If Donald Trump continues in this manner, it is almost certain that China will grow more powerful and dominate global geopolitics (‘Xi’s got it all’, October 19). In these unpredictable “Trumpy” times, the country that plays smart diplomacy will have the upper hand. India must strengthen engagement with its neighbours, mindful of the fact that it cannot afford to alienate major world powers.
Varun Ramachandran,
On email.
India must work with China; it is an opportune time to modernise India’s relationship with China. Rather than dwelling on border disputes, India should focus on meaningful engagement with Beijing. Today, China has surged ahead in many areas where the US once had the edge. China should no longer be viewed as India’s adversary, but as a key player with whom constructive cooperation is possible and necessary.
Dinesh Ahuja,
On email.
It is an increasingly ugly world order today—thanks to Trump. Over the past several months, conflicts and tensions have erupted across regions, with leaders everywhere growing more insular.
The root of many of these problems lies in the Trump administration’s approach to global affairs.
True to form, Trump will likely continue to bluster and spread misinformation for the rest of his term. The world must find a way to move beyond the menace and restore balance to international relations.
Ushma Gupta,
On email.
Deeply shocking
Pinarayi Vijayan and his government seem to be doing everything possible to ensure their defeat in the 2026 assembly elections in Kerala (‘The temple raiders’, October 19). The recent revelations about the happenings at the Sabarimala temple are deeply shocking. The missing gold appears to have found its way into the pockets of influential figures in the government and their associates.
Only a court-monitored investigation led by a former Supreme Court judge can uncover the real culprits.
Udayan Suraj,
On email.
It is deeply distressing to see that even God is not spared from human greed. Across religions, adorning deities with gold and precious stones is no way to please the Almighty. Such practices often turn sacred idols into temptation for those in power, leading to deceit and apostasy. It would be far wiser for mortals to use their wealth to help the needy. As the Bible reminds us, “No one can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Biju C. Mathew,
On email.
Everything happening in Kerala today seems to be paving the way for the CPI(M)-led LDF’s downfall—perhaps even ensuring that it never returns to power. The controversy over the missing gold has been the last straw.
Vijayan and his team may believe that the anti-LDF votes in 2026 will split between the UDF and the BJP, thereby giving them an advantage. Such an assumption is flawed. The supporters of the BJP are likely to back their party only in constituencies where it has a real chance of winning—at best, five or six seats in Kerala. In most other places, they will vote for the Congress and the UDF simply to make sure they never have to see Vijayan in the chief minister’s chair again.
Pradeep Kunnath,
On email.
Temporary pauses
The Israel-Palestine conflict shows no signs of a lasting resolution (‘No alternative to the two-state solution’, October 19). Ceasefire and truce are only temporary pauses in a cycle of violence. Israel will not remain silent, nor will Hamas or the Palestinians move any closer to reconciliation.
They seem destined to remain divided, bound by a history that has been unkind to both—a history that will take a long time, perhaps generations, to change.
Anurag Kothari,
On email.
Hamas and certain Palestinian factions refuse to accept Israel’s existence and remain intent on its destruction. They have repeatedly rejected peaceful co-existence, provoking conflicts and then protesting the consequences—a stance that is neither justifiable nor constructive.
Prashant K.S.,
On email.
Time for change
It is time for a generational shift in Bihar’s politics (‘The three musketeers’, October 19). Both Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad have outlived their political relevance. The people of Bihar need to think differently and steer the state away from the cycle of stagnation and tragedy that has defined it for far too long.
Nivedita Kumar,
On email.
Replicable model
Tenkasi’s transformation—anchored by Zoho’s rural tech initiative—is both inspiring and instructive (‘Zoho so good’, October 19). Zoho’s success offers a pragmatic model for India’s development—one that harnesses rural potential without relying on urban dependence. Tenkasi proves that meaningful change does not always require migration; it only needs vision rooted in the soil. This is a model worth replicating widely.
K. Chidanand Kumar,
On email.