Strange mix
Sir — Too much of a good thing is bad. Take, for instance, the recent ‘fusion’ of the actor, Shah Rukh Khan, and the Bengali author, Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay — the two share their birthdays. Fans have concocted bizarre digital covers of Mukhopadhyay’s beloved novels, replacing the protagonist with Khan. What was even more hilarious than seeing Khan’s character from Jawan on the cover of Bholu Jokhon Raja Holo was that several readers have started looking for these fictitious titles. One hopes
no one remembers that Satyajit Ray and Dwayne Johnson share their birthdays too.
Geetika Basu, Calcutta
Political target
Sir — The nation has undoubtedly been shrouded in a dense fog in recent times, allowing the ruling dispensation to sow the seeds of division under its cover (“Political fog”, Nov 3). Important policy decisions like the introduction of electoral bonds or demonetisation intensify this fog. Similarly, the controversy regarding the Trinamul Congress parliamentarian, Mahua Moitra, has been orchestrated to silence questions about the Adani Group’s dubious operations. One hopes that Moitra’s dauntless spirit is not crushed by the Narendra Modi-led regime.
P.K. Sharma, Barnala, Punjab
Sir — Since Mahua Moitra has admitted that she had shared her login details for the parliamentary portal with the businessman, Darshan Hiranandani, the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee should take necessary steps according to the rules. But the embarrassing drama surrounding Moitra and her personal life should be avoided.
K. Nehru Patnaik, Visakhapatnam
Sir — The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee allegedly asked Mahua Moitra insensitive questions concerning her private life. One would not be surprised if these allegations are true given the rise in misogynistic sentiments in the country. After all, India is now run by a political dispensation that upholds patriarchal texts like the Manusmriti.
Kajal Chatterjee, Calcutta
Crucial meeting
Sir — Less than two days after the president of the United States of America, Joe Biden, signed an executive order requiring new safety standards for Artificial Intelligence, political leaders, scientists and businessmen from around the world met to discuss the potential risks of the uncontrolled use of AI. It was interesting to note that even companies which stand to make record profits from AI are welcoming these regulatory measures.
Jang Bahadur Singh, Jamshedpur
Sir — The recently-concluded AI Safety Summit addressed critical queries about AI and global safety. With delegates from various countries like India, France and Singapore in attendance, this gathering signified a concerted effort towards fostering international cooperation for the responsible development and deployment of AI technology. AI is rapidly influencing various facets of our lives and the importance of ensuring its ethical and safe utilisation cannot be overstated. The outcome of this summit can shape the trajectory of technological advancement for the future.
Maimul Safui, Howrah
Smart decision
Sir — It is heartening that a school in Barrackpore organised an educational tour to the Dooars for its students without any phones or other smart devices. Students are often more engaged with their electronic devices than their peers or nature on such tours. Overusing mobile phones limits the time that tourists can truly utilise to enjoy the beauty of nature. One hopes that other institutions will follow suit on similar school trips.
B.L. Chandak, Howrah
