Hopeful note

• Sir - It is heartening that the Central government has acknowledged HIV-related problems as a social issue. However, one wonders whether the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) bill will succeed in its aims. Several earlier laws created on the basis of positive discrimination have not achieved much ("New ground", Oct 7). The government must make arrangements for providing HIV patients with free treatment. There must be a dedicated department for HIV tests and diagnosis in every district hospital. People should be made aware of the necessity of using condoms.

Yours faithfully,

Asit Kumar Mitra, Calcutta

Lost melody

• Sir - The demise of the Carnatic singer, M. Balamuralikrishna, has left a void in the world of classical music ("Carnatic singer dead", Nov 23 ). He was born in Sankaraguptam village in Andhra Pradesh and started singing at the age of six. By the time he was eight, he was already appearing in public concerts. Balamuralikrishna was not only an accomplished singer but could also play a number of instruments such as the viola, mridangam and kanjira.

He revived old ragas and created new ones such as Lavangi, Omkaari and Sumukham, to name a few. While he has over 400 compositions to his credit, he was also a master performer, appearing in more than 25,000 concerts. The compositions he made for movies - "Oru Naal Podhuma", " Mounathil Vilayadum" and "Thanga Ratham" - continue to be popular among lovers of film songs. However, it was his contribution to the Hindi song, " Mile sur mera tumhara", that brought him close to north Indian audiences. Balamuralikrishna was the recipient of three Padma awards and the prestigious Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French government. But India's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, eluded him.

Yours faithfully,

S. Balakrishnan, Jamshedpur

Violent nation

• Sir - November 25 is observed as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It is a matter of shame that even after 69 years of Independence, women continue to be harassed, physically and mentally, on the streets as well as at home. It is ironic that India, which is known for its non-violent ways, has witnessed some of the worst cases of gender crime. While violence mars the victim for life, the perpetrator often manages to escape by taking advantage of the loopholes in the legal system. We need stricter laws to ensure women's safety.

Yours faithfully,

T.S. Karthik, Chennai

Fiery words

• Sir - Recently, the National Investigation Agency carried out searches in the premises of the Islamic Research Foundation, which is a non-governmental organization belonging to the controversial Islamic preacher and televangelist, Zakir Naik ("NIA searches 10 premises of Zakir Naik's outfit", Nov 19).

It is alleged that Naik's inflammatory speeches had inspired one of the terrorists who conducted the attack on a Dhaka café in July this year. Reportedly, Naik also encouraged some youths from Mumbai, who left their home to join the Islamic State.

Naik's provocative speeches may or may not have been instrumental in radicalizing certain young men. But it cannot be denied that the government's action amounts an attack on the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the Constitution.

Yours faithfully,

Ali Firdos Akhtar, Calcutta

Link failure

• Sir - Construction for the New Garia to airport Metro corridor is presently going on near the Q and R blocks of the Baishnabghata-Patuli Township. This is a residential area. The workers involved in the project are disturbing the peace and order of the region. They have uprooted several trees and damaged the underground telephone cables. Consequently, the telephone connectivity in the area has been disrupted. Repeated complaints to the Metro Railway authorities have yielded no results. The residents of the locality are looking forward to the completion of the project. While it is on, it would be better if the authorities are more careful in carrying out the construction work.

Yours faithfully,

Kalyan Ghosh, Calcutta

Parting shot

• Sir - An era in music has come to an end with the death of the Canadian musician, Leonard Cohen. Disappointed by the lack of success as a writer, he pursued a career in music. He achieved fame as one of the foremost songwriters of the 20th century. He will be remembered for his self-deprecating humour, which made his songs endearing.

Yours faithfully,

Ramesh G. Jethwani, Bangalore