Health is happiness

Sir — Disney princesses are often seen as the epitome of perfection. However, a recent study has debunked the myth of them having happily-ever-afters. Researchers from the University of Twente in the Netherlands have highlighted the potential health hazards that would be faced by Disney princesses if their stories were set in the real world. For instance, Cinderella would suffer from lung disease from frequent exposure to dust while Aurora’s prolonged sleep would make her obese. While this may not be a happy ending, imperfections like poor health do humanise these iconic characters.

Namrata Joshi, Calcutta

Distasteful remark

Sir — The distasteful remarks made by the Union home minister, Amit Shah, about B.R. Ambedkar in Parliament do not befit his office (“Shahenshah to Shah rescue”, Dec 19). Ambedkar was the architect of the Indian Constitution. During the proceedings in the Lok Sabha, Shah asserted that it has become a fashion to chant Ambedkar’s name and then chided the Opposition parties saying that had they taken the name of god instead of Ambedkar’s, they would have found a place in heaven across seven births. Disconcertingly, Shah has remained defensive when he should have tendered an apology.

M. Jeyaram, Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu

Sir — The war of words between the ruling dispensation and the Opposition over B.R. Ambedkar is disrespectful to the legacy of the Dalit icon. All political parties use Ambedkar’s name as a publicity tool. While Amit Shah’s remarks about Ambedkar were offensive, the ruckus created by the Opposition in Parliament was undesirable as well (“‘Kung fu panga’”, Dec 20). The allegation against the leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandi, of misbehaving with a woman parliamentarian during the fracas should be investigated.

Mihir Kanungo, Calcutta

Sir — Amit Shah has not only discredited himself but also brought disrepute to the enduring legacy of the father of the Constitution. Shah’s diatribe exposed the subterranean hatred that the Bharatiya Janata Party has towards the Dalit leader. It also underlined the saffron party’s irreverence for the Constitution. Shah must be condemned unequivocally.

Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai

Friendly gesture

Sir — The recent meeting between the Sri Lankan president, A.K. Dissanayake, and the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, in New Delhi marked a critical juncture in Indo-Lanka ties (“Fine balance”, Dec 19). Dissanayake’s visit signified Colombo’s trust in India’s partnership for its recovery. The meeting underscored Dissanayake’s urgency to deepen bilateral ties and reaffirmed his commitment to a collaborative regional vision. The island nation’s significance as India’s closest maritime neighbour cannot be overstated.

N. Sadhasiva Reddy, Bengaluru

Sir — A.K. Dissanayake seems to be a pragmaticleader, a far cry from thepast leaders of Sri Lanka who came from political dynasties and were incompetent. They leveraged the acrimony among the bigger powers in the subcontinent to ensure their own survival. In contrast, Dissanayakehas chosen the path ofactive neutrality.

R. Narayanan, Navi Mumbai

Potent threat

Sir — As a writer, it scares me to see what Artificial Intelligence is increasingly becoming capable of. Professionals like me, including creative writers, are now facing the uncomfortable truth that AI is not just a tool; it is fast-evolving. While we like to tell ourselves that AI cannot write like humans, the reality is that it is getting better every day.

Zakir Hussain, Kazipet, Telangana