Letters to the Editor: No Corruption

No Corruption

It is very satisfying to see the active action of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (V&AC) cell. Many corrupt officials have been caught red-handed and put behind bars. The Government's motto of zero tolerance towards corruption is highly welcome and appreciable. But the bitter truth is that corruption still exists. It is a fact that corruption is so deeply rooted that it cannot be easily extirpated. Strict, exemplary action is the need of the hour. Most importantly, corruption hinders development. No corruption signifies total development of our state. So, corruption should be uprooted for the sake of total development and better convenience of the people.

Gitesh Ch Aryya,

Nagaon.

A void in the tennis world

All good things inevitably have to come to an end. And so did Roger Federer's amazing tennis career which lasted for 24 glorious years, exactly like that of one of his close sporting friends, Sachin Tendulkar's. Plagued by recurring injuries, Federer's long absence from tennis had given rise to speculation that the Swiss legend would hang up his boots anytime soon. For the first time in his illustrious career, Federer was missing in action from Grand Slams in a calendar year in 2022. His trophy-laden career had witnessed multiple moments that have left the tennis world astonished and awestruck. But, sadly the fingers that refused to be prised off the biggest trophies for years will no longer be seen holding them. A career that spanned across generations has finally come to an end, leaving a massive void in the beautiful sport. Needless to say, it will be an emotional, yet special occasion when Federer takes to the court for one last time at the Laver Cup tournament in London next week.

Ranganathan Sivakumar,

Chennai – 600 091.

Devastation in Pakistan

Torrential rains and sudden floods have caused an unimaginable disaster in Pakistan. Half of the country's croplands have been washed away. As a result of this, the prices of essential commodities, such as food grains and vegetables, have reached tremendous heights.

The devastating floods have killed over 3,000 people, damaged over 15 lakh houses and caused at least a $15 billion loss to Pakistan's economy.

The floods are arguably the worst natural disaster the country has ever faced, displacing millions and causing billions of dollars' worth of property and infrastructure damage. It is clear from the many videos of the flash floods circulating on social media, that a large number of the damaged and destroyed buildings are either unsafe or have been erected on encroached land. The heavy rains have not only broken down houses, killed people and damaged crops, but also given birth to deadly diseases like malaria. Many people are seen dying of the deadly disease. This problem has further increased due to a lack of medical facilities and mosquito nets.

Jubel D'Cruz,

Mumbai.

Kudos to Federer

Swiss maestro Roger Federer (41), a 20-time Grand Slam champion, is only behind Rafael Nadal (22) and Novak Djokovic (21), on the list of most men's singles majors announced his 'alvida' (retirement) from the tennis court following this month's Laver Cup. Roger's friend and lifelong bitter challenger Rafael Nadal said, "I wish this day would have never come. It's a sad day for me personally and for sports around the world". Winner of two Grand Slams five consecutive times - Wimbledon from 2003-07 and the US Open from 2004-08 - Federer has many unique records in his 24 years of tennis life. He holds the most Wimbledon titles for a men's singles player (8) and oldest men's player to win Wimbledon (35 years, 342 days in 2017). He is the only player to reach all four Grand Slam finals in the same calendar year three times (2006, 2007 and 2009). But Federer's uniqueness is that though he has struggled in recent years with knee injuries, who can forget that he never retired from a match in his career, having played 1,526 singles (won 1,251) and 223 doubles (won 131) matches. Such a tennis genius's popularity was measured by the Reputation Institute's 2011 study of world's most respected, admired, and trusted personalities. Federer ranked No 2, behind Nelson Mandela and ahead of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and others.

Incidentally, Federer has not only paved his way to heroic achievements on the court, but has also amassed hard-earned money in his career. But Federer, a role model for innumerable people, set up the Roger Federer Foundation in 2003 and he spends a good chunk of his income in philanthropic activities. The Swiss superstar, courtesy of his earnings, is on a very elite list that includes the likes of legendary athletes such as Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi and Lewis Hamilton. Tennis lovers strongly believe that even after his retirement there won't be any drop in his market value when it comes to endorsements. Kudos to Roger Federer for the entertainment he has given us for more than two decades!

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,

Faridabad -121005.