Fighting fit
Sir — It is commonly believed that fame and fortune bring freedom — one can travel wherever one wants and eat whatever one likes. But the strict fitness regimens of some of those who have achieved fame and fortune belie such freedom. Take the case of Rachin Ravindra, for example. The 23-year-old cricketer from New Zealand recently visited his grandparents’ house in Bengaluru but could not partake of any of his favourite South Indian delicacies like idli and dosa because he has been placed under dietary restrictions by the Kiwi team management. Given that most grandparents like to spoil their loved ones with elaborate, delicious home-cooked meals, perhaps the constraints placed by Ravindra’s trainers are justified.
Ajit Ghorui, Calcutta
Incomplete picture
Sir — The picture of the Indian economy presented in the article, “Then and now” (Nov 14), by Renu Kohli is incomplete. The growth of industries that Kohli writes about is not reflective of the weak purchasing power of the common man. The growing numbers of shopping malls will not matter if the people of the nation are unable to buy the goods sold there. Moreover, no economic development can be sustained without an investment in education, which is sadly lacking in India.
If India indeed is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, then why are social security schemes like Swasthya Sathi, Ayushman Bharat and free ration being provided to such a large section of the population? The prosperity of business tycoons alone does not count as a measure of the health of the economy.
Ganesh Sanyal, Nadia
Sir — Reading two pieces about the Indian economy — “Then and now” and “Inflation at 4-month low of 4.87%” (Nov 14) — on consecutive pages of The Telegraph and finding little mention of the sorry state of affairs of the citizens’ pockets is shocking. While both articles seem optimistic about the turn of the Indian economy, the impact of inflation on the prices of vegetables and pulses and the increasing expenses on education and healthcare in India have largely been ignored by Renu Kohli in her assessment of India’s growth story.
Pratipranjan Ray, Calcutta
Dark horse
Sir — As Madhya Pradesh heads to the polls, the growing popularity of the incumbent chief minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, seems to have become a liability for the central command of the Bharatiya Janata Party (“Shivraj is BJP’s burden and its mainstay”, Nov 13). The prime minister, Narendra Modi, and the Union home minister, Amit Shah, have underestimated Chouhan’s popularity among the local voters. Although a chief ministerial candidate has not been announced by the BJP, Chouhan has emerged as the frontrunner by promoting himself as the approachable ‘mama’. Since there is a strong possibility that the Congress may win the state elections ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, the BJP should not repeat the mistakes made during the 2021 assembly elections of West Bengal; it must give regional leaders a chance.
Aayman Anwar Ali, Calcutta
Poorly played
Sir — Spectators at the Eden Gardens had applauded Asif Iqbal in 1980 even after several wars had been fought between India and Pakistan. But the rabid nationalism of New India makes such sportsmanship a distant memory (“Ungentlemanly”, Nov 14). Virender Sehwag is perhaps aware that his disparaging remarks against Pakistan will earn him cheers in today’s India and thus saw nothing wrong in belittling their exit from the World Cup. It is astounding that while a sporting legend like Milkha Singh bears no grudge towards Pakistan despite losing members of his family during the Partition, Sehwag has sacrificed civility to earn brownie points among nationalistic fans.
Kajal Chatterjee, Calcutta
Sir — Sporting contests between India and Pakistan have always been rooted in animosity owing to the tumultuous history that the two nations share. However, a long time has passed since the Partition. The two neighbours must now look for ways to bury the hatchet.
Aranya Sanyal, Siliguri
Violent outcome
Sir — There is a close relationship between politics and violence in West Bengal. Recent incidents — the houses of at least 30 supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were torched and a person was lynched after the Trinamul Congress leader, Saifuddin Laskar, was shot dead in Bamungachi — bring back memories of the ghastly Bogtui massacre in Birbhum (“CPM homes torched after TMC murder”, Nov 14). The silence of the TMC’s top leaders about the arson strengthens suspicions of the party’s involvement in the matter.
Jahar Saha, Calcutta
Uneven growth
Sir — It is interesting to note that the most prosperous states of the nation, as per data released by the Centre, are those that do not have governments helmed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (“The great divide”, Nov 14). By adopting welfare as the focus of governance, many states in southern India have outpaced their northern counterparts in both economic well-being and human development indicators.
H.N. Ramakrishna, Bengaluru
Popular leader
Sir — The news of the death of the former Communist Party of India (Marxist) parliamentarian, Basudeb Acharia, is saddening (“Basudeb Acharia no more”, Nov 14). In his decades-long career as a member of Parliament from Bankura, he became well-known for prioritising people’s issues. His death is a loss for the tradition of parliamentary politics.
Jayanta Datta, Hooghly
