Where Equals Dare

At a time when protests against censorship are reverberating across the nation, india today’s Independence Day special provides a felicitous platform for contemporary freedom warriors (Reclaiming the Republic). Their thought-provoking views give us hope that our constitutional democratic values are in good hands. These warriors have assumed the task of taking the struggle for independence to its logical conclusion, continuing the legacy of our predecessors who wrested political freedom for India. Theirs is a task of fostering inclusion in a pluralistic society. The pieces go beyond offering mere lip service to causes. Quite a few of these philanthropic endeavours have been mounted on the strength of individual effort, despite meagre resources. The voices contain valuable lessons for our policymakers. NALINI VIJAYARAGHAVAN, Thiruvananthapuram Of the many problems that beset industrial growth in India, the biggest is the neglect of its effects, impairing people’s most fundamental right (My Freedom to Breathe by Ritwick Datta). A 2013 World Bank study has revealed the cost of environmental degradation in India—5.7 per cent of the GDP, amounting to $80 billion a year. What is the point of singing“sujalaam, suphalaam...” when our natural resources are so badly defiled? C.V. KRISHNA MANOJ, Hyderabad The DMK had a policy of encouraging the use of wall art to beautify the streets of Chennai (My Freedom to Paint by Hanif Kureshi). While doubling as work for indigent street artists, it also revived traditional art forms. Sadly, the ruling AIADMK government has discontinued the practice, allowing political posters to reappear on these walls. HENA PRASUN, Mumbai