Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Readers Debate Festival Excess, Sleep Talking, and Student Accountability
Readers shared opinions about festivals, sleep talking, and a dispute at an educational institution.
One reader said Ganesh Chaturthi should be celebrated more quietly and simply.
The reader felt that large processions and decorations can create traffic, pollution, and extra costs.
Four readers said sleep talking should not be treated as a joke.
They explained that it can disturb families and may sometimes be connected with stress, illness, or poor sleep habits.
They suggested healthier routines and consulting a doctor if the problem continues.
Another reader defended Suryanarayana Doolla after his removal from an administrative position at IIT Bombay.
She said teachers should not automatically be blamed when students are caught breaking examination rules.
A Hyderabad reader urges simpler Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations to reduce expense, traffic disruption, and pollution.
Four readers say sleep talking should be treated seriously rather than mocked, especially when persistent or disruptive.
Suggested responses to sleep talking include regular schedules, less evening caffeine, reduced screen use, and medical advice when needed.
Readers link poor sleep to stress, illness, alcohol, long work hours, irregular schedules, and excessive screen exposure.
Sakunthala K R argues that Suryanarayana Doolla should not be blamed for a student's death and criticises his removal from IIT Bombay's administrative post.
- Who
- Readers writing from Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Namakkal, and Kaniyur, including Sakunthala K R and Suryanarayana Doolla in the final letter.
- What
- The letters discuss restrained festival celebrations, the health and social effects of sleep talking, and responsibility for a student's death after an examination-related dispute.
- When
- The reader views were published on September 23, 2026, referring to articles published on September 22.
- Where
- The views were published in the MyVoice reader section; locations mentioned include Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Namakkal, Kaniyur, and IIT Bombay.
- Why
- Readers were responding to earlier articles about Ganesh idols, sleep talking, and events involving Suryanarayana Doolla.
Calls for restraint and accountability
Alternative emphasis in the letters
Responsibility for the student's death
Calls for restraint and accountability
Sakunthala K R argues that Suryanarayana Doolla was performing his examination-supervision duty and should not be blamed. She says students caught in possible malpractice should bear responsibility for their response.
Alternative emphasis in the letters
The article says IIT Bombay students staged protests after the incident and that Doolla was removed as Dean of Administrative Affairs, but it does not provide the students' detailed account or justification.
How sleep talking should be viewed
Calls for restraint and accountability
The four readers consistently urge families to treat repeated or disruptive sleep talking as a possible health or sleep-quality concern and to seek professional advice when necessary.
Alternative emphasis in the letters
No reader defends mocking sleep talking; the letters instead differ mainly in emphasis, highlighting medical causes, household disruption, lifestyle factors, or the need for specialist evaluation.
- Publication date
- September 23, 2026
- Festival discussed
- Ganesh Chaturthi
- Main festival concerns
- Family and community expense, traffic disruption, and air, water, and noise pollution
- Sleep-talking responses
- Regular sleep schedules, reduced evening caffeine, less screen use, quieter surroundings, and medical advice when persistent
- Sleep-talking triggers mentioned
- Fever, illness, alcohol, stress, sleep deprivation, long work hours, irregular schedules, and excessive screen exposure
- Institution mentioned
- IIT Bombay
- Examination-related figure
- Suryanarayana Doolla, described as supervising students during examinations