Release Farooq

Any sense of logic will endorse the editorial ‘Free Farooq Abdullah’ (November 20). But it is moot if he and others of his ilk, given their proclaimed larger-than-state stature and indispensability, will easily reconcile with new winds blowing away the discriminatory special status. Sadly, their rhetoric when out of power has been at variance. Nonetheless, political detainees should be released one by one, with a clear message that the abrogation of Article 370 is non-negotiable now. Clandestine engagement or counselling can calm the tempers of politicians. The time is ripe to experiment with the release of Farooq Abdullah. There is no dearth of stern laws to quell any anti-national voice/activity any time, as precedented by the incarceration of Sheikh Abdullah for 11 years by Nehru. Surely, he serves his party best who serves the country best!

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Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Government afraid?

Refer to the editorial ‘Free Farooq Abdullah’ (November 20); is everything all right in Kashmir? If yes, why should leaders like Farooq, Omar and Mehbooba Mufti still be in detention under the PSA Act? Is the government afraid that the arrival of the leaders of Kashmir may increase its difficulties and spread unrest in the Valley? It has been over 100 days, for how long can the government keep a close watch on them like this? The government keeps saying it will release them, but is not giving any time frame.

Neha, Kharar

Marshals’ uniform

The new uniform of Rajya Sabha marshals is not suitable. The traditional Indian attire was good. The new look is just like a military uniform and not suitable. On the one hand, there are voices to change and Indianise the dress worn at convocations, and on the other, this step is in the opposite direction.

IPS Anand, Gurugram

Revert to old dress code

Refer to ‘Marshals’ new uniform raises hackles’ (November 19); is the House of democracy of our civil government being militarised? Some senior Army officers have already given their views on it, but it would be in the interest of our civil government to return to marshals’ original uniform. Any long and prolonged discussions will bring more problems. Therefore, it would be better to return to the traditional dress code as soon as possible.

PS Bhatty, by mail

Repair school buildings

The editorial ‘Unsafe classrooms’ (November 20) rightly emphasises the urgency to repair and maintain unsafe government school buildings in Haryana. At a time when the Central government is contemplating to allow foreign universities to start their centres in India, ignoring the basic infrastructural facilities in schools is condemnable. We wait for a tragedy to happen and act only then. Can students pay attention to their studies in dilapidated structures?

VK Anand, Chandigarh

Eminent scientist

The country has lost a brilliant and eminent scientist of rare calibre in the passing away of Dr Raghbir Singh Khandpur (‘Seven patents to his credit, ‘Science Man of Punjab’ dies’, November 20). A thorough gentleman, he belonged to a simple family of Jandiala Guru, near Amritsar. He topped the BSc examination of the then largest university of Punjab in the 1960s, and rose to dizzy heights of his career by the sheer dint of hard work. He left no stone unturned to make Pushpa Gujral Science City, Kapurthala, a temple to science. Young and budding scientists should learn from his achievements and lifestyle.

AK Joshi, by mail

Unsung hero

Kudos to Ranbir Singh for introducing to many of us the precursor of Green Revolution, Dr Ram Dhan Singh Hooda (middle ‘Forgotten precursor of green wave’, November 20). I belong to a farmer’s family and did farming myself. I have retired as an Associate Professor, but am ashamed of myself for not knowing about Dr Hooda. I heard about Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaugh decades ago. We glorify foreigners, but tend to ignore our own sons of soil. Even Borlaugh’s Sonepat visit in 1963 to pay tributes to Dr Hooda for his contributions did nothing to popularise Dr Hooda’s own name. If Dr Swaminathan is hailed as the father of Green Revolution, Dr Hooda is its foster father. The tale of this unsung hero reminds me of Gray’s famous elegy: Full many a gem of purest ray serene/ The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear/Full many a flow’r is born to blush unseen/And waste its sweetness on the desert air.

Jaswant Singh Gandam, Phagwara

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