Want not, waste not

Sir — Pakistan recently despatched earthquake aid to Turkey. Allegedly, it repackaged the same aid that Turkey had sent to Pakistan after devastating floods in that country last year. Although this might seem like an embarrassing faux pas for the Pakistani prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, Indians will find nothing wrong in Pakistan’s action. Most of us have grown up watching either parents or relatives recycle gifts by re-wrapping and presenting them to others. In fact, such thrift often attracts criticism as being a sign of miserliness. But what is needed is a change in perspective. Just as Indians are loath to let things go to waste, Pakistan has sent back aid that would have otherwise been wasted for a good cause.

S.S. Biswas, Calcutta

Grave charges

Sir — The allegation by the former Shiv Sena member of Parliament and Uddhav Thackeray-loyalist, Sanjay Raut, that a deal of Rs 2,000 crore is the reason behind Eknath Shinde’s faction of the party being awarded the bow-and-arrow symbol is serious. The fact that the Election Commission did not wait for the Supreme Court judgment on this matter was, indeed, surprising. Could it be that the EC too has been compromised like most of India’s democratic institutions? A thorough investigation into the charges levelled by Raut is the need of the hour.

Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai

Unscientific temper

Sir — Dhirendra Shastri, a katha vachak (narrator of Hindu religious tales) and the head priest of Bageshwar Dham in Madhya Pradesh, was recently challenged by rationalists to perform ‘miracles’ on a public forum. Shastri promptly escaped before he could be asked to prove his supernatural skills. Shastri’s rise has been meteoric and he is mostly known for calling distressed people to his dham, where he tells them about their antecedents while apparently resolving their problems. People are turning to such quacks because there seems to be no end to their troubles otherwise.

S.K. Saha, Calcutta

Sir — India seems to be teeming with self-appointed godmen and godwomen. These charlatans extract hefty sums in the name of donations from god-fearing, gullible people. There is a history of such imposters being caught out before. Yet, their following does not seem to be affected by such revelations. The primary reasons for this are the lack of scientific temper and cultural and religious orthodoxy. The hardships in this country are also responsible for people turning to godmen and godwomen for help.

Roshni Ojha, Howrah

Sir — A disturbing report has highlighted that a sadhu in Uttar Pradesh raised a war cry against Muslims, calling them jihadis. These are turbulent times when tensions between communities are being exploited by mischief mongers posing as religious leaders to create an atmosphere of hatred and violence.

Vinod Mody, Calcutta

Progressive step

Sir — Spain has become the first country in Europe to allow paid menstrual leave for three to five days for women working in all sectors. Several women suffer from painful cramps and all of them face general discomfort during their periods. Such affirmative action can help build better workplaces for women and allow them to choose from a wide range of professions. Other countries should take a leaf out of Spain’s book.

Kirti Wadhawan, Kanpur

Inhuman approach

Sir — It is shocking that Yusuke Narita, an assistant professor of economics at Yale University, has said that old people in Japan should kill themselves to avoid being a burden on the State and suggested that euthanasia be made compulsory in that country (“Elderly ‘urged to end lives for Japan’”, Feb 14). Narita has argued that the elderly have been occupying influential positions in government for far too long and denying the younger generation entry. Such a nihilistic outlook does not fit the ethos of a country known for being accepting, courteous and humanitarian.

A. K. Chakraborty, Guwahati

Blood on the hands

Sir — Jubin Baby and his wife, Maria, have committed heinous crimes against the inmates of Anbu Jothi Ashram, most of whom are mentally challenged, disabled and destitute women. The criminal duo has been accused of rape, organ trafficking and violence against the inmates who turned to them for help. A fast-track court should hear this case on an urgent basis.

Anna Mary Yvonne, Chennai

Hit home

Sir — The no-nonsense tagline, “Surf ki kharidari mein hi samajhdaari hai”, had hit home with the Indian middle-class and made Hindustan Unilever a household name. In spite of stiff competition from local detergent brands and multinational companies, Surf Excel became the first Indian home and personal care brand to cross $1 billion in annual sales in 2022. A dedicated advertising team along with a great distribution network helped it stay ahead of the competition.

Anthony Henriques, Mumbai

Keep it clean

Sir — Trains are the primary mode of transport for many people in West Bengal. However, in the absence of trash cans inside the compartments, commuters litter the floors, train tracks and platforms with various kinds of waste. The railway authorities must provide garbage bins inside each compartment and ensure that these are regularly cleaned. Mass awareness about the importance of hygiene is also necessary to achieve positive results.

Mausumi Ghosh, Calcutta