Nobody is disputing Orsini’s scholarly work, which does not even clash with any policy in general (“What does Francesca Orsini’s scholarly work say? Five former students explain what they have learnt”). She violated her tourist visa limitations. If she wanted to undertake research, there is a different visa she should have availed. As per Indian laws, she violated her visa and is blacklisted. She should not even have tried to enter without the correct paperwork. Orsini gained fame by researching Hindi, as did some of these scholars. – Bharat Wagh

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The article is more a cacophony on Orsini’s reputation and comes off as hollow, lacking any specifics. Scroll, in its enthusiasm, invited Orsini’s students, some of whom seem to have gained from her Western connections and who have a vested interest in not examining her work critically. A home-grown scholar of Hindi, like Apoorvanand, who has deeper understanding, would have been a better person to introduce Orsini’s work and originality. Unfortunately, one gets a barrage of information about Orsini’s books but fails to pinpoint path-breaking analysis, if any. – Abhay Kher

Comments about Kerala article are revealing

I read the Scroll article only after I came across all the criticism of it (“No need for speed: Why Kerala’s new highways will exact a heavy price”). I agree with the views expressed by the author. Speed is good but only if it benefits everyone, especially the most marginal. Further, I feel there is a strong civil construction lobby at work. Highway renovation takes several years during which people suffer a lot. Then you may have a few (two to three at best five) years without blocks after which another renovation begins. But the comments the article received are revealing. It shows how much our influential public are sold to the neoliberal development dogma. One person even suggests prison for expressing anti development views which shows the growth of fascism as well. – Sunil NM

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The new highway and infrastructure projects will surely improve transportation and help car users and entrepreneurs who depend on the fast movement of goods and services. It is important to discuss not only the benefits but also the environmental and social effects of rapid development. Someone said that Kerala can become the next Dubai, Singapore, or Hong Kong, but that is not realistic. Kerala’s geography is very different: it has a high population density, an ecologically fragile terrain and a heavy monsoon climate.

The Western Ghats ecosystem, frequent floods and landslides, and the presence of wetlands and paddy fields make Kerala poorly suited for massive industrial and highway development. National Highway 66 is built on reclaimed paddy fields and wetlands. Environmentalists warn that this destroys natural floodplains, blocks water flow, and can even cause structural failures.

It is unfair to criticise the author for not supporting blind development. As a development practitioner, I believe that while everyone wants faster growth and better infrastructure, we must not ignore the environmental costs. What we really need is green growth that combines economic progress with environmental sustainability. – Amal Krishna

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Kerala’s geography and ecology demand its own development model rather than one copied from elsewhere. Disasters and loss of life are already evident in the Western Ghats, Himalayas and other sensitive ecologies. More importantly, local communities whose lives and livelihoods are affected by new developments must be part of the decision making. The 73rd amendment to the Constitution gives rights to local governance bodies. Local governance bodies should make informed decisions keeping in mind the long-term interest of the people and not politically-driven motives. – Seema Purushothaman

Jini Dinshaw’s life and legacy

I sang with a smiling Jini first at JB Petit High School for girls in Fountain, Bombay, in the 1960s (“Jini Dinshaw (1930-2025): A one-woman institution for whom music was life itself”). She taught us songs of Schubert, Mendelssohn and also Funniculi Funnicula. The students actually paid attention. This instilled a lifelong love for choir singing. I was with the Paranjoti Academy Chorus for more than 30-plus years and now sing for the Cathedral choir on an ad hoc basis. Thanks Jini for being a lodestar. May the Bombay Chamber Orchestra flourish under your guidance from beyond. – Mehroo Kotval

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I came to know today about Jini Dinshaw’s demise and felt extremely sad yet proud. May her soul rest in peace. Not everyone is fortunate enough to get to learn music at an early age. And yet, at the age of 17, she succeeded in convincing her father to let her learn music in the UK at a time when sending a girl to foreign country was never the norm. For pocket money, she did her teacher’s household chores. She did all she could to learn. We speak of women empowerment but she showed what that looked like decades ago. – Nazneen B