Smell the delicacy
Sir — The Indian Ocean accounts for about one-fifth of the world’s tuna catch. From canned tuna to medium-grade maguro sashimi and frozen ahi tuna steaks, a wide variety of international tuna products originate here. But what is often overlooked is a local delicacy — the ‘Maldive fish’, in which yellowfin tuna is gutted, quartered, smoked and then sun-dried before being blitzed into tiny shrapnel resembling woodchips in look and texture. Maldive fish has resisted — so far — both globalised commercialisation as well as becoming a fad in the subcontinent probably owing to its overwhelming smell.
Kaveri Raj, Ernakulam
Proud moment
Sir — INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, demonstrates the country’s manufacturing prowess. The carrier will enhance the navy’s deterrent capability and bolster defence operations. INS Vikrant is a feather in India’s cap and will be a milestone in the path to atmanirbharta.
Ashwini Tomar, Delhi
Sir — The prime minister, Narendra Modi, spares no opportunity to make political speeches. Even while commissioning the INS Vikrant into the Indian navy, Modi chose to accuse past dispensations of ignoring security concerns in the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean regions. A quick fact-check will prove the prime minister wrong. The Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited has so far delivered 107 warships to the Indian navy — almost all of them before Modi came to power in 2014. In fact, INS Vikrant itself was built and launched under the aegis of the United Progressive Alliance government. The list of such achievements that predate the Modi government can go on. Modernising the navy and enhancing its combat capabilities is a work in progress. Consecutive governments have contributed to it. Modi must acknowledge the contributions of visionaries like Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi for laying the foundations of institutions like the GRSE, which are making India self-reliant now.
S.K. Choudhury, Bengaluru
Distinct honour
Sir — It is a matter of great pride that Durga Puja made it to Unesco’s list of intangible cultural heritage. The rally that was planned in honour of this distinction was also justified. What was not appreciated though are the restrictions imposed on city schools for this purpose. Children who have already suffered owing to the pandemic and the decision of the Mamata Banerjee government to close schools lost more precious time. Calcutta Police should see that schools are not disturbed any further.
Arun Kumar Baksi, Calcutta
Sir — The Unesco tag awarded to the Durga Puja has led to a contest among political parties regarding who deserves credit for securing the honour (“Historian behind tag felicitated”, Sept 2). The Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal has pointed out that it was the Union ministry of culture under the Narendra Modi-led government that played a pivotal role in the Unesco tag. However, the presence of the art historian, Tapati Guha Thakurta, who was instrumental in securing the tag, on the dais at the Red Road along with the chief minister of Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, and members of Unesco, put an end to speculation. Banerjee has given credit where it is due.
S.S. Paul, Nadia
Parting shot
Sir — A study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that reading literary fiction in the early years creates a more complex worldview. Encouraging children to start reading from a young age can have lifelong benefits both for the individual as well as society.
Rupanjali Samadder, Calcutta
