Letters to the Editor: Milestone in medical treatment

The news item published in your daily regarding successful bone marrow transplant in Assam is a delightful event. I congratulate the entire medical team who made this bone marrow transplantation a successful one. It is a red letter day in the field of medical treatment in the entire Northeast.

The bone marrow transplantation at GMC shall open a new vista in the field of bone marrow treatment which was not available in Assam earlier. Now, the patients belonging to poverty line henceforth will have a ray of hope for bone marrow treatment in Assam. Our respected Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarmah has committed that BMT Operation for children will be free of cost for which I congratulate him. His further assurance to make available liver transplantation facilities in collaboration with AIG Hospital, Hyderabad will be another milestone in the field of medical facilities in the north-eastern region.

Lastly, I congratulate hematologist Dr Jina Bhattacharyya who led the team of doctors for such a successful operation of BMT.

Subhash Chandra Biswas

Guwahati

Public etiquette

Using social media apps is becoming more convenient as the internet becomes more affordable. There is an overabundance of infographics on the internet, which is why many people become addicted to them. Travellers from different backgrounds use a public transport system for varying reasons. There may be people traveling to hospitals or attending cremation ceremonies. Others may go to exams while others may want to enjoy the calmness of a long journey. Many have been seen playing random videos loudly on their shining smartphones while travelling. The practice of talking over loudspeaker on call for minutes on end is also common. Even in some lounges where silence is desired, people tend to overuse their phones loudly. Engineers already did pretty well by introducing ear plug-in devices which can be handy in such situations. In this regard, people should maintain etiquette and should consider their surroundings.

Sourabh Pran Borah

Teok

Cracks within the Opposition

In the last Presidential election, the ruling NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu defeated the combined opposition candidate Margaret Alva by a big margin. There were confirmed reports of cross voting among the opposition. In Assam too the issue of cross voting became a prime issue of debate and dispute between the two main opposition parties – the Congress and AIUDF – and both started accusing each other of cross voting. The issue, especially within the Congress, became so intense that APCC chief Bhupen Bora even went to Delhi with a list of six candidates suspected to be cross voters for punishment from AICC, but returned empty handed to the great amusement of both the BJP and the AIUDF. We all know that there is no whip from any political party in the Presidential poll. One can vote according to his or her conscience. So, it is very apparent that some of the MPs and MLAs have their bodies in Congress, but their souls are elsewhere, may be in BJP. Strange indeed.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury

Guwahati

World Coconut Day

World Coconut Day is observed on September 2 every year to create awareness about the importance of coconuts across the world. Coconut in India is referred to as 'kalpavriksha', which means a tree which will fulfil all the necessities of life and is regarded as a holy tree. There is a lot of significance in Hinduism of coconut and the coconut tree in rituals and ceremonies. In other countries, it is also called as the 'Tree of a thousand uses' or the 'Tree of life'.

The coconut made its way from India to the coast of East Africa, thanks to Arab sailors, and from Southeast Asia to the west of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean and to the east of the Pacific, thanks to the Austronesian sailors. Coconuts have been a powerhouse since, providing us with a vast range of products and benefits. The tender white flesh inside the coconut is used in an array of cooking recipes and the oil, milk, and water is used for both cooking and non-cooking purposes. Coconut butter, coconut cream, and coconut oil are staple byproducts used in beauty products, and the husks and leaves of coconuts are used for making doormats, roofs, and huts. The first observance of World Coconut Day took place in 2009, commemorating the creation of the APCC. Every year, the International Coconut Community sets a theme for World Coconut Day. The theme for World Coconut Day this year is "Growing Coconut for a Better Future and Life".

Jubel D'Cruz,

Mumbai