Letters to the Editor: Politics needs ideals, not personal attacks

Politics needs ideals, not personal attacks

I would like to share my opinion about the present condition of our political system. Politics is meant to serve the people with strong ideas, clear vision, and commitment to development. Sadly, many political leaders today are less interested in ideological debates and more interested in personal attacks. During election campaigns, instead of discussing important issues like unemployment, education, healthcare, and economic growth, leaders often indulge in blaming and criticizing each other personally. Such behaviour creates negativity and distracts the public from their real concerns. This trend not only lowers the dignity of politics but also affects the thinking of young voters. Democracy becomes stronger when political discussions are based on ideas, policies, and solutions—not insults.

Therefore, it is necessary for political leaders to maintain respect and focus on meaningful debates. Clean, issue-based politics is essential for the progress of our nation.

Dipankar Gogoi

Gauhati University

Intolerance

towards the press

Newspapers are not mere leaflets carrying information but are the medium through which truth has a chance to live again in an unfiltered form. In an era where other forms of media are losing credibility, print media remains a reliable vehicle for delivering accurate news and shaping people's perceptions. The reverence that the newspapers earn is by exposing hard facts and ground realities, not by anointing those in power. In fact, it is the refusal to act in servitude that has helped newspapers retain the public's trust. But when the same newspapers are burnt openly, it raises a serious question. Is the freedom of press contingent on the preferences of groups and parties? And if so, it will nullify the constitutional claim that freedom of speech and expression should be allowed to be practiced unopposed in a democracy. The law permits the propagation of views and facts through newspapers. Any assault on it will stand as a criminal act. What is even more disconcerting is when acts of vandalism, carried out with impunity, are attempted to be justified. The setting ablaze of a widely circulated daily in the Sivasagar district was a blatant display of intolerance towards journalism. Exercising such mobocracy over the press is highly condemnable.

Kabir Ahmed Saikia

Rajabari, Jorhat

Digital Census

The much-awaited nationwide census started on April 1, 2026, in digital mode after a 16-year interval. This census will have a significant impact on Assam and its indigenous population, as the results will outline the status of the sons and daughters of the soil, whose existence is threatened by the gradual and steady increase in the number of illegal intruders from the linguistic minority community. We are waiting with our fingers crossed.

Let us hope and pray the census, which has started on the 1st day of April, will not befool the bona fide Asomiyas, as we are always at the receiving end.

Dr. Ashim Chowdhury

Guwahati.

Fluttering legacy: Zubeen Garg lives on

After a newly discovered butterfly species was named in honour of Zubeen Garg, nature once again paid tribute by bringing out a rare butterfly from the forested landscapes of Leparada district in Arunachal Pradesh. The species, Euthalia (Limbusa) zubeengargi, discovered by Roshan Upadhaya and Kalesh Sadasivan, is not just a scientific milestone, but a tribute that truly endures.

A passionate lover of nature and wildlife, Zubeen always stood up for the beauty of the natural world, and now, even in his absence, his legacy continues to live on through this delicate creation. This remarkable gesture not only enhances the Eastern Himalayan region’s rich biodiversity but also highlights its ecological significance. In many ways, nature has risen to honour him, ensuring that his influence continues to inspire and echo in the hearts of people across Assam for generations to come.

Dipen Gogoi,

Teok, Jorhat.

Keeping zoo

animals cool

As summer is almost at its peak, the threat of heat waves is looming large. Animals and birds in the zoos are highly vulnerable to heat vagaries. Dehydration and electric imbalance are common conditions that affect the zoo's ‘inmates’; heat exhaustion and heat strokes can be fatal. Many zoos in India are ill-equipped to handle the sweltering heat.

Sprinklers to spray cool water on cages have to be made available in every zoo. Fans and air coolers should be kept functional and put to good use.

‘Nut grass’ covering of enclosures helps due to their heat-withstanding property. Misting—spraying liquid droplet sprays—is very handy, as are rain guns. Light blackout curtains can go a long way in keeping heat at bay. The importance of a balanced diet for animals and birds cannot be lost on the zoo officials. Animals should be consistently fed with the trio of watermelons, electrolyte powder and vitamins. Foods mixed with ice cakes are provided to them in many zoos to cool them down. Zoo ponds are, of course, handy for large animals to keep their body temperature in check.

Dr Ganapathi Bhat

(gbhat13@gmail.com)