Your cover story on solutions for an ageing India was good (‘Gold age’, April 19).
Ageing is a natural part of life and age should never be a basis to limit or define an individual’s potential. Increasingly, we see people in their 60s, 70s and even 80s leading healthy and active lives.
With greater awareness, better health care and evolving lifestyles, age is truly becoming just a number, especially in urban India.
The tendency to label older people as slow, dependent or irrelevant is unfair and outdated. It overlooks the experience, wisdom and continued contributions that older generations bring to society.
Kalpana Sareen,
On email.
The buzz around silver economy signals a quiet rebellion against the long-held belief that life peaks in the 40s and plateaus thereafter. When a woman finds courage to dance at 68, or a man discovers companionship in his 80s, these are not merely human-interest stories—they are policy lessons.
Yet, beyond the applause lies an inconvenient question: will this emerging economy serve only the visible, urban elderly, or also the invisible millions ageing without savings, support or voice? Longevity, after all, is no triumph if it merely stretches loneliness.
K. Chidanand Kumar,
On email.
The idea that staying active after retirement can contribute to a longer, healthier life is truly motivating. Your cover story instilled in me a renewed sense of energy and purpose.
I also found the emphasis on preparing for a will particularly relevant, especially for senior citizens.
Your cover story has inspired me to lead a healthy, active and financially secure life in the years ahead.
Pradeep K. Moon, former deputy director, Union ministry of labour and employment,
On email.
Will West Bengal rethink?
West Bengal’s law and order situation is under scrutiny, with growing concerns over the state government’s handling of critical issues (‘One-Mamata army’, April 19).
Many believe it is a crucial moment for the people of West Bengal. There is a growing expectation that a new government will prioritise restoring law and order.
Anil Deshpande,
On email.
Why so much hate?
Navtej Sarna beautifully narrates events on earth from the perspective of the moon (‘Last word’, April 19). From that distant vantage point, our planet appears serene and whole—free of borders and boundaries—quietly reminding us of the oneness of humanity.
A Kannada poem I recently read captures this paradox with striking simplicity: ‘We all drank the same water, breathe the same air and nourish ourselves from the same land. Why then is there so much hatred among us, we who are all Homo sapiens?’
Rajashekhar Patre,
On email.
Sarna’s writing is both poetic and piercing—blending science, philosophy and global politics into a narrative that is as reflective as it is relevant. It leaves a lasting impression, urging humanity to rise above narrow boundaries and rediscover a shared sense of purpose and compassion.
Nabinta Roy,
On email.
It was a great relief to know that there are still voices willing to speak out against an all-powerful tyrant, whose actions, in their scale and brutality, evoke comparisons with figures like Adolf Hitler and Genghis Khan.
Is this the same US that once brought the UK and France to their senses during the Suez Crisis and compelled the Dutch to relinquish their hold over Indonesia? Today, nations, leaders and the so-called international community appear largely silent in the face of an unprecedented carnage. Even mild voices of concern—from countries like Spain and institutions such as the Roman Catholic Church—are met with hostility and abuse.
Ordinary citizens like myself are left seething with a sense of helpless rage, feeling inconsequential in the larger scheme of things.
Sarna stands like a Jonah in the wilderness. Thank you for speaking up, and for giving voice to the sentiments of millions of us.
K.V. Narasimhan,
On email.
Don’t judge based on technology
In the case of Iran, its political rhetoric since the Iranian Revolution has consistently included slogans such as ‘death to America’ and ‘death to Israel’ (‘Powerdrive’, April 5). This is despite the absence of any shared border with Israel and the presence of Iranian students pursuing advanced studies in American universities. Critics argue that such hostility has shaped Iran’s strategic priorities, including its nuclear programme. At the same time, concerns are raised about restrictions on political dissent within the country and the long-standing use of ideological narratives centred on martyrdom. This combination of technological ambition and ideological rigidity is seen by many as a source of regional and global instability.
Assessing any nation solely on the basis of its technological strength or resilience in conflict can be misleading. Praising such strength without examining the intent behind it is akin to admiring the potency of a viper’s venom while ignoring the danger it poses.
Goldin R. Bennet,
On email.