Another picture

• Sir - The article, "Will the Sylheti paradox be solved?" (Aug 18), was problematic. It seems to me that the writer's knowledge of the history and the politics of Sylhet is not sound enough. He does mention the name of Shah Jalal, who introduced Islam to the region, but ignores the fact that the father of Sri Chaitanya, the medieval Bhakti iconoclast, hailed from Sylhet. Presently, the Sylhet division, comprising the districts of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj and Moulvibazar, happens to be a socially and economically well-developed region of Bangladesh.

I occasionally visit Bangladesh to meet some of my close relatives who live in Moulvibazar. Not only are the residents of Moulvibazar well-off, but there is also no trace of disharmony among the communities living there. The writer seems to be favourably inclined towards the work done by western non-governmental organizations in Sylhet, and portrays the government of Bangladesh in a poor light.

Yours faithfully,

Subhrendu Bhattacharjya, Calcutta

Bitter sweet

• Sir - The presence of diabetes mellitus is rapidly increasing in India. Factors such as a sedentary lifestyle and high consumption of sugar-based food items contribute to its rise. In India, it is common to give costly packets of sweets as gifts during weddings and religious festivals. People binge on sweets during Diwali, increasing their blood sugar levels. Many of these sweets are made of khoya or thickened milk, which significantly increases their calorific value.

The Union government should make it compulsory for sweet manufacturers to put warning labels on their packages. If statutory warnings can be carried on cigarette packets, there is no reason why they cannot be carried on sweet boxes as well. People must also be encouraged to gift savoury items on festive occasions.

Yours faithfully,

Madhu Agrawal, Dariba, Delhi

Great divide

• Sir - The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre does not care about the interests of the common people. The prices of vegetables, pulses and grains, which constitute the bulk of the grocery items consumed by middle-class families, are going through the roof. This price rise is partially caused by middle-men or traders, who form an important chunk of the BJP's vote-bank. Thus, the party is unlikely to do anything that will negatively affect this community. This might be one of the reasons why the BJP had, in the past, opposed foreign direct investment in retail, as it was feared that the multinational corporations would buy produce directly from the farmers and sell it in their retail outlets.

In other areas, too, the government has failed to do much good. Although bank interest rates have been slashed, it has had no real effect on the interest rates on loans. There was a proposal to tax provident fund withdrawals; thankfully, the plan was aborted. Finally, the interest rate on the senior citizens savings scheme has declined considerably, adding to the woes of the elderly.

Yours faithfully,

Vinod Mody, Calcutta

Washed out

• Sir - Each year, heavy showers cause floods in a number of Indian states, leading to a massive loss of life and property. Even metropolitan cities experience floods during the monsoon. Roads and railway tracks get submerged, creating traffic congestion and inordinate delays in rail services. Measures for long-term improvement must be undertaken in order to counter the effects of the rains.

Yours faithfully,

B.N. Bose, Calcutta

Iconic player

? Sir - The demise of Hanif Mohammad, one of the greatest cricketers to have played for Pakistan, was deeply saddening. He tackled some of the most aggressive bowlers of his time, such as Roy Gilchrist and Wesley Hall, without the protective gear that all contemporary batsmen use. He showed great courage and resilience, and will be remembered as the first cricketer from the subcontinent to have scored a triple century in Test cricket.

Yours faithfully,

Subhagata Chattopadhyay, Calcutta

Parting shot

• Sir - The superior intellect that human beings possess is not wisely used when it comes to animals and other living creatures. Humans indulge in the unethical practice of killing animals in large numbers in different parts of the world, either for entertainment or for superstitious beliefs. In the Yulin dog meat festival in China, large numbers of dogs are brutally killed. A community practice in the Faroe Islands involves the slaughter of numerous long-finned pilot whales. These practices are in direct violation of animal rights, and must be stopped.

Yours faithfully,

Neha Garg, Calcutta