Faded red
Sir — Many of those born in the 1980s will remember the time spent rolling about on cool, smooth red oxide floors during summer. With most people now preferring vitrified tiles that come in appealing colours, patterns and finishes, the laal mejhe has been given a quiet goodbye. But those lamenting the loss of this aesthetic have clearly not had to clean such floors. Red oxide floors had to be rigorously and manually wiped with oil and then water for them to stay shining. This back-breaking work, almost always, fell on domestic helpers. Homeowners who use modern spin mops will not be able to maintain these vintage floors.
Ishani Mukherjee, Calcutta
Set them free
Sir — A recent report by the Supreme Court’s Centre for Research and Planning has suggested launching pilot programmes to use electronic tracking devices to release under-trial prisoners to ease overcrowding in jails. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau show that in December 2022, 5,73,220 inmates resided in prisons whose total capacity is 4,36,266 inmates — a 131% occupancy rate. Additionally, 75.7% of these inmates are UTPs. The project proposed by the CRP is something that has been implemented in various places across the world. This could be the perfect way to ensure that innocent people do not waste their lives behind bars awaiting justice.
Arka Goswami, Burdwan
Sir — The Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023 already contains a provision which lays down that “prisoners may be granted prison leave on the condition of their willingness to wear electronic tracking devices” so that their movement and activities may be monitored. Letting low-risk prisoners — even convicted ones — out with tracking devices is an accepted practice in countries like the United States of America and the United Kingdom. India, too, should implement such a programme at once. This will free up its congested prisons.
Shailaja Krishnan, Kannur, Kerala
Sir — While letting prisoners out with tracking devices is a good idea, policies must first be formulated to ensure that the technology can be deployed without violating the prisoners’ rights. Allowing prisoners out of jail is more than just a way to deal with the challenge of overcrowded prisons. Such a step would ensure that unlike Stan Swamy or G.N. Saibaba whose lives were wasted behind bars, other prisoners would be able to lead their lives unless their guilt is proven. As such, if their right to privacy is violated by the proposed tracking devices then the point of the programme would be lost.
Kamal Laddha, Bengaluru
Sir — In other countries, prisoners are let out with tracking devices on their persons when they are not considered a threat. The proposal by the Supreme Court’s CRP also makes a similar suggestion. But would a State that kept a paraplegic person in an anda cell and denied a straw to an old man with Parkinson’s find political prisoners unthreatening? Students, scholars and activists are put in prison under trumped-up charges precisely because the State does not want them out in society. It is unlikely that they will get reprieve even if the CRP’s plan is implemented.
Noopur Baruah, Tezpur, Assam
Rightful critique
Sir — The Madras High Court has restrained The Hindu and the Music Academy from using the name of the late Carnatic singer, M.S. Subbulakshmi, in the annual ‘Sangita Kalanidhi MS Subbulakshmi Award’. The ruling came after the singer’s grandson, V. Shrinivasan, moved the court over the decision to confer the award to the Carnatic vocalist and activist, T.M. Krishna, this year. Shrinivasan argued that the award cannot be given to someone who has constantly criticised the late singer.
Krishna has questioned the rich tradition of Carnatic music, exploring the margins and shaking the status quo. He has critically analysed the life and times of Subbulakshmi and tried to interpret her musical choices. While examining her devadasi roots, Krishna has asked whether she would have been accepted and embraced if she had not ‘Brahminised’ herself. His vivid analysis is not only his right as an expert but it could have also inaugurated a great intellectual debate. It is not slander. In fact, it comes from a place of deep respect and emotional attachment to an artist.
Arun Gupta, Calcutta
Lady superstar
Sir — When the teaser of the much-awaited Netflix documentary, Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale, released earlier this month, she was sued for Rs 10 crore for the use of a three-second behind-the-scenes clip from the sets of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015) in the documentary by that film’s producer, Dhanush. Nayanthara, however, refused to be cowed down by such intimidation. Her open letter against Dhanush on her social media account is a sign of the gumption that she has shown to earn the title of ‘Lady Superstar’ in a male-dominated, patriarchal industry. This is why Rana Daggubati has said that “She walked in as a thug and stayed a thug.” Dhanush should be ashamed of himself.
M. Pradyu, Kannur, Kerala