Welcome change

Sir — Scribbling on historical monuments and sculptures is commonplace across the globe. It defaces the heritage sites and is disheartening for tourists and others visiting these places. Recently, a group of people has been going around Bend, Oregon, sticking large, plastic googly eyes on public sculptures in the city. While the municipal authorities have taken stern note of the vandalism, the modifications have, surprisingly, amused the residents of the city. Some of them even demanded that the adornments be retained on the installations. Beauty, as the saying goes, certainly lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Ishani Paul, Calcutta

Unfair detention

Sir — The activist and former student leader of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Umar Khalid, who has been in jail since September 2020, has been granted seven-day interim bail by a Delhi trial court to attend a family function (“Umar gets bail, but for 7 days for a wedding “, Dec 19). The recent remark by the former chief justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, that “any grant of relief by trial judges” is viewed “with a degree of suspicion” is insightful in this context.

Jahar Saha, Calcutta

Sir — The granting of seven-day interim bail to Umar Khalid is heartening. The right to bail is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court has held that bail should be the rule and jail the exception. A liberal bail policy will also help decongest India’s overcrowded prisons.

Prasun Kumar Dutta, West Midnapore

Sir — The government has imposed such serious cases on Umar Khalid that it might take several years for the court to release him even though the charges against him seem fabricated.

Jang Bahadur Singh, Jamshedpur

Immense courage

Sir — Gisèle Pelicot is being rightly saluted by world leaders and ordinary people alike (“Gisèle, the face of courage”, Dec 20). In refusing anonymity and insisting that the trial of her ex-husband and 50 other men who raped her be made public, she has become the exemplar of the notion, ‘the shame must switch sides’. The politicians who have applauded her must now make good on her demands for change by ensuring justice to other victims and addressing the culture that enables crimes against women.

Khokan Das, Calcutta

Sir — While the verdict against Dominique Pelicot and his accomplices ensured justice, it also shed light on the gaps in the system that allow such crimes to be perpetrated. Strict laws and speedy trials are necessary, but the priority should be on prevention through education and awareness campaigns. Equally important is building robust support systems for survivors to heal.

Kanak Mundhra, Calcutta

Avoidable tragedy

Sir — It is unfortunate that at least 14 people died when a navy vessel collided with a private passenger ferry, Neel Kamal, off the Mumbai coast near the Gateway of India (“Navy orders probe into ferry crash”, Dec 20). The accident could have been avoided if the authorities had made life jackets mandatory for ferry passengers. Inadequate manpower and overloading of passengers also contributed to the tragedy.

P.V. Prakash, Mumbai

Sir — The Mumbai boat mishap is a wake-up call for improving maritime safety. Merchant ships and naval vessels jostle for space with tourist and fishing boats, creating a congested and potentially hazardous maritime environment. It is necessary to establish safety guidelines so that life jackets are donned quickly and easily.

S.S. Paul, Nadia