Defections defy democracyThe report on Union Minister Bhupender Yadav’s meeting with rebel Trinamool Congress MPs raises troubling ethical questions.While political dialogue is legitimate in a democracy, outreach to legislators who have openly defied their party inevitably creates perceptions of encouraging defections and political horse-trading. The anti-defection law was enacted precisely to preserve electoral mandates and prevent governments and parties from being destabilised through inducements. What is more disturbing is the normalisation of such practices across party lines. Voters elect representatives based on party platforms, not personal political bargains.If democratic mandates can be altered through post-election manoeuvring, public faith in institutions will steadily erode.Gopalaswamy J.,ChennaiBharathirajaVeteran film director Bharathiraja set a new trend in Tamil cinema by bringing rural themes and settings to the forefront. This shift attracted audiences of all kinds, as the village flavour was both fresh and refreshing. His directorial debut, 16 Vayathinile, was not only a huge success but also transformed Tamil cinema to a considerable extent, compelling producers and directors to think differently. In that sense, he was a true trendsetter. One should also not overlook the fact that Ilaiyaraaja received his breakthrough with the same film. None of these artists looked back thereafter.V. Lakshmanan,Tirupur, Tamil NaduAlongside K. Balachander and Balu Mahendra, Bharathiraja helped shape modern Tamil film-making. Through classics such as 16 Vayathinile, Muthal Mariyathai, and Alaigal Oivathillai, he brought the spirit of rural Tamil Nadu to the screen with authenticity and emotion. He also introduced and nurtured many talented actors who became superstars. I fondly remember asking for his business card during a meeting; his reply was unforgettable: “Bharathiraja does not need a business card.”A.P. Thiruvadi,ChennaiAt a time when Tamil cinema was dialogue-oriented and an extension of drama enacting, Bharathiraja, in the 1970s, changed this by telling the story through the camera. It was he who transformed the art of direction with camera frames. Bharathiraja-Ilaiyaraaja-SPB songs were the order of the day in the 1980s.A.V. Narayanan,ChennaiThe director was an exponent of village drama, bringing authentic rural narratives and realistic characters to the mainstream. His timeless classics have reshaped the visual language of regional cinema.C.K.S. Maniam,ChennaiBharathiraja’s films, enriched by Ilaiyaraaja’s music, were an integral part of my growing-up years. I still remember the excitement of watching his movies with neighbours after we bought our first television set and later a VCR. By taking cinema out of the studio and into the villages and open landscapes of Tamil Nadu, he gave audiences like me a profound sense of connection to the world around us. Like Mann Vasanai, his stories, deeply rooted in emotions and the Tamil soil, will live on in our hearts forever.Ananthi Santhaiyan,Vijayawada, Andhra PradeshSome film-makers make movies, but a very few change the dynamics and magnitude of cinema forever. Needless to say, Bharathiraja belonged to the latter.R. Sivakumar,ChennaiNCERT books not availableThe new academic session has already begun, yet many students are still unable to obtain the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks that they require. Most local bookstores report that the books are out of stock, and students are being asked to wait several weeks for fresh supplies. As a result, many students are falling behind in their studies and facing difficulties in completing their homework and assignments. Some students have been forced to rely on borrowed books or photocopies.Preetham C.,BengaluruPilgrim welfareI was in Tiruvannamalai on June 4. As a 70-year-old, I had to stand in a queue for hours to have darshan of Lord Arunachala. Though separate queues are reportedly available for senior citizens, no signboard indicating this was prominently displayed, nor did any temple employee guide me. After the long wait, I was brusquely told to move on by a young man who was the age of my grandson. Although wall-mounted fans had been installed along the queue, none of them was functioning. Even to reach the counter issuing ₹50 tickets for special darshan, one had to stand in line for nearly two-and-a-half hours, with no provision for seating, unlike at Tirupati. With a growing number of devotees from neighbouring States contributing to the temple’s increasing revenue, there is a need for improvements in facilities. Another issue is the exorbitant fares charged by auto-rickshaw drivers.V. Jayaraman,Chennai Published - June 11, 2026 12:24 am IST