Time’s short
Sir — The saying, ‘another day, another disaster’, best summarises the increased frequency of catastrophes in recent times. It is thus unsurprising that atomic scientists this year have kept the Doomsday clock unchanged at 90 seconds to midnight — the setting was fixed in 2023, signalling the closest that humanity had come to annihilation since the metaphorical timer was introduced in 1947. The decision seems to have been influenced by ominous trends, such as the threat of nuclear war from Russia. But given the series of insidious predictions made for 2024 — Donald Trump’s potential return to power is an example — the clock might strike midnight soon.
Dipshikha Basak, Calcutta
Further push
Sir — The public euphoria surrounding the consecration ceremony of the Ram mandir on January 22 is significant for India’s cultural and political sphere. It has injected fresh momentum into the demands of the Hindu Right for similar shrines to Lord Krishna in Mathura and Lord Shiva in Varanasi (“Sangh to press on with temple heat”, Jan 24).
However, such demands are based on assertions that the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Idgah mosque in Mathura, abutting the Kashi Vishwanath temple and the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple, respectively, were built by demolishing pre-existing temples during the Mughal period. The construction of the Hindu shrines will thus emerge as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s pivotal poll planks in the coming years.
D. Bhattacharyya, Calcutta
Sir — After the success with the Ram mandir in Ayodhya, the saffron brigade has been further emboldened to pursue similar strategies in Mathura and Varanasi (“Court again”, Jan 23). It is only a matter of time before the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Idgah mosque in Mathura meet the same fate as that of the Babri masjid. The minority population in India will be subjected to further ostracisation if the BJP gets away with its hateful agendas.
Murtaza Ahmad, Calcutta
Sir — The Varanasi district court recently ordered the scientific survey report on the Gyanvapi mosque complex to be made public. The circulation of the report in the public might lead to more misleading claims by the Hindu Right about the ‘origins’ of the religious structure. The report revolves around the dispute over a structure found inside the mosque during the survey that the Muslims describe as a fountain and the Hindus claim to be a ‘shivling’. Given the increasing tilt towards majoritarianism in the country, it will hardly be surprising if the findings go in favour of the Hindus.
The inauguration of the Ram temple marks a turn in India’s multicultural fabric. Varanasi is emerging as a potential flashpoint when the accentuation of the religious division is the last thing the country needs.
G. David Milton, Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu
Spirited march
Sir — During the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Assam, the Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, criticised the chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, calling him the “most corrupt chief minister in the country”. In retaliation, the Assam government directed the state police to register a complaint against the Congress leader for instigating violence. Further, barricades were erected on the highway along the route of the BJNY to prevent the Congress leaders from entering the main thoroughfares of Guwahati.
Rahul Gandhi has been highlighting issues like unemployment, corruption, and inflation during the yatra. This has significantly irked the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, Rahul Gandhi has remained unperturbed in the face of the intimidatory tactics used by the BJP.
Zakir Hussain, Kazipet, Telangana
Sir — The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra has entered its second week. Rahul Gandhi’s message of justice, religious harmony, and unity has ruffled the feathers of the saffron party, which has been putting up obstacles against him. The Congress leader was denied permission to enter a temple in Assam and barred from interacting with students in a private university in Meghalaya. The BJP clearly wants to prevent Rahul Gandhi’s message from reaching the masses as it would undo its politics of polarisation. It is thus setting up hurdles for him at every step.
Karan Singh, Chennai
Unequal award
Sir — The nominations for the 96th Academy Awards have been the source of controversies. While Lily Gladstone became the first Native American to be nominated in the Best Actress category, the contributions of prominent women artists such as Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie were not acknowledged by the Academy.
Subhadeep Ganguly, West Midnapore
Correction
The image of the Preamble to the Indian Constitution in the January 23 issue of The Telegraph should have carried the following note: the words “secular”, “socialist”
and “integrity” were added to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution through the 42nd amendment in 1976.
