Time to rectify
THE WEEK-Hansa Research survey of India’s best hospitals was informative. It has confirmed that India has some of the best medical facilities and professionals in the world (‘The viral test’, November 29).
The pandemic has exposed several fault lines in our health care system, which needs to be rectified. Facilities in government medical colleges and district hospitals need to be revamped.
Most insurance companies, unfortunately, have raised the premium on health policies.
Biju C.M. Mathew,
On email.
Covid-19 has shown us the fragility of our immune system. Co-morbidities have been one of the main causes of Covid-19 deaths.
We must remember that prevention is better than cure. So, we should continue to boost our immune system. Covid-19 is here to stay. We have to continue wearing masks in crowded places even if we get vaccinated in the coming months.
The pandemic has forced many hospitals to redefine their strategies, which is a good thing. Most hospitals in India went through difficult times, but they have, by and large, risen to the challenges.
Creating a separate Covid ward to prevent the delays in non-Covid treatments was a step in the right direction. The Union and state governments should once again act on a war footing to combat Covid-19.
Athira Balasubramanian,
Bengaluru.
Such a shame
It is sure that the Left Democratic Front will not get a second term in Kerala in 2021 (‘Left in a muddle’, November 29). Revelations, so far, are only the tip of the iceberg.
The charges against Bineesh Kodiyeri are serious. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan should have kept a tight rein on his son.
Almost all leaders of the ruling LDF, one after the other, are courting controversies, which is such a shame. It is unfortunate that some of the officials who worked under the CM have also been accused of anti-national activities.
I feel sad for the innocent party workers of the CPI(M), across Kerala, who have sacrificed everything for their party. The likes of Pinarayi Vijayan and Kodiyeri owe them an answer.
K.P. Chacko,
Hyderabad.
Great soul
Rabi Banerjee’s tribute on Soumitra Chatterjee was brief but well written (‘Apu departs’, November 29). To live till the age of 85 is a big achievement, yet it is not enough for a loveable icon like Soumitra. His departure is a loss to the art and cultural world.
Soumitra will continue to live in our hearts. I will miss you, Soumitra, till my last breath.
Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,
On email.
Why so angry?
I felt disgusted reading words like ‘assholery’ in Anuja Chauhan’s column (‘Schizo-nation’,
November 29).
I do not have any issues with Anuja’s love for dogs. However, I strongly object to her anti-Modi diatribe. Anuja makes insinuations on the prime minister who she certainly hates, but she forgets that there are crores of people who admire Narendra Modi.
H.S. Gopala
Krishna Murthy,
Bengaluru.
I have always enjoyed reading Anuja’s columns. This one on dogs takes the cake. I am moved and inspired. Hope Narendra Modi ji will respond to it. Thank you for warming my heart, Anuja, on an issue close to my heart. Much love to you.
Radha Janardhan,
On email.
Contest in 2024, Trump
There is no smoke without fire. So, there has to be some truth when Trump says that the US elections were rigged. But, having said that, he should not be so adamant and not concede. Trump should have left it to the people of the US to decide as to what went wrong (‘Vote of no confidence’, November 15).
I want him to contest again in 2024. He will surely win.
Devender Tokas,
Delhi.
To defeat Trump, Joe Biden gathered the so-called blue wall of states. Biden and his team did not take big risks. Instead, they focused merely on stitching together the sundry constituencies that twice elected Barack Obama.
Jayanthi Anandambal,
Chennai.
You are wrong, Gen Rawat
General Bipin Rawat seems to suggest that aircraft carriers are not required as the same job can be done by submarines, contradicted, and rightly so, by Arun Prakash, the former Navy chief (‘Sail or Dive?, November 22).
General Rawat seems to have forgotten his Army lessons. Strategically, there are two distinct arms, offensive and defensive. Submarines are the defensive arm, whereas the carriers are the offensive arm where air and naval power can be unleashed upon the enemy, simultaneously. You cannot capture an island with only submarines, you need to use carriers to subdue and occupy, or to thwart any attempt by an enemy with a carrier.
It is like advising the Air Force not to procure fighter jets as one may say that the same job can be accomplished with surface-to-air missiles, or to say that tanks may not be required as the same task can be performed by surface-to-surface missiles.
The country has entered an era of conflicts with the appointment of the chief of defence staff. The government may be making the same mistake as the Nehru government during the early 1960s, by meddling in the affairs of the armed forces. That time it was through V.K. Krishna Menon, now it seems to be through Rawat!
Laljee Verma (retired air marshal),
Delhi.