Family benefits
Sir — Buying one’s own house is a dream for many. Apart from signalling a fresh beginning, it is also a mark of accomplishment. Unfortunately, this dream has become elusive for the youth in the United States of America and elsewhere. Home prices are at an all-time high, making it hard for prospective homeowners to find places to live. Greedy real estate developers and inflation are believed to be the drivers of this crisis. Interestingly, experts have emphasised the need to share residence with ‘boommates’ — one’s parents or grandparents aka boomers — as a solution to this crisis. While this does not solve the housing crunch, the likelihood of children moving back into their parents’ houses could end up bringing them closer.
Deepak Lahiri, Calcutta
Sombre day
Sir — A year has passed since Hamas, the Islamic militant group, launched the deadliest terrorist attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people. This invited a disproportionate response from Tel Aviv, leading to the death of more than 40,000 Palestinians in the past 12 months (“A year on, the War that won’t End”, Oct 8). There seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for Palestinians who have been displaced from their homes and subjected to abject misery owing to continuous Israeli bombardment. To make matters worse, Israel’s military campaign against Iran-backed terror outfits in Lebanon and Yemen, the Hezbollah and the Houthis, respectively, has broadened the war in the Middle East. This will have adverse ramifications for the entire world.
Oil prices can skyrocket as a result of this conflict and affect the global economy. India should join hands with its allies in the region like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates to dial down tensions and ensure stability.
M. Jeyaram, Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu
Sir — The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas-Hezbollah is causing irreversible destruction in the Middle East (“Israel fights on two fronts”, Oct 7). Air strikes and drone attacks continue relentlessly as the world powers watch as mere spectators, unable to bring the warring sides to the negotiation table.
Toxic chemicals and fumes released from the bombing raids are aggravating pollution and causing environmental damage. Every nation must come forward to de-escalate the conflict for the sake of world peace and humanity’s survival.
Jakir Hussain, Kanpur
Sir — October 7, 2024 marked the first anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel. Iran’s retaliation against Israel has led to the latter intensifying its aggression against Hezbollah hideouts in Lebanon. If the situation is allowed to persist, a world war would be inevitable.
K. Nehru Patnaik, Visakhapatnam
Sir — It is evident that warmongers like Israel, Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran have no remorse for the collateral damages of their conflict. Thousands have died and millions left homeless due to the war in the Middle East that began a year ago. Wars in the past have been used as smokescreens to test new weapons and equipment. The Israel-Hamas war is not about the clash of religions but one of asserting dominance.
U. Mangalasseri, Malappuram, Kerala
Sir — One year on, the conflict in the Middle East has not shown any sign of abetting. Damages to life and property are huge and unassessable. The lives of innocent people have been put at risk for the greed of certain megalomaniacs. The conflict should be resolved through negotiation. India’s silence in this regard is cause for concern.
N.R. Ramachandran, Chennai
Sir — World powers do not seem to have a practical solution to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Hamas attacked Israel, having overestimated the support from Hezbollah, which itself has been facing alienation from the Lebanese polity. Hamas’s misadventure has reversed much of the gains made hitherto towards reconciliation between Israel and Palestine.
R. Narayanan, Navi Mumbai
Tragic turn
Sir — It is unfortunate that five spectators were killed and nearly 100 hospitalised owing to dehydration at the air show on the Marina Beach held to commemorate the Indian air force’s 92nd anniversary (“5 die after IAF show, ire at ‘slackness’”, Oct 7). Overcrowding at the venue led to a stampede-like situation. The government of Tamil Nadu should have anticipated the high footfall and taken adequate measures to ensure public safety. The lack of accountability on the part of the Centre to safeguard the attendees is equally appalling.
Jayanta Datta, Hooghly
Sir — Around 15 lakh people thronged the Marina Beach to witness the IAF’s anniversary show. The death of five attendees due to dehydration was saddening. Arrangements for drinking water must have been put in place for the crowd. People themselves should have carried water bottles and snacks as well given the scorching heat in Chennai around this time of the year. The attempt by the leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu, E. Palaniswami, to politicise the incident is disconcerting.
Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai
People’s power
Sir — Sukanta Chaudhuri’s column, “Unique upsurge” (Oct 7), delineates the sudden arousal of public consciousness due to the protests against the rape and murder of a young doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. The ruling dispensation in West Bengal has become complacent after being in power for 13 years. The Trinamool Congress should take cognisance of the growing discontent against its misgovernance.
Basudeb Dutta, Nadia
