Letters to the EDITOR: Happy Hunting

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Happy hunting

Finally, after lots of deliberations and also looking into the future of Team India’s test cricket future, the BCCI has finally named the squad for the upcoming 5-match test series against England at their home turf. This series is the beginning of the new WTC 2025-26 calendar. The young Indian brigade will miss the services as well as the experience of Rohit Sharma, the ex-skipper, and Virat Kohli, the king of India’s batting powerhouse. The aforementioned duo chose to retire from the longest version of the game, thus opening the doors for the new crop of talents. It is expected that many of the new faces will make their debuts in the upcoming series. I wish them happy hunting.

Dr. Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati

Make books your friends

Books are more than pages and words; they are silent friends that guide, comfort and inspire. A good book never leaves you lonely; it speaks to you when no one else does. Whether you're seeking knowledge, peace, or personal space, books offer a world beyond your own. They build your thoughts, shape your character, and expand your imagination. In every phase of life, books stand by you without judgement. So make a book your friend – it will never betray you and will always help you grow, quietly and faithfully.

Sofikul Islam

Goalpara, Assam

Bangladeshi pushback: A major challenge

The news article 'Bangladeshi pushback triggers tension on border in Mankachar' published in your esteemed daily on May 28 has drawn our attention. Although the action is going on all over the country following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the ongoing crackdown on suspected Bangladeshis in Assam has confronted a lot of inconveniences with regard to proper verification of the produced documents, as these Bangladeshi nationals get Indian citizenship through the manipulation of documents like ration cards, Aadhar cards and voter cards. Here, a very important question arises: why was the deportation process not started at the very beginning when the iron was hot? The delay had definitely provided a unique opportunity for them to collect the valuable documents through various sources to prove their Indian citizenships. Had this deportation process started at the very beginning, this precarious situation could have been averted. In fact, we do not have an instant deportation policy against the declared Bangladeshis, for which the deportation of Bangladeshi nationals to the neighbouring country has triggered tension on the Indo-Bangladesh border in Mankachar now. Granting bail to some Bangladeshis, who had been declared foreigners by Foreigner Tribunals, was the other big blunder. The reports of over 84,000 people declared foreigners by FTs absconding for decades have made the matter worse. How it was possible remains a million-dollar question. What now is needed is intensive grilling of the people of suspected nationalities by the police, besides examining their citizenship-related documents. Just picking up and pushing back people of suspicious movement may be easy to say, but practically it is a difficult task to solve the Bangladeshi problems in the state. The issue of Bangladeshi pushback has become more and more complicated on both sides of the border now. One thing is clear: without thorough verification, nobody would accept people 'tagged as Bangladeshis'. The lackadaisical attitude of the authorities has made the enduring Bangladeshis issue more complex in eastern and northern India today. However, the BSF personnel's continued challenging role to prevent Bangladeshi nationals' unauthorised entry into Indian territory must be appreciated by all.

Iqbal Saikia,

Guwahati

Extension of time period

Our attention has been drawn to a public notice, dated May 25, 2025, requesting feedback and suggestions relating to land governance in Assam, issued by the Land Governance Commission & Revenue and Disaster Management Department. The time period given is too short to enable us to submit suggestions of immense significance on issues which are of a vital nature for the state of Assam and the indigenous communities. To repeal or to amend the existing Assam Land Revenue Regulation 1886, which is overdue, requires a lot of imagination and hard work to be attuned to the present circumstances and safeguard the interests of the local communities for the foreseeable future.

So the authority concerned is requested to extend the time period for at least one more month.

Tanuj Goswami

Jorhat

Keep Turkey at arm’s length

As the relations between India and Turkey have nosedived following the latter's unabashed and explicit support for Pakistan during the recent conflict, India's civil society has done well to keep the Middle Eastern country at arm's length. It must be recalled that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a television interview ahead of his India visit in 2017, had called for a "multilateral dialogue" on Kashmir and had expressed his "desire" to mediate between India and Pakistan to solve the Kashmir imbroglio. The outright ridiculous suggestion was aptly ignored by New Delhi. Erdogan's remarks highlighted his poor understanding of the history of countries other than Turkey. Erdogan, even now, has to do loads of homework before he talks about India.

 It is known that Pakistan considers Turkey a "friend", and the ideologies of Turkey and Pakistan are almost similar. One must not forget Turkey's consistent opposition to India's NSG membership bid. The demand for Kurdistan from Turkey is an age-old problem—existing ever since Turkey was born in 1978. President Erdogan should be aware of the tickling time bomb present in his own turf. He would also do well to study the intricacies of the Kashmir issue and how Pakistan has converted Kashmir into its favourite hunting ground to settle scores over India. New Delhi has to tread with caution while dealing with snobbish leaders inimical to India's known stand on Kashmir and keep all diplomatic channels on hold till they mend their ways.

Dr Ganapathi Bhat

(gbhat13@gmail.com)

Power of books in Manipur

In the backdrop of violence and unrest in Manipur, a group of young people set up a mini library inside a relief camp at a time when fear, uncertainty, and sadness had gripped the area. This small but powerful effort gave children not just books to read but also hope, calmness, and a new sense of purpose. It became a quiet yet strong act of resistance against ignorance, hatred, and despair. This inspiring story teaches us that even in the middle of a crisis, the light of knowledge can still shine if youth are guided by sincerity, empathy, and the will to help. Manipur’s mini library is a message for the whole country that education is not only about schoolbooks; it is a tool for peace, healing, and real progress, even in the most difficult times.

Mohammad Asad

(muhammadasadkabirnagri@gmail.com)