Your cover story on Leander Paes was a lovely journey through the tennis legend’s career. Paes’s life experiences, amazing growth with humility, and blazing desire to touch 250 million children through sports education shows his passion towards creating a better future for the country (‘How to make a Champion’, July 30).

 

Paes’s take on everything he has met would surely lead to a revolution in sports as well as wellness among the youth. I was mighty impressed by Paes’s life lessons, vision, and his humility to take guidance from wherever he gets it.

 

I am grateful to THE WEEK for such a wonderful cover story.

 

Sudarshan S.J.,

Kolkata.

 

I never knew that Paes had so many good interactions with sporting legends and statesmen. He should have written a book on it. Paes is a good human being who has handled expectations with grace and humility—perhaps because he imbibed good values that he saw in great people. Very few sportspersons would admit things the way Paes has.

 

‘Amazing lessons from global greats’ was a life lesson for me. I felt grounded after reading the story. Only THE WEEK could have come out with it. No other publication even thought of unearthing these details from Paes.

 

I salute THE WEEK for sharing Paes’s life-changing thoughts. He has achieved unparalleled success and will continue to inspire us.

 

Akanksha Mathur,

On email.

 

THE WEEK’s cover story on Paes’s life lessons was one of the finest I have ever come across. The interview with Paes was excellent and deserves to be read, analysed and imbibed in every classroom.

 

S.S. Rajagopalan,

Chennai.

 

THE WEEK deserves praise for a brilliant interview with Paes, which was revealing and informative. I hope the government of India makes use of Paes’s knowledge and gives him a suitable post in the Union sports ministry.

 

Arjun Bhatia,

On email.

 

The interview with Paes was truly a classic. Now I have realised why Paes is such an amazing person. I hope to read more such inspiring interviews in your esteemed magazine!

 

Jothindra P.L.,

On email.

 

What caught my attention was what Paes said about eradicating diabetes and taking away obesity. The advantage of being a lefty in a racquet game or how to identify a GOAT at a young age through simple tests were revelations to me.

 

Kudos to Paes for trying to unite people through sports, as sports is indeed about character.

 

Praveen Thimmaiah,

Bengaluru.

 

The cover story on Paes was fantastic. It unravelled the professional life of the great tennis hero of India, and the little known facts behind his greatness.

 

I also liked the letter from the editor. Philip Mathew’s references to the poem, Ulysses, and comparing that with Paes’s personality was apt and to the point.

 

Let me quote from Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, “A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”

 

R.B.K. Varma,

On email.

 

I have grown up watching Illie Nastase, Ion Tiriac, Boris Becker, Steffi Graf and the three living tennis legends of today. But I read with interest your interview with our own superstar—Paes, who, besides playing with some of the biggest names of the game and winning laurels at international level, has displayed great passion and compassion.

 

Playing for Nelson Mandela’s Children Fund and scouting for talent in our backyards speaks volumes about Paes’s love for tennis.

 

If I may take the liberty, Paes, it will not be a bad idea to nudge a few more of your ilk to take up the task of, like they say, catching them young and nurturing and grooming people to take up sports. Here’s wishing Paes the best in his endeavour!

 

Suman Anand,

Delhi.

 

Tharoor was correct

I agree with Shashi Tharoor’s view of doing away with black graduation gowns (‘Last word’, July 30). We have continued blindly with the colonial tradition of wearing western robes. The Prime Minister’s Office should direct the University Grants Commission to come out with an India-specific graduation robe.

 

Daxesh Patel,

On email.

 

Tharoor’s suggestion of changing the graduation gowns to suit the Indian climate and culture amused me! Does he not belong to a party that is against Indianisation of anything handed down by the British?

 

Let Tharoor’s readers not read this. He may have to explain why the implicit support to the present regime’s policies.

 

Vimla Menon,

On email.

 

Wait and watch

The BJP appears to be exulting in the growing stature of Narendra Modi on the global stage and his unique capacity to swing votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections (‘Expansion mode’, July 30). But anti-incumbency and simmering discontent due to the recent instances of political defections may turn educated voters against the BJP.

 

Also, the opposition unity is more symbolic than pragmatic, and that could result in splitting of anti-BJP votes. Both the NDA and the INDIA will have a tough time in appeasing alliance partners for seats. Many local issues and aspirations would play significant roles in 2024, which would make the turf complex for both sides.

 

Electoral promises, local appeal and sensitive narratives driven by charismatic campaigns can tilt the scales either way.

 

Rajarao Kumar,

Bengaluru.