Restoring mangroves
With reference to "”Green forts for the coast”, (August 19) news of the restoration of mangrove forests in Pichavaram is encouraging. People should not wait for a catastrophe to realise the importance of traditional practices. The good work initiated by the MSSRF deserves appreciation.
G. Swaminathan,
Coimbatore
Goa’s transformation
“Small state, large nation” Ramachandra Guha’s article (August19) succinctly catalogued the transformation of the longest-held Portugese colony, as an integral part of India. Unfortunately, this paradise has become a den of drug-addicts and peddlers. In this Goa is not alone; Puri, Gopalpur-on-sea, Mahabalipuram, Kovalam and Visakhapatnam are slowly degenerating thanks to unfettered tourism. The Government should make stringent rules to safeguard these places.
G.V.S.Lakshmi,
Visakhapatnam
Security concerns
Shashi Tharoor, in “Threats to global security” (August19), has immaculately taken stock of concerns over security — both inter and intra-national. Poor economic and human development is linked to insecurity at world level in general, and at social level in particular. Panacea lies in development with strong emphasis on the principle of equity.
Vaibhav C. Ghalme,
Delhi
Threats to global security are inter-connected. As of now, it is not the chances of an international war that looms large but the threat of religious and political extremists. They exploit widespread poverty and illiteracy and take advantage of modern technology to carryout their plans. As such, the global security calls for a two–pronged strategy aimed at eradicating poverty and illiteracy on the one hand and wiping out extremism as well.
P.U.Krishnan,
Udhagamandalam
Media’s multi-faceted role
“A double act” (August 19) aptly sums up the multi-faceted role of the media in the country. Given the hectic competition, the media should cater to all sections of society. It is unfortunate that an actor’s case hogged the limelight instead of the far more pressing problem of floods in north India, but that is how it is. However, as the author rightly points out, it is always a challenging task to cover a vast country like ours and the media is right up there reporting on various issues.
J. Anantha Padmanabhan,
Srirangam
The media at times go overboard while reporting news. It ‘convicts’ offenders even before they step into court. It is time the Supreme Court takes cognisance of media trials involving famous or infamous personalities. This tends to influence the courts. The media should also show restraint in reporting such cases.
K. Pradeep,
Chennai
Classics are out
While everybody praises Rowling’s Harry Potter series, V. Gangadhar’s “Potter in, Austen out” (August 19) makes wonderful reading. That publishers and their agents are highly ignorant of writers of an earlier era is clear from David Lassman’s experiment. When I was in sixth standard in 1964 my English teacher told us of a writer named Poornalingam whose book was rejected by a publisher. The same publisher published it when the author changed his name to Magnilanroop, thinking that he was a foreigner.
V. Pandy,
Tuticorin
In a heartless material world, Jane Austen and Shakespeare can only be forgotten. Our celebrities live in a world of their own which can accommodate only wine, cheese, cocktails and other meaningless trivialities. These petty things are their pride and it is no wonder that they are prejudiced against literature, which along with music and art, is the finest gift that a human being can possess.
T.S. Pattabhi Raman,
Coimbatore
Managing diabetes
“Prevent Diabetes” (August 19) by Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha was both interesting and educative. The writer has clearly shown how diabetes can be managed by adopting a pragmatic approach. In order to prevent diabetes, the writer has also aptly suggested the simple rule “Eat less and walk more”. Many people in rural areas are not aware of diabetes and there is an imperative need to create awareness of this disease.
S. Nagarajan,
Bangalore
The preventive aspect of diabetes generally takes a back seat because of the enormous burden of treating the disease and managing its increasing complexity. The newly developed diabetes risk score needs to be popularised as a prescreening,non-invasive tool on a large scale. I wish Dr. Ramachandran had given the source of the risk score. Was it published in a journal or was it developed by the author?
Manju Mathur
Chandigarh
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