Closer to nature
Sir — Creating new computer programs and browsing through social media seem to be the new hobbies of the 21st century. Playing outside in natural surroundings, notwithstanding the risk of physical harm, seems to have vanished from the lives of children these days. This is why the recent initiative taken by the South Calcutta Trekkers Association to help children rediscover their bond with nature by going on camping trips and hikes is important (“Forest Bump”, June 13). Sometimes, it is okay to stumble and fall and get hurt in the process; only then can we learn to pick ourselves back up.
Ajoy Banerjee,Calcutta
Political feud
Sir — The manner in which the Tamil Nadu minister for electricity, excise and prohibition, V. Senthil Balaji, was arrested late at night after hours of questioning is deplorable (“Battle for TN haven begins”, June 15). The Enforcement Directorate should have been considerate about his health. It is surprising that a Bharatiya Janata Party leader who has been accused of sexual harassment by several wrestlers is allowed to roam free, while Balaji was arrested after raids stretching for 18 hours. Allegations about the BJP misusing Central agencies for political vendetta have been proved right, once again.
M.C. Vijay Shankar,Chennai
Sir — It is not surprising to see the arrest of V. Senthil Balaji inviting condemnation from Opposition parties. However, it is unfortunate to see politicians feigning ill health as soon as they are arrested. The Congress leader, D.K. Shivakumar, and the politician from the Aam Aadmi Party, Satyendar Jain, have, in the past, similarly used medical ailments as excuses to avoid staying in jail. It seems that politicians only feel the heat once law enforcement comes knocking.
K.V. Seetharamaiah,Bengaluru
Sir — The treatment meted out to V. Senthil Balaji by the ED was inexcusable. It would be naïve to believe that the arrest has nothing to do with the political antagonism between the BJP and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The Madras High Court has rightly decided to allow Balaji to be shifted to a private hospital — saving his life must now take precedence over politics.
G. David Milton,Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu
Shades of grey
Sir — Prabhat Patnaik rightly praises Jawaharlal Nehru’s personal integrity through instances of his refusal to accept financial help from the Birla family and political help from Italy’s fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini (“Probity personified”, June 15). But the article omits the considerable changes that Nehru’s political outlook underwent after Independence — his criticism of the practitioners of the same Marxist ideology that he had espoused during the freedom struggle is an example of this.
Sukhendu Bhattacharjee,Hooghly
Sir — Jawaharlal Nehru’s merits have been eulogised in Prabhat Patnaik’s article, but his blunders have been ignored. It was his soft approach towards Pakistan that resulted in territory being ceded from Kashmir. His indecisive attitude towards the Chinese also allowed them to make sizeable inroads into our country during the 1962 war.
Aranya Sanyal,Siliguri
Prized book
Sir — It was encouraging to read that Ramachandra Guha has been awarded the prestigious Elizabeth Longford Prize for his book focusing on seven foreigners who aided India’s freedom struggle against colonial rule. The book is particularly relevant to those in the saffron ecosystem who believe that India can learn nothing from the West.
Jahar Saha,Calcutta