India and its AI futureIt is fine to be talking about India and the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Instead, the focus should be on India’s lack of readiness for an AI-driven future. But before India rushes to adopt AI, there need to be hard questions. In many parts of India, there is not even basic education infrastructure. A number of government schools in Bihar have no Internet connection. In Motihari, some schools do not have proper classrooms. In an era of e-education, there seems to be an over-emphasis on the ‘e’ while ignoring ‘education’. Until we ensure that every child has access to quality teachers, infrastructure and connectivity, talk about AI readiness will remain just another buzzword.Sanchit Kumar,New DelhiNo politicsAs a devotee of Sabarimala Ayyappa and as one who has gone on the holy trek for over four decades now, it pains me to see how the divine centre is turning out to be a battlefield for politicians. I join millions of ardent devotees to request the political class to leave Sabarimala alone. The Devaswom Board has greater responsibilities such as providing devotees basic necessities such as trouble-free travel, good food, water and comfortable shelter. Let spiritual scholars decide on the conduct of rituals.T.S. Sanath Kumar,Thrissur, KeralaAt Navi MumbaiIn a high-pressure match where every run counted, Jemimah Rodrigues displayed remarkable composure, grit, and elegance. Her innings was not just about boundaries and strike rates but also belief, resilience and a sheer love for the game. When wickets fell around her, she anchored the innings with a maturity far beyond her years. Her ability to handle pressure on such a grand stage truly marks her as one of the brightest stars of Indian cricket. Jemimah’s performance is an inspiration to millions of young girls who dream of representing India one day.Nagarajamani M.V.,HyderabadBen AustinA beautiful boy, a talented athlete and a wonderful teammate — the loss of 17-year-old Australian cricketer Ben Austin has united the beautiful sport in grief.His passing comes more than a decade after Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes too passed away after being struck by a bouncer. Quite understandably, the incident raises questions about safety in sport.R. Sivakumar,ChennaiPublished - November 01, 2025 12:24 am IST