Smell the rot

Sir — Who loves an unpleasant scent? Clearly, the tourists who flocked to the Geelong Botanic Gardens recently. They were there to see the Titan arum, a rare flower that has bloomed there for the first time. This flower entices plant lovers not with a delightful smell but with its rotting, foul odour. Popularly known as ‘corpse flowers’, this Indonesian floral species takes nearly a decade to bloom. Visitors who went to take a sniff usually ended up retching and fleeing. But Indian tourists would not have to go that far to smell something so disgusting. Towering waste mounds, which remain unattended to by local municipalities, should suffice for them. In fact, Calcutta can consider organising its own tours around Dhapa and Kestopur for eager sniffers of the corpse flower.

Banani Sen, Calcutta

Set limits

Sir — The Australian government recently announced that it would mandate an age limit of 16 years for children using social media and similar platforms. This seems to be a step in the right direction. Admittedly, social media has several positive aspects — it helps people stay connected with friends and family, allows children to interact with a diverse group of kids, informs people about current affairs and supports artists by letting them share their works with the public. However, constant use of social media can lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, insomnia and fatigue. Addiction to social media can cause social isolation and loss of concentration in students. India, too, should consider taking a leaf out of Australia’s book to safeguard children by limiting the online platforms they can use.

C.K. Subramaniam, Navi Mumbai

Sir — The Australian government has taken a bold and protective step by announcing a ban on the usage of social media by children. Children’s time on social media must be monitored by their guardians and teachers. Enacting a similar ban in India is the need of the hour to prevent children from being negatively impacted by social media. Social media encourages other harmful addictions — like drug usage, smoking and consumption of liquor — by exerting peer pressure on children. The government, social media companies and guardians of children should come together to devise ways to address this sensitive issue.

Shovanlal Chakraborty, Calcutta

Lonely lives

Sir — We live in highlyindividualistic times. While most people want a true friend, nobody is willing to support others through thick and thin (“A tie that binds” Nov 11). Friendships can help people navigate the pitfalls of life with more confidence. Close, long-term friendships are now becoming a thing of the past.We must strive to connect at least with our acquaintancesand colleagues, if not our school friends.

Anthony Henriques, Mumbai

Sir — Friendship is a bond to be cherished. True friends are hard to come by and we must value and respect them. Friendship is especially important during old age as one’s relatives slowly start to depart. Childhood friendships usually last longer than most others as friendships forged during childhood are not based on many expectations.

Vinay Asawa, Howrah

Relief, at last

Sir — It is heartening that nearly three decades after the import of Salman Rushdie’s book, The Satanic Verses, was banned by the Indian government, the Delhi High Court has lifted the ban on the grounds that the original order could not be traced (“As Verses is unshackled, Rushdie ‘free’ test relook”, Nov 9). Following the fatwa issued against Rushdie by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the author has lived in self-imposed exile. The Japanese translator of his book was assassinated. A writer’s freedom of expression must be protected. If a section of society finds a book blasphemous, it can choose to not engage with it. In his open letter to the then prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, Rushdie had condemned the ban. The court’s judgment brings relief for Rushdie and his readers.

T. Ramadas, Visakhapatnam

Sir — The Delhi High Court has declared a three-decade-long ban on the import of Salman Rushdie’s controversial book, The Satanic Verses, as null and void owing to the original order being missing. Now Indian readers can import and access the book with ease. However, this incident should not be politicised by the ruling party. Instead, it should be upheld as a major milestone in India’s safeguarding of the freedom of expression.

Jayanta Datta, Hooghly

Wrong approach

Sir — The Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission has recommended prohibiting male tailors from taking measurements of female customers and mandating female-only staff in gyms and fitness centres to prevent inappropriate contact. Instead of such blanket measures, effective governance, adequate vigilance and rapid legal action can help curb crimes against women. While women often feel stressed about their safety due to the increasing reports of crimes against them, the solution cannot lie in inconveniencing women and depriving them of equal opportunities.

Kiran Agarwal, Calcutta

Harsh conditions

Sir — The Gig and Platform Workers Union organised a nationwide digital strike recently to take a stand against the exploitation of women gig workers. Start-ups and new ventures provide terrible working conditions for women and pay them nominal wages. Workers all over the world have been fighting for decades for appropriate working conditions and job security. The government should focus on building an integrated system to ensure basic amenities for female gig workers.

Dimple Wadhawan, Kanpur