Sir — With the demise of the former president, Pranab Mukherjee, India has lost a statesman par excellence (“A pragmatist within the paradigm that happened to be in place,” Sep 1). He was a well-respected politician and an exceptional troubleshooter for the Congress. Mukherjee’s dedication to public service combined with a rare kind of intelligence and statesmanship truly made him a political figure worth emulating.

If there is one incident that could be considered a dent on his secular credentials, then it would be his acceptance of an invitation to address a valedictory function in Nagpur organized by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 2018. Other than that, it can safely be said that Mukherjee’s commitment towards secularism remained unflinching till the end of his life. He was truly a nationalist figure.

Tharcius S. Fernando,
Chennai

Sir — In a long political career spanning five decades, Pranab Mukherjee had cemented his credibility as a consensus builder when India moved from single-party domination to coalition politics. The former president, unlike many other statesmen, had friends across the political spectrum. Hence, his opinions were respected by all when he defended Congress-led governments in Parliament.

Mukherjee was a key troubleshooter for several prime ministers including Indira Gandhi, P.V. Narasimha Rao as well as Manmohan Singh. It is interesting to note that he was conferred the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, during the tenure of the incumbent prime minister, Narendra Modi. Although Mukherjee cannot be considered a mass leader, he nonetheless left an indelible imprint on Indian politics.

Shovanlal Chakraborty,
Calcutta

Sir — It would not be an exaggeration to say that had Pranab Mukherjee held the post of the prime minister, India would have witnessed immense progress in all possible arenas of governance. But in spite of his capabilities, he was never offered the top job. One wonders how Indian politics would have fared had he, and not Manmohan Singh, assumed the post of the prime minister in 2004.

While many considered his appointment as the president of India to be a compromise, it was nevertheless a just acknowledgement of his contributions to the country. The Bharatiya Janata Party government, too, honoured the statesman with the conferment of the Bharat Ratna. Upon hearing the news of his passing, many of his colleagues recalled his elephantine memory and insightful views. These traits, along with his geniality, earned him immense respect across party lines. The void left by his death will be truly impossible to fill.

Bal Govind,
Noida

Sir — It was heartbreaking to learn about the demise of Pranab Mukherjee at the age of 84 after a battle with a prolonged illness — he had undergone brain surgery at the Army Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi. He was one of the greatest leaders of independent India and had dedicated his life to the service of the nation. His expertise in multiple areas including defence, finance and foreign affairs was unmatched. As the incumbent president, Ram Nath Kovind, said, Mukherjee’s death is truly akin to the “passing of an era”.

M.A. Iqbal,
Darbhanga, Bihar

Wrong move

Sir — At a time when India recorded the highest global single-day rise in Covid-19 infections, news emerged that the metro rail authorities in Calcutta are preparing to resume train services. Although several precautionary measures will be in place, they will certainly not be enough to prevent a further spread. When buses began plying the city in June, they initially adhered to social distancing guidelines. But crowded buses soon became the norm. It is unlikely that the Calcutta metro, which saw a footfall in lakhs per week in pre-Covid times, will be able to follow strict measures for long.

Anamika Saha,
Calcutta