Silly excuses
Sir — The ingenuity of schoolboys in coming up with excuses to avoid censure knows no bounds. From accusing a dog of eating their homework to blaming their parents for putting the wrong notebook in their bags, students often come up with novel excuses to escape punishment. Politicians from the Trinamul Congress seem to be taking a leaf out of their book in trying to keep evidence related to recruitment scam from falling into the hands of the Central Bureau of Investigation. Like teachers, though, the CBI seems not to have missed a beat while fishing out mobile phones from ponds.
Animesh Dutta,Calcutta
Population boom
Sir — The news that India has overtaken China to become the world’s most populous country is alarming. According to the United Nations, India currently has a population of 142.86 crore while China’s population is 142.57 crore. This is a matter of concern as the effects of overpopulation are serious for both the environment and the economy.
The paucity of proper sex education and people getting married early are responsible for a high birth rate. Religious reasons can complicate matters. Employment opportunities are unable to keep pace with the rise in population, leading to a drop in income. India needs a comprehensive policy for birth control.
Diganta Chakraborty,Hooghly
Sir — Our citizens should not celebrate the fact that India has surpassed China as the most populous country in the world. The example of thousands of migrants in search of jobs should acquaint us with the dangers of an ever-growing population, especially in rural areas.
Murtaza Ahmed,Calcutta
Sir — The State of World Population Report 2023 prepared by the United Nations Population Fund has found that India’s population is now around 29 lakh more than that of China. However, India remains a youth-dominated nation, while China’s population is now ageing. China has for decades enforced a strict one-child policy to control population growth, but India’s family planning efforts have never borne fruit. India should, at this point, take advantage of a large working-age population to develop the economy and try to stabilise its population before completing 100 years of independence.
Abhijit Roy,Jamshedpur
Culture clash
Sir — The assertion made by Samuel P. Huntington in his book, Clash of Civilizations and The Remaking of World Order, that world politics is influenced by religious friction, seems relevant even today, 30 years after he propounded the theory (“The theory is alive”, April 17). Religious conflict is common irrespective of the socio-economic conditions in a country. In India, too, efforts to form a Hindu rashtra seem to be ongoing, even though our Constitution declares India a secular nation.
K. Nehru Patnaik,Visakhapatnam
To books, with love
Sir — World Book Day is celebrated every year on April 23. However, it seems that reading on electronic gadgets is now more popular than reading physical books. This is not only harmful for our health but also has a negative impact on society as children remain cooped up in their homes, glued to their digital devices, and miss out on the experience of going to a library or a bookshop. Parents should encourage the habit of reading actual books among their children.
Sourav Malik,South 24 Parganas
Sir — A room without books is like a body without a soul. Books have now become more accessible in the form of audiobooks and in braille. Despite some of the ecological advantages of e-books, there are many who prefer an actual book.
T.S. Karthik,Chennai
