Rise and pray
Sir — An extra Saptami made Durga Puja 2026 particularly special. But the bonus day came with a catch: waking up at an ungodly hour for the Ashtami anjali — regarded as the most moment — scheduled between 6 am and 6.30 am at most places. The usual reluctance to leave the bed after pandal hopping the night before gave way to an urgency. With the window lasting barely 30 minutes, devotees had little time to shake off their sleep before folding their hands before the goddess. Yet the queues at pandals showed no shortage of enthusiasm with organisers adjusting schedules to accommodate the throng of worshippers at sunrise. Such promptness and dedication easily fly in the face of the Bengalis’ legendary reputation for laziness.
Bidisha Ghosh,
Calcutta
Angry streets
Sir — The ongoing protests across Europe, especially in France, reflect the growing public anger over housing costs, inflation and welfare cuts (“At ‘point of no return’, France reels after riots”, Oct 19). However, violent clashes, burning cars and school blockades suggest deeper problems beyond economic hardship. Growing distrust of governments, political dissatisfaction and youth frustration suggest a serious crisis of confidence. These protests reveal that many young people globally are feeling ignored and uncertain about their future.
N. Sadhasiva Reddy,
Bengaluru
Sir — France is burning, as are Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Albania. A widespread wave of anti-government protests has swept across Europe over soaring inflation, high housing costs, and education reform. India, too, is witnessing protests demanding electoral and institutional changes.
Reforms are necessary in education, healthcare and the electoral process. However, using protests to direct a change of regime is undemocratic. If fingerprints are required to obtain government benefits, why can an electoral system suited to the age of artificial intelligence not use facial recognition or fingerprints for digital voting? Such a system could eliminate proxy and multiple voting.
N.R. Ramachandran,
Chennai
Sir — Reports of arson, riots and clashes with police in France illustrate how unresolved grievances can escalate into disorder. Donald Trump, the president of the United States of America, has blamed unchecked immigration as the principal cause behind the French unrest. India, which too has witnessed demonstrations against the government in recent weeks, faces different circumstances. Unemployment, rising living costs, examination irregularities and electoral concerns warrant attention. Timely reforms, transparent governance and constructive dialogue can strengthen public trust and prevent legitimate discontent from escalating into confrontation.
R.S. Narula,
Patiala
Sir — France is a beautiful country. However, it is now burning amidst unrest, which can be attributed to its flawed immigration policy. Churches, malls, and historic town
halls are being set ablaze. What may have begun as a student protest has acquired a wider ideological dimension. The display of Palestinian flags at demonstrations has
also become a point of contention. Concerns persist about the government’s ability to protect its citizens.
Border control is fundamental to national sovereignty. Every country
needs effective laws to prevent unauthorised entry. This should serve as a wake-up call for India where concerns about undocumented Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants have fuelled debate over identity documents and access to public benefits. The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has brought these questions into sharper focus.
Sravana Ramachandran,
Chennai
Bonds bought
Sir — Companionship may be available for hire but friendship requires an ‘X’ factor which cannot be purchased (“Friend on rent”, Oct 18). Paid companionship may not be a solution to cope with a genuine crisis of loneliness. The underlying motive behind paid companionship is commercial gain.
If a man displays different girlfriends on each day of the festival, his standing among his friends might improve. Such relationships are akin to trying on outfits in a trial room, chosen for the sake of appearances and selfies to show off on social media. In today’s time, everything seems to have become transient. Human relationships are no exception.
Asim Bandyopadhyay,
Howrah
Sir — Festivals are here to stay but the meaning of togetherness has changed. A curious contemporary trend — the hiring of companions during Durga Puja — invites us to confront an unsettling question: are we witnessing the commercialisation of friendship at a time when genuine human connections are becoming increasingly elusive?
The paradox of our times is that we are perpetually connected yet frequently alone. Endlessly scrolling through festive photographs on social media distances us from the people sitting beside us. Can an arrangement measured by hours reproduce the warmth of a friendship nurtured by shared memories, spontaneous laughter and unspoken understanding?
Vijay Singh Adhikari,
Nainital
Sir — The editorial, “Friend on rent”, explores the paradox of people paying for companionship during a festival associated with togetherness. Loneliness has been accentuated by the commercialisation of relationships. The demand for paid companionship emerges when people are willing to pay for something they cannot readily obtain through existing social relationships.
Brij Bhushan Goyal,
Ludhiana