worth Rs 16 lakh a year.
Imagine how much oxygen the forests would provide in their life time. People who fight to save our forests from profiteers deserve a pat on their backs as they are our only hope of undoing this devastation. Clearly, diamonds aren’t forever, but we will always need oxygen.
Rakesh Agrawal, Dehradun
This refers to your story on Kashmir two years after the abrogation of Article 370 (Valley of Silence, August 16). It reflects the dissembled feelings of the people of Kashmir that they fear to express right now. Kashmiris are apprehensive about their cultural existence, but instead of endeavouring to dispel such notions in the community, the administration is going forward with unanimous diktats. The people of Kashmir feel forlorn, betrayed and isolated. They believe that their opinions are not given due consideration. But every cloud has a silver lining, as the adage goes. So the jury is still out, and it is quite apposite for the central government to initiate confidence-building measures and engage the people of Kashmir in a meaningful dialogue, demonstrating the democratic potential of the republic and setting an example for the entire world.
Zaffar Iqbal, On E-Mail
As Article 370 had only made a mockery of secularism, nationalism, integrity and equality, key principles of the Constitution, Parliament took a step in the right direction on August 5, 2019, by exercising its right to abrogate it. There is no denying the fact that rabble-rousers have been using Article 370 to their political advantage by creating needless controversy. It was baffling that without looking at the merit of Article 370, Kashmiri leaders were only raising a hue and cry that it cannot be abrogated. This smacks of ignorance and arrogance. The issue had been hanging fire since independence, and the NDA government’s unprecedented decision is indisputable. There is a new dawn in Jammu and Kashmir after more than seven decades, bringing in the much-needed peace and tranquility despite efforts by Kashmiri leaders to arouse ill-feelings among the youth. In a marked change during the past two years, Kashmiris are witnessing peace slowly returning to the Valley, thereby enabling the speeding up of the delimitation process as well as ensuring a clear political road map for holding elections. Restoration of 4G connectivity and District Development Council elections were also steps towards normalcy.
K.R. Srinivasan, Secunderabad
This refers to your story on Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s contribution to hockey (Goalie Emeritus in Poliglot, August 16). The Indian men’s hockey team won a medal in the Olympics after decades. Our women’s hockey team also reached the semi-finals for the first time. Behind the turnaround, among other factors, are the efforts made by the Odisha government helmed by Patnaik. Several hockey players have also lauded the Patnaik government for promoting hockey in India. Odisha is not a rich state and faces many economic and social problems. It is praiseworthy that the government of such a state has played a stellar role in a sport that others have ignored.
D.B. Madan, New Delhi
This refers to your Mixed Shots item on Madhya Pradesh culture minister Usha Thakur (Pay per Selfie in Poliglot, August 9). Thakur, who made headlines with her comment that ‘girls wearing ripped jeans is against Indian culture’ and offended a tribal group by labelling them as ‘unpatriotic, anti-national Maoists’, has demanded that anyone seeking a selfie with her must pay Rs 100 to the BJP, which will be used for ‘party work’. Such leaders with loose tongues are the BJP’s Achilles’ heel.
George Jacob, Kochi
In our Independence Day Special issue, we wrongly mentioned J.R.D. Tata’s nephew and successor Ratan Tata as his son. The error is regretted.
