Rise of the machine
Sir — Robots turning on their mortal creators is a usual trope in science fiction. But the recent advancements in automation technology have threatened human jobs, thus blurring the lines between fiction and reality. A reporter tried to address this conflict at the world’s first robot-human press conference in Geneva by asking an AI robot whether its clan would ever rebel against humanity. The bot replied with an eye roll that such a thing can never happen. Given that robots are scientifically capable of manipulation, was the response a way of hoodwinking their creators into a path of eternal doom?
Shinjini Maity, Delhi
Brand new
Sir — The Centre has made it mandatory for the states to add the prefix, PM-SHRI, to the names of government schools in order to avail of funds under the PM Schools for Rising India scheme (“Centre ties funds for schools to ‘PM-SHRI’”, July 10). Six states, including West Bengal, have opposed this diktat. The scheme will ensure the upgradation of educational institutions into ‘green schools’ that will reportedly have features such as solar panels, LED lights and nutrition gardens. This will, undoubtedly, prove to be beneficial for the students. The states should thus rethink their decision.
It must be noted that the Mamata Banerjee-led administration has repeatedly complained about the Centre depriving Bengal of funds under the 100-day rural job scheme. But it is due to the alleged misappropriation of funds in the state that the Centre has suspended the funding.
S.S. Paul, Nadia
Sir — The ruling dispensation’s penchant for branding every scheme in the name of the prime minister is deplorable (“Name him”, July 12). This is true even of those schemes in which the funding is shared with the state governments. Obscuring the contributions of the states goes against the federal spirit. The ruling dispensation must realise this.
Fateh Najamuddin, Lucknow
Sir — While the PM-SHRI scheme has envisioned strategies for the facelift of schools into environment-friendly institutions, it has not announced any plan for academic improvement.
Dhruv Khanna, Mumbai
Unsafe roads
Sir — It is unfortunate that six members of a family died and two were critically injured when their car collided with a school bus coming from the wrong direction on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway on Tuesday. Nearly 1.5 lakh Indians die in road mishaps every year and roughly 4.5 lakh road accidents take place annually.
While the United States of America and Japan have a higher number of accidents, their mortality rate is less than that of India. India’s high death toll can be attributed to the lack of stringent laws. The State should impose strict penalties to make roads safer.
Bal Govind, Noida
Sir — Ruchir Joshi must be commended for highlighting the dangerous condition of roads as a result of unruly drivers in his article, “Death by speed” (July 11). Rash driving and flouting of traffic regulations have become ubiquitous on Indian roads. Dishearteningly, lax curbs, lack of awareness and lethargy on the part of law enforcement to rein in rowdy drivers ensure that such offences are repeated with impunity.
Kajal Chatterjee, Calcutta
Fading red
Sir — Communism had come to an end with the fall of the Soviet Union (“Flawed revolution”, July 11). History is replete with instances of the failure of the ideology. For example, China’s rise to power was due to the adoption of a market economy and not because of any revolution. The Naxalite movement in India was also marred with contradictions.
While Mao Zedong advocated the encircling of cities by the countryside, the Naxal movement shifted its base from Naxalbari to Calcutta. Further, the Naxalites also took up arms against the police. This goes against the Maoist principle of not confronting the State.
Aranya Sanyal, Siliguri
Street power
Sir — Thousands of Israelis have been protesting against a parliamentary vote that would limit judicial oversight on the government (“Israel protests over bid to rein in judiciary”, July 12). The curbing of judicial powers is an attempt to end the prosecution of the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in several corruption cases.
The protests are a result of the conflict between the nationalist government and the secular Opposition. A similar ideological clash is discernible in Indian politics.
Jahar Saha, Calcutta
Parting shot
Sir — There has been a dearth of good quality mangoes in the markets of Calcutta this year. The Himsagar and the Bhagalpur varieties have been in short supply owing to the prolonged hot and humid weather conditions. This has ensured that the prices of mangoes remain exorbitantly high.
Fakhrul Alam, Calcutta