Want not, waste not
Sir — The act of organising our spaces is often oddly satisfying. According to a study, a person can feel happier, less anxious and more confident by reducing clutter. But this enthusiasm for decluttering can have downsides as well. First, the idea that decluttering can help solve all kinds of problem — from insomnia to relationship conflict — is preposterous. Second, chucking away trash only adds to environmental pollution and, worse, much of decluttering happens to exploit female labour. Perhaps not buying junk items in the first place is the key to making our spaces clutter-free.
Shruti Desai, Gurugram
Still burning
Sir — Manipur has been ravaged by communal strife for the past four months. Unsurprisingly, the N. Biren Singh government, which has tacitly supported the violence between the two major ethnic communities, has been resorting to a blame game. The Manipur Police, instead of taking action against the perpetrators, recently registered cases against the Editors Guild of India for allegedly promoting enmity between the warring factions (“Scare tactics”, Sept 7). Targeting those who are trying to hold a mirror up to the government is deplorable.
The media plays a vital role during any conflict. But there have been charges of bias against the Manipuri press. The government’s refusal to accept the EGI’s fact-finding report shows its blatant disregard for introspection. It is also an assault on media freedom and free speech. The Supreme Court restraining the Manipur government from taking coercive action against the EGI thus comes as a timely intervention (“SC shield for editors on Manipur FIRs”, Sept 7).
S.S. Paul, Nadia
Sir — At a time when the prime minister is merrily touring one foreign country after another, the situation in Manipur has been worsening. It is disheartening that the communal fires that have been raging for more than 100 days in the northeastern state have failed to elicit empathy from the vishwaguru. To top it all, the Manipur Police has gone ahead and filed first information reports against journalists for reporting on the situation on the ground.
The Centre has always maintained a step-motherly attitude towards Manipur and the Northeast. In the current conflict, the powers that be are using scare tactics to force the Kukis to toe the government’s line.
K. Nehru Patnaik, Visakhapatnam
Sir — N. Biren Singh, the chief minister of Manipur, brushed aside the report released by a fact-finding committee of the EGI as false and irrelevant. The state government has openly sided with the Meiteis in the communal conflict against the Kuki-Zo community.
Singh failed to take cognisance of the fact that Manipur has become weaponised in the wake of the conflict. Both the Centre and the state are avoiding a thorough investigation in order to cover up their complicity.
Murtaza Ahmad, Calcutta
Sir — Upon returning from the BRICS summit held at Johannesburg, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, flew immediately to Bengaluru to congratulate the Indian Space Research Organisation scientists for the successful launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
However, this kind of proactivity is lacking on Modi’s part when it comes to showing concern for the people of strife-torn Manipur. Modi has not only not provided a healing touch to the Manipuris but he also failed to provide a lasting solution to the fractured social structure of the state.
S. Kamat, Alto Santa Cruz, Goa
Step down
Sir — Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations grouping recently denied Myanmar the rotating leadership of the regional bloc that was scheduled for 2026 in view of the unstable domestic situation in the country.
As a result of this, the Philippines has now agreed to take over the chairmanship. The ouster of the democratically-elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, in a coup orchestrated by the military junta in 2021 and the subsequent detention of other leaders greatly destabilised the country.
Coup violence has become increasingly common in many conflict-ridden countries such as Gabon, Afghanistan and others, undoing democratic systems in these regions. The Myanmar junta will never get international recognition. It must step down at once.
Kirti Wadhawan, Kanpur
Parting shot
Sir — At a recent panel discussion held in the city, it was mooted that while children should be taught to respect elders, adults also have the responsibility of acquiring their respect (“‘Adults have to earn kids’ respect’”, Sept 4). This a prudent thought.
At times, the behaviour and actions of parents end up hurting their children’s emotions. Children are often unable to express their feelings and this leads to pent-up anger. Many parents also resort to physical violence in order to discipline their wards, thus affecting their self-esteem. Awareness about parental actions during an early stage can help iron out many of these problems.
Kiran Agarwal, Calcutta
