Novel avenues

Sir — Higher internet penetration has changed the way we spend our free time. Earlier, hobbies such as reading, painting or sports would be largely determined by accessibility. But a recent study by the electronics giant, Samsung, has found that 18 to 25-year-olds are increasingly swapping traditional pastimes for unconventional activities. The study revealed that people found new hobbies through social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Many of them credited these platforms for helping them nurture creative activities, such as pottery, tie-dyeing, digital illustration and so on. The internet has become the gateway to learning a wide range of skills that were earlier out of reach for most. We must make full use of the new resources at our disposal.

Nandita Ghosal, Calcutta

Harsh truth

Sir — The chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, has alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Partyled Centre is “bulldozing the federal structure of the country”. Banerjee has demanded that Central agencies, such as the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate, should be given complete autonomy (“Grant CBI, ED autonomy: CM”, May 24). The chief minister is right in saying that these investigative agencies should not become tools for political vendetta. It is important that they work independently and impartially.

Bhagwan Thadani, Mumbai

Sir — Considering the constant tussle between the Centre and Opposition-ruled states, Mamata Banerjee was left with no other option but to point out that the BJP is guilty of using Central investigative agencies to settle scores with political opponents. The West Bengal government has repeatedly faced the wrath of the Centre for no good reason. This must be condemned. It is essential that Central agencies retain their autonomy for the health of the democracy.

Arun Gupta, Calcutta

Hollow noise

Sir — It is flabbergasting that Narendra Modi has accused others of attempting to stir up controversies over language. He must be aware that it was the home minister, Amit Shah, who ruffled feathers when he said that Hindi should be accepted as an alternative to English and that the prime minister has decided that the medium of running the government is the official language — 70 per cent of the agenda of the Union cabinet is prepared in Hindi. Shah’s comments emboldened another politician to declare that those who do not know Hindi must leave the country. It is time that Modi instructed his own party colleagues to desist from making such statements. However, it is doubtful if he will take any concrete steps.

Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai

Sir — The Centre’s emphasis on the use of Hindi is unfortunate. All languages and dialects must be accorded equal respect.

Neha Gupta, Patiala

Skin-deep

Sir — The growing popularity of cosmetic surgeries, such as face-lift, hair transplantation, liposuction and other procedures, has led to the mushrooming of plastic surgery clinics in India. These procedures are expensive and thus make for a lucrative business. But many of these clinics do not follow protocol and have quacks performing the procedures. There is an frightening lack of regulation. The government must take strict measures to rectify the problem.

Swati Pandey, Ujjain

Sir — The death of the Kannada actress, Chethana Raj, because of a botched ‘fat-removal’ surgery is heartbreaking. This incident has renewed discussions on the pressures on women to adhere to unrealistic beauty standards. Cinema, television, advertisements and social media are all responsible for making women think that they must look a certain way. In contrast, men are not burdened by such expectations. Women must not be made to feel that they are inadequate in any way.

Brij Bhushan Goyal, Ludhiana

Steady rise

Sir — The sky-rocketing inflation in India, both in wholesale and retail, is cause for concern. Wholesale inflation rose to around 15.08 per cent in April while retail inflation hovered around 7.8 per cent. The Covid-19 pandemic followed by the Russia-Ukraine war and the heatwaves across the nation, have contributed to the rise. The government must help ease the pressure on the common people.

D.V.G. Sankararao, Nellimarla, Andhra Pradesh

Strong stand

Sir — A group of Muslim families in Basirhat have jointly donated 600 metres of land to help make a recently-constructed local crematorium more accessible (“Muslim land for road to burning ghat”, May 23). This is indicative of the harmonious relationship between the two communities living in this locality. In New India, leaders often use communally-charged rhetoric to divide the nation. This also helps shift attention from the real issues plaguing the country. The people of West Bengal must be lauded for standing up against all attempts at division.

Avik Chatterjee, Calcutta

Sound of music

Sir — Music can be healing for many people. In fact, music therapy is known to be effective in helping children and teenagers cope with their problems. According to a 2019 survey, Indians spend around 19.1 hours a week listening to music. Another survey from 2020 found that 57 per cent of Americans prefer to listen to music to manage stress. This shows how beneficial music is to our emotional well-being.

Ishita Patidar, Ujjain