Offline delight
Sir — Life that is not lived on social media does not seem worth living anymore. Parts of the United States of America are expecting a rare glimpse of the aurora borealis. This phenomenon can usually only be experienced near the polar region, making the appearance in the US quite special. But for those hoping to turn their social media feeds colourful with images of the northern lights, disappointment might be in the offing. The solar storms that cause the aurora borealis also lead to satellite damage, radio blackouts and GPS issues. While aurora borealis sightings might become more common, people may not be able to post images online. One wonders if simply watching the northern lights will still seem like an attraction if people cannot brag about it online.
Saswati Sarkar, Calcutta
Derailed, again
Sir — The Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express collided with a stationary goods train at the Kavaraippettai railway station recently, injuring around 19 passengers. Train accidents are becoming alarmingly common in India. These are always blamed on human error, usually committed by low-ranking employees such as drivers and signal-men. Accountability must be fixed at the higher levels and strict action taken against erring senior officials found responsible for the apathy that leads to accidents. The railways ministry should act fast to minimise accidents.
Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad
Sir — It is a stroke of luck that the train collision in Tamil Nadu did not lead to the loss of lives unlike the Balasore tragedy. But a thorough investigation into this accident must be carried out, especially since the National Investigation Agency suspects an attempt at sabotage. The railways must take corrective measures to avoid accidents in the future.
N. Viswanathan, Coimbatore
Sir — The train mishap in Tamil Nadu brings to light the inefficiency of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government. The failure to instal the automatic train protection system, Kavach 4.0, in spite of frequent accidents led to this incident. The Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, has rightly called out the Union government for its apathy. The Union minister of state for information and broadcasting, L. Murugan, responded by comparing the number of train accidents that took place when the Congress was in power at the Centre to those that have taken place during the NDA’s tenure. This is not only arrogant but also foolish since the recent accidents could have been avoided if the technological developments made during the past decade had been adopted by the Indian railways.
M.C. Vijay Shankar, Chennai
Visionary leader
Sir — The industrialist, Ratan Tata, was a rare businessman who prioritised ethical business practices and community development when it came to building his empire (“An enigma”, Oct 11). The magnanimity he displayed by stepping down as the chairman of the Tata Group in 2012 cannot be forgotten.
M. Jeyaram, Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu
Sir — As a businessman and a philanthropist, Ratan Tata’s contribution to India’s economic growth is inestimable (“Emperor emeritus of Tata empire has left”, Oct 10). His deep love for animals and compassionate treatment of the families of employees who lost their lives during the 2008 terror attack on the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai are unforgettable.
S.S. Paul, Nadia
Sir — The Tata Group achieved its present stature under the leadership of Ratan Tata. He utilised the opportunities presented by the opening up of the Indian economy in 1991 to generate both wealth and employment for the country.
Fateh Najamuddin, Lucknow
Sir — Widely admired for his visionary leadership, Ratan Tata has left behind a void in India Inc that cannot be filled. From education to healthcare, Tata’s initiatives have left a lasting impression on Indian society. His vision, integrity and commitment to social causes set him apart as a true leader.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Sir — A recipient of the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan awards, Ratan Tata took forward the legacy that he had inherited and gave it an impressive global presence.
Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai
Sir — Ratan Tata was not only an industrialist but also a philanthropist who donated 65% of his profits to Tata’s charitable trusts. He has touched the lives of millions with his kindness.
Zakir Hussain, Kazipet, Telangana
Sir — The contributions of Ratan Tata towards the Indian economy are too many to count. His philanthropic work and principles motivated many young professionals, students and women to empower themselves.
Dimple Wadhawan, Kanpur
Sir — Ratan Tata’s kindness to stray dogs, for whom the doors of Tata properties like the Taj hotel were always open, is something to admire. He founded the Small Animal Hospital Mumbai, the first of its kind in the country, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for 24/7 care. He encouraged people to adopt stray dogs rather than buy pets, thus promoting animal welfare.
Abhijit Roy, Jamshedpur
Partisan choice
Sir — While people are free to dress as they like, the deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Udhayanidhi Stalin, drew flak for wearing a t-shirt with his party’s emblem to work. He has taken oath under the Constitution to serve everyone, not just the followers of his party.
Gopalaswamy J., Chennai
