Laugh it off
Sir — Comedians have always paid a steep price for laughing in the face of power. The Malaysian comedian, Nigel Ng, for instance, has been banned from Chinese social media for poking fun at the conservative customs and the eccentricities of people of that country. Among Nigel’s most popular routines is the one in which he satirises Asian parents who are quick to find faults with their children and have unnaturally high expectations of them. While such jokes at the expense of elders have not gone down well with the authorities, Asian audiences, including in China, have largely supported his accurate portrayal of their parents. Perhaps laughter is a good way of processing the feeling of inadequacy that many children grow up with owing to parental disapproval.
Archana Lahiri, Calcutta
Hidden motive
Sir — The Union defence minister, Rajnath Singh, has directed the army headquarters to hasten the probe into the custodial deaths of three Kashmiri civilians in Poonch and ensure that their families get justice (“Hasten Poonch probe, army told”, Jan 1). Singh also rushed to Jammu and Kashmir to placate the Gujjar community — from which the three men hailed — which constitutes nearly 8% of the region’s population, forming a sizeable share of the vote bank. The incident might also sour the relationship between the army and the Gujjars, who have traditionally assisted in intelligence-gathering. The situation thus needs to be handled with care.
Samaresh Khan, Midnapore
Sir — The unusual haste of the defence ministry to remove the officers involved in the alleged custodial deaths of three men from the Gujjar community in Poonch is prompted by political exigency. The Gujjars are crucial to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s electoral prospects in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the government’s interference might affect the morale of the armed forces.
Jahar Saha, Calcutta
Deeper malaise
Sir — A Dalit teen was allegedly thrown into a hot cauldron at a jaggery-making unit in Budaun district for protesting against sexual harassment (“Dalit teen ‘thrown’ into hot cauldron”, Jan 1). The accused men threw her into the cauldron after hurling casteist abuses at her. The girl is currently undergoing treatment. The authorities should ensure that the cost of her treatment is borne by her employer and the other accused. If proven guilty, strict action must be taken against the accused to send an unequivocal message that such barbaric acts will not go unpunished.
Tauqueer Rahmani, Mumbai
Sir — The alleged brutality against a young Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh for speaking up against molestation underscores the urgent need for more stringent measures to protect vulnerable groups. The prompt arrest of the accused is laudable. But the incident also calls for a deeper examination of the systemic issues that lead to the perpetration of such heinous acts. We must tackle not only the immediate crime but also the broader problems of discrimination and violence against marginalised communities.
Sreshaja J.R., Kerala
Exit route
Sir — Ummar Jamal’s article, “Make them stay” (Jan 1), was an informative analysis of the much-discussed ‘brain drain’ phenomenon that has been plaguing the Indian educational system. Instead of remaining secular, our educational institutions have become tools in the hands of divisive politicians who peddle misinformation and hatred. Mythology is increasingly being conflated with science and legends with history. Schools and colleges are often mandated to take part in various Central schemes when they should be asked solely to focus on imparting knowledge. Our education system needs to be reformed before it is further distorted by the powers that be.
Avinash Godboley, Dewas, Madhya Pradesh
Saffron shield
Sir — The ruling dispensation’s repeated attempts to shield alleged sexual offenders from within its ranks shows its indifference to the plight of women in the country (“Cong corners BJP IT cell on rape”, Jan 1). Recently, a student was sexually assaulted at Banaras Hindu University by three men who have been found to have links with top guns of the saffron party. Despite committing abominable crimes, many Bharatiya Janata Party loyalists go scot-free — the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, is one example. The Centre must respond to the concerns raised by the Opposition about its blinkered approach.
Iftekhar Ahmed, Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh
Old links
Sir — The Agnipath scheme is shortsighted. It has harmed not only the interests of the Gorkha Rifles but also the warm ties between India and Nepal (“Agnipath bullet for Sam’s Gorkha soldiers”, Jan 1). The Gorkha Rifles deserve recognition for their contributions and must not be treated as dispensable soldiers. The Indian government needs to reinstate Nepali Gorkha men in the army and engage in dialogue with the Nepali government to ensure harmony between the two nations.
Dhananjay Sinha, Calcutta
Troubling news
Sir — It is surprising that the pioneer of microfinance and Nobel laureate, Muhammad Yunus, has been convicted by a court in Bangladesh for violating labour laws. Yunus has been a vocal critic of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina Wajed. Yunus had received the Nobel Peace Prize for his service to the community by helping hundreds of people overcome poverty. Many people have supported Yunus’ cause. He deserves a fair trial.
D.V.G. Sankara Rao, Andhra Pradesh
