OPINION

Spilling beans on tea

Re: "Unearth the true meaning of tea money", (PostScript, May 23).

Roger Crutchley forgot to mention the rise of an ordinary chaiwallah which literally means "tea seller" to become the prime minister of India. Narendra Modi's father sold tea at a stall near Vadnagar railway station. In his early years, he helped his father at the tea stall. After he became the PM in 2010, he started a podcast titled Chai Par Chracha (discussions over tea). There is no place on earth like India where tea is served from early morning to midnight.

There is more historical context to drinking tea. In the colonial era, tea also meant "gossip", where it was the custom for ladies to gather in the afternoon to drink tea and exchange rumours and stories. In the context of gossip, tea is typically seen in the phrases "spill the tea" (to pass on gossip or rumours) and "sip the tea" (to listen to gossip or rumours).

Even after the departure of the British, Brook Bond and Lipton became household names in India. Indian families still maintain a culture of welcoming their guests with a cup of hot tea (chai). No matter the time of the day, tea stalls and drinking tea are an integral part of the lifestyle.

And of course, even today, tea and gossip go together.

Tea has become a life force, just like breathing.

Re: "Mission of misery", (PostBag, May 22).

In May 2020 a "not for profit" agreement was signed between Oxford University and AstraZeneca, a joint British Swedish company, to produce their Covid-19 vaccine "at cost".

It was also agreed that the technology would be shared worldwide and that a "technology transfer service" would be made available to any country where a viable manufacturer was identified.

OU and AZ decided to forego the chance of making a huge profit, as this was a humanitarian and charitable act.

And so Siam BioScience was selected in Thailand to produce and distribute the OU/AZ vaccine in both Thailand and the region, and technology and training were provided by AZ at cost.

Therefore it is sad to read yesterday's letter, "Mission of misery", from Paul Williams, in which it is clear the government is instructing hospitals to cut foreigners out of queues for vaccinations on the ground that the limited supplies should be given to Thais first.

Re: "We must talk about Hamas now", (Opinion, May 21).

The article by Meir Shlomo was interesting and fact-filled. But I kept thinking about who created Hamas? I think there is only one answer: Israel!

Israel has in recent years been a strong nation, a success in many ways. This is quite distinct from the Israel of David Ben-Gurion or Golda Meir. They have a strong vibrant economy, a great success. But since the days of the Oslo Accords, calling for a two-state solution to the Palestinian needs, they have relentlessly proceeded to take bites out of the Palestinians' land as they moved ever outward.

Hamas came to power in a vote because of this Israel policy and thus they created the current situation. They continue to expand and a two-country solution has been abandoned. The Palestinian authority is almost meaningless. So it goes, you reap what you sow.

A topical verse to hopefully raise a smile.

"Eenie, meenie, minie, moe, catch a cluster, don't be slow, if it spreads, stay the blow, let the Poo-bahs rule the show."