Sir — The selection of Kamala Harris as the running mate of the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, for the elections scheduled to be held later this year marks a new era in American politics (“Biden chooses ‘fearless fighter for the little guy’”, Aug 13). If the Democrats win, then Harris would come to represent two marginalized racial groups, which in recent years have borne the brunt of the populist politics of the incumbent president, Donald Trump. No other woman, let alone a woman of colour, has held such a high administrative position in the government of the United States of America so far.

The candidature of Harris is not just a proud moment for Indian-Americans. She also is the first black woman — Harris was born to an Indian mother and a Jamaican father — to compete on the presidential ticket of one of the two major parties. With the Black Lives Matter movement gaining momentum in the US in the aftermath of the brutal killing of George Floyd, Harris represents the anxieties of the black population and is expected to draw a large number of African-American voters.

The political landscape of the US is rapidly changing and, with the Trump administration facing immense backlash over its poor handling of the issue of police brutality in the country, the California senator’s presence is now being considered crucial. Harris, who ticks several boxes — she has experience in law enforcement, a legislative background, many years ahead of her, has vociferously demanded racial equality and is unwavering in her commitment to civil rights — would be an asset to the Democratic presidential campaign.

Ranganathan Sivakumar,
Chennai

Sir — The senator of California, Kamala Harris, is a worthy choice for the vice-presidential ticket alongside the Democratic presidential hopeful, Joe Biden. As a biracial child of immigrants, Harris truly represents the diversity and inclusivity of the US, which the current president has decimated over the last four years. Her selection as the running mate to Biden marks a giant leap forward for women in American politics who, for so long, have been denied positions at the upper echelons of government.

If Biden, with Harris by his side, wins the presidential elections of 2020, then the bilateral relations between India and the US might take a different turn. While Donald Trump has been vocal about his admiration for the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, Biden’s position on Indian politics has not always been to the liking of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Although Biden has advocated for the strengthening of Indo-US ties, he has also publicly criticized the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and has expressed concerns over the deteriorating situation in Kashmir. Thus, it would be interesting to see how a shift in power at the White House will impact the country’s ties with India in the future.

Venu G.S.,
Kollam, Kerala

Sir — It is understandable why the selection of Kamala Harris as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate is being considered a victory by Indian-American and African-American voters alike. Harris is on a history-making ticket, standing in opposition to a president who has deeply offended the minority communities in the country.

Unsurprisingly, Donald Trump has reacted adversely to the selection by calling Harris “nasty”, “mean” and “horrible”. The senator, on the other hand, criticized Trump on his mismanagement of the Covid-19 pandemic, calling it “the worst public health crisis in a century”.

There is no doubt that Harris is a strategically smart choice for the Democratic Party. Having run for both the Senate and the presidency, she has already been subjected to national scrutiny. Harris — unlike Trump, who has consistently downplayed the importance of climate change, she has taken on the oil industry as the attorney general of California and campaigned for a Green New Deal — has prioritized climate change, an issue that will resonate with the young voters. Her progressive politics, which stand in stark opposition to Trump’s, will provide her with a much-needed boost in the upcoming elections.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,
Faridabad

Sir — While it is great that Indians are celebrating the news of Kamala Harris being declared the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, overt celebrations of her ‘Indianness’ have raised eyebrows. Reports of people of African origin being treated poorly in India are plenty. Had Harris not been as successful, one wonders if her mixed heritage would have been as readily accepted.

Riya Datta,
Calcutta

Way back home

Sir — At a time when good news is hard to come by, it was great to hear that two beluga whales who have lived in captivity for almost 10 years have been rehomed in an open-water sanctuary in Iceland. While they may not have been granted full freedom — conservationists are unsure if the whales would be able to survive in the wild — the decision to house them in a larger pen that allows fish to swim through the net is a positive step forward. Rehoming creatures in captivity must be prioritized and, if successful, this model can help other beluga whales — there are about 300 in captivity — find their way back to the sea in the future.

Ananya Chakraborty,
Calcutta