Letters to The Editor — August 3, 2026 - The HinduPublished - August 03, 2026 12:24 am ISTAyurveda and reformThe National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), Government of India, recently issued a circular stating that those who denigrate ayurvedic degree holders as quacks or fake doctors would invite statutory action. It is certainly uncouth to hurl vile insults at people who undergo a five-year course fully recognised and endorsed by the same universities that grant MBBS degrees. As such, the NCISM is justified in issuing the statement. However, more fundamentally, the NCISM should introspect on why the professionals it creates and endorses are being called quacks. There are serious problems in the way ayurveda is approached, taught, and studied. A lack of timely, evidence-informed revisions has fossilised ayurvedic theories, which in turn has impeded a straightforward appraisal of its practices. Together, these factors have made a significant portion of the ayurveda degree syllabus pseudoscientific. The NCISM’s recent mistakes, such as treating Indian philosophy as being close to quantum mechanics or introducing medical astrology as an elective subject, have worsened the situation. The NCISM must understand the ayurvedic dictum that “eliminating the cause of a disease is the sum and substance of all treatment”. Unless there is serious introspection and a radical overhaul of the approach to ayurvedic studies, the NCISM will spend its time on futile statutory manoeuvres.Dr. G.L. Krishna,BengaluruK. Jamuna RaniEven before music lovers could come to terms with the demise of the legendary playback singer S. Janaki, South Indian film music has lost another iconic veteran, K. Jamuna Rani, whose voice was more than just a part of cinema; it became a treasured memory for millions of listeners. She collaborated with some of the greatest music directors and sang over 6,000 songs across multiple languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Sinhalese. Renowned for her distinct folk flavour, rhythmic vitality, and memorable duets, she left an indelible mark on South Indian film music. Her timeless solos and duets, including ‘Paatondru Ketten Paravasamanen’, ‘Kaalai Vayasu Kattana Saisu’, ‘Yaaradi Nee Mohini’, ‘Athikkai Kaai Kaai’, and ‘Kungumapoove Konjum Purave’, will remain forever woven into the fabric of our memories.R. Sivakumar,ChennaiPublished - August 03, 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 }