Digest this

Sir — There are few things that Bengalis fear as much as a chnoa dhekur, which is typically induced by dining table excesses. The fear is usually foreshadowed by the threat of bodh hajam and ambol, leading to their legendary dependence on antacids. But Bengalis should not be the only ones to bear the ridicule for this curious fixation with indigestion. This preoccupation is manifest in the smidgen of hing added to spicy curries, the pinch of ajwain seeds in parathas, the small lump of jaggery that is often eaten after dinner or even the mandatory platter of fennel seeds synonymous with desi restaurants.

Kaushik Maiti, East Midnapore

History at risk

Sir — The plight of heritage sites in India has always troubled conscientious citizens. These sites suffer from neglect and illegal encroachments, erasing valuable pieces of history. A dedicated, state-wise database of these sites and stringent security arrangements are the needs of the hour. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage has published an inventory of over 60,000 buildings with historical significance in around 150 cities. But this is not an exhaustive database. The ministry of culture must take steps before historical places are damaged beyond recovery.

Noopur Baruah, Tezpur, Assam

Unruly behaviour

Sir — On December 16, an elevator at Bandra railway station suddenly ceased to work, trapping 22 passengers in it for over 35 minutes. Out of the 22 people in the elevator — its maximum carrying capacity is eight — most were women and senior citizens. Overloading caused the elevator to malfunction, highlighting the popular tendency to ignore rules. Station authorities must control elevator traffic.

Sudhir Kangutkar, Mumbai

Floating theories

Sir — The raging controversy over whether Jack could have been saved in the film, Titanic, had Rose been a little more accommodating shows the immense popularity that the film enjoys even 25 years after its release (“Raft couldn’t have saved Rose and Jack, says Cameron”, Dec 22). The director, James Cameron, has cleared the air by stating that even though the door used in the scene looked spacious, Jack could not have been saved. Moreover, Jack’s death added to the pathos of the film. But the body-shaming that the lead artist, Kate Winslet, faced — many argued that Jack could not fit on the raft owing to her girth — is shocking. The poor taste of such comments notwithstanding, the film continues to be inspirational for artists worldwide.

Sambuddha Sinha, Berhampore

Formula for success

Sir — December 22 marks the birthday of the renowned Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan, who contributed significantly to modern mathematics through his lifelong dedication to the subject. His birthday was declared as National Mathematics Day in 2012. His work on various theorems continues to profoundly influence scientists.

Vijay Singh Adhikari, Nainital, Uttarakhand

Joy ride

Sir — It is wonderful to learn that the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway will introduce a special evening ride between New Jalpaiguri and Sukna which includes a halt for passengers to visit the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Museum and enjoy the local cuisine (“Year-end special on toy train”, Dec 19). Taking in the beauty of the hill town in the evening will be mesmerising. This joy ride on a toy train is sure to be an instant hit with tourists visiting the Queen of the Hills.

Sourish Misra, Calcutta