Guru Nanak laid foundation of social justice

Apropos of ‘In Guru Nanak’s world, all were equal’; the Guru’s insistence on equality —rejecting all notions of caste, creed and status — offers a solid foundation for social justice. His principles of kirat karo (earning an honest livelihood) and vand chhako (sharing one’s earnings) are, essentially, an ancient blueprint for equitable economic distribution and sustainability, standing in stark contrast to the extreme wealth concentration we witness today. By speaking out against blind ritualism and narrow fanaticism, he championed rationality. His teachings are relevant today as societies worldwide grapple with misinformation, fundamentalism and the political weaponisation of religion and ethnic identity.

Harjinder Singh Thandi, Mohali

An average New Yorker’s pride

Apropos of ‘Why Zohran Mamdani fights for the underdog in New York’; the young, charismatic and dynamic socialist with Leftist leanings has an agenda to ‘better the lives’ of the marginalised or those on a shoestring budget, living in the world’s costliest city. His presence in the US political landscape is significant and a result of his wide interaction with the masses at a young age and his multi-ethnic roots. He is rudely passionate about what he says and has ready solutions for an average New Yorker’s problems.

BM Singh, Amritsar

Need better service delivery

Apropos of ‘Glaring inequality’; in a free market economy, some people will always be more successful than others due to talent, luck, innovation, or other factors. The harmful effects often associated with inequality can be mitigated or avoided by making affordable healthcare and education accessible to the widest possible sections of society to enable them to reap fruits of this progress. This does not just require greater budgetary allocations but better service delivery through effective monitoring and regulation. In the past, efforts to reduce inequality through radical means have failed. If we are able to improve the standard of living for all economic strata, the negative impacts of the widening gap may become less significant.

Chander Shekhar Dogra, Jalandhar

Crony capitalism distorts markets

With reference to ‘Glaring inequality’; the article captures the stark reality of our times — a world where the richest 1% hoard two-fifths of new wealth while the bottom half receive crumbs. India, too, mirrors this imbalance, with a 62% rise in the wealth of its richest in just two decades, even as the median income stagnates. The rise of dollar billionaires like Ambanis and Adanis, particularly in resource sectors like mining, oil and gas, reflects how crony capitalism distorts markets and deepens inequality. Amartya Sen has long argued that unchecked accumulation undermines both moral order and economic stability. Growth divorced from equity erodes social trust and weakens democracy.

Harsh Pawaria, rohtak

Keep armed forces out

With reference to ‘Rahul sparks row with army remark’; physical fitness is a key requirement for recruitment as jawans and officers. The Army is not like any other government service. The army’s strength lies in its regimentation, traditions, customs, lofty standards and secular ethos. Political leaders should respect the army’s autonomy and avoid actions and words that could be perceived as politicising the institution. The armed forces are a symbol of national unity, where individuals from diverse backgrounds come together to serve a common purpose. Focusing on merit, physical fitness and leadership qualities ensures that the best candidates are selected, regardless of their background.

Capt Amar Jeet (retd), Kharar

No roundabouts in Master Plan

Refer to ‘Why break rule for Tribune Chowk flyover, HC asks UT’; it’s true that the proposed flyover runs contrary to the Master Plan. However, Le Corbusier’s original Chandigarh Master Plan did not have any provision of roundabouts. Before 1970, there was no roundabout in the City Beautiful. The trend started with the first roundabout at the Sector 17/21 crossing. If roundabouts can be introduced to ease traffic woes, why not flyovers?

Ashok Kumar Goel, Panchkula