The Union government putting its weight behind Ayush systems is a welcome step (‘In tradition we trust’, March 29). However, expansion without uniform standards will undermine credibility. The real opportunity lies not in positioning tradition against modern medicine, but in strengthening both through greater accountability.
K. Chidanand Kumar,
On email.
The case for integrating Ayush systems into mainstream health care is reasonable, but it rests on a condition that remains partially fulfilled—the availability of reliable, peer-reviewed evidence at scale. The government’s enthusiasm is understandable, and initiatives such as the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and the establishment of Ayush departments in AIIMS are steps in the right direction.
The real concern, however, lies with the rural patient who, in the absence of accessible allopathic care, may turn to an unqualified practitioner making consequential medical decisions.
Myilsami,
On email.
As a professor of biochemistry who has spent several years studying the medicinal properties of plant-derived biomolecules, I fully endorse the Union government’s push for complementary and alternative medicine. As rightly noted, the fulcrum must be an integrative approach—one that combines validated traditional therapies with conventional, evidence-based medicine.
Advances in science and technology can play a crucial role in refining and demystifying the largely anecdotal benefits of alternative modalities, by elucidating their mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels, while also establishing the safety and efficacy of products and practices.
Biju C. Mathew,
On email.
The government is right in providing greater funding and opportunities for the development of alternative systems of medicine. While surgical interventions are best left to allopathic practitioners, these systems can play a valuable role in the prevention of lifestyle diseases, the management of chronic conditions in the elderly and the promotion of yoga and holistic wellbeing—thereby easing the burden of the allopathic health care system.
Ultimately, all systems of medicine must be subject to rigorous scientific scrutiny.
K.V. Jayaram,
On email.
Immediate necessities
For India, as oil prices hover near $100 a barrel and the Strait of Hormuz faces mounting strain, the lesson is clear: energy diversification and strategic autonomy are no longer distant, long-term goals (‘Don’s endgame’, March 29). They are immediate necessities that cannot wait for the conflict to resolve itself.
M. Barathi,
On email.
Focus on local issues
The tea garden worker [in Assam], earning Rs250 a day, does not care which party claims credit for roads—she wants wages that keep pace with the cost of living. If the opposition spent less time on broad national narratives and focused more on constituency-specific economic grievances, it might find the ground more receptive than current alliance arithmetic suggests.
S.M. Jeeva,
On email.
Dependent on the US
Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda has made a virtue out of necessity (‘Insight edge’, March 29). India, for all its aspirations, remains a middle power—we lack the military heft and economic weight to decisively shape outcomes in major international crises. India’s approach is marked by caution: calibrated statements calling for dialogue, de-escalation and respect for sovereignty. Our much-invoked strategic autonomy is, in practice, constrained—often shaped by our complex relationship with the US.
In this context, the relative silence of Narendra Modi on contentious global developments—ranging from claims of mediation to conflicts and geopolitical flash points—appears less a lack of principle than a pragmatic choice.
S.R. Patnaik,
On email.
Prioritise civic necessities
Kerala has long had two defining strengths: education and cleanliness (‘My vision for Kerala’, March 22). While it arguably remains the most educated state in India, the same can no longer be said about its cleanliness. On a recent visit to Kerala, I found roads littered with large garbage bags, and in several places, waste was simply dumped along the roadside.
The temple town of Thrissur, for instance, has a bus stand that is in a deplorable condition. There isn’t even a proper road for buses to exit the depot. The pavements are uneven concentre slabs laid in a line, with wide gaps in between—posing a real hazard to pedestrians.
Ultimately, it does not matter who governs Kerala—or Keralam—but whoever does must prioritise basic civic necessities.
Sudhakaran Nair,
On email.
Deep reflection
Last Word (March 22) by Navtej Sarna was powerful and thought-provoking. It seamlessly brought together history, humanity and ethics—leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
Sarna’s writing is insightful and well-structured, presenting complex realities with sensitivity and conviction.
Nabanita Roy,
On email.