this is complex
While India can certainly use its good offices to try and broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, it should also be noted that a stage has been reached where both sides hardened their stance. Is. India had good relations with both Russia and Ukraine before the war broke out, but India’s continued absence at the United Nations may have alienated the ruling system in Ukraine.
CV Arvind,
Bangalore
CBI is running
The forecast provided by the author (Editorial page, “A frank conversation about a caged parrot”, April 7), a former CBI director, seems fine. However, the real issue is: who will administer the medicine and how? Under the current system, it is misleading to expect someone “who has shown and proven to be innovative and professionally honest” to rise to the top of the CBI so that it can be reformed. Unless political parties demonstrate their commitment to constitutional values and national interest and value them over their short-term political gains, the situation will go from bad to worse. Or the judiciary is intervening decisively.
Manohar Alembath,
Kannur, Kerala
COVID-19 and Precautions
Reports and confusion over the first case of the COVID-19 variant, XE, in India are disturbing (page 1, Center denies presence of new variant”, 7 April). The world is yet to recover from the onslaught of COVID-19 that came in the form of three waves. Another wave will mean shock and derailment of life once again, which should not be allowed to happen. Don’t let people lower your guard and start having fun.
K Pradeep,
Chennai
highlight the harmony
The news report from Kaup in Udupi, Karnataka, “Here, Muslim Family Presents Music in Temples” (inside page, April 7), reminds me of what historian and political scientist Howard Zinn wrote in A People’s History of the United States Says: “Our future can be found in the runaway moments of the compassion of the past and not in its concrete centuries of war.”
In India’s now communally tense political climate, the distorted public conscience is eager to zoom in on even small tensions between communities, neglecting to appreciate the many aspects of harmonious coexistence. The British ruined that old syncretic culture to weaken the fight against them by the Indians.
And, today, the Hindutva forces are trying to use the same colonial narratives to defame the minorities. There is no doubt that we need to reinforce our culture of compassion rather than a new line of hatred.
Sukumaran CV,
Palakkad, Kerala