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The rising voice of housewives
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I would like to raise my voice in support of housewives in our country. A housewife embodies the silent strength of many women in our society. Like any other social being, they have a voice, an identity, and a right to express themselves. They are our mothers, daughters, wives, and sisters—women we know and cherish. Yet, many of them are still denied the opportunity to realise their full potential. For centuries, housewives in Indian society have been subjugated under systemic power structures. If they dared to raise their voices, those voices were often silenced. Their lives were spent behind the curtains of their homes, their contributions overlooked.
However, in the present era, the essence of modernity is reshaping the traditional perception of housewives. They are striving to break the norms of a gendered society, reclaiming their rightful space. Cinema has played a crucial role in this shift—films like Mrs. English Vinglish, Tumhari Sulu, Thappad, The Great Indian Kitchen, and Lapata Ladies etc., highlight the strength and aspirations of housewives. Additionally, various government initiatives are empowering them to step forward. The world is now opening its doors to recognise and celebrate the talents of housewives. Women like Pandita Ramabai once defied societal constraints to carve out their own path. It is time for every housewife to do the same—to spread their wings and embrace their limitless potential.
Ananya Goswami
Sibsagar Girls' College
Use of arms in Manipur
So, yet another drama is being enacted by the government in Manipur after the imposition of long-awaited President's Rule after 2 long years of total anarchy following ethnic clashes between the Meites and the Kukis. This violent clash, which went unchecked for 2 long years, caused an immense bloodbath and loss of private and government properties.
Very alarmingly, sophisticated arms were freely used by the two warring groups against each other, which are usually used by our security forces. It is learnt that these arms were looted by the miscreants from the government armoury at their own sweet will as if they were on a shopping spree for arms. It was almost like a ‘wild west’-like situation in Manipur for 2 years where only guns talked.
One shudders to think if a similar situation develops elsewhere. It appears as if the government has no iota of ideas about the number and types of arms looted by the miscreants from the armoury.
Dr. Ashim Chowdhury,
Guwahati.
Pesticide regulation
Pesticides are sprayed on crops to control pests and increase yield, among other reasons. It is also known that pesticides are added to fruits and vegetables to enhance their longevity. Pesticide residue, that is the trace pesticide left in food, spares no food. Up to a tolerable or maximum level, the use of pesticides in food is understandable. However, once the use of pesticides surpasses the safe level, then it is a cause of worry. Its levels in food and feed should not exceed the maximum residue limit(MRL) to protect consumer safety. A good agricultural practice guarantees a level far lower than MRL in food and feed. Nevertheless, commercial farming is an unavoidable reality. Farmers themselves are at the risk of pesticide contamination via direct contact or inhalation.
The infamous and old synthetic insecticide DDT has, fortunately, given way to more " refined" pesticides but the danger remains. Organophosphates, fungicide and organochlorines are the common pesticides that are in modern use. Strict testing and scrupulous monitoring of pesticide residues in food is better said than done though one cannot deny that India's food safety and food quality regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI) is burdened by shortage of manpower.
At the international level, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) are seized of the issue of food security.
Dr Ganapathi Bhat
(gbhat13@gmail.com)