Needless split

Sir — Emma D’Arcy, a non-binary actor who portrays the role of Rhaenyra Targaryen in the HBO series, House of the Dragon, is being considered for an Emmy nomination in the ‘best actress’ category. This highlights, once again, the need for gender-neutral categories to improve representation. Most cinematic awards, except in the acting categories, are not split on the basis of gender. Given that the entertainment industry is still rife with gender and racial prejudices, and that male stars still bag most of the lead roles, introducing gender-neutral categories at award shows could go a long way in reducing these biases.

Debolina Sanyal, Howrah

Freedom at risk

Sir — The Supreme Court has recently stated that forced religious conversions threaten national security and directed the Centre to take necessary steps to tackle the issue (“SC asks Centre to step in on conversions”, Nov 15). This came in response to a petition filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Ashwini Upadhyay, seeking stringent measures against forced conversions. While the concerns raised by the apex court are genuine, it is not clear whether accurate data on forced conversions have been placed before it. Moreover, the BJP has repeatedly attempted raised the bogey of love jihad. The court’s directive will provide further ammunition to the saffron party to pursue its agenda of polarisation. Adequate safeguards against forced religious conversions already exist in the Constitution.

S.K. Choudhury, Bengaluru

Sir — Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion to all persons. Hindutva groups have leveraged religious conversions as a means to divide the country and reap electoral benefits. The court could have asked for irrefutable evidence on religious conversions before considering the case.

Tithi Sarkar, Calcutta

Violent ideas

Sir — Shraddha Walkar was brutally murdered by her live-in partner, Aaftab Poonawala, who then dismembered her body and stored it in a refrigerator before dumping the pieces in different places in Delhi. Television channels have incessantly relayed grisly details of the crime to gain TRP. This might have a negative impact on viewers, especially children. Violent crimes must reported with caution.

G. David Milton, Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

Sir — The details of Shraddha Walkar’s murder are being sensationalised by the media. While confessing to his crime, the accused said that he was inspired by the American crime series, Dexter, which is about a homicidal man who leads a double life. There has been a fair share of violent content on Indian TV as well. Exposure to such content can be harmful. Violence can be depicted subtly.

N. Viswanathan, Coimbatore

Olive branch

Sir — Gianni Infantino, the president of football’s world governing body, Fifa, has urged global leaders to call for a ceasefire to the Russia-Ukraine war during the football World Cup (“Infantino plea: Use Cup for peace”, Nov 16). This is laudable. World leaders have often used sports as a means to promote peace. In 1971, reconciliation between the United States of America and China was achieved through ‘ping-pong diplomacy’. The reopening of dialogue between Turkey and Armenia happened when the two teams were drawn together in the qualifying group in the 2008 World Cup. One hopes that the upcoming event will also be a harbinger of peace.

Dyutiman Bhattacharya, Calcutta

Piling up

Sir — It was shocking to learn that Canadian companies have been shipping thousands of metric tonnes of plastic waste overseas. India, with lax inspection mechanisms and poor regulations, has become an attractive destination for Canadian trash. The accumulation of garbage is not the only concern. The combustion of paper trash, which is used as fuel in many factories, can cause serious health hazards. The government must take notice of this problem.

Monidipa Mitra, Calcutta

Digital leap

Sir — The Reserve Bank of India has roped in five banks to work on its digital currency project. If it gains popularity, the digital rupee will reduce cash transactions. The Unified Payments Interface has been a successful means of making digital payments but people continue to prefer cash in everyday use. The introduction of ‘digipee’ will not only ensure a shift towards a digital economy but will also help reduce black money.

Swati Pandey Ujjain

Parting shot

Sir — The worsening winter air quality in North India has highlighted, yet again, the harmful effects of air pollution on our health. Yet, when it comes to policy-making on the environment, healthcare professionals are conspicuous by their absence. This is a lapse that leaves gaps in legislation.

Rima Roy, Calcutta