M A I L B A G

Centre, states must address Sen’s concerns

AJ. Philip’s article, “Why Amartya Sen is worried: Involve the poor in development” (Feb 21) is informative and timely. Dr Amartya Sen is worried about the undernourished women and children and the lowest child immunisation rate in South Asia.

Our country’s record in respect of BCG vaccine as compared to Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is appalling. Infant mortality rate in India is 62 per 1000 whereas it is 56 in Bangladesh.

The plight of primary education also saddens us. Despite the Sarva Shikhya Abhiyan, the quality of elementary education is very poor. We have failed to produce teachers who can develop students’ creativity and intelligence in a conducive manner.

We want our education system to make our students productive in their lives. The state must provide means and opportunities to the youth when they come out of educational institutes. To combat unemployment among the deprived sections, the path (micro-financing to self-help groups) shown by Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunus in Bangladesh needs to be emulated everywhere.

A welfare state’s primary duty is socio-economic empowerment of the masses. Otherwise, evils like poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, superstitions, drug addiction, female foeticide, flesh trade and economic exploitation will never end. The state must listen to Dr Sen and act on his suggestions promptly.

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

Promoting peace

The mythological understanding of Lt-Col P.S. Sarang (retd) is appreciable regarding the complete wisdom in Guru Granth Sahib being a fifth veda, composed and compiled by Guru Nanak Dev.

Intellectuals and historians like Giani Ishar Singh Nora consider Guru Nanak Dev as Lord Vishnu’s incarnate. The Tribune has also been highlighting the Sikh religion’s important role in promoting universal peace, brotherhood and understanding. In addition to Mr Sarang’s view on saropa, I have a suggestion to offer. Let every Punjabi family revive the practice of making one son a Khalsa.

LACHHMAN DASS MAHANT, Raikot (Ludhiana)

Remove the anomaly

Shri Guru Gobind Singh gave Guruship to Gurbani of Guru Granth Sahib. Besides six Gurus, the Bani of 30 others was included in “Guru Manio Granth”.

Ironically, however, while important days connected with Sikh Gurus are celebrated by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, other Bhagats who have a fair claim on the Guruship do not get the attention they deserve. This anomaly should be removed and Sikh organisations should seriously think of restoring the dignity given by Guru Arjan Dev to these Bhagats.

KAPAL MIT SINGH, Jalandhar

Festival of Gardens

The Chandigarh Administration’s Festival of Gardens was a success. I appreciate the authorities’ decision in not allowing any food stalls around the Rose Garden during the festival.

However, there were other serious problems which the citizens faced during the festival, the most important being the thin attendance in various offices of the Engineering Department and others. This problem is endemic for about a month before and after the festival. Most officers were not seen in their offices. When asked, their peons say, Saab Rose Garden Gaye Hain. This caused lot of inconvenience to citizens.

During the festival, too many officials are seen in the garden. In other cities, local NGOs organise such shows. Cost-wise the shows organised by NGOs are remarkably cheaper as compared to the government-organised shows.

The Rose Society is now functioning in Chandigarh. The baby shows (Rose Prince and Rose Princess) may be entrusted to NGOs working in health sphere.

MOHIT KUMAR, Chandigarh

Spiritual heritage

Lord Macaulay said in British Parliament on Feb 2, 1935: “I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a thief. Such wealth, I have seen in the country, such high moral values, people of such calibre that I do not think we would ever conquer this country unless we break the very backbone of the nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage...”

What happened to our high moral values and people of high calibre? Lord Macaulay’s machination has worked very well. Now we see not “one” thief, but a horde of thieves and other criminals all around us, even among the politicians of our country, who are at the helm of affairs of our nation.

Something radical needs to be done to bring back our lost high moral and cultural values and our pristine glory so that the entire world may look to us again with envy. This requires arduous work and huge sacrifice, particularly by the youth.

G.R. KALRA, Chandigarh