Gifted guides

Sir — As another Teachers’ Day passed us by, we saw a number of social media posts showcasing pens, chocolates and diaries that teachers received from their students. While such appreciation of educators is heartening, one cannot help but think how all the plastic containers and wrapping papers that these gifts are presented in will end up clogging drains or piling up in landfills. It is thus encouraging to hear stories about teachers like Sapna Shrishail Anigol in Karnataka. She encourages her students to reuse and recycle as much as they can, and even hosts a competition asking children to collect plastic waste from the vicinity of their school. Perhaps such a noble initiative will also drive some students to make eco-friendly gifts for their teachers next year.

Srijita Sarbadhikari, Calcutta

Name game

Sir — The Central government led by the prime minister, Narendra Modi, seems to be bothered by the name, India (“Indiamidated”, Sept 6). It is not unreasonable to believe that given the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s championing of Sanskrit, the government would prefer the Sanskrit name, Bharat, to the Anglicised ‘India’. But such a change, if officially made, would be tantamount to questioning the wisdom of the Constituent Assembly. Slogans like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Startup India’ would have to be changed, and organisations like the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Indian Space Research Organisation would have to rechristen themselves. One also wonders if citizens would be free to call themselves Indians.

G. David Milton, Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

Sir — A cosmetic change in the nation’s name is unlikely to boost the Bharatiya Janata Party’s chances of winning a majority in the upcoming elections. The name, India, has become an intimate part of the lives of every citizen over the last 76 years. It is astounding that the ruling party is so rattled by the recent successes of the Opposition bloc that it is changing the name of the country itself.

Bhagwan Thadani, Mumbai

Sir — Prime ministers may come and go, but what is common to most govern­ments is that decisions ta­k­en by a particular party in power are rarely suppor­ted unanimously by the Op­position. So it has been with the current Narendra Modi-led government, too, with its significant decisions to abolish Article 370 and implement demonetisation being vehemently challenged by the Opposition. Now, its purported attempt to change the country’s name from ‘India’ to ‘Bharat’ has also drawn flak from politicians like the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader, Tejashwi Yadav, and the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee. If Bombay can change to Mumbai and Madras to Chennai, then India, too, can change to Bharat.

K.V. Seetharamaiah, Bengaluru

Sir — The Supreme Court has, in the past, dismissed num­erous petitions asking for an official change in the name of the nation. Pat­riotism inspired by force cannot last, and our sense of national pride is certainly not associated just with the country’s name. The controversy over the change from ‘India’ to ‘Bharat’ is yet another diversionary tactic by the BJP to distract people from the problems of unemployment, inflation and ethnic violence in Manipur.

Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai

Fudged funds

Sir — After the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project published its report on the funds channelled into companies owned by the businessman, Gautam Adani, the Opposition has, once again, shone a spotlight on the issue (“Adani shapes up as poll issue”, Sept 3). It is shocking that the statutory regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India, allegedly failed to act on complaints against the Adani Group as far back as 2014.

Shayan Das, North 24 Parganas

Sir — The Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, has frequently questioned the Establishment regarding the close relationship between the prime minister, Narendra Modi, and the embattled tycoon, Gautam Adani (“China to Adanis, Rahul is relentless”, Sept 2). The new report by the OCCRP reveals the names of some investors who illegally benefitted the Adani family through shady business transactions. The Opposition has thus rightly highlighted the need for an immediate probe into this case.

Aayman Anwar Ali, Calcutta

Choked lungs

Sir — The index published by the University of Chicago about the quality of air looks grim (“Death by air”, Sept 5). It is shocking that particulate pollution has reduced life expectancy in India by 5.3 years. In a bid to promote rapid economic growth, more fossil fuels are being burned in our power plants to produce electricity. The fact that more than 90 lakh vehicles older than 15 years continue to ply in West Bengal is also alarming. All governments must take steps to urgently tackle the problem.

Jahar Saha, Calcutta

Sir — It is encouraging that India is trying to introduce 20% ethanol-blended petrol to reduce atmospheric pollution. Farmers can form cooperatives and start producing ethanol using crop stubble, further reducing India’s dependence on imported petrol and, at the same time, ensuring that crop stubble is not burnt.

Madhu Nivriti P.S., Secunderabad

Step up

Sir — While the Men in Blue deserve to be congratulated for their victory over Nepal in the Asia Cup, fans are concerned about the poor fielding during the match. India’s pace attack lacked bite and its ineffectiveness was compounded by the number of dropped catches. Fielding must improve if India wants to do well in the upcoming World Cup.

N. Mahadevan, Chennai