Empty words
Sir — Romance and its etiquette have changed with time. Gone are the days when a favourable reply to a love letter would seal the deal. Nowadays, partners changing their relationship status on social media is the ultimate proof of a healthy relationship. Is it the same for breakups as well? Recently, a man sent his girlfriend a ‘letter of closure’ to sign and officially call off their relationship. While such a formal approach can spare one from an emotional goodbye, it is the lack of real communication between lovers who are separating that belies the actual purpose of achieving a meaningful end to any relationship.
Ria Sharma, Mumbai
Viral news
Sir — The origin of SARSCoV-2 continues to intrigue scientists and the intelligence community. The latest classified intelligence report from the United States of America has concluded that a laboratory leak in China resulted in the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has also observed something similar. China has been accused of not only suppressing facts but also obstructing an impartial probe into the virus’ origins. The latest findings put the onus on Beijing to clear the air. A definitive theory on the origins of the coronavirus can help in tackling future pandemics.
Khokan Das, Calcutta
Sir — An outbreak of the adenovirus is wreaking havoc in West Bengal, affecting mostly children. It has claimed the lives of at least 12 children in the past month. This is disconcerting. The virus’ spread occurs over a long period of time after the person has recovered which aids transmission. The Union health ministry should take cognisance of the looming crisis and issue appropriate health advisories. The preventive measures against Covid-19 should be readopted.
M.C. Vijay Shanker, Chennai
Brute force
Sir — The violence between Israel and Palestine has exacerbated over the past few weeks (“Israeli police fire stun grenades at protesters”, Mar 2). The new tensions are being fomented by Israel’s ultra-right government of the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who made it his mission to annex the whole of the West Bank. The Opposition has been unsuccessful in condemning the controversial actions of the ruling dispensation. Further, the government’s recent proposal of judicial reforms aims to end the independence of the Supreme Court. This will have adverse implications for the rest of the world. Israel is the only real democracy in the Middle East. With Russia endangering Ukraine’s sovereignty in Europe, it seems that the world order could start tipping the wrong way.
Shovanlal Chakraborty, Calcutta
Notable honour
Sir — Close on the heels of Geetanjali Shree winning the prestigious International Booker Prize, another Hindi novelist, Vinod Kumar Shukla, has won the 2023 PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature. Shukla’s notable works, such as Naukar Ki Kameez, Lagbhag Jai Hind and others, capture not only the ethos of the country but also its aspirations and struggles. Recognition is important for increasing the reach of literary works. Moreover, vernacular authors winning international honours could also boost the youth’s interest in Indian languages.
Vijay Singh Adhikari, Nainital
Common woes
Sir — The 50-rupee hike in the price of the domestic liquefied petroleum gas cylinder deals a blow to the common man’s budget. The average Indian’s sufferings at the hands of the Narendra Modi regime seem to have no end.
Arun Gupta, Calcutta
