Your Anniversary Special Double Issue was a delight for readers. It was great to know more about Harmanpreet Kaur. She has played a pivotal role in popularising women’s cricket in India (‘Kaur memories’, December 28).
It is a matter of pride that Harman is a devout Sikh who visits gurdwaras even during foreign tours. She has nurtured many young players with the right values. They will strive to carry forward her legacy.
Harman is, indeed, a true role model.
Garima Pandey,
On email.
Behind Harman’s toughness lies a visible softness. Even in success, players need to remain grounded, and I have every reason to believe that Harman is humble, and she consistently passes on this message to every member of her team.
Also, Women’s Premier League should have been launched much earlier; it would have given women’s cricket in India a significant boost. The time is not far when women’s cricket in India will be as popular as men’s cricket in India.
Vrinda Gopi,
On email.
Harman’s inspiring journey is truly laudable. Overcoming shyness and financial hurdles, she developed a leadership style that blends skill with emotional intelligence, emphasising progress over perfection.
Praveen Thimmaiah,
On email.
Rather than chasing headlines, your Anniversary Special Double Issue steps back to examine the forces shaping them. On the whole, the issue respects the reader’s intelligence and rewards careful attention. In an age of hurried news and loud opinion, such thoughtful stocktaking is both refreshing and necessary.
The real test, however, lies ahead. If THE WEEK can carry this comprehensiveness, discipline and reflective tone into its regular issues, it will not only strengthen public debate but also help readers engage with complex issues in a more informed and thoughtful way.
Myilsami,
On email.
It is worrying to see the Thar desert turning green (‘When the desert turns green’, December 28). This is part of the broader phenomenon of global warming. Climate change is unleashing chaos everywhere. It is almost as if the earth is taking revenge on mankind. Even as warning signs are everywhere, our collective response remains dangerously slow.
Appu Pranab,
On email.
It is sad to know that as deserts turn green, camels have begun to disappear. Camels were a visible and enduring symbol long associated with these landscapes. If global warming continues to alter nature in such strange ways, even more unsettling changes are surely in store.
Surabhi Singh,
On email.
Modi and Shah decide everything
Nitin Nabin’s elevation as BJP working president came as a surprise to many (‘A quiet reset’, December 28).
While the BJP maintains that even an ordinary party worker can rise to the post of the president, the reality is that no one in today’s BJP can attain the position without the backing of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. For better or worse, the two now decide virtually everything related to the world’s largest political party. Even the RSS appears to have a limited role in this process.
Shilpa Ambujakshan,
On email.
The BJP may grow rapidly under Modi and Shah. However, it is troubling if all key decisions within the party rest with just these two leaders.
Shah’s political standing is inseparable from Modi’s, and as long as Modi remains at the helm, Shah is unlikely to allow alternative centres of leadership to emerge.
In this context, the BJP president’s post risks becoming merely symbolic—it matters little who occupies it, as decisions ultimately follow the direction set by Modi and Shah. Also, such an overwhelming concentration of power does not reflect well on the BJP’s internal democratic ethos.
Kushal Pandey,
On email.
Uphold democratic integrity
The government’s finalisation of India’s first comprehensive anti-terror policy is a timely and significant step towards strengthening national security. It will equip states with a unified framework to counter evolving threats more effectively (‘Reframing the republic’, December 28).
The exclusion of over 24 lakh voters from Kerala’s draft electoral rolls during the special intensive revision raises serious questions about transparency and the risk of disenfranchisement. The Election Commission must ensure rigorous verification and a robust appeal process to uphold democratic integrity and protect voter rights.
T.S. Karthik,
On email.
In a country shaped by migration and deep digital divide, citizens who are ordinarily resident but temporarily absent must not be disenfranchised.
The Supreme Court’s emphasis on transparency, timely publication of deletions, and meaningful grievance redressal should guide all future electoral roll revisions.
Census 2027, India’s first digital census, presents an opportunity to set higher standards. These exercises must prioritise completeness over speed, ensuring that technology strengthens democracy rather than narrowing it.
Sanjay Chopra,
On email.
Nothing short of phenomenal
The growth of internet in the country has been phenomenal (‘Connected country’, December 28). Internet cafes, once immensely popular, have virtually disappeared. When the internet first arrived, it was met with widespread scepticism. Today, it has evolved into a vast parallel world, offering limitless possibilities—especially with the advent of artificial intelligence.
V.B. Nagpal,
On email.