School time
Sir — Online classes use technology to remove the hassle of commuting to school on rainy days. If it is raining heavily and the roads are flooded, there’s no need to cancel school any longer — schools can just schedule online classes now. But this same facility also destroys the joy of attending school on a rainy day. Playing football in the mud with my friends and getting wet in the rain while returning home were some of the most enjoyable moments of school life for me. Technology, while proving to be a boon for education, seems to have sanitised fun out of students’ lives.
Debangana Patra,North 24 Parganas
Too little, too late
Sir — The heinous incident of a sexual assault on two Kuki women who were also paraded around naked generated outrage only after a video of it went viral on social media (“Depth of depravity in Manipur”, July 20). This exposes the failure of the authorities, both in the state and at the Centre, to control the situation on the ground in Manipur. Does Amit Shah have the right to continue as the Union home minister after failing to stamp out the violence for nearly three months? It is astounding that the prime minister, Narendra Modi, has found time to campaign for elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan but has not visited Manipur even once since the riots began.
P.K. Sharma,Barnala, Punjab
Sir — Disturbing videos from Manipur have rightly sparked national outrage. An inordinate amount of violence has been perpetrated by both Kukis and Meiteis. We should hold our political leaders accountable and punish those responsible for such depravity.
Roshni Ojha,Howrah
Sir — It is shameful that the prime minister, Narendra Modi, did not utter a single word on the violence in Manipur until a video of two Kuki women being marched around naked went viral and the Supreme Court stated that it was “deeply disturbed” by the incident (“Too late”, July 21). Even while condemning the gang-rape in Manipur, Modi referred to violence against women in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, two Opposition-ruled states. While Opposition leaders, public intellectuals and even retired army personnel were appealing to Modi to take stock of the situation in Manipur, the prime minister busied himself with tours to foreign nations.
Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,Faridabad
Sir — Apart from being a human rights violation, the incident of sexual assault on two women in Manipur is a confirmation of India’s inability to ensure a safe space for women. The Centre should act swiftly and impose president’s rule in the state.
Sravana Ramachandran,Chennai
Sir — The horrifying incident of gang-rape in Manipur has shocked the entire nation. The rapists should be accorded the harshest punishment. The government of Manipur has lost the moral authority to continue in power. The chief minister, N. Biren Singh, must resign for his failure to protect the state’s citizens.
Mrinal Kanti Kundu,Howrah
Sir — Narendra Modi was perhaps forced to break his silence on Manipur because the Supreme Court cracked the whip. It is laudable that the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, has said that if the government does not act, the apex court will.
Ananda Dulal Ghosh,Howrah
Uniting force
Sir — Pankaj Jyoti Gogoi has rightly espoused ecological nationalism as a valid substitute for religious nationalism, which is often used to divide communities (“Healing ethos”, July 20). Sports also have the potential to create fellow feeling among citizens.
Goutam Narayan Deb,Calcutta
