Letters to the Editor: War over language

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War over language

The thrashing of non-Marathi-speaking people in Mumbai by Raj Thackeray's goons is a matter of serious concern and a shame to the country's image and the state. Hindi is the official language of India, spoken by nearly 90 percent of the people. People working for a living in other states of the country are also being forced to speak the language of the state, despite Hindi being widely spoken and understood by a majority of the people.

   This divisive politics is ruining the lives of poor migrants, who are trying to make an honest living in a city far away from their home. For Raj Thackeray's goons, it does not matter if fathers no longer educate their children or send money for the medical care of the old. If we are to go by Raj Thackeray's argument that non-Marathi people are redundant in Maharashtra, perhaps the party should begin at the top. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) should first banish non-Marathi-speaking film stars, sportsmen, politicians, and entrepreneurs who live in Mumbai. However, the party is unlikely to do this since political leaders stand to gain from the rich and the famous. If the non-Marathi entrepreneurs are driven out of Mumbai, some other city will take its place as the financial capital of India. Raj Thackeray should remember that Mumbai did not automatically become the proverbial city of dreams-it became so because of the contribution of those who migrated to the city.

   Earlier too, Bihari workers were beaten up in Mumbai by the MNS supporters, forcing them to leave their place of work. Is this the India of our dreams? These political goons are upending the integrity and democratic character of the country. How would the Marathi-speaking people feel if they were meted out the same treatment in other states of the country? The wrongdoers must be prosecuted so that no one dares to indulge in such anti-national activities again.

   On the other hand, the Thackeray cousins (Raj and Uddhav) are exploiting people's sentiments to revive their fortunes in the impending civic body polls.

Jubel D'Cruz,

(jubeldcruz@yahoo.com)

Northeast must act fast and first

It is not understood when the Northeast region has risen from the shadow of neglect and peril in the past years to emerge as the growth engine of India with adequate fiscal push accompanied by targeted packages and schemes of DoNER to ensure maximum impact on the ground. There is always discouraging news of poor utilisation of development funds in the NE states due to failure in project execution. We have come to learn from the July 6 editorial, 'Accountability gap in NE project delivery,' that the NE states could not spend even 25 percent of the targeted expenditure in their expenditure plan under the scheme for the first quarter of 2025-26. This is not the first time. Such news appears in the newspaper quite often. It speaks volumes about the oversight mechanism dovetailed into the scheme. When the primary responsibility of executing the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme/projects (NESIDS) and monitoring their progress lies with the state government, why does it not fix the accountability on officials and employees of the states? The undue delay in the approval of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is coupled with the submission of utilisation certificates and the release of subsequent installments by the ministry, a perennial problem gripping project execution in the region. As a result, there are time and cost overruns, and ultimately it renders many projects unviable for implementation. Administrative gaps are the biggest governance challenge in NE. Empowering local leaders is integral for the sustainability and success of infrastructure project execution, as they can remove the systematic inertia and narrow the administrative gaps effectively for navigating the path towards progress and prosperity. Unless there is transparency and accountability, which form the bedrock of good governance, the region will continue to paint a grim picture of failure of project execution, which is not at all welcome when funds are provided by the central government exclusively for infrastructure development of the NE states. The need for the 'Ashtalakshmi' states is to set foot for inclusive development, the last mile, infrastructure, investment potential, green development, youth, and financial sector reforms to usher in an era of holistic progress and development of Northeast states in the days to come.

Iqbal Saikia,

Guwahati.

Workers engaged in Semiconductor Project

The construction of any major industrial project involves a diverse range of workers-unskilled labourers, semi-skilled personnel, highly skilled technicians, and professionals from various fields. Assam is currently witnessing the development of one such significant project: the Tata Group's semiconductor assembly unit at Jagiroad.

This marks a major step in Assam's journey toward industrial advancement, and the project has been broadly welcomed by the public. It promises to bring technological growth, investment, and employment opportunities to the region. However, it also unfolds on a site that carries a complex history.

