Love’s labour
Sir — Desperate times call for desperate measures. The birth rate in Japan dropped to an all-time low and the death rate doubled in 2023. This has forced the local government in Tokyo to take an unusual approach. It plans to launch a dating application where people can register by submitting proof of being single, a letter of willingness to marry and a tax certificate showing their annual salary. Laborious though such paperwork sounds, it is perhaps not the most difficult thing that those on the app will have to do. The app is seeking to promote men’s involvement in domestic responsibilities, among other such egalitarian steps, to tempt women to take the plunge to marry. Given how entrenched patriarchy is in Japan, this is an obstacle the size of Mount Fuji.
S. Aparajitha, Chennai
Changed equation
Sir — The prime minister, Narendra Modi, will be leading a coalition government for the first time. The man who repeatedly boasted about the death of the coalition era for the past 10 years is now claiming that the National Democratic Alliance is an ‘organic’ coalition and that it will be the most successful alliance in the history of the country.
Romana Ahmed, Calcutta
Sir — The 2024 general elections have marked the return of coalition politics to India. This could act as an adequate check on the government to ensure that the interests of diverse sections of the population are fulfilled. The Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies need to work together to strive towards the idea of a Viksit Bharat. The 2024 verdict has made it clear that people are moved by issues like price rise, unemployment, corruption, farmers’ distress and not identity politics.
Dimple Wadhawan, Kanpur
Sir — India’s political landscape has changed significantly after the 2024 general elections. Narendra Modi had enjoyed absolute power in the last decade. But he will now have to transform himself into a good team player, something he is not good at. So far, since the BJP held a majority of the seats, Modi never felt the need to build consensus with other members of the NDA. But now he should emulate the former prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was adept at achieving consensus among different groups.
D.V.G. Sankara Rao, Andhra Pradesh
Sir — The statement, “NDA mein apna paraya jaisa kuch nahi”, sounds contrived coming from Narendra Modi who has practised divisive politics his entire career. However, if this realisation has dawned on him, it is not too late to make amends. Let ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ not be mere rhetoric anymore and let the NDA government walk the talk.
Amit Brahmo, Calcutta
Sir — Narendra Modi and the BJP must have struggled while allocating ministries given the hard bargain that the NDA’s allies like N. Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar drove. But the push and the pull of coalition politics may resurrect the federal edifice of Indian democracy.
Samaresh Khan, East Midnapore
Narrow win
Sir — The Men in Blue might have won against Pakistan in the ongoing group stage of the Twenty20 World Cup but their performance was dismal. The batsmen seem to be the weakest links in the team. Once again, it was the bowlers who won the match by bundling Pakistan out for 113. Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel should be lauded for helping India cross 100 runs. At one point before the drinks break, it seemed like India might post a minimum of 170 runs. But the team crumbled soon after. Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Patel then turned the tide in India’s favour and helped the team win by a narrow margin of six runs.
The match reminded me of another one played between the two sides in 1985 in Sharjah. Back then, Kapil Dev and his team got Pakistan out for just 87 runs. Bowlers had spearheaded the match even on that occasion.
Vinay Mahadevan, Chennai
Thuggish behaviour
Sir — The CCTV footage showing Soham Chakraborty, the member of the legislative assembly from Chandipur, assaulting the owner of an eatery is cause for concern (“On CCTV: TMC MLA assaults cafe owner”, June 9). If an MLA breaks the law, the common people will also take licences with rules. The case should be investigated without any bias. Moreover, political parties must warn their members not to be rowdy.
Supratik Dalal, Calcutta
Sir — An elected legislator cannot take the law into his hands no matter how agitated he is. The incident should be investigated and action taken against the actor if he is found guilty.
Ardhendu Chakraborty, Calcutta
In ruins
Sir — The report, “Vivekananda Park resembles dumping yard” (June 10), aptly described the sorry state of affairs of the park. I have been living near Vivekananda Park for 66 years and it is increasingly getting overrun by shanties on all sides. It has also become impossible to walk on the pavement around it because of the garbage that is dumped there. The Calcutta Municipal Corporation must take immediate action against this.
Subroto Dev Roy, Calcutta
Versatile vision
Sir — The veteran media personality, Cherukuri Ramoji Rao, has passed away at the age of 88 in Hyderabad. The media baron not only founded the Telugu daily, Eenadu, but also the Ramoji Film City, which is one of the largest integrated film cities in the world. Rao’s entrepreneurial vision and innovative approach to media and entertainment have left an indelible mark.
Ashim Kumar Chakraborty, Guwahati
