Opinion Changing norms
Pratap B. Mehta makes a good argument (Integrity,not Incentives,IE,December 29). Institutional incentives are palliatives with little long-term effect....
Pratap B. Mehta makes a good argument (Integrity,not Incentives,IE,December 29). Institutional incentives are palliatives with little long-term effect. His contention reminds me of the common refrain of blaming politicians for our societal ills. We forget that politicians are not a separate institution or entity but a component of civil society,a reflection of our social norms. We elect those who we think best fit into the social code. Indian society,largely thought of as spiritual,is actually pragmatist where,as Mehta says,instrumental gain often overshadows moral integrity. Our social norms have created a milieu where instrumentality wins over integrity and when its time to achieve external incentives,we can actually bend these very norms. So do we change social norms and if so,how? These are generational changes and one might have to understand what motivates some people to remain integrity-bound in the same society where others are motivated by instrumental gain.
Raheel Dhattiwala
Jaitleys call
The front-page story Capital Shame (IE,December 28) was sad. No pitch for an international match has behaved like this. The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) should have taken note of the apprehensions conveyed by some members,players or even ex-curators and acted beforehand. The damage to our reputation is immense and any amount of inquiries,refund of ticket money and so on cannot undo it. It is high time Arun Jaitley acted to stem the rot in DDCA.
Yash P. Verma
New Delhi
Arun Jaitley should have instantly resigned from his post as president of the DDCA after the shameful pitch failure at the Kotla grounds that resulted in abandoning the India-Sri Lanka one-dayer. However,it has become an unhealthy trend that already over-occupied politicians race to control national and state-level cricket bodies. Cricket has become a national religion and also a matter of national prestige. The sports ministry should not remain a mute spectator to malpractices in super-rich cricket-bodies. Only recognised and
retired players,who can work full-time,should become
office bearers. Effective steps should be taken to end financial mismanagement including unaccounted large-scale distribution of complimentary match tickets. Government control should be in a manner that these may be accountable to the public under the RTI Act.
Subhash C. Agrawal
New Delhi
Never forget
Nature is not silent. It replies to human beings as it chooses,like the Tsunami that hit India,Sri Lanka and South East Asia five years ago. Global warming gave it to us; environmental illiteracy has allowed the problem to
remain. Developing a preventive mentality is the only real recovery from disasters like the tsunami.
Harsharn Saini Amritsar
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