Letters to The Editor — May 27, 2025

Ship sinking as warning

The sinking of a Liberian-flagged cargo ship off the Kerala coast with cargo that is hazardous and toxic shows the vulnerability of India’s west coast to shipping accidents. The accident assumes importance also with the commissioning of the Vizhinjam Port, which is being hailed as a transformative deep-sea transshipment hub. While greater shipping activity near international shipping lanes is being considered a major advantage for India, such accidents also highlight the grave danger posed to a marine-rich environment especially during the monsoon. With India eyeing greater prominence in global shipping through ports such as Vizhinjam, it is critical that such ambitions are balanced with environmental and shipping industry realities.

Govindan Nair,

Kochi, Kerala

Observe caution

Although there is evidence of the occurrence of COVID-19 cases in India, the health authorities seem to say that there is no reason to panic. However, people should not be complacent. It is important to observe good hygiene and practices.

R. Sampath,

Chennai

Harvard in cross hairs

The United States has long prided itself on being home to strong institutions that transcend individuals and political cycles. The recent targeting of Harvard by the Donald Trump administration, however, is a grave assault on this tradition. By revoking foreign student enrolment and access to federal systems, the administration is jeopardising not only academic freedom but also the pluralism and the openness that make American education globally revered. Weaponising visas and funding as punitive tools against dissent sets a dangerous precedent. This is not merely an attack on Harvard, but also one on the very ideals that have underpinned America’s intellectual and democratic standing in the world.

Nagarajamani M.V.,

Hyderabad

The Trump administration’s punitive actions against Harvard signal a deeper assault on institutional autonomy that underpins American democracy. By weaponising visa policy and tax status, the government frames a storied educational institution as an elitist scapegoat. The targeting of international students, who constitute over a quarter of Harvard’s cohort, reveals a narrow, nationalist vision that not only threatens global academic exchange but also devalues diversity as a national strength. Such political vendetta may win short-term support among disenfranchised voters, but it is an act that inflicts long-term damage on America’s intellectual credibility and soft power. Harvard’s response through legal avenues might forestall immediate consequences, but the chilling effect on U.S. higher education is palpable. This is an attack on education.

Gopalaswamy J.,

Chennai