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LETTER TO THE EDITOR FOR ISSUE DATED JULY 25, 2026
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR FOR ISSUE DATED JULY 25, 2026

July 25 - July 31, 2026, Letters To The Editor July 24, 2026 , by

MINDS WE CANNOT AFFORD TO SILENCE!
AS a professor at an institute where I have the privilege of mentoring students from all around the world, I have come to believe that a nation’s greatest resource is neither its wealth nor its infrastructure. It is the curiosity, imagination and courage of its young people.
Among the many students I have worked with, those from India have consistently stood out. They are among the brightest, most hardworking and intellectually fearless young scientists I have encountered. Present them with a difficult problem and they pursue it with relentless determination. I often tell my colleagues that once Indian students understand the importance of a challenge, they become like bulldogs with a bone, they simply refuse to let go until they find a solution.
Their creativity constantly inspires me. One student developed what is believed to be the world’s smallest nano-optical reporter chip for monitoring the internal environment of living microorganisms. Another adapted artificial intelligence techniques originally used to decipher ancient Tamil inscriptions to identify microscopic marine organisms, opening new possibilities for environmental surveillance.
These students are helping transform agriculture, medicine, disease surveillance, environmental monitoring and weather prediction. At a time when machine learning and artificial intelligence are re-shaping every aspect of society, they are helping build the knowledge and technologies that will define our future in agriculture, pharmacy, human health, space technologies, environmental monitoring.
That is why the images and videos on social media and TV of students protesting peacefully but getting beaten up at the Jantar Mantar venue in Delhi, this week, are so deeply disturbing.
When I looked at those young faces, I did not see protesters. I saw future physicians, engineers, scientists and innovators whose discoveries may one day improve millions of lives.
In this age of artificial intelligence, nations compete not only for capital but for talent. We simply cannot afford to diminish, intimidate or silence the very generation whose ideas may help feed the world, combat disease, protect our environment and solve challenges we cannot yet imagine.
The greatest investment any nation can make is not in concrete or steel, buildings and roads but in the minds of its young people. Those minds deserve respect, protection and the freedom to think and express themselves.
— Joaquim Goes, Goa

`TA MI JANAI’ BOOK LAUNCH FANFARE!
ON July 20, 2026 the book “Ta Mi Janai” (I know it all!) by historian Sanjeev V Sardessai, a book in English compiling Goa’s legends, myths and stories, was released by Padmashri (Adv) Libia Lobo Sardesai in the presence of other dignitaries Adv Uday Bhembre (famous poet, writer and core member of the historic Opinion Poll), Dr Balaji Shenvy (Director of Archives) and Dr Pramod Khera (CEO, Qurate Books). This is the historian’s first book and the release took place at Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias at Miramar, Panjim. Author Sanjeev Sardessai profusely thanked everyone for being present for the lively function to show his venture with their blessings. Others at the celebration included president, secretary and managing committee members, present were Edwin Menezes who made the club’s hall available, GM Mark Fernandes, Pravashini, Vishant and team who all played a role in making the arrangements for the function. There were also Padmashri Vinayak Khedekarji, Allan Pinto who immaculately coordinated the event, Dr Mayura Dukle Sardesai, Ms Mishka, Adv Brijesh Sardessai, Achal and Poornima Redkar, Siddharth and Adv Disha Sardesai, Nandan Kudchadkar, Apoorva Bhembre. Not to forget Mandar Sardesai and Mili Kamat and Roma Nachinolkar and friends who had come all the way from Curchorem, Bicholim and Margao. Thanks also went out Dr MR Ramesh Kumar (of stamps exhibition fame). Last but not least Sanjeev Sardessai especially acknowledged his friends and family present which included school teacher Mrs Menezes, school friends Sudesh Bhobe, Sandesh Sirsat, Amol Navelkar, Sayonara Telles Laad, Celsa Pinto, Tr. Fatima Gracias, Dr Maria Lourdes Brave da Costa, Anabelle Lobo, Dr Sharmila Pais, Prof Prajal Sakhardande, Dr (Mrs) Kamat – CSMC, Pantaleao Fernandes, Marjalisa Fonseca, Dr Nitin Borkar, Rajeev and Nandan Pilgaonkar, Dilip Nayak, Sharmila Nayak, Anuja Kamat and many more. In short, the crème de la crème of Goan society and literati were present for the book release and everyone enjoyed the get-together!

DARING ROBBERY OF 16TH CENTURY CANNON!
 BETWEEN 15th night and early morning of 16th July, about 30 men stormed into the Narwar Fort of Shivpuri District (Madhya Pradesh). This centuries-old hill fort is associated with Kush, son of Lord Rama, and King Nala and his wife Damayanti. The fort, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), hosts a rare 16th-century cannon weighing more than 1,000 kg. The gang with firearms threatened the guards and made away with the cannon.
As per the ASI officials, the gang had tried to steal the cannon on July 5 but could only displace it and were unable to cart it away. This time they came prepared with loader vehicles and equipment to transport the cannon. As the fort premises do not have CCTV cameras, the cops are checking those on the roads that lead to the fort. As there was a previous attempt to steal the cannon, the ASI could have installed CCTV cameras and anti-theft devices. Hope the rare cannon is recovered before it is sold illegally in the antiquities market.
The above instance pales in comparison when compared to two 40-year-old bridges that were stolen. One was a 500-tonne bridge in April 2022 from Rohtas District (Bihar) and one in Jan 2026 in Korba town (Chhattisgarh). Apparently, modern thieves do not have time or patience to steal in bits and pieces but go for wholesale ones!
— Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem, Goa

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