Letters to The Editor — January 10, 2026

Trump and Trump talk

The recent developments surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump once again highlight how modern politics is increasingly driven by spectacle rather than substance. Despite multiple legal challenges and intense public scrutiny, Mr. Trump’s continued dominance of the political narrative reflects a worrying trend, where controversy overshadows accountability.

More concerning is the global impact of such polarising leadership. Mr. Trump’s rhetoric has consistently deepened social divisions, weakened trust in democratic institutions, and normalised political aggression.

Vinduja Biju,

Bengaluru

Focus on Iran

Iran’s response to public dissent and its choices on engagement versus confrontation will shape its political legitimacy. Whether Iran opts for reform and dialogue, or continued rigidity, will determine not only its domestic stability but also its regional role.

Shalini Tripathi,

Bengaluru

Madhav Gadgil

In the passing of Madhav Gadgil, India has lost an ecologist and environmentalist par excellence who walked the talk with rare simplicity as well as verve. He gave primacy to human rights over exclusive ecological conservation and wildlife protection. A man of vision, his life was dedicated to the cause of the biosphere’s robust health.

Ayyasseri Raveendranath,

Aranmula, Kerala