Safeguard moral, social fabric

Apropos of ‘Struggle for the freedom from fear’; India’s tryst with freedom was never meant to end with the lowering of the Union Jack. Our founding leaders saw Independence as the beginning of a deeper journey — towards a society free from fear, sustained by self-reliance and bound by fraternity. Today, this journey is at a crossroads. The erosion of trust, the weakening of community bonds and the dominance of a divisive discourse threaten the very spirit of the freedom struggle. If we are to preserve the essence of Independence, we must go beyond guarding our borders and economies; we must safeguard the moral and social fabric that gives democracy its strength. Reviving the values of self-rule, empathy and unity is the only way to ensure that the hard-won freedom continues to empower India. Gaurav Badhwar, Rohtak

Political intervention

Political intervention in educational institutions can have both positive and negative aspects. On the bright side, it is crucial to ensure funding to improve infrastructure and provide access to everyone, thereby addressing inequalities by promoting inclusive policies. This leads to increased enrolment and sets quality standards by influencing the curriculum to reflect the nation’s cultural and societal values, ultimately shaping better learning outcomes. On the flip side, it sometimes leads to the appointment of undeserving individuals and the erosion of academic freedom by interference in educational affairs by trying to impose ideologies and distort historical facts. There is a need to strike a balance Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh

Stalemate in Alaska

Refer to the news report, ‘Ukraine ceasefire hopes dim after historic Alaska summit’; the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has unfortunately done little to revive hopes for a ceasefire. Despite intense diplomatic engagement, the outcome underscored the deep-rooted mistrust between global powers. The Ukraine war has already claimed lakhs of lives and displaced millions, yet a meaningful resolution still seems distant. The talks in Alaska were expected to bridge differences and push both Moscow and Kyiv toward dialogue. Instead, the summit exposed hardened positions, with Russia demanding security guarantees and Ukraine insisting on sovereignty and territorial integrity. Kavneet Kaur, Ludhiana

Time-tested tools of persuasion

Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia’s “saam, daam, dand, bhed” remark has triggered an unnecessary uproar. Critics are giving the impression that he has revealed some dark or unacceptable secret, whereas he has only articulated a political truth that every party, without exception, practises in one form or the other. The four well-known tools of persuasion and strategy — conciliation, inducement, punishment and division — have been part of Indian political life since ages. Balvinder, Chandigarh

Sustainable development

‘Making of a killer flood’ (Spectrum) is a grim reminder of nature’s fury. A dispassionate look is a must to restore the disturbed ecological balance. A new SOP (standard operating procedure) has to be developed for Naya Bharat — the theme of this year’s Independence Day — to ensure sustainable development. We can take a cue from ‘ecologically sound’ countries. Rivers are revered in Indian history and culture. They should not be reduced to dumping grounds. The importance of the Ganga and its tributaries needs to be consistently acknowledged so that everyone can enjoy their blessings.

Jagvinder Singh Brar, Patiala

Rahul’s pressure tactics

Our Constitution guarantees universal adult franchise to all Indian citizens, and the Election Commission is committed to upholding it in letter and spirit, making amends wherever necessary. Against this backdrop, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar seems unjustified, unless his aim is the inclusion of non-citizen migrants as well. As his ‘vote chori’ allegation is a sub judice matter, he should refrain from adopting pressure tactics. Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Letters to the Editor