Whitewashed
Sir — The walls might not actually have ears, but they did have memories. It was common for walls in most homes to be adorned not just with old photographs, portraits of deities and calendars but also with scribbles by generations of children who had grown up in those abodes. Homes thus had their own unique characters and reflected the histories of the families that inhabited them. But in the age of statement walls, mundane mural stickers and washable synthetic paint, every home is now an insipid replica of another, sans any character or history. The writing on the wall — or lack thereof — is clear.
Roshni Sen, Calcutta
Finger on the pulse
Sir — Doctors are not gods and treating them as such is a mistake. They are humans and, in India, they are also overburdened. It is thus heartening that the Supreme Court has said that its 1995 decision that held medical professionals accountable under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, for deficiency in service needs to be revisited. While doctors do provide a service, this cannot be equated with any other profession because human bodies react differently in different situations. Moreover, there are people who misuse the Act when they do not want to pay the doctor’s or the hospital’s fee. They create a ruckus and file a case under the CPA. Doctors should be taken out of the purview of the Act.
Abhinab Paul, Baripada, Odisha
Sir — Patients have every right to seek recourse under the CPA because in the absence of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, affected patients will not have an effective adjudicating body to get their grievances redressed. The Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, may help define medical misconduct and take action against erring doctors. But is this enough to assuage the affected patient or family? The National Medical Council does not have the power or the resources to compensate patients for any medical negligence they face.
Sunidhi Chopra, Calcutta
Sir — Doing due diligence to the patient, maintaining proper records about the patient’s history and medical procedures, taking written consent for any treatment are some steps that can help doctors when it comes to cases lodged under the CPA. Communicating clearly about the risks before undertaking any procedure or starting a treatment, communicating the outcome of the procedure as well as timely referral of the patient in case of any complication can also help strengthen the patient-physician bond and avoid unnecessary litigation.
S.S. Paul, Nadia
Women’s world
Sir — In his new OTT series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has lavished attention on the appearance of his women characters: their gorgeous brocades, the curls that cascade down their backs and how they seem to never walk, but glide. But the point of such extravagant beauty, as Bhansali well understands, is to present a stark contrast to the ugliness and the pain that lies beneath. The women of Heeramandi lie, scheme, steal and betray one another; they also nurse broken hearts and frustrated ambitions, they crave independence and respect. For years now, Bhansali has been accused of exploiting the pain and heartbreak of women by aestheticising it — tears do not ruin their make-up, their hair is always artfully dishevelled and clothes stay unrumpled. Yet, Bhansali’s films prioritise women’s egos, desires and traumas and stand in sharp contrast to the male star-driven film industry that is Bollywood.
Yashodhara Sen, Calcutta
Sir — Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s women are all objects of beauty and desire, operating in settings whose scale and grandeur could only belong to the realm of make-believe. Consequently, the women are removed from the real business of life by their distance from it. They are reduced to morality tropes by the director, used by him to make a larger point. If films that profess to champion women internalise the language of misogyny, it does more damage than good to the feminist movement.
Shantaram Wagh, Pune
Punished enough
Sir — The whistle-blower and founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, has won legal reprieve in the United Kingdom, which has granted him permission to appeal against an extradition order that would see him transferred to the United States of America to face trial for allegedly leaking military secrets. Assange and WikiLeaks performed a public service akin to what journalism of conscience is supposed to do. He has been punished enough already, he should be allowed to fly home now.
Shabbir Kazmi, Mumbai
Uncharted terrain
Sir — Delegates from over 60 countries have convened in Kerala to attend the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. India, among other countries, has pressed for a regulatory framework to control tourism in that continent. But New Delhi must be wary of any deal that could undercut future opportunities for tourism.
R. Narayanan, Navi Mumbai
