Letters. A great scientist

As the editorial “An inspirational life” (March 16) put it, Stephen Hawking’s was indeed “an inspirational life”. Confined to a wheel chair, he sported a cherubic smile and exuded grace. He was instantly recognisable all over the world. His iconic image was uplifting and inspirational. His debilitating disease could not hold his mind back from roaming the infinite universe. His books simplified complex and stupendously-difficult-to-grasp theories with the ease of a story-teller to the benefit of non-specialists and lay people.

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

No other scientist has influenced our understanding of the Universe as much as Stephen Hawking has. His inventive theory that black holes exude radiation got the distinction of it being named ‘Hawking radiation’. His life should inspire others to emulate his zest for life and a passion for path-breaking work in a chosen field. We have lost a scientist who despite being bound to wheel chair, with a speech disorder, put his immensely challenging personal life at the altar of exploring the Universe.

Bengaluru

The setbacks to BJP in the byelections have diluted to a great extent the euphoria generated after the party’s spectacular show in the north-eastern belt. However, it is doubtful whether the SP-BSP bonhomie in UP will extend further to the next elections to the Lok Sabha or the State Assembly given the ambitions nursed by respective leaders to don the mantle on their own. The poor show of Congress would hamper its bargaining power with other regional satraps as its prospects are on a steady declining curve as a national party, but for a few States.

As long as confusion prevails in the opposition to forge a combined alliance, the BJP need not be too much concerned of its future prospects and the byelection results can be treated just an aberration.

Chennai

It is heartening that the opposition parties are gearing up to present a united front to the BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Close on the heels of the bua-bhatija combine dealing a blow to the saffron party in the Uttar Pradesh by-elections, the news of the Telugu Desam Party rallying around the YSR Congress in support of the no-confidence motion against the BJP in the Lok Sabha portends a tough year ahead for Modi and company. A strong opposition could act as an effective check to the BJP’s plan of implementing measures that are counterproductive for the common man.

Bengaluru

This refers to “Watch out, the bond market is rebelling” by Aarati Krishnan (March 16). That Indian stocks are notoriously overvalued and the ongoing elevated levels in a phase of uncertain growth has left the bond markets even more skewed. Given that 80 per cent of loans are serviced by PSBs, which are under the flux of mounting NPAs, suffering further from knee jerk regulations and diktats — the latest on LoUs — the money market is running unbridled.

More so, as investible funds prefer to chase speculative stocks and not into manufacturing. The traditionally voracious real estate sector remains heavily compromised to sober down the economy that then triggers a sharp upward bias in bond market. The climbing coupon rates will add to the cost of capital to further dampen productive investment. The need to quickly lift the PSU banking sector away from its doldrums has never been greater.

Navi Mumbai

The passage of the financial and appropriation Bill along with 31 amendments without a debate in Lok Sabha by the NDA government is nothing but symptomatic of the failure of parties across the political spectrum to protect the prestige and position of the temple of democracy called Parliament over the decades.

Sholavandan, TN

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