Refugees in India

As Yousif Haroun says in the article, refugees and foreigners in general do not hate India (“As India cracks down on refugees, it is betraying its long commitment to international solidarity”). India, as a state, respects other countries, but a large part of Indian society does not realise the importance of human rights. We now find large numbers of Indians living in African countries, where they have found the utmost respect, appreciation, and fraternal and social bonds. –Wjdey Moner

Unconvincing case

The “vanishing footpaths” section in this article (“India’s tech-driven Smart Cities Mission has destroyed the commons”) is not well-argued. The linked article about Miller’s road says that a private party dumped debris on a footpath built under the Smart City project. Surely this is the fault of the private party, not the Smart City project, although the Bangalore Mirror article does mention maintenance concerns for some footpaths. The linked article about Cubbon Park is an editorial against rumoured plans by a private entity for an art park within Cubbon Park. It doesn’t support the Scroll article’s claim that it was “a Smart City-funded proposal to build a sensory park”.

The link about Bhopal leads to a section on Bhopal news published by The Times of India, not a specific article. This may be a linking error. The linked article about Ranchi is about an area demarcated for pedestrians being used by vehicles for parking, and the Ranchi Municipal Corporation and traffic police trying to stop it. It is unclear how this is related to the Smart City project.

The article claims that “In city after city, footpaths (…) were appropriated, neglected or destroyed in the name of smart redevelopment” and it also claims that “Footpaths were treated not as integral civic assets but as flexible territories to be reconfigured for other priorities”. It doesn’t back up these claims with evidence. In fact, many footpaths were built under the Smart City project. The article’s claim that “Instead of creating walkable cities, the ground reality remained dangerously hostile to walkers” probably is true, but it does not show whether the Smart City project made an improvement in walkability (but did not reach the standards set), or degraded it. – Varun

Subsidised meal scheme needed

The Ladki Bahin Yojana has made a pauper of the Maharashtra government (“A lifeline for its working class, Maharashtra’s affordable lunch scheme is being starved of funds”). Other beneficial schemes, including the much-needed Shiv Bhojan food programme, are being affected. Across class and caste, people benefit from the subsidised meals. It is a shame that the government is just ignoring the food scheme for votes and staying in power. – Santosh Nair

Climate change

This is an excellent article (“What counts as a cloudburst? India lacks a clear answer”). It requires a follow up. – Biswanath Dash

Hindustani music in Pakistan

This article has answered some of my questions about Hindustani classical music in Pakistan (“Hindustani music’s decline in Pakistan began the day the nation was born”). I was curious to know if they changed the religious names – Ram, Krishna, Shyam Gopal, Kanhaiyya, Radha Meera – from the compositions. It is disturbing to know that this invaluable music and its famous singers have faced a decline. No art should suffer due to political changes. Isn’t every form of art supposed to be above politics, religion, caste and creed? – Malti Kelkar

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An excellent review by Malini Nair. It was sad to read how syncretic traditions were decimated by cultural extremists in Pakistan and India. – Devarakonda Kanth

India at a crossroads

India is in jeopardy as it stands at the crossroads of partisan governance, a selfish bureaucracy, its armed forces on the verge of political appropriation and a judiciary struggling to uphold the ideals of the Constitution (“Video: Malegaon acquittals – myths and reality of ‘saffron terror’”). It is time to take a well-reasoned stand on service to the law of the land. – Kumar AC Singh

Private healthcare

What about the protection of ethical doctors from being beaten up, slandered, facing a trial by the media and the tarnishing of the reputation by people who seem to have unrealistic expectations (“Harsh Mander: The plunder and loot by private healthcare in India”)? Let us not even mention the unrealistic stipulations of the government that pushes defensive intensive treatment, even in resource-challenged settings. – John Mathai

Book excerpts

While reading this article, it felt like I was there, watching (“In a new book, a journalist writes about the life of a young Dalit boy growing up in Mumbai”). This was like a painting of words. – Kishore Kumar

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This was an awesome read (“Tackling tantrums, surviving school admissions: This book is a guide to parenting young children”). It is so very true – and a hilarious read. I enjoyed every bit of it. – Revathy Ramanathan

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Nexus politics existed in those days of princely fiefdoms and the mughal empire, each vying for power in the Delhi durbar (“Indian history: When Maratha general Murarirao Ghorpade defended Robert Clive against the French”). Even today, politics conforms to the same ideology: Centre vs state politics. – Shoba Dasari

Memoir of a mother

How well I remember your dear parents (“First person: Songs my mother taught me”). They always, so graciously, invited me to spend weekends with you all when I was in boarding school. Aunty went out of her way to make mutton stew, which we all craved for. It was like coming home for me. I cherish those moments and with you and Nimmu singing. – PG Shanker

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She is a gem of a mother who deserves such a glittering memoir. – Roy Joseph

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