Speaking out

Speaking out

* For a nation that is being encouraged to abolish the death penalty by the international community, we suddenly see the demand for it resonating in Parliament ('Delhi gangrape shakes Parliament; Jaya Bachchan breaks down, Sushma Swaraj, others seek death penalty', IE, December 19). After deliberations over the Delhi gangrape, the demand for treating such crimes under Section 307 of the IPC is gaining traction. Across party lines, these outbursts have mostly come from women MPs. It is likely that women better relate to the atrocities committed against other women.

Gender equality and women's empowerment necessitate a change in the way we speak about women. A possible beginning would be to stop using the term "weaker sex".

—Pachu Menon

Margao

The time is now

* THIS refers to 'The dragon in the room' (IE, December 20). India must be audacious in paving its path in the region, particularly in its approach to China.

— Achint Atri

Gurgaon

Democracy in action

* NARENDRA MODI'S return to power in Gujarat, despite all allegations, has demonstrated that voters perceive him as standing for development and governance ('BJP clicks in Muslim zones too in the Gujarat Assembly elections, Vastanvi looks for reasons why', IE, December 21).

— M.C. Joshi

Lucknow

All Maya

* APROPOS 'Apocalypse Now' (IE, December 21), human beings tend to be fearful of the forces of nature. To add to that, movies with remarkable special effects depict how the world will end. One of the recent movies dealing with such superstition was 2012, contributing to the belief that December 21, 2012 would be doomsday. Now that the day has passed and the earth is still moving in its orbit, we realise that the myth surrounding the Mayan calendar was nothing but maya, an illusion.

... contd.

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