Readers' opinion on articles published in previous crest edition.

We're to blame eh?

With regard to 'EVILUTION' (Cover story, November 17) being more alone in the name of personal freedom, enjoying commodity-based life and unhealthy competition to advertise the self-asstar are the key features of our urban social life. But this infectious disease of extreme freedom, outbursts of violence and the culture that makes people feel they have to prove one's standing is also spreading to our rural areas mostly because of and through the media's act of repeatedly focussing on breaking news, frivolity and movies. Still, family life is the key to binding us with compassion to each other. Inculcating a healthy educational culture is also absoutely vital.

Uttam K Bhowmik, via email

Back to the future

With regard to your cover story (November 17) detailing how unsafe it is for women in public spaces, I must mention how shocked I was when I returned to India from a long stay abroad. The country had progressed and I did come home with some pride, but all that went out of the window when I found a friend in a hurry to pickup her daughter from the bus stop. Her daughter was a doctor and I was surprised that she couldn't walk half a furlong on her own. She listened quietly and then explained just as one would explain to an ignorant child that it just wasn't safe anymore. We are moving and moving fast, no doubt about it. But are we moving forward or backward?

Usha Wadhwa, via email

Big Brother solution

With regard to your cover story package (' EVILUTION', November 17) and the stories on many public spaces in cities being unsafe for women now, I would like to offer a few suggestions. We need to make an effort to keep an eye on eveteasers and the like in our cities. That's the only way to deter them. Mounting CCTV cameras on roads and cars fitted with cameras on their rearends could help. They could prevent many crimes, not to mention help solve many others. It may also be possible to record conversations with hidden cameras and use them as proof when needed. The point is, apathy will do nothing to make things better.

Himanshu Muni, via email