:: Letters to Editor

U.N. efforts are against caste

Oct 20 : Sir, The recent attack on dalits trying to enter the temple in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, is a matter of shame. This temple entry was part of several such programmes planned to ensure that dalits are not discriminated against in temples. We recall that nearly eight decades earlier Dr B.R. Ambedkar also met a similar fate when he organised the Kalaram Temple agitation. How little things have changed. Meanwhile, India has refused to join the efforts of the United Nations Human Rights Commission to draw up global norms to abolish the caste system. Such United Nations’ efforts to set up norms and guidelines to monitor these discriminations must be welcomed. Today, nearly 200 million people are victims of work-based discrimination. Human society has eradicated apartheid and race-based discriminations. But the persistence of caste-based discriminations is a blot. We need to abolish such abominable practices. We must endorse the United Nations norms and monitor mechanisms to annihilate the caste structure.

Ram Puniyani

Powai, Mumbai

Utilise funds for research

Sir, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan winning the Nobel Prize for chemistry is a dream come true for India’s progress in the field of molecular biology. I am really proud of him and salute his contributions. This is not the first time that India has shone in the field of scientific research. The Government of India should take a strong interest in monitoring research so that Nobel nominations may be made directly from India, rather than from the United States or United Kingdom. Funding for research projects and to develop the facilities is quite sufficient these days. So, the real issue is proper utilisation of the available funds.

Mohammad Maqsood Ali

Via email

Monitor aid to pakistan

Sir, This refers to the article US aid: A saga of carrots, not sticks (October 16) by Srinath Raghavan. The article was excellent, shedding light on the rather poor track record of the United States in aggressively pursuing its non-proliferation goals. While symbiotic relationship between two countries is unexceptionable, it should never be at the cost of international peace and security. The US has bent backwards to accommodate Pakistan during the Cold War period and has to take the bulk of the blame for what is happening now in Pakistan. At least now the US must make sure that the aid it gives to Pakistan is spent on targeted projects. Any laxity in enforcing what is laid down in the Kerry-Lugar bill will prove counterproductive.

Subbramanyam

Via email

Obama surely deserves it

Sir, This year’s Nobel Peace Prize has provoked unwarranted controversies. Critics might say that US President Barack Obama has been awarded the Nobel for his intentions and not for accomplishments, but it cannot be denied that his rhetoric is new and powerful, just as his vision of the future is moving and inspiring. Mr Obama has aroused hopes of a better world everywhere. He has launched a flurry of fresh policy initiatives in respect of Iran, Afghanistan, Russia and West Asia since assuming office. Let us hope he can live up to his potential and prove the critics wrong.

A. Bose Chowdhury

Barrackpore, Kolkata