Kneejerk reaction
India has taken some steps in response to the dastardly attack on tourists in Pahalgam by terrorists and their handlers in Pakistan. Holding in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 is a grey area though and does not seem to have been thought through properly. It is more of a kneejerk reaction than a measured response. Normalising weaponisation of river waters is extremely risky; it may pacify community anger but can have devastating results downstream literally. Just to put things in perspective, China is building the world’s largest dam on River Brahmaputra barely 32 km north of Arunachal Pradesh. We have been trying to block its construction for the past few years but to no avail. Apart from increasing the seismic risks in the region manifold, the dam will give China the power to create droughts and floods at will in all of Northeast India as the mighty Brahmaputra flows through Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Sikkim. Exactly what we do to Pakistan is what China can do to us. Let us not forget that the latter is Pakistan’s staunchest ally. Geopolitical factors too need to be weighed in before taking retaliatory action.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
A people’s Pope
In the death of Pope Francis, the world has lost a genuine and humble human, who dedicated and reached out to all, in particular the poorest and the most marginalised. Leading by example, he will always be remembered as a beacon of hope for the downtrodden and the underprivileged and for his compassion by a tireless commitment for the common causes and benefits of ordinary people. Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, was very inspiring and had an extraordinary human memory. Ever so candid and upright, always walking the talk and speaking his mind. He was passionate about saving environment and dealing with the adverse effects of climate change. He reached out to different faiths and his immense contribution to promoting interfaith dialogue was appreciated by all. While striving for world peace he wanted leaders in power to conduct themselves with humility, kindness and respect for each other. History will record that all through his 13 years as Pope and until the very last, he was close to people. A true tribute to our departed Pope would be for all world leaders to emulate his rich legacy and to work tirelessly towards lasting and sustainable world peace and end all acts of war and aggression currently going on in various parts of the world.
Aires Rodrigues, London
Reading books
Books can be quiet friends, accessible teachers and patient companions. No entertainment is as inexpensive as reading; nor any pleasure as lasting. As readers learn to read, the importance of reading to learn dawns upon them. Reading is a vacation as well as a vocation. An author only begins a book, and the reader finishes it. The poorest of poor but with a rich reading habit can survive on their own. Top leaders of the world have been readers though the converse may not hold true. Nevertheless, a reader is the leader of his/her own mind. Not sure how many of the present leaders think before they talk but certainly there are very few leaders who read before they think. Emotional and philosophical angles apart, reading literally preserves the intellectual prowess of an individual by keeping the brain healthy. Enhanced concentration and ability to focus better are gifts the habit of reading brings unsolicited to the reader. Scientists have vouched for the memory boost that accrues after reading for long hours besides augmentation of comprehension, analytical ability and writing skills.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Road fatalities
Of late, many road accidents resulting in fatalities have been reported in the state. Several young lives have been lost. A fatal accident occurred in Calangute recently wherein a scooter rider was hit by a water tanker. The scooter rider succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment. The tanker driver was arrested but later released on bail. Essentially, bailable offences are those where bail is a matter of right and not a matter of judicial discretion. In India, most road accident deaths are treated as bailable offences. However, hit-and-run cases are non-bailable under the new law. Section 106(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine. This law aims to deter drivers from fleeing accident scenes and ensure that victims receive prompt medical attention and proper investigation. The question that arises is that should not road violations, including reckless driving, drunk driving, high-speed and rash driving, resulting in fatality also be made a non-bailable offence given the number of road fatalities occurring. It will also be in the fitness of things for all cases of road fatalities to be tried in a fast track court and the culprit awarded the necessary punishment. This will provide quick justice to the family of the victim. It will also go a long way in becoming deterrence to reckless, high-speed and drunken driving.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
