The winners of Rs 3,000 are...

20 years later
The edit "20 years of the last century's greatest tragedy" (TSI, Dec 4) was a riveting account of the erstwhile USSR. Although I was just a toddler when this historic breakup happened, I have had the opportunity to hear about the dream and the premature dissolution of USSR in numerous lectures and seminars. It was interesting to read about something so public from a more personal point of view. It would be easy to dismiss this article as an exercise in nostalgia if it weren't for the people who share the same sentiments and now look wistfully back at what was once a bi-polar world. Russian PM Vladimir Putin's wish to integrate the former Soviet Union looks more fantastical than feasible. The least that he can do is to try to revive at least some of the virtues that USSR was justly celebrated for and most importantly to once again emerge as an counterbalance to today's hegemon. That would perhaps be the greatest tribute to what is now a painful and not so distant memory.
Manas Panda
New Delhi

Italy's economic woes
The edit “The beginning of a massive European collapse and the Italian case!” (TSI, Nov 27) analysis the growing economic crisis engulfing several Eurozone countries. Italy is confronting looming financial calamity. The nation which once had one of the best quality-of-life index, is today grappling with debts, rising unemployment, escalating poverty and swelling crime rates. Recently, resentment against unemployment, inequality, hopelessness and shattered dreams was also witnessed in the Occupy Wall Street movement that took place in several European countries. Italy’s economy is too big for the European Union to try the bailout option. Italy’s PM Mario Monti's tough austerity measures in the form of labour reforms and raising the retirement age have met with strong resentment by the trade unions. The most difficult part of the crisis is that there is no easy and swift way out.
Anjali Sarkar
Kolkata

Don't allow misuse
Referring to “Right to Irritate” (TSI, Nov 20), Prasoon S Majumdar was right in saying that Right to Information (RTI) is more often misused than used for genuine cause to receive information from the government departments and agencies to expose the misdeeds of the government functionaries and ministers in public. Even the landmark verdict delivered by the Delhi  HC points to the fact that no establishment can claim exemption from accountability and transparency in its functioning. Also, the information received by an individual through RTI is for a good cause in order to fix authorities or individuals indulging in wrong doings. Despite unscrupulous elements misusing RTI to settle scores, the act is a landmark and an important tool. To ensure accountability and transparency, the continuance of RTI is vital and a must for good governance.
R Srinivasan
Secunderabad