Into the wilderness
Sir — Many of us have grown up watching the popular television series, Man vs. Wild. The contest between man and wild, though, has taken a rather strange turn. Women across the world were asked if they would rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear. And an overwhelming majority of them responded by saying that they would prefer to be stranded with a bear, claiming that a quick death is better than sexual trauma, victim shaming and other ignominies that men might subject them to. While men have, predictably, slammed this as a misandrist viewpoint, one wonders what they have to say about the fact that at least one in every three women globally experiences intimate partner or sexual violence at the hands of a man.
Shreya Chatterjee, Calcutta
Uncover the truth
Sir — The governor of West Bengal, C.V. Ananda Bose, has allegedly instructed his staff to not cooperate with the police regarding the investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct against him (“Bose barricade on ‘abuse’ probe”, May 6). Bose had earlier stated that the accusation was a political conspiracy to malign him and his office. If that is the case, he should cooperate with the police to help uncover the truth and clear his name.
S. Kamat, Mysuru
Sir — The Communist Party of India (Marxist) member of Parliament, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya, has said that C.V. Ananda Bose’s refusal to cooperate with the police investigation by invoking constitutional immunity will make people suspicious about his innocence. Experts should be consulted to find out if the governor is indeed immune. As long as this issue is not resolved, politicians will have a field day flinging accusations at each other given the ongoing elections and the victims will not get justice.
Jahar Saha, Calcutta
Sir — C.V. Ananda Bose’s non-cooperation with the police investigation against him is shocking. One cannot hide behind constitutional immunity and get away with criminal activity.
Babulal Das, North 24 Parganas
Sir — The case surrounding the charges of sexual assault against the West Bengal governor is getting murkier by the day. The complainant has now stated that she was locked up by at least three Raj Bhavan employees who had tried to dissuade her from lodging the complaint (“Guv’s sentries locked me up”, May 7). The truth behind these allegations needs to be uncovered and the offenders, no matter who they are or what their position, must be punished.
Chittajit Daw, Calcutta
Thirsty cities
Sir — The editorial, “Dry mouths” (May 6), was a timely warning. Unplanned urbanisation, coupled with increasing population and climate change, has wreaked havoc on the water resources of the South Indian cities. This is also taking a toll on farming and food security. While Calcutta is yet to suffer from dire water scarcity, it should take a cue from Bengaluru and Chennai and take preemptive measures. The drop in the water level of the Hooghly river is indicative of an upcoming crisis. Rooftop rainwater harvesting and preventing water wastage from roadside taps should be made mandatory.
Ardhendu Chakraborty, Calcutta
Cruel practice
Sir — It is a matter of concern that instances of ragging are on the rise in Indian educational institutions. Although the Supreme Court of India has long mandated the establishment of anti-ragging committees on educational campuses, college authorities are often guilty of attempting to downplay cases of ragging. The victims’ voices are suppressed to protect the reputation of institutions.
In this regard, the University Grants Commission has taken several commendable steps, including starting a round-the-clock, toll-free helpline and a dedicated email address for lodging complaints. Setting up district-level committees comprising law enforcement officials and student organisations can help monitor these situations. Moreover, the state authorities should implement a stringent legal framework to rein in ragging.
M. Jeyaram, Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu
Health at risk
Sir — It is alarming that the consumption of microplastics through water may enhance the risk of polycystic ovarian syndrome (“Plastic ‘pests’ in water raise PCOS risk”, May 6). Nearly 20% of Indian women suffer from this endocrinal disorder. The government should ensure safe drinking water, free from impurities that cause diseases.
Sunil Chopra, Ludhiana
Wrong move
Sir — The Russian chess player, Garry Kasparov, is admired by chess fans worldwide. Recently, he took a dig at the Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, when the latter claimed that he was proficient in chess. Kasparov urged Gandhi to win the election from Rae Bareli before “challenging for the top”. While Kasparov later tried to make amends for carelessly commenting on a tense situation in Indian politics, this faux pas was unnecessary.
Manoharan Muthuswamy, Ramnad, Tamil Nadu
Natural filter
Sir — It is heartening that scientists at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research have found that coconut trees have the capacity to filter out potentially toxic elements like arsenic from entering the core of the fruits (“IISER sheds light on its studies”, May 5). They re also not affected by industrial groundwater contamination. There is already a huge demand for coconuts among health-conscious people. Such studies will increase the market value.
Hemanta Sasmal, Howrah
