Goan music scene on the downslide
Curtains have come down to what must be considered as the most controversial carnival in recent times. Despite all the political interference the festivities went smoothly and people enjoyed it to the hilt. However, it must be said that carnival in Goa is losing its charm. It is pertinent to note that in the past every float in the carnival parade was accompanied by live music. This is not the case now. Recorded music has taken the place of live music. Ironically, this year even a float depicting a Goan wedding scene had recorded music being played. To make matters worse, the recorded music was being played at full blast. In the years gone by, professional musicians as also the upcoming young musicians would provide music for the floats. The float parade provided an opportunity for young musicians to showcase their talent which would prepare them for the big stage. However, Goan musicians have become conspicuous by their absence. Now one-man band playing recorded music has become the order of the day. Goan musicians have probably migrated to the UK and other European countries. As a result the music scene in the State seems on the downslide. The sound restriction in the State where loud music cannot be played after 10 pm has been another dampener. Probably, several young musicians in the State do not see a future in the field of music.
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Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Cash to woo Karnataka voters
The ruling BJP party in Karnataka hatching a conspiracy’ to woo voters in the forthcoming Legislative Assembly elections by distributing crores of money is very unfortunate. The allegations that BJP leader Ramesh Jarkiholi had announced in Belagavi that the saffron party would pay Rs 6,000 to each voter in the ensuing Karnataka Assembly elections. This is cheap undemocratic methods are used by the political parties in Karnataka to woo voters. The political practices adopted by major political parties, buying and selling of political leaders for sustaining the government are strangling the democracy. And it’s a free run for leaders as there is no limit on expenditure. This shows that these BJP leaders have ill-gotten money to the tune of crores of rupees to buy the voters. This is a blatant and brazen attempt to hijack democracy. Voters and public should think and remember that common people will have to be sufferers. The only way to curb the menace would be to give more teeth to the EC and stringent action, like disqualification of the party.
K G Vilop, Chorao
Pujara in select club
Kudos to Cheteshwar Pujara on his big milestone of joining India’s select 100–Test–club as the thirteenth member. Ever since Pujara made his debut for India in 2010 he has made the number three batting position for himself emulating former greats like Dilip Vengsarkar and Rahul Dravid. Sheer hard work and unwavering focus on the task at hand has largely contributed to his growth. He is known to hold one end when the chips are down as he did in the second innings of the Delhi Test against Australia. Like the illustrious Rahul Dravid, Pujara has carved out key partnerships for India.
Though he always has preferred to play second fiddle to big names around him, his contribution to the team’s cause has been more than invaluable. Pujara is known to handle spinners with ease and good footwork, straight bat, have been his forte. However, that hesitant backfoot movement of his has sometimes allowed bowlers to gain an upper hand. Technique, patience, level headedness and determination have propelled Pujara to where he finds himself now. Above all, the pristine ability to iron out his flaws through perseverance and guidance has helped him to emerge stronger during career slumps.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Save pangolins
It pains to note that according to the latest study carried out jointly by TRAFFIC, a UK-based wildlife trade monitoring network, and the World Wide Fund For Nature in India, 1,203 pangolins were poached and trafficked in India in the last five years for illicit trade. In fact, this has been revealed by the Indian media on February 18, 2023 (World Pangolin Day) to raise awareness and fight the capture of pangolins in Africa and Asia. Reportedly, huge quantities of the scaly anteaters are constantly smuggled from these two continents despite an international trade ban on various species of pangolins that went into effect in 2017. Pangolins play a critical role in the ecosystem, providing the earth with all-natural pest control and are fantastic soil tenders, simply through their everyday behaviours. Pangolins must be saved, and the only way to save the species is to stop harming them and return them to their natural habitat.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Study male chauvinism
Our society is only looking at crimes and screaming and agitating until criminals are punished, but nobody is ever trying to look inside the male chauvinist beasts. Is it not the time to look into deep- rooted causes of crimes? It may due to poverty or wrong friends circle, etc.
I could not find not even one organisation in the government or a private sector keen to set up a team of eminent psychologist to find reasons of male chauvinism in our society, to study the changes that have gradually developed in the male mind by thinking that the female is an inferior sex and it is a commodity, which should be deleted from the human mind.
Diomedes Pereira, Corlim
US Prez’s surprise show of support
US President Biden arrived in the strife-torn Ukrainian capital by train from the Polish border on an unannounced hush-bush visit. It is a good sign for bringing peace in the Russia-Ukraine war. Why he sneaks into the war zone after almost a year of ethnic war. Thus, the US President got a taste of the terror that Ukranians have lived with for close to a year when air raids sirens howled just as he and Zelenskyy concluded their talks. The visit comes at a crucial moment Biden is trying to keep allies unified in their support for Ukraine as the war is expected to intensify with spring offensives.
Akhilesh Krishnan, Mumbai
Biden defies Russia
This refers to news report ‘Biden visits Ukraine ahead of war anniversary: Kyiv stands’ on O Heraldo edition dated February 21, 2023, the unannounced visit by US President Joe Biden to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, defying threats of Russian missile attacks has surely emboldened Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to continue the war with Russia. He also announced a new package of additional US weapons supplies. The Ukrainian economy is in deep trouble and dependent on western aid. It seems the US is serious about its intention to hold back the Russians and protect Ukraine at all cost. As the war is heading towards completion of a year, both countries must realise the grave consequence the world is facing by the senseless war which has only brought untold poverty and misery to many countries.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
Biden’s trip to Kyiv is unprecedented
US President Joe Biden’s surprise visit to war-ravaged Kyiv is unprecedented. Biden’s trip, executed under the cloak of secrecy, had only a handful of security personnel, a small medical team, close advisors and two journalists in attendance. Their phones were confiscated – to be returned when Biden finally arrived in the Ukrainian capital about 24 hours later. Biden’s unannounced visit must have cheered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his fellow citizens.
N J Ravi Chander,
Bengaluru
