Ominous sign
Sir — An analysis of bumblebee wings from a network of institutions in the United Kingdom has indicated that the insects have become increasingly stressed by climate change over the last century. Researchers found that bees develop asymmetrical wings when they experience stress during development, with higher levels of asymmetry during hotter and wetter years. The goal of the study is to learn from the past to predict and improve the future. However, there is some concern that the rate of changes to the environment may be greater than living beings can adapt to. This gap in adaptability can have dire consequences.
Neha Gupta, Calcutta
Dark chapter
Sir — Earlier this week, the Gujarat government granted remission to 11 people convicted of raping Bilkis Bano and murdering seven of her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots (“Numb. Faith in justice shaken: Bilkis”, Aug 18). The crimes against Bilkis Bano could very well fall under the ambit of ‘rarest of rare cases’. Many believe that the guilty should have been awarded the capital punishment. The Bharatiya Janata Party may insist that it is committed to the safety and empowerment of women but the decision of the Gujarat government points to a discrepancy between its words and its actions.
M.C. Vijay Shankar,
Chennai
Sir — It is ironic that while the prime minister, Narendra Modi, was underlining the importance of ‘nari shakti’, the 11 men convicted of gang-raping Bilkis Bano and murdering her family members were released from prison. The Supreme Court had directed the Gujarat government to form a committee to look into the issue of remitting the sentence of only one of these men. One wonders if the assembly elections in Gujarat scheduled for later this year played a part in the decision-making process.
S.K. Choudhury,
Bengaluru
Sir — The release of those convicted in the Bilkis Bano rape case is disheartening. The crimes committed in the wake of 2002 Gujarat riots shocked the nation. Those guilty of such heinous
crimes must not be released before time.
Sunil Chopra, Ludhiana
Turning point
Sir — On the occasion of the 75th year of the country’s Independence, over 100 Indian and Indian-origin writers were invited by PEN America to reflect on the future of the largest democracy in the world. Many of them expressed concern about the assault on pluralism, communal harmony, freedom of speech and rights of citizens.
The Bharatiya Janata Party government must address these issues before it is too late. The Congress and other regional parties are gradually garnering the strength to take on the BJP. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be a test for the saffron party.
Murtaza Ahmad,
Calcutta
Sir — It is unfortunate that the celebrations of the 75th year of Independence were marred by concerns about increased religious polarisation across the nation.
Surabhi Shukla,
Patna
Swift action
Sir — The Tamil Nadu state electricity department is conducting studies in all 234 assembly constituencies to identify facilities that need to be built in the next five years. V. Senthilbalaji, the minister for electricity, prohibition and excise, has revealed that 99 per cent of the complaints received by the state electricity department
has been addressed. The chief minister, M.K. Stalin, spoke to the one millionth complainant and personally resolved the problem. While it is good that the issues have been swiftly addressed, it is worrying that so many complaints are being registered to begin with.
N. Mahadevan,
Chennai
Breathless
Sir — A report published by the Health Effects Institute in the United States of America has found that India is home to 18 out of 20 cities with the most severe increase in PM 2.5 between 2010 to 2019. The poor air quality in several Indian cities has been a longstanding concern. It is a matter of shame that Delhi continues to be one of the most polluted cities in the world. In 2019, the Supreme Court of India had noted that the people in Delhi and its neighbouring areas are living in a “gas chamber”. The situation has only worsened since then. The government must pull up its socks and take concrete measures to improve air quality.
Kirti Wadhawan, Kanpur
Be kind
Sir — The TV show, Young Sheldon, shows the childhood of the beloved fictional physicist, Sheldon Cooper, from The Big Bang Theory. The series successfully addresses the quirks and idiosyncrasies of the protagonist and lays bare Sheldon’s struggles. There are many people like Sheldon in real life who are different in their mannerisms. Unfortunately, many of them are bullied by their peers. We must treat everyone with respect and kindness.
Zubaida Ali,
Calcutta
