Sir — People infected with Covid or even suspected patients are often treated as pariahs by friends, neighbours, and even family members. Frontline workers, too, have often found themselves shunned by the community members in spite of their yeoman service. At such a time, we have been fortunate enough to witness the selfless acts by kind samaritans as well (“At worst of times, the best in some of us”, May 23). Without caring about whether the person was Covid-infected or not, civilians rushed towards the collapsed Suvamoy Dey, rejuvenated him and sent him off to a hospital in an ambulance. Had people hesitated in coming to his aid, Dey’s family might have lost him.

This reminded me of Tagore’s words, “Bishwasaathe joge jethay biharo, seikhane jog tomar saathe amaro”. Tagore’s humanitarian lines are so relevant in this current scenario when one’s survival depends upon the well-being of others. One hopes the people across the world plagued by divisiveness can draw a lesson from this civilizational crisis and try to cooperate with one another.

Kajal Chatterjee,
Calcutta

Cause for concern

Sir — Concerns over journalistic ethics have emerged once again, after Lord Dyson’s report exposed the BBC’s shortcomings and malpractices that Martin Bashir engaged in during the 1995 Panorama interview (“William, Harry slam BBC for Di interview”, May 22). Journalism, in spite of remarkable advancements, remains susceptible to such failures of ethics and storytelling. It is the responsibility of journalistic platforms to bring the truth to the people. Yet, it is necessary to acknowledge that all forms of media, at the end of the day, have a business aspect and thus it is not surprising for them to adopt ways that ensure profit. Against this backdrop, the need of the hour is to strike a balance between the responsible presentation of truth and profitability.

Aadrit Banerjee,
Calcutta

Sir — While there can be no making excuses for the BBC’s or Martin Bashir’s conduct, it is also true that all that Princess Diana revealed in that interview would have come out one way or the other. Prince Harry’s revelations since stepping back from the royal family would seem to suggest that the toxic atmosphere that Diana had spoken about has remained unchanged. While the princes were right in castigating the media, the royal family must also introspect.

Radhika Thanvi,
Jaipur

Steel trap

Sir — Recently, The Big Bang Theory star, Mayim Bialik, created a stir on the internet by posting about steel utensils. Indians were quick to claim that these have been staples in Indian kitchens for long now. But with the advent of microwaves — metal cannot be used in it — steel utensils have been replaced by glass, or worse, melamine utensils in most urban Indian kitchens.

Jayanta Mohapatra,
Cuttack