A fighter and my mentor
Losing a loved one, though inevitable, is a painful process (‘Letters to the editor: Hoping for a cancer-free world’, Gulf News, October 11). Losing a loved one to a disease called “cancer” is more than painful. With cancer, you know that the life line of the patient is limited and you are left hoping against hope that the number of days are extended to a forever.
My English teacher had been my mentor, friend and guide since grade six. When I first received the news that she was diagnosed with breast cancer, I wasn’t sure how I felt. But, I knew she would come through. She did! She was a fighter and she used to put up these witty Facebook statuses about her “state”. She was an English teacher, after all. But, the second time around when she put up a status on the return of the cancer, I did not for one moment think that this would be the last time I would see her say something witty about herself. It has been six months now since we lost her to that battle, but her life was celebrated. Her Facebook was flooded with wishes from her friends and family, which just goes on to show how loved she was and that she truly did leave a mark on a lot of people, positively.
From Mr Parvathy Premkrishnan-Manakkal
UAE
Battle against cancer
I am one of those chosen ones who has completely recovered, after a long battle of one year. I have preserved my emotional memories from the time I was struggling with the treatment period, so I can motivate people who think that there is no life after cancer. While I was undergoing treatment, I completed my thesis and obtained a doctorate degree later on, all because of my positive attitude. The Almighty instilled positive energy within me and turned my losing hope into winning aspiration. I hope my story brings hope to other patients, as I know how powerful it is to be positive during the battle against cancer.
From Dr Rahil Khan
Sharjah
A life lost
I remember when I was 12 years old, our mathematics teacher passed away due to cancer. She got married and left the country to live with her husband, but just a year later she returned. The students started to notice that she was wearing a wig and looking tired. It was obvious that she was undergoing treatment for some disease, but none of us knew what it was for. A year later, she passed away and that’s when another teacher informed us that she was suffering from cancer. She was very strict, but we all missed her and prayed that she rest in peace.
From Mr Habib Raja
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Facebook comment
We are our own victims
Any disease related to the multiplication of cells and tumours can be controlled if diagnosed at the right time (‘Facebook debate: War against cancer-causing substances’, Gulf News, October 11). Unchecked cancer cells grow very fast mitotically. This can happen through the lack of awareness in the choice of food or lifestyle. Certain foods consumed daily and even aerosols may be carcinogenic from the chemicals they contain. To avoid or delay the implementation of protective public health standards, the chemical industry typically denies cancer causation in what they produce. Chemicals causing kidney cancer in animals have been much debated. We dispute and dismiss authentic and substantiated claims with data and facts. Instead we fall prey to unprofessionalism and unethical talks that lead to the closure of such findings and we become our own victims. We need to ban and understand the harmful effects of carcinogens.
From Ms Anjum Hasan
Sharjah
Faceless lobbying
Carcinogenic materials should be banned with immediate effect for the welfare of the present and future generations. As it is, the world is fighting against major problems like global warming, terrorism and poverty. In such a scenario, it would be unwise to subject a section of the society to serious diseases like cancer. We may not be able to contain every problem we face, but we should take action wherever we can, to eliminate the problems.
The major challenge to ban carcinogenic materials would come from powerful business lobbying where there are vested interests in setting up manufacturing facilities for items that contain carcinogens. They would use all their might, for personal gains, to repel such an act from governing bodies. However, the agencies worldwide that have been empowered to take decisions on these matters should not bow down to such people, but look at the greater good.
Let the world be cancer-free. Let the world be happy and healthy.
From Mr Suhas Inamdar
UAE
Don’t reject a perspective
‘Modi-phobia’, as a fear of what India Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing to the country, is messing with the whole of India and other neighbouring nations (‘Letters to the editor: With violence in India, where is the government?’, Gulf News, October 7). Now, only a couple of people need to wash their hands off this affliction, but if this is the way that it remains, then the whole world will suffer.
From Mr Roojis Kdka
UAE
Facebook comment
Syria needs education
Since 2011, the condition of Syria is getting worse (‘No room for a polarising narrative on Syria’, Gulf News, October 10). If the country had been able to oust Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, this problem wouldn’t have happened. If the ruler would have been strong and efficient, neither the Syrians nor the civil war would have happened. The civil war forced the creation of the group of uneducated young generation due to deteriorating infrastructure. Education is as important as food and shelter.
From Mr Vaishnav Ravindran
UAE
Looking forward to the train
It is really a great move by the authorities to introduce a railway network service across the country (‘UAE passengers to wait until 2020 for national rail network’, Gulf News, October 7). It will reduce the traffic congestion and it will help reduce the consumption of fuel. The connectivity of the emirates with a train will be a brilliant idea. Let’s hope it will be commissioned very soon!
From Ms P. Nair
UAE
Website comment
Increasing tourism
For the railway planned across the GCC, as well, I really hope they do carriages that can take your car on like you get in Europe. I would love to take the car to Muscat or Salalah in Oman for a short break without the stress of the five to 15-hour drive.
From Ms Laurie Bridger
Dubai
Facebook comment
Encouraging photographers near and far
Kudos to Gulf News in bringing the spellbinding beauty of Kashmir, India (‘Reader picture essay: Pristine landscapes in a valley of peace’, Gulf News, October 7) to its pages. Endowed with pristine landscapes, embarking across the great Himalayan range and the stark desert of Ladakh, it was beautifully portrayed through the lens of the Gulf News reader, Mohsin Abrar.
It is very much appreciated that Gulf News not only gives opportunity to talented hands behind the lens to portray themselves, but also to travel enthusiasts like us to explore more of Nature’s gifts.
The stunning pictures make us awestruck.
From Ms Jisha Hemant
Sharjah
India: Time for justice!
It’s a welcome decision from an author, Nayantara Sahgal, to return the prestigious Sahitya Akademi award back to the Indian government (‘Sahgal to return Sahitya Akademi Award’, Gulf News, October 7). Sahgal’s protest is quite natural and now we can see that India is facing the greatest threat ever to the rights of free speech. We can’t understand why Prime Minister Modi is silent in the Dadri killing and it has disturbed our minds. In a country like India, thousands of people don’t have a proper meal every day and the people’s government should make sure it provides for them and doesn’t stop them eating their own choice of food.
We have the right to freely express our views and now the Hindutva forces are targeting Muslims, Christians and other minorities. Recently, Indian scholar Malleshappa Madivalappa Kalburgi was murdered by fundamentalists and the government is silent. It’s high time the communities that uphold democracy, humanism and secularism unite together, uphold our culture and values and fight for justice.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
Cannot kill for eating beef
This is in response to Ms Yousufa’s letter to the editor, please do not provide wrong information about permission to eat beef by quoting some remote scriptures in Hinduism (‘Letters to the editor: Alienation with extremism’, Gulf News, October 9). There have been a lot of scriptures written in Hinduism, considering how old the religion is, but the main scriptures are the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita, which are sacred for Hindus. Cows are considered holy and as dieties for Hindus. So we don’t eat cows. This is the sentiment of majority of the Hindus and, India being an 80 per cent Hindu majority nation, it needs to be respected just like how Hindus respect the sentiments and laws of other faith majority countries. Nearly 21 states in India have banned cow slaughter and, hence, the law has to be respected. With regards to beef, it is an individual’s choice to eat or not. There are of course a minority of Hindus, like in any other religion, who do not practice what their books say.
With regards to the unfortunate incident in Dadri, the people should not have taken the law into their own hands, but should have reported it to the concerned authorities to investigate if anything unlawful was done. Religious sentiments should be used for tolerance and promoting peace and harmony in society.
From Mr Sunil Sheshadri
India
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