Letters to The Editor — September 5, 2026 - The HinduPublished - September 05, 2026 12:24 am ISTCrisis of confidenceIndia cannot call itself a young nation with confidence if its young people are forced to fight for basic opportunities. They want quality education, employment, entrepreneurship, economic independence and dignity. These are not unreasonable demands. The government must ask a fundamental question: why are students losing confidence in the existing education system? The government must understand that every frustrated student on the street represents a failure somewhere in the system — whether in education, employment, administration or opportunity. But Gen Z must understand something equally important: democracy requires responsibilities as well as rights. Protests must be peaceful. The government must therefore undertake a ruthless review of Ministries and public institutions where performance is inadequate. Non-performance must have consequences. Corruption must have consequences. Deliberate obstruction of reforms must have consequences.Richard Hay,Kochi, KeralamCalling Gen Z apolitical may overlook the issues that genuinely concern them. Young people in India engage actively with questions of unemployment, education, climate change and social justice, even if they remain distant from conventional politics. The challenge, therefore, is not merely to increase political participation but to make democratic spaces more accessible and meaningful to young citizens. Gen Z in India may not be apolitical; it may simply be politically disenchanted. Have we considered this?Sodsi Raj,Dhenkanal, OdishaNew Secretariat in ChennaiThe report, “New Secretariat to come up in Chennai at ₹1,200 crore: Vijay” (Front page, September 4), has highlighted three possible sites. Having been involved in the site-selection process in 2003 as tahsildar, Mylapore-Triplicane taluk, I would like to suggest the Madras Race Course as another option. Several sites, including the Government Data Centre, Anna University Campus, Directorate of Technical Education, Highways Research Station and Anna University’s Taramani Campus, were surveyed at the time. The Madras Race Course could be ideal, given its accessibility, scope for wider road approaches, suitability for VVIP visits and convenient access for the public.S. Dharmarajan,ChennaiPublished - September 05, 2026 12:24 am ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }