Sir — Many people, especially in India, tend to believe that children are a source of ‘pride and joy’ and berate those who choose to be child-free. However, research indicates that having kids does not necessarily make people happier. For many, having children can result in the loss of financial, emotional or physical well-being. Raising children is a tremendous responsibility and the decision must be taken willingly after careful consideration. It is also time that we learn to respect the decisions of those who choose not to have children and refrain from pressurizing them to conform.

Arin Sengupta,
Calcutta

Iconic player

Sir — The article, “Those Sunny days” (March 14), by Mukul Kesavan was a glowing tribute to the legendary Indian opener, Sunil Gavaskar, on the occasion of him completing 50 years of his Test debut against the West Indies at Port of Spain, Trinidad on March 6, 1971. The cricketing journey of the original Little Master — it lasted for 16 years — is a glorious chapter in the annals of Indian cricket.

Gavaskar played in an era where fast bowling was at its best. When batsmen from around the world would flounder while facing such powerful bowlers, he would always be a picture of calm and self-assurance. His stance was always perfectly balanced. In those days, perhaps no other international batsman could have stamped his authority on and propagated the ‘straight drive’ the way Gavaskar did — the ball, hitting a portion of the bat, would race down to the fence as straight as an arrow, leaving the spectators in awe.

There might have been a few disconcerting moments during his illustrious career, like when an angry Gavaskar asked his fellow opener, Chetan Chauhan, to walk off the ground with him at Melbourne in 1981, following a controversial leg before wicket decision, and his infamous 36 not out in his inaugural World Cup in 1975. Nevertheless, Gavaskar took Indian cricket to newer heights, paving the way for the country’s current position as a cricketing superpower. In multiple ways, Gavaskar is a legend in Indian cricket.

Ranganathan Sivakumar,
Chennai

Sir — Sunil Gavaskar is a cricketer that I admire even to this day. I consider him to be one of the most prolific opening batsmen in the history of the sport. He achieved extraordinary feats during his career, setting the bar high for generations to come. Gavaskar faced some of the most fearsome fast bowlers of his time but always kept a cool head. He was a fine fielder as well.

Gavaskar was charismatic both on and off the field. Even today, when I hear him lending his voice to cricket commentary either on television or on the radio, it is abundantly clear that he has an unparalleled grasp over the finer aspects of the game. I was still in school when Sunny Days was published, and I requested my father to buy me a copy of the book. After reading Mukul Kesavan’s article, “Those Sunny days”, I felt the urge to revisit the book.

Indian cricket has produced very few athletes of his calibre. Today many excel in the short version of the game, but struggle when it comes to Test cricket. Gavaskar excelled in Tests. The new generation of cricketers have much to learn from a batsman like the Little Master.

Alok Ganguly,
Kalyani, Nadia

Sir — It was wonderful to read the article by Mukul Kesavan on Sunil Gavaskar within a few days of the 50th anniversary of his Test match debut. Gavaskar is not only my all-time favourite cricketer, but I am also a fan of his excellent commentary and writing.

I remember that it was on my 11th birthday that my parents gifted me Gavaskar’s memoir, Sunny Days, after noticing my love for the Little Master. Before that, I was only a fan of his batting skills, but after I read the book, I instantly became a huge admirer of his writing as well. Since then, I have read many memoirs written by renowned sports personalities, but Sunny Days remains the closest to my heart.

Sourish Misra,
Calcutta

Sir — As Indian cricket becomes increasingly commercialized, it is good to remember players like Sunil Gavaskar who loved the game just for the sake of the sport and contributed to its growth without prioritizing personal gains. Many of us long to return to those golden days.

Rakesh Sharma,
Gwalior