Make it muddy
Sir — Indians do not appreciate their heritage. Think, for instance, of ‘earthships’ or houses made out of sustainable material that are cropping up across the world. In the West, this architectural style evolved in the 20th century and has been gaining popularity owing to climate change. Besides being more sustainable, houses made of mud and thatch are also cooler and thus well-suited for hot climates. It is ironic that fiber and concrete have replaced these as construction material in India where they were traditionally used to build houses even as the West is lapping them up as sustainable alternatives.
Shilpa Saha,
Calcutta
New face
Sir — Kemi Badenoch has become the first black person to be elected as the leader of the Conservative Party of Britain (“New symbol”, Nov 8). The Tories are fond of downplaying the significance of race. Yet Badenoch is among the few politicians on whom the party’s claim of being inclusive depends.
Jayanta Datta,
Hooghly
Sir — The path for Kemi Badenoch’s success has been paved by black and Asian Conservative parliamentarians such as James Cleverly, Priti Patel and Sajid Javid who have held high offices. Badenoch will lead a party that has struck an increasingly harsh tone on immigration. This stance seems to mirror her own views on the subject. She now faces the challenge of steering right-wing voters back into the Tory fold and away from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which had made political gains at the cost of the Conservatives this year.
S.S. Paul,
Nadia
Sir — The 44-year-old Kemi Badenoch is likely to run for prime ministership in the 2029 general elections. Her victory confirms the Tories’ shift to the Right, suggesting that they may take a more hardline approach towards immigration, climate measures and cultural issues.
Khokan Das,
Calcutta
Sir — The United Kingdom is moving towards erasing racial boundaries. This is evident from the racial diversity of the parliamentarians who are being elected to positions of power in recent years. In contrast, the Union council of ministers in India currently does not feature a single Muslim face. India must learn how to respect diversity from Britain.
Kajal Chatterjee,
Calcutta
Notable career
Sir — D.Y. Chandrachud was the Chief Justice of India for two years (“On last day, CJI recalls ‘greatest feeling’”, Nov 9). Although the executive, the legislature and the judiciary each has its own role, when the executive becomes too powerful, the judiciary often succumbs to its pressure. To Chandrachud’s credit, in spite of a strong government at the Centre, he did not let the independence of the judiciary be compromised under his leadership.
Partha Pratim Banerjee,
Calcutta
Sir — Some of D.Y. Chandrachud’s actions and statements have cast aspersions on his otherwise spotless career. The prime minister’s visit to his house during Ganesh chaturthi was one such instance when his impartiality came under question. He even joked about not inviting the Leader of the Opposition as it was not a selection committee for the appointment of the central vigilance commissioner or the director of the Central Bureau of Investigation. It is clear where his loyalties lie.
Jang Bahadur Singh,
Jamshedpur
Sir — D.Y. Chandrachud said that the independence of the judiciary is not necessarily indicated by verdicts against the government. The decriminalisation of homosexuality, the recognition of the right to privacy and allowing the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple are among the landmark verdicts delivered by him.
K.V. Seetharamaiah,
Bengaluru
