Cold comfort
Sir — Most of us are familiar with stress-eating — gorging on food high in carbohydrate as the mind slips into an abyss of despair. Stress-eating is fueled by the need for a hit of serotonin — a happy hormone — that comes from consuming carbohydrates. In an ironic twist of fate, scientists in China have now found that French fries, the ultimate comfort food, aggravates depression. While the research holds all fried food accountable, gobbling French fries seems particularly counterproductive. To add insult to injury, apples have been proven to reduce depression. Perhaps an apple a day does indeed keep the doctor away.
Ela Chatterjee,Siliguri
Flawed argument
Sir — Swapan Dasgupta would do well to remember the shloka, “jodidong hridoyong tobo todidong hridoyong momo” (“Fringe enlightenment”, April 27). This implies that a marriage is a union of two souls, whether the two people in question are men or women is immaterial. As far as larger social consent is concerned, Parliament can always take up the issue if the apex court so decides. Moreover, even those same-sex partners living together deserve legal rights as other live-in couples do.
Basab Chaudhuri,Calcutta
Sir — The right to marry is an extension of the fundamental right to life. Whether same-sex marriages are legal cannot depend on the will of the majority as the Constitution allows everyone the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of gender or sexual orientation. Theological sanctions are not mandatory for the legalisation of same-sex marriages either.
G. David Milton,Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu
Sir — It is shocking that Swapan Dasgupta brazenly argues that the demands of a minority — “fringe”, in his words — should not be fulfilled. In the books of Dasgupta and the Bharatiya Janata Party, enlightenment, too, is a bad word. The article, “Fringe enlightenment”, makes specious arguments that will not stand the test of either reason or law.
Anthony Henriques,Mumbai
Terror spots
Sir — The Maoist attack on security forces in Chhattisgarh which killed 10 police personnel and a civilian is worrying. Although Maoist insurgency no longer posesa critical threat to internal security, certain pockets of the country remain vulnerable. The fact that Maoistsuse improvised explosive devices that still cannotbe detected easily must be dealt with seriously and at once.
M. Jeyaram,Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu
Grave charges
Sir — The allegations that have been levelled against the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India make a case for not appointing political entities to sports bodies. Only experienced sportspersons should be charged with such duties.
M.N. Gupta, Hooghly
Strike a chord
Sir — There is nothing wrong with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s attempt to strike an emotional chord with the people of Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka, a seat from where her grandmother, Indira Gandhi, was once elected. Political leaders often resort to a variety of such steps.
N. Mahadevan,Chennai
Peaceful journey
Sir — The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking has prohibited loud conversations over mobile phones and playing audio or video clips without using headphones while travelling. This is a much-needed step. Several passengers have no regard for the disturbance they cause their fellow travellers.
Sudhir Kangutkar,Thane, Mumbai
