Keep in touch
Sir — Given the state of the world, most people are struggling with their mental health. But visiting a therapist takes time and money, which many do not have. When Elmo, the loveable character from Sesame Street, posted a check-in on X, asking how everyone was doing, he received hundreds of responses from users who claimed to be miserable. Many people also thanked Elmo for the thoughtful enquiry. While there is no substitute for seeking professional care, a kind word or a friendly face can often help people stave off a crisis. Regular checks on friends, family and even colleagues can work wonders.
Sheela Datta, Calcutta
Look inwards
Sir — The re-election of Sheikh Hasina Wajed as the prime minister of Bangladesh has hopefully given India some respite for five more years owing to her pro-India stance. However, diplomatic channels should not depend on any one dispensation for building ties with another nation (“Stubborn sentiment”, Feb 1). Swapan Dasgupta blames the “anti-India” sentiments on divisive forces in Bangladesh. However, no country would appreciate its citizens being called termites — the Union home minister, Amit Shah, had compared Bangladeshi immigrants to termites. India should introspect on how it treats Bangladeshis.
Anthony Henriques, Mumbai
Need for speed
Sir — It is heartening that the Indian Railways has proposed to run trains at 200 kilometres per hour in the Chennai-Mysuru semi-high speed rail corridor by March. This would cut down travel time from Chennai to Bengaluru to just two hours. Yet, even at 100 km per hour, the speed at which trains currently claim to run, trains can cover the same distance in just four hours. But it takes over five hours. The railways should ensure that trains run at advertised speeds.
N. Mahadevan, Chennai
Blind spot
Sir — The adverse effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have been felt around the world in the form of volatile food prices and energy insecurity. But a study published in Nature reveals another impact of the conflict: following the invasion of Ukraine, the work of the Arctic Council was first put on hold and has currently resumed without Russia. The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet. As the Arctic region loses snow and gains plant life at higher latitudes, it will absorb more heat, contributing to rises in global temperature and sea-levels. Countries are trying to work around the Arctic blind spot but nations must come together for the sake of the planet.
Shovanlal Chakraborty, Calcutta
Uncharted worlds
Sir — The launch of NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is scheduled for October 2024. An orbiter would travel in the direction of Europa, Jupiter’s moon, to investigate the possibility of life there. But instead of orbiting Europa, it will conduct 49 flybys of Europa at altitudes of 25 to 2,700 kilometres. This mission will yield a wealth of information regarding Europa. Evaluating the astrobiological potential of habitable worlds beyond Earth is a crucial task. Although Clipper cannot search for
life itself, it will lay the groundwork for further research.
Arka Goswami, Durgapur
Parting shot
Sir — While many villages now have better water supply owing to welfare schemes, roadways still remain inaccessible. Concrete roads are either not available or are poorly maintained. Even during emergencies, four-wheelers cannot travel on these village roads. The conditions of these roads will worsen during the monsoons unless they are fixed right away.
Shyamal Thakur, East Burdwan
