Letters to the Editor: Tough election

The forthcoming bye-elections to five Assembly constituencies is definitely going to be tough for the ruling alliance. These five seats do not bear any consequences as far as stability of the current government at Dispur is concerned. Secondly, generally in bye-elections the ruling party has direct advantage over the Opposition as the electorates usually do not want to go against the ruling party. But in the present scenario, Himanta Biswa Sarma and his government seem to be in a very sticky wicket. The amount of effort being put up by the CM in campaigning trail indicates that CM knows about this state. With sky rocketing prices of petrol-diesel-LPG along with that of the essential commodities, the public is bound to be dissuaded with the ruling dispensation. To press my point further, the BJP high command has pressed Union Minister and former Chief Minister of the State -- Sarbananda Sonowal -- into campaign process. This bye-election was completely unnecessary. Just to fulfil the wishes of Rupjyoti Kurmi, Sushanta Borgohain and Phani Talukdar; a substantial amount of the exchequer's money is being wasted. We ardently hope that this bye-election is the last such polls before 2026 because Assam requires development -- not frequent elections. Meanwhile, the stakes and pride (the protectors of immigrant religious linguistic community) -- Bhupen Bora and Akhil Gogoi -- is at all time high. Drawing a blank would be detrimental to their political careers.

Dhiman Senchowa,

North Lakhimpur.

Need to do away with culture of gifts and tips

Nobody can deny the massive impact on the society when members of public have themselves have become quite conscious for ensuring cleanliness at public places ever since launch of the 'Clean India' movement by Prime Minister. Likewise, the Prime Minister should make a similar call against the unholy culture of gifts and tips in our society at this specific time of festive and marriage season. Even former President APJ Abdul Kalam quoting from a Hindu code in tghe 'Manusmriti' rightly analyzed that gift with a purpose makes a person lose lose his or her personality greatly.

It has become a ritual to give cash-envelopes or costly gifts in marriages and other family functions. In earlier times, a system was devised for a noble cause of assisting the non-affording ones to perform the marriages of daughters. But with changing times, cash-envelopes and costly gifts have become a show of the unholy status which is, in fact, a forced and compulsory burden especially for the middle-income people in a status-conscious society. Even parents of brides are forced to gift cash-envelopes, costly gifts and fancy platters of sweets and fruits to relations and friends of grooms. All this is responsible for taking the birth of girl-child in a family as bane rather than boon.

Many elite urbanites in India follow status-culture of British legacy by paying tips everywhere which is nothing but a bribed gift for a purpose for being treated well. Interestingly heavy tips are received by the highly paid employees in five-starred hotels and restaurants which is much-much more than the normal salary that they give to their employees -- These status-conscious persons pay such tips for exhibiting their richness amongst those accompanying them. Charging service-charges by hotels and restaurants like some compulsory tip, and providing space for filling the tip-amount on credit-card slips should be totally banned. Instead hotels and restaurants should prominently place display-boards announcing that paying and accepting tips is an offence just like offering or taking bribes.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

Delhi-110006

IPL FATIGUE?

The long awaited T20 clash between India and Pakistan was scheduled on October 24, 2021 at Dubai. Indian cricket fans all over the globe assembled at Dubai expecting another victory of Team India over their arch rival Pakistan. The streets of the major cities wore a deserted look after 7 PM. But happened at Dubai stadium on that evening made every Indian cricket fan crestfallen. India was simply outplayed, losing the match by 10 wickets, giving a cake walk victory for the Pakistan. Though we know that the T20 format of cricket is a game of great uncertainty,I being a total novice do feel that fatigue of Indian players played a major role in that crushing defeat. After a hectic tour of England where the players were stretched to the maximum -- both physically and mentally -- most of the Indian players landed at Gulf nations straight along with their families as if they are going for a picnic with royal hospitality to take part in IPL at someone's cost. Some of the players were even not fully fit but played the IPL because of cash and glamour. It was evident that tired and fatigue bunch of 11 Indian souls were on field on 24th October. On the other hand, the Pakistani players were fresh and fit. It is high time that BCCI, the richest sports body of the globe should from now onwards should start thinking other than cash and glamour.Before parting, I congratulate the Pakistan teamfor their brilliant show with both with bat and ball which made the 'Team India' almost look like a club-level team. A lesson needs to be learnt.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury.

Ambari. Guwahati.