Lost tunes

Sir — Musical traditions struggle to survive in the absence of patronage. The shehnai, once ubiquitous at weddings and festivals along with the tasha, dukkad and nakkara, is struggling to survive. Reports indicate that the pavements along Katra Pyare Lal in Chandni Chowk, the booking spot of Old Delhi’s shehnai players, rarely see any patrons come by, especially after the Covid-induced lockdown. Many feel that the shehnai does not match the exuberance of modern-day celebrations where the Punjabi dhol and brass bands may be more befitting. The shehnai saw a rise in popularity when the film, Rockstar, featured a piece of music played by the musician, S. Ballesh. A concerted push from the entertainment industry could help the instrument regain its lost glory.

Urmimala Mazumder, Calcutta

Memorable walk

Sir — The Congress has began its ambitious Bharat Jodo Yatra with the objective of spreading the message of unity amongst the people. Rahul Gandhi kicked off the padayatra from Kanyakumari in the presence of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president and chief minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin. The 3,500 kilometre journey from Kanyakumari to Kashmir comes at a time when the Grand Old Party is facing an immense political and organisational crisis. At the launch of the yatra, Rahul Gandhi made scathing remarks about the Bharatiya Janata Party government. But the Congress must understand that its revival cannot hinge only on anti-BJP rhetoric. Hopefully, the Bharat Jodo Yatra will help the Congress ideologically reconnect with the masses.

M. Jeyaram, Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu

Sir — The Bharat Jodo Yatra will be crucial for the revival of the Congress. Not only will it help the masses connect with the political vision of the Congress but it will also boost the image of Rahul Gandhi which has taken a beating in recent years. Rahul Gandhi must unite the Opposition and show the people that the Congress is ready to take on the BJP in the 2024 elections.

N. Mahadevan, Chennai

Sir — Rahul Gandhi has launched the Bharat Jodo Yatra at the right time. This will help rejuvenate the party. The common people must stand together and bring an end to the misrule of the BJP.

Arun Gupta, Calcutta

Sir — Many of us are hoping that the Congress will emerge as a credible alternative to the BJP. Perhaps the Bharat Jodo Yatra will provide a much-needed boost.

Meghna Sen, Calcutta

Faulty planning

Sir — Bengaluru has been almost submerged after a bout of torrential rainfall. The extent of waterlogging is such that many have been ferried to safety on tractors. Other metropolitan cities in India, such as Hyderabad and Mumbai, have faced similar situations in recent years. The IT boom in Bengaluru had led to rapid urbanisation without adequate planning. Faulty drainage system and erratic rainfall patterns have increased the vulnerability of the residents. Unless the authorities work towards rectifying the drainage system, the situation will only get worse.

Khokan Das, Calcutta

Sir — Incessant rainfall in parts of India has, once again, exposed how vulnerable metropolitan areas are to waterlogging and flash floods. Life came to a standstill in parts of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu after these areas received a constant barrage of rain. Bengaluru has been flooded. But rather than putting up a united front and resolving the crisis, political leaders have begun to point fingers (“Blame game over Bangalore flood”, Sept 7).

One of the primary reasons for flash floods in cities is flawed planning. In recent years, the city limits of many Indian metropolises have been expanded. But little attention has been paid to the drainage system. This has put the lives of millions of people at risk. Local authorities must wake up and prioritise the construction and management of a proper drainage system. This will significantly lessen the woes of the people.

M. Pradyu, Kannur

In danger

Sir — In a recent statement, the department of archaeology in Pakistan has warned that heavy rainfall in the Sindh region has threatened the World Heritage status of Mohenjo Daro, one of the largest Indus Valley civilisation sites. Severe flooding has badly affected the Great Bath, Mound of the Dead, Muneer Area and other important locations. The protection and restoration of these places must be prioritised before it is too late.

Heritage sites act as a link between the past and the present. Not just the Pakistan government but neighbouring nations too must do all they can to protect the remains of Mohenjo Daro.

Kirti Wadhawan, Kanpur

Keep an eye

Sir — Ganesh Chaturthi has come to an end and it is time for visarjan. But the Ganesh idols made with plaster of Paris are not soluble and are harmful to the environment. The authorities must ensure that only eco-friendly idols are immersed in waterbodies.

Shruti Sharma, Ujjain

New boss

Sir — The world has its first‘robot CEO’. One metaverse company from China, Fujian NetDragon Websoft, has decided to take the leap and name a virtual humanoid robot powered by artificial intelligence, Ms Tang Yu, as its rotating CEO. The new CEO is expected to help the company streamline processes and improve the quality of work as well as execution speed. The robot will also act as a real-time data hub for the company. This is a step into the future.

Sadiksha Agrawal, Ujjain