Your cover story on the making of an astronaut was interesting (‘Acting space’, December 22). While living in the space may seem fun, not everyone is cut out for it. Perhaps, this is why countries that pioneered space exploration have carefully chosen both military personnel and civilians for their missions.
As far as our own Gaganauts are concerned, I wish them the very best. May they have a successful journey to space, have a good time, make Mother India proud, and return home safely.
R.P. Nandan,
On email.
The article on the type of food the Gaganauts will have in space was informative. It is better to keep food consumption to a minimum, and ensure that none of it escapes into the spacecraft environment. The menu for the Gaganauts was intriguing as well. All said, managing bodily functions in space, such as going to the toilet, presents its own set of challenges.
Anupama Khatri,
On email.
The return journey from space is sometimes more challenging than the journey up there. After spending time in microgravity, astronauts experience bone loss, which makes standing upon landing very difficult. There is also a significant risk of fatal incidents during re-entry, and in some cases, a miscalculation could even result in bouncing back to space. That’s scary, isn’t it?
Suraj Kumar,
On email.
Good job
Hats off to THE WEEK for organising the Best Hospitals awards so well (‘Care with quality’, December 22). It reflects the publication’s influence in bringing together eminent personalities from diverse backgrounds under one roof.
The top-ranking hospitals, recognised at the event, should strive to excel even further, pushing boundaries to serve humanity in every possible way.
Devyani Bhatnagar,
On email.
People with disabilities are truly special. A living example is Shalini Saraswathi, who lost her limbs to a rare infection. They don’t need sympathy, but support and encouragement. Shalini has shown that with grit and determination, any disability can be overcome. Shalini’s journey is a testament to the fact that disability is no barrier when it comes to achieving big things in life.
Her courage and perseverance inspire us. All of us can learn from her resilience and strength. Way to go, girl.
Shweta Chaudhary,
On email.
Wife and the rum
K.C. Verma’s column was hilarious (‘Otherwise cracked’, December 22). The three reasons why Verma’s wife was searching for rum could be:
Rum and hair loss remedy: Any inexpensive rum should suffice for this treatment. Simply chop a small onion and add it to a cup of a rum. Let the mixture sit for 24 hours, and strain it. Massage the rum into your scalp.
Rum as a cold remedy: The warmth of the rum, combined with honey and lemon, can soothe symptoms like a sore throat. In Delhi’s air-polluted winters, it may provide temporary comfort from cold and cough.
Rum for Christmas cake: According to sources, raisins should be soaked in rum for at least a month to prepare Christmas cake.
Bala Kishen,
On email.
Mamma mia!
The quote from William Dalrymple’s new book, The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World—“The British could hardly claim to be bringing civilisation to a country that had already been exporting it for 3,000 years”—reminded me of a century-old episode (‘A forgotten road’, December 22). It involved the late A.S.P. Ayyar, a distinguished former judge of the Madras High Court. It was narrated to me by his son, the late A.P. Venkateswaran, an eminent diplomat and former foreign secretary.
Ayyar belonged to the batch of the Imperial Civil Service, which also included the late K.P.S. Menon, widely regarded as the doyen of Indian diplomacy. It was customary for a senior bureaucrat of the British Commonwealth and Foreign Office to address the successful ICS officers and broadly outline what their role would be on returning to India. Even among the ICS cadre of that era, there was a growing desire for autonomy and self-rule for India.
The bureaucrat who addressed the batch, in his briefing, inter alia, alluded to this desire and condescendingly said that the relationship between Great Britain and India was akin to the relationship between a mother and a daughter, and that some daughters were eager to break away from their mother’s care, not realising that everything the mother did was for the daughter’s benefit.
It was also customary for one of the selected officers from the batch to respond to the briefing. Menon nudged Ayyar to deliver the response. After expressing the customary thanks, Ayyar alluded to the ‘mother-daughter’ analogy. He remarked, devastatingly, that this was the first time he had heard of a phenomenon where the daughter was 6,000 years older than the mother!
M.V. Sundararaman,
Chennai.
Critical point
The column Powerdrive (December 8) raised a pertinent point: while everyone is concerned about global warming, few are willing to work towards tangible solutions. Developed and developing countries are engaged in a cycle of mud-slinging and blame, each accusing the other of contributing more to the increase in global warming.
The west is unlikely to admit its role, while developing countries remain in vulnerable position.
The issue has reached a critical point, and there is no turning back. We cannot afford to abandon modern technology and return to outdated practices. Therefore, alternative methods must be invented and adopted to minimise carbon emissions and protect the earth. Saving the earth is, in essence, saving our own lives.
Bilal Ahmad Shamim,
On email.