Spend wisely

Sir — An invitation to a wedding is exciting. But it can be an expensive occasion. A survey found that Americans are invited to an average of four weddings a year and are likely to spend around $12,000. With most countries lifting restrictions on travel and public gatherings, many couples are also taking the opportunity to plan destination weddings, raising the expenses even further. It is not much different in others parts of the world. However, with inflation and unemployment at an all-time high, attending a wedding has become financially stressful for many. While it can be heartbreaking to miss the nuptials of friends and family, it is important to prioritise financial well-being. We must not be left with an empty wallet at the end of a celebration.

Srijita Nath, Calcutta

Proud moment

Sir — It is wonderful that the first three positions in the civil services examinations were secured by women. This is a testimony to the grit and determination of women who must walk an extra mile to achieve professional success. For decades, the civil services were dominated by men. But now, not only have women entered this coveted profession but they are also leaving their mark as efficient administrators. The success of female candidates will inspire countless others to pursue their dreams.

M. Jeyaram, Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu

Sir — Women are still considered a burden in many parts of India. This could not be further from the truth. They have achieved great success in every field of work, often outperforming men. The Union Public Service Commission recently revealed a list of 685 candidates — 508 men and 177 women — who have qualified the test and have been recommended for appointment to various administrative services. Four out of the top five candidates are women — Shruti Sharma, Ankita Agarwal, Gamini Singla and Aishwarya Verma. The contribution of women to the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service and other Central services has been significant. This year’s results should encourage more young women to consider appearing for the civil services.

Jang Bahadur Singh, Jamshedpur

Enduring tragedy

Sir — It is not safe for Kashmiri Pandits to live in Jammu and Kashmir. A Kashmiri Pandit woman, Rajni Bala, who was a school teacher and a resident of Samba in the Jammu region, succumbed to her injuries after being shot by terrorists in the Gopalpora area of Kulgam. This was the second time that a Kashmiri Pandit was brutally murdered in the month of May. On May 12, Rahul Bhat, a revenue department official, was shot dead inside the tehsildar’s office in Chadoora, Budgam district. Bala’s death is the seventh targeted killing in Kashmir in a month. Three of the victims were off-duty policemen and four were civilians. Kashmiri Pandits are right to be fearful.

Bhagwan Thadani, Mumbai

Equal ground

Sir — The All England Lawn Tennis Club has decided to strike out ‘Miss’ and ‘Mrs’ before the names of female winners on the honour roll of championships at the Wimbledon. It has also decided to stop referring to married women players by the names of their husbands. When Wimbledon dropped the practice of umpires calling female players by their titles, Novak Djokovic expressed surprise and called the tradition “unique and special”. It is unfortunate that a male player of his influence could not see the problem in this practice. The move by the AELTC is the right step forward and must be duly appreciated.

Santanu Ghosh, Calcutta

Sir — The AELTC plans to do away with an archaic and unnecessary practice. Male and women players must be treated equally.

Arani Sen, Calcutta

Still reluctant

Sir — It is astonishing that a country like the United States of America, which boasts of a high GDP and immense influence over global politics, is unable to control gun violence within its borders. At least 212 shootings have been reported, so far, in the US this year of which as many as 27 took place on school premises. In spite of these numbers, there is an overwhelming reluctance to tighten gun laws in the country. The American government has failed to adequately address gun violence. Notwithstanding, the outrage expressed by policymakers after each incident of mass shooting, guns are still available too easily across the country. Perhaps the reason for such reluctance is that the National Rifle Association has a disproportionate influence over US legislators. We can only hope that Americans will come to their senses and strongly push for gun restrictions.

Dipak Banerjee, Calcutta

Stop now

Sir — Yesterday was World No Tobacco Day. Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of premature death around the world. The Indian government should strongly discourage the promotion and use of tobacco and hold countrywide campaigns to create awareness among the people. It is better to be safe than sorry. Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai „Sir — The World Health Organization passed a resolution in 1988 to fight against smoking and inform the public on the dangers of using tobacco. Over thirty years on, although smoking has significantly gone down in several countries in the West, that is not true for Asia and Africa. Around 80 per cent of the over one billion tobacco smokers in the world live in low- and middle-income countries. Governments need to put in place strict measures to curb smoking.

Mihir Dasgupta, Calcutta