Sometimes the most obvious solutions require just a considered look at what has been done earlier. Mark Sen from New Delhi argued in a letter this week that there is nothing extraordinary about farming particular species. So what is so revolutionary about applying the principle to tigers?• Jaithirth Rao’s argument in ‘How to kill a tiger’ has been made before too. There should be nothing shameful about this idea. After all, there are many crocodile farms in Thailand, and the farming of wild fish goes on in Scotland and Norway. Pheasant farming was an aristocratic practice in England. Game birds and animals are big business in France too. The Chinese use bears and other animals — lthough cruelly, because they extract the gall bladder secretion while the animal is still alive. Besides, one can buy the meat of wild animals in the southern states of the US too. Therefore, by breeding tigers in captivity the wild tiger population could yet be saved.Towering London• There are many reasons for the rise of London as the most important city in Europe (‘Big city, bright lights’, IE, March 17). Recently, I came across a letter, signed by Gordon Brown, to several CEOs in India, inviting them to a UN event scheduled in London in early May. How often does the head of government of a major state personally signletters to CEOs around the world? The office of London’s mayor has set up a representative office in India. How many mayors around the world are so deeply committed to the promotion of their cities, to the extent of appointing representatives across the world? Thus, London is no longer the laid-back sahib’s place, revelling in their pink gin and stout beer; it is a commercial capital of the world. While Paris continues to bask in the glory of its celebrated cuisine, Michelin star restaurants and art galleries, London marches ahead. — Krishan Kalra GurgaonAct tough• Coalition politics seems to be destroying a nation that has so much potential to be big. One has to only witness India’s vacillation and chicken-heartedness over Taslima Nasreen and Tibet. Not to mention the farcical nuclear impasse. When Mao ordered his army into Tibet, the West was involved in Korea and didn’t spare any thought for Tibet. Nehru had sent an envoy to Lhasa in 1950 and again in 1951 to advise the Tibetans to apply for UN membership which India would support. Nothing, unfortunately, came of that. It is worth recalling (and the Indian comrades should note) that our resolution on World Non-violence Day was not co-sponsored by China despite the fact that over 140 countries did so. There should be no concessions to China over Arunachal Pradesh, or there may be another Tibet on our borders.— Mukund B. KunteNew DelhiA soldier’s sacrifice• This refers to the report ‘Lt Col was killed thwarting 27th attempt on Azad’s life’ (IE, March 21). The tragic death of M.S. Kadam should be mourned by the nation. He should be remembered for his courage in the face of the continued threat to his life and so should be Indian soldiers working in extremely difficult conditions. Since it is not the first time that a soldier has sacrificed his life for the safety of politicians, there should be a public debate on how best to recognise and remember such sacrifices. — S.K. Gupta Delhi
