Home remedies

Sir — The change in seasons and consequent rise in temperatures cause a whole host of viral infections. People have to make frequent trips to the doctor’s chambers for diseases ranging from chicken pox to the flu. While medical practitioners are quick to prescribe a wide range of antibiotics and other allopathic medicines, sometimes the humble neem begun and vegetable soup made at home are more effective in boosting one’s immunity and controlling the effects of viral infections. Instead of rushing to take medicines, which have numerous side effects, home remedies should be considered as the first line of defence.

Jayanti Sinha, Calcutta

Vendetta politics

Sir — While the fairness of the BBC documentary on Narendra Modi is debatable, using the income tax department to teach the broadcaster a lesson cannot be condoned (“Steep tax”, Feb 16). The alleged “survey” of the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai by the income tax department is suspiciously timed. The connection with the critical BBC documentary cannot be denied even by ardent Modi supporters. The government is sending a message to the media — criticism will bring consequences. The raids are even more surprising at a time when the Adani Group is being shielded in spite of several allegations of financial wrongdoings. The government is blatantly attacking free speech and encouraging crony capitalism.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad

Sir — On the World Press Freedom Index, 2022, India ranked 150 among 180 countries. Given the government’s vendetta against the BBC, this ranking is likely to drop further. Back when the Emergency had been announced by the Indira Gandhi government, the whole country depended on the BBC for the truth. Yet, even then, BBC journalists had not been targeted. This government has previously attacked the Dainik Bhaskar group, NewsClick, Alt News and NDTV. The developments in India at present bring to mind the situation in Germany in 1933 at the beginning of Hitler’s reign. This is rather worrying. Something needs to be done to turn the tide.

Jang Bahadur Singh, Jamshedpur

Sir — The timing of the income tax department ‘surveying’ the BBC offices in Mumbai and Delhi makes it difficult to brush it off as a coincidence. The government has already put hurdles in the path of disseminating the documentary. Such vindictive actions lend credence to what the documentary was trying to say. In fact, the government has given the documentary far more importance than it would have received otherwise. The Opposition has rightly said that the raids are a sign of panic. There may be some truth to this. Such action does not behove a nation that prides itself on being the ‘mother of all democracies’.

S.K. Choudhury, Bengaluru

Sir — William Shakespeare had written, “When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.” The worries plaguing the Narendra Modi regime continue to multiply. The income tax department’s raids at the BBC offices reflect nervousness and insecurity. The BBC, The Economist and The New York Times have already made their intentions to not bend to the will of the government clear. One hopes that their fearlessness will rejuvenate the domestic media.

Prem Sharma, Barnala, Punjab

Poor planning

Sir — Prabhat Patnaik’s insightful article, “Passive consumption” (Feb 15), enumerates the demerits of inviting foreign universities like Harvard to India. He is absolutely right in saying that our students will not benefit from curricula tailored to fit the West’s narrative. The commodification of education will indeed shape individuals who will not learn to question. Rather, they will blindly accept what is taught to them since that education will be a commodity they will have paid for. While degrees from foreign universities can certainly be beneficial in getting jobs, the youth should think beyond the financial benefits to be had from education.

Iftekhar Ahmed, Calcutta

Just demands

Sir — Sangrami Joutho Mancha, a joint forum of 35 associations that represent teachers, doctors, nurses and other state government employees, has said that it will not perform further election duties unless dearness allowance dues are cleared (“Threat to skip poll duty over DA”, Feb 15). None should the professionals for taking such a drastic decision. Dearness allowance is a legal right of government employees, something that West Bengal has denied them for quite some time now.

Shyamal Thakur, East Burdwan

Parting shot

Sir — It is commendable that the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, has sent a stern message to all high court judges that the infrastructure for virtual courts has been created using public funds and all judges have to be on board. Chandrachud seems determined to overhaul the judiciary. This is heartening.

Minashu Masta, Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh