Bugged
Sir — The burning of effigies symbolises the triumph of good over evil. Interestingly, this Dussehra, Delhi’s Pitampura expanded the ritual’s ambitions by setting ablaze a 30-foot-tall effigy of a cockroach alongside those of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad. The organisers insist that the insect represents filth, not politics, although its appearance amidst the Cockroach Janta Party’s protests does seem like an extraordinary coincidence. The elaborate effort to mythologise the burning of a cockroach suggests how rattled the ruling dispensation has become by the Cockroaches.
Garima Singh,
Noida
Gap shows
Sir — To reduce its substantial trade deficit with China, India must pivot from passive consumption to economic resilience (“Adverse gap”, Oct 20). Heavy reliance on Chinese manufacturing has created a stark trade imbalance that compromises India’s economic independence. Expecting China to lower its trade barriers is unrealistic.
Bridging this trade gap and making India a trade-surplus nation require a multi-pronged approach. India must incentivise businesses to diversify their supply chains to friendly alternatives in Southeast Asia and eastern Europe. India also needs to boost domestic manufacturing. Strengthening domestic capabilities and diversifying trading partners can level the playing field.
Fateh Najamuddin,
Chennai
Sir — India’s trade deficit with China reveals an uncomfortable truth: we are competing in someone else’s game. China dominates manufacturing because it has built its capabilities over decades through sustained focus. Complaining about trade barriers won’t change this. Instead, India must stop trying to beat China at its own game and build its own competitive advantages. We should develop sectors where China cannot follow, such as software, services, and high-skill industries that leverage human capital.
The problem lies in India’s strategy. Real economic strength comes from creating products and services the world needs, not from negotiating for fairer access to commodities markets.
K. Chidanand Kumar,
Bengaluru
Sir — India’s trade imbalance with China can tilt adversely with any shift in domestic or global politics. The problem is that the government is projecting India as a growing economy while masking its vulnerabilities. Otherwise, it would have invested more in research and development to turn the slogan of Aatmanirbhar Bharat into a tangible solution. The fact is that India remains largely a reassembling centre.
A.G. Rajmohan,
Andhra Pradesh
Beyond boundaries
Sir — The right to protest has become a subject of intense debate in India. Questions have been raised about who can participate in demonstrations following reports that a foreign national — the actor, Imran Khan — received a notice to leave the country after participating in protests. This brings to mind the case of Tyler Walker Williams, an American citizen who studied at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He was elected vice-president of the JNU Students’ Union in 2006.
The United Progressive Alliance led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in power at the time. JNU’s then vice-chancellor, B.B. Bhattacharya, invited Singh to inaugurate a statue of Jawaharlal Nehru on campus. This sparked a debate, with the All India Students’ Association and other Left organisations deciding to protest against the prime minister’s visit, criticising his government’s policies as ‘pro-corporate and anti-farmer’. As an AISA member and JNUSU councillor, Tyler had participated in that protest.
The vice-chancellor later informed that the Prime Minister’s Office had advised him not to take action against the protesting students. However, the controversy continued at a university general body meeting where National Students’ Union of India representatives criticised the protest and particularly opposed Tyler, a foreign national, for speaking out against the Indian prime minister and government policies. Tyler subsequently participated in other demonstrations, including protests at Jantar Mantar. To my knowledge, the university administration never targeted him because of his nationality or political participation. He completed his studies and returned to the United States of America.
The legal circumstances of individual cases may differ and foreign nationals’ participation in demonstrations is distinct from those involving Indian citizens. Nevertheless, an important question remains: how should a mature democracy like India respond to dissent that crosses national boundaries?
Dhananjay Tripathi,
New Delhi
Look forward
Sir — As the final beat of the dhaak fades, the long, nostalgic countdown to next year begins. Yet, even amid the sadness of Bijoya, there is a reason to cheer. Just as Saptami spanned two days this year, calendar calculations reveal that Ashtami will last for two days next year. What could be sweeter than gaining an entire extra day to celebrate Durga’s homecoming?
Sourish Misra,
Calcutta