Plot twist

Sir — India’s obsession with love stories is a matter of fact. For decades, the Hindi film industry has refused to lean away from the formula of love, even while producing movies in the genres of action, crime, fantasy, sci-fi and historical fiction. However, there has been a marked rise of narratives rooted in nationalism and chauvinistic machismo. Bollywood’s trademark romances have receded from our screens to make space for hypermasculinity and religious fervour, endangering the escapist fantasy that Hindi films offered its audiences for decades and relegating love to a mere plot device.

Sohini Saha, Calcutta

Entrenched bias

Sir — The release of those convicted of raping Bilkis Bano during the 2002 Gujarat riots is still fresh in our memories. A court in Hathras has now acquitted three of the four men accused of the rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in 2020. This is most unfortunate. The lackadaisical attitude of the police is shameful.

This apathy is true even of cases that are not high-profile and where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party does not have an investment. It is true of most women victims across India. Lodging a first information report is a huge hurdle for women. The system is not one that is friendly to women. Unless those entrusted with the responsibility of protecting women are unbiased, they will never be safe in India.

Amit Brahmo, Calcutta

Sir — The acquittal of three of those accused in the Hathras rape case is a sign of the times. In a country where the Manusmriti’s applicability in the modern world is being explored, the life of a Dalit woman is valued at next to nothing. Women are well and truly becoming second-class citizens in India.

Shreya Basu, Calcutta

Sir — The law may have granted equal status to a live-in partner and a wife, but Indian society has not been able to accept this. There has been much consternation around cases where some women in livein relationships have been murdered by their partners. This has become an opportunity to castigate live-in relationships. But are married women not raped and murdered in this country every day? The argument that in an arranged marriage, families can be a protective buffer is spurious. Most families are party to the abuse of women.

Anthony Henriques, Mumbai

Sir — Home is just one of the arenas where women are discriminated against. India is a deeply patriarchal society. Women also do not have the support of other women. These factors are responsible for the wide gender wage gap. Pay disparity is one of the reasons behind gender inequality in India. The bias against women in the workforce needs to be called out.

Roshni Ojha, Howrah

Old is gold

Sir — Import substitution was at the foundation of the Indian economy before liberalisation opened up our markets (“A better sales pitch”, Mar 4). Public sector industries like HMT Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Earth Movers Limited required big investments and long gestation periods. Whole new suburbs and cities were built for these industries. These are now on the auction block. What is worse, many of the products that were made locally and reputed for their quality, such as fans, umbrellas, domestic pumps, floor tiles, textiles and so on, are now imported at the cost of the local industry and employment. The government should work to strengthen these industries instead of just promoting start-ups.

H.N. Ramakrishna, Bengaluru

Empty shelves

Sir — It is shocking that London’s supermarkets have run out of vegetables, especially tomatoes. This could just be the tip of the iceberg. The shortage is being caused by poor weather reducing the harvest in Europe and North Africa, Brexit rules and lower supplies from producers who have been hit by the jump in energy bills from heating glasshouses.

India has always been an ally of the United Kingdom and the prime minister, Narendra Modi, is known for aiding countries. New Delhi should send immediate help.

Jayanthi Subramaniam, Mumbai

Proud moment

Sir — Deepika Padukone has been selected as one of the presenters at this year’s Oscars. India also has three nominations at the Academy Awards. Indian films and actors are burnishing the country’s image internationally. One hopes that one of the Indian nominations brings home an Oscar. Even if it does not, Padukone’s presence there is something to take great pride in

Kirti Wadhawan, Kanpur

Parting shot

Sir — It was saddening to hear about the demise of the renowned Bengali author, Sasthipada Chattopadhyay, who was the creator of Pandob Goenda. Chattopadhyay mesmerised Bengali readers with his novellas. His debt to Bengali literature is immense.

Sourish Misra, Calcutta