Old habits
Sir — The more things change, the more they stay the same. The pandemic had been life-altering. But most people seem to have forgotten the lessons of that time. One such neglected lesson is being thrifty. There had been a proliferation of online thrift stores during the pandemic with small businesses selling what they called ‘pre-loved’ items. Given fast fashion’s massive carbon footprint, it was hoped that thrifting would be a friendly retail alternative for both the environment and consumers’ pockets. Unfortunately, as the trend of thrifting caught on, customers ended up buying far more than they needed, creating the very problem that thrifting tried to resolve and perpetuating the wasteful cycle of mindless consumerism.
Sushmita Basu, Calcutta
Rare leader
Sir — With the passing of the veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) politician, Sitaram Yechury, India has lost a leader who had a deep understanding of the problems ailing the country (“So long, Sita: Genial CPM gen sec no more”, Sept 13). Yechury rose to prominence as a student leader in Jawaharlal Nehru University. He was a relentless advocate for social justice and value-based politics. Yechury was liked across party lines and known for his skill of cobbling together coalitions. As a parliamentarian, his speeches were full of wit. His demise is an immense loss for
Indian politics, especially the Left.
Ramesh G. Jethwani, Bengaluru
Sir— Sitaram Yechury was a pragmatist who had a rare willingness to push the boundaries of Marxist ideology for the imperatives of democratic and practical politics. His inspiring journey from being a firebrand student leader to holding the post of general-secretary of the CPI(M) and his guarding of the idea of India holds lessons for budding leaders across the political spectrum. A warm and articulate person with a good sense of humour, he endeared himself to leaders and the public alike. His ideological and moral clarity as well as political nimbleness will be missed by the Opposition.
M. Jeyaram, Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu
Sir— The veteran CPI(M) leader, Sitaram Yechury, died at 72 after battling a prolonged respiratory illness. He was known for his activism during the Emergency and emerged as a key figure in the Students’ Federation of India. Yechury played a significant role in bringing together the INDIA bloc and was considered one of the political mentors of the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Yechury was an unrepentant Marxist with a pragmatic streak.
Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad
Sir— India has lost a towering personality with the death of the CPI(M) general-secretary, Sitaram Yechury, who passed away soon after another Left stalwart, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Yechury’s fierce determination to protect India’s diversity and his efforts to put together the INDIA group will always be remembered.
Jayanta Datta, Hooghly
Sir— Sitaram Yechury has left behind a rich legacy of camaraderie in politics. A powerful speaker from his days as a student leader, he fostered deep and lasting relationships transcending the boundaries of political affiliations with his warmth and humour. Yechury’s effectiveness as a parliamentarian was marked by his active
participation in the proceedings of the upper House. Leaders like him are key to upholding democracy.
Dimple Wadhawan, Kanpur
Sir— The genial and knowledgeable Sitaram Yechury left an indelible mark on Indian politics. He was unusually liberal for a Leftist, successfully having discussions with leaders with opposing ideologies. He was a master of building consensus among diverse groups. Given the lows to which politics has sunk, Yechury will be sorely missed.
Amit Brahmo, Calcutta
Divided opinion
Sir— The prime minister, Narendra Modi, has drawn flak from the Opposition for attending Ganesh puja at the residence of the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud. It is not unusual for the Opposition to criticise every move of the ruling party. The critics have perhaps forgotten that Manmohan Singh had hosted an iftar party that had been attended by the then CJI, K.G. Balakrishnan. The strongest reaction has come from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader, Sanjay Raut, who has urged the CJI to recuse himself from the case between the two sections of the Shiv Sena. The case will be decided according to the merits of the issue and has nothing to do with the prime minister attending a function at the CJI’s house.
K.V. Seetharamaiah, Bengaluru
Sir— Narendra Modi performing Ganesh aarti at the residence of the CJI at the latter’s home is a sight that is out of place in a nation which boasts of its inherent democratic values. It hints at a blurring of the line between the judiciary and the executive. The Bharatiya Janta Party’s allegation that the Opposition is disrespecting Ganesh puja by criticising this meet is ridiculous. This interaction between the prime minister and the CJI does erode people’s faith in judicial verdicts.
Aayman Anwar Ali, Calcutta
Help needed
Sir— Both the government and the civil society should make every effort to prevent suicides (“Wider horizon”, Sept 13). The theme for this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day — September 10 — was ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’. Those who are under great stress should be treated empathetically and given timely psychiatric help. Suicide is a public health concern and should be taken seriously. It is high time we prioritise the mental health of citizens.
Sunil Chopra, Ludhiana