The semiconductor plant is being constructed on the grounds of the former Nagaon Paper Mill, a facility that was once fully operational and a major source of employment for the region. Its sudden closure in April 2017 remains a matter of public interest. The mill, according to reports, was running without major issues at the time. Yet, a directive from central authorities led to its abrupt shutdown-a move that deeply impacted the lives of its employees and the surrounding community. As we embrace the promise of the semiconductor project, it is also important to reflect on the lessons of the past. The transition from a functioning paper mill to a cutting-edge tech facility should prompt thoughtful discussion about long-term planning, local involvement, and accountability in policy decisions.

There is also growing public curiosity about the composition of the workforce being employed in the ongoing construction. While technical projects often require specialised talent that may not be locally available, ensuring adequate participation from the local population is vital for equitable development. People naturally hope that the benefits of such a transformative project will be shared widely, particularly with those from the region. An old saying reminds us: "Morning shows the day." The early stages of any project often indicate the direction it will take. As this new chapter unfolds, transparency, inclusivity, and long-term sustainability should remain at the heart of development in Assam.

Prafulla Dowarah

Guwahati

Joe Root's consistency: A challenge for India

During the recent few days of the cricket world, we had been experiencing great IPL matches, including the final match where RCB won the cup after 18 years of waiting and the legacy of Virat Kohli was justified. But in the enjoyment of IPL, we should not forget that the English tour of this summer is coming, and this series will be played by a relatively younger Indian side following two star batters' retirement. Shubman Gill will be the captain of the Indian side, and he will be accompanied by Vice Captain Pant. The goal of this article is to raise awareness about the fact that Team India is going to face an experienced English cricket team where the main weapon is their star batting icon and current no. 1 test batsman, Joe Root. Joe Root was often placed in the same place as modern-day greats like Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, and Kane Williamson. Till 2021, Joe Root was not up to the mark to call himself a Fab Four batter because of his comparatively lower batting records. He was criticized as a home-track bully by his critics. But surprisingly after the covid period, Root's form went sky-high, and he literally smashed every bowler in the test cricket. Recently when he was playing against Zimbabwe, he crossed the mark of 13,000 runs in test cricket and became the 5th player in the world to achieve this milestone after Tendulkar, Kallis, Sangakkara, and Ponting. Earlier he surpassed former English captain Alastair Cook to become the highest test run getter for England. He has 36 test centuries in his name, and he has the highest number of test centuries for England and the 5th highest number of centuries all over the world. Joe Root basically has the most probable chance of surpassing Sachin's record of most test runs, which is 15,921 runs. Joe Root has changed the narrative on excellence in English cricket, being the highest run-scorer in both Tests and ODIs for the country. Root's standards of consistency and class throughout his career in all conditions and formats have led to the label of England's greatest batter. From his debut in 2012 to his commanding presence today, Root has led England's batting resurgence with poise and unmatched skill. Now, the basic question emerged in our minds: will India be able to stop this monster in the upcoming series? Joe Root doesn't have a decent record against Indian star bowler Jasprit Bumrah. In the last series between England and India, the Bumrah effect dismantled Root's approach, and this time Bumrah will be accompanied by Arshdeep's swing and Siraj Miyaan's magic. Hopefully Root's bat will be silent in the upcoming series, and India will gain a victory over England.

Sankalpajit Saikia

Nagaon University

Mind diet

Memory, thoughts, and learning are too essential for a human being to be overstated. Researchers have consistently come out with theories that have linked these factors with diet. The so-called "mind diet" aims at consuming food that boosts the heart health as well as blood pressure and, consequently, bolsters the functioning of the brain. A combination of plant-based food and those with lean protein can go a long way in arresting old-age brain conditions like dementia. Fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, fish, and poultry have known "brain benefits." Emerging evidence also reveals that low-fat dairy products can do the trick along with little or no red meat.

The presence of flavonoids, polyphenols, folate, and omega-3 fatty acids in the "mind diet" contributes to brain health. Prolonged intake of leafy vegetables in the elderly to ward off conditions like Alzheimer's disease, where memory becomes a casualty, is a subject matter of studies in general, but observational findings have indicated their benefits. What is important to understand is that a person, apart from utilising his energies to upkeep the heart and other important organs of the body, needs to care about his brain health as well. A little change in the diet can work wonders in preserving the functions of the brain.

Dr Ganapathi Bhat

(gbhat13@gmail.com)