For any meaningful reforms to take place in the United Nations, the permanent and veto-carrying members of its Security Council must have a change of heart for the better (Page 1, “PM pitches for larger role in UN”, September 27). It is no exaggeration to say that vetoes have been exercised to suit their vested interests. Democratic functioning at every level is a sine qua non for bringing about a paradigm shift in the UN’s functioning. Needless to say, the world has undergone a sea change after World War II and it is high time that the UN too changed with the changing times. The pandemic has taught the world that no country, however powerful it may be, can sustain itself independently.
Malippara, Kothamangalam, Kerala
S.P. Balasubrahmanyam was a giant in playback singing, his dulcet voice mesmerising us day after day with its amazing range, depth and mellifluous sweetness. He…