Feeble voices
The whole world has been left feeling helpless, unable to put an end to the theatrics of the superpowers that are escalating strife. Absurdity and megalomania are evident in the rhetoric of some world leaders. There seems to be no room at all for values, grace, magnanimity, humility, amity, credibility, humanity and morality. Sane voices should unite to stop war-hungry powers.
Brij Bhushan Goyal,
Ludhiana, Punjab
Midnight knock, lessons
The midnight of June 25, 1975, etched a dark shadow across Indian democracy as Emergency was declared by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi — a response to the Allahabad High Court verdict by Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha that set the dominoes in motion. His unflinching verdict, invalidating Mrs Gandhi’s election, was a rare moment of judicial spine. Raj Narain, the maverick challenger, may have lost the poll but he won a nation’s conscience. The Emergency that followed, with the press muzzled, civil liberties curtailed, and dissent locked behind bars, was also shaped by the quiet enablers such as R.K. Dhawan and a compliant bureaucracy. Yet, there shone bright lights such as Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, whose jurisprudence preserved constitutional sanity. While the present political class debates and appropriates this legacy, it is imperative that we treat June 25 as a civic reminder: democracy is never a finished product. It must be guarded each day.
Gopalaswamy J.,
Chennai
Shrinking place for English
I am on the same page with the Kerala Chief Minister and his comment about this great Indian nation with parliamentary democracy and diversity (“CM takes a dig at Amit Shah for language comment”, June 25). Does Home Minister Shah not understand the vast diversity of citizens who speak different languages including English and follow different customs and beliefs? His comment that English-speaking citizens will feel “ashamed” soon is inappropriate. This ‘mindset’ seems to have crept into the welfare schemes of the Government of India. As a senior citizen, I personally experienced this when I received a call from the number +911205138033 purportedly in response to my dialling a toll free number 1800110770, as a missed call. The caller, who I understand represented the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, was speaking too fast, in a low voice and in Hindi, making it difficult for me to comprehend anything. I requested her to talk to me, preferably in English. After a pause and silence, the line was disconnected. No courtesy was shown to my request nor anything conveyed about the scheme. It left me disturbed. Has English been banned in the national discourse in the Government of India’s schemes? Will citizens who speak English be made to forgo or be deprived of government health schemes?
Jacob Cherian,
Thiruvananthapuram
‘Epochal triumph’
June 25, 1983 is etched in the memory of every Indian cricket fan (‘Sport’ page, June 25). It was an extraordinary win that changed Indian cricket. When one talks about the historic win, it connects with the unforgettable image of a beaming Kapil Dev holding aloft the trophy from the balcony of Lord’s.
R. Sivakumar,
Chennai
Published – June 26, 2025 12:24 am IST