Wrong timing
Sir — All those who have watched Jurassic Park may scoff at the prospect of extinct species being brought back to life. But such ideas are increasingly turning into a possibility with genetic engineering. An American biotech firm recently took a major step towards resurrecting the woolly mammoth by creating stem cells from the Asian elephant, the mammoth’s closest living relative. The resulting hybrid, scientists have argued, would not only revive the Arctic ecosystem but also help in the conservation of the elephants. However, scientific theories have long held that the end of the Ice Age had driven mammoths towards extinction. Is the reintroduction of a species that thrives in cold, especially at a time when global temperatures are rising, then not a case of oversight?
Vidushi Gupta, Bengaluru
Hollow words
Sir — In his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, unveiled a slew of development measures for the region. He also portrayed the Valley-based political parties as dynastic entities which had enjoyed a stranglehold over the resources until his government ended the
special constitutional status of the erstwhile state and ushered in ‘Naya Kashmir.’
Unfortunately, Modi’s rhetoric on Kashmir’s development did not include the restoration of democratic processes in the Union territory. Kashmir should be governed by a democratically-elected dispensation as the rest of the states.
M. Jeyaram, Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu
Sir — The Bharatiya Janata Party has a penchant for blaming the Congress for the enduring crisis in Jammu and Kashmir. This was evident in the prime minister’s recent speech in Srinagar (“Hot air”, Mar 11). He then went on to assert that Kashmir has touched new heights of progress and prosperity after the revocation of Article 370.
If the prime minister’s words are to be believed, then why is the Centre delaying conducting assembly elections or restoring statehood to J&K? Kashmir continues to be plagued by insurgency and other challenges. Only a democratically-elected government can solve these issues in an even-handed way.
S.S. Paul, Nadia
Strange silence
Sir — In “The other A” (Mar 9), Ramachandra Guha astutely addresses the serious concerns surrounding the conservation efforts of Anant Ambani’s Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust in Jamnagar. In the days leading up to the Ambani scion’s pre-wedding festivities, a few members of the mainstream media made a beeline for the rehabilitation facility in Jamnagar to report on how the trust had been looking after the welfare of more than 200 ‘rescued’ elephants. However, questions have been raised about the facility bypassing environmental laws. By failing to highlight these facts, the godi media has stooped to the lowest levels of sycophancy.
Anthony Henriques, Mumbai
Sir — It is unfathomable that Anant Ambani has been managing a rehabilitation facility for elephants in a dry and industrial belt like Jamnagar. Elephants are well-adapted for India’s tropical rainforests. Further, transferring animals from far-off regions in the name of rescuing may make them more vulnerable to trafficking and human cruelty. Surprisingly, no political outfit has raised questions about these environmental transgressions so far. Ramachandra Guha must be commended for his objective take on the issue.
Alok Ganguly, Nadia
End the war
Sir — The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, seems hell-bent on returning Russia to the superpower status it lost when the Soviet Union collapsed (“Yuliia’s message”, Mar 10). Putin is an autocrat who will stop at nothing to fulfil his ambitions. The invasion of Ukraine is a signal that he might similarly attack other former Soviet states, resulting in deadlier confrontations with NATO. The global superpowers should unite to stop the warmonger in his tracks.
Aranya Sanyal, Siliguri
Another example
Sir — Abhijit Gangopadhyay, the former Calcutta High Court judge, is being heavily criticised for resigning from judgeship and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party. Gangopadhyay’s decision, his critics argue, casts a grim shadow on the judicial orders that he has given.
However, this is not the first time that a sitting judge has resigned to contest elections. Baharul Islam, the former Supreme Court judge, resigned six weeks before his retirement and contested the 1983 Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket. Should his judgments be reconsidered as well? Judges should be treated with more respect.
Sourav Malik, South 24 Parganas
Two’s company
Sir — The badminton aces, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, should be congratulated for winning the French Open badminton title for the second time (“India duo relish sweet taste of success in Paris”, Mar 11).
From winning bronze in the World Championship in Tokyo and gold in the prestigious Thomas Cup in Bangkok to clinching the top honours at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the Asian Championship in Dubai, Shetty and Rankireddy have taken huge strides in international badminton in the past two years. Their latest victory will etch their names in history.
Bal Govind, Noida
Sir — Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy seem to be in their best forms. It is hoped that their winning streak will continue in the Paris Olympics.
Snigdha Mondal, Calcutta
