An act of humanity

Dear Sir,

The return home of an Indian woman who was living in Pakistan for years after accidentally crossing the border is a welcome step in the relations  between the two neighbouring countries. Geeta, the speech- and hearing-impaired woman,could not remember or explain exactly where she was from India and stayed in Pakistan for more than a decade under the care of the leading welfare organisation, Edhi Foundation. It has the making of a fairytale.
Her plight was highlighted by the media in India and Pakistan after the July release of a Bollywood film, Bajrangi Bhaijan. In the film, Salman Khan, one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, overcomes all odds to reunite a mute girl with her family in Pakistan after she was separated from them during a trip to India.
After arriving in Delhi, Geeta told officials that she did not recognise the family she thought was hers.
It is hoped that efforts will continue so that she will be united with her family and live a peaceful life with her parents and relatives.
Such gestures should be the right move to improve relations between the two countries,
Both India and Pakistan should now show a more humanitarian approach towards many fishermen who are languishing in each other’s jails after crossing the boundaries inadvertently while pursuing their  profession.

Ramesh G Jethwani , (Address supplied)

Pointless criticism

Dear Sir,

In reference to the letter, “A jarring tone in language” (Gulf Times, October 28), I’m afraid I couldn’t understand the point raised by FAZ.  I didn’t notice any “jarring tone” in the usage of the word “females”. What is wrong with the word, “females”, please? It is a commonly used word and, as far as I know, is not derogatory.
The letter-writer, FAZ, wants the word “women” to be used in place of “females”.  The sentence FAZ quotes reads: “The first phase of Seha, launched in July 2013, included Qatari females aged 12 and above.”  Do we call a 12-year-old girl a woman? Maybe, FAZ does. But it strikes a jarring note.

NT, (Full name and address supplied)

Food for thought

Dear Sir,

The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that processed meats fall into the same cancer-risk category as tobacco smoke, meaning “there is convincing evidence that the agent causes cancer”.
This is scary. Should all processed meat items come with a health warning now that they are “injurious to health”! Is everything we eat on the suspect list now? Should we starve ourselves to death! Nothing is safe.
I thought fish and red meat were excellent sources of iron and zinc, vitamin B12 and omega-3 - key nutrients needed to keep the body and brain functioning well. How wrong I was!

Rajesh Nair, rajeshnair.it@gmail.com

Please send us your  letters By e-mail editor@gulf-times.com