It was heartening to note that you have given the reader’s page with a pride of place by changing the design and the pattern to publish their letters. Thanks a lot for all the encouragement at a time when the newsprint is becoming increasingly costly and the letters columns are cut short just to keep its identity and nothing else. Newspapers play a positive role in bringing the views of the readers by including them in Letters to the editor column. It gives an opportunity to the reader to express his frank opinion. Pen is mightier than sword is true. The symbol of a pen in the centre of the page is an appropriate one. National integration is the hallmark of the Indian sub-continent. India is a linguistic country and many newspapers are published in different languages to express our views. The hype, hoopla and hysteria about sensitive issues figure out in newspapers and the people are given an open page, thanks to the media. For example, the spate of suicides of farmers figures out prominently. Secondly, the atrocities committed against women are given a pride of place. But such types of news should not be used for increasing the sale of the publication as the top news. We in India get a boost to call shots when it is really required.
We need not get scared for exposing right things and try to provide solutions in a right way. With the monsoon rains touching the city anytime from now, potholes pose a great problem for road users. Road repairs at focal points are also undertaken on war footing basis if you provide clippings of the damages caused to the roads during the monsoon season. The increase of slums at posh localities is also a matter of great concern and needs to be taken up before the situation goes out of hand. We have the right to express our views and nobody can stop us from giving our valuable suggestions. Thanks to Afternoon Voice we are able to get an opportunity to express our views without editing. The colour page of the Letters column is yet another feather in the tabloid’s cap.
Jayanthy Subramaniam
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
