Identity crisis
Sir — The tiny island nation of Tuvalu is under immediate threat from rising sea levels and has decided to upload itself onto Metaverse in a bid to preserve its identity. This is not a bad idea. Perhaps Calcutta, which could be submerged by 2030 according to some estimates, and the Sunderbans, which are ceding more and more space to the sea, should consider uploading themselves too. Even as new cities and creatures begin to populate this brave new climate-resistant e-world, one wonders who this history is being preserved for. Who will survive the vagaries of climate change to log into Metaverse?
Simran Dutt, Calcutta
Divided house
Sir — The power tussle between the chief minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, and fellow legislator, Sachin Pilot, has sunk to a new low. In a recent interview, Gehlot berated Pilot and said that the latter could not head the state as he lacks public support (“Gehlot tags Pilot a ‘gaddar’”, Nov 25). Despite Pilot’s shortcomings, Gehlot should have refrained from publicly criticising a member of his party. Success in politics is all about showing team spirit.
Kirti Wadhawan, Kanpur
Sir — The spat between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot has exposed the fragile interpersonal relations within the Congress. This comes at a time when the party needs to put up a unified front against the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Congress’s president’s silence regarding the rivalry is strange.
Arun Gupta, Calcutta
Enduring icon
Sir — For over 60 years, politicians of all colours have exploited the image of Chhatrapati Shivaji to pocket Marathi votes. Recently, the governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, and a national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Sudhanshu Trivedi, came under fire from the Nationalist Congress Party, the Congress, the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray and other activists for referring to the Maratha king as a “hero of the past era”. Shivaji is a source of inspiration for Marathis. Koshyari’s remarks may force the Centre’s hand when it comes to sacking him.
Bhagwan Thadani, Mumbai
Unfair privileges
Sir — Amid the row about the Aam Aadmi Party minister, Satyendar Jain, allegedly receiving massages in his prison cell from another inmate, a former officer of Tihar Jail has revealed that it is common practice to arrange sexual favours for influential inmates. This is shocking. The government should take immediate steps to prevent such grave offences.
N. Viswanathan, Coimbatore
Dangerous plan
Sir — The disgraced rapper and designer formerly known as Kanye West has announced that he plans to run for president of the United States of America in 2024. Ye, as the rapper now identifies, has every right to run for president. Sadly, the media — like they did with Donald Trump — will cover Ye incessantly because he is a celebrity and will likely get ratings and clicks. But this is not a game or an MTV awards show. We are living in dangerous times that demand thoughtful and informed leadership — not another celebrity fueled by his own ego to get attention.
Shivam Raheja, Ujjain
Parting shot
Sir — In our childhood, barber shops used to be the local news bureau. People went to barber shops even when they did not need a haircut as all local news and rumours had their inception there. With the arrival of salons that encourage ambient music and where chairs are spaced out, this ecosystem has disappeared.
A.K. Sen, Calcutta
