Opinion Just not cricket
Justice Markandey Katju makes a case for Bharat Ratna for Ghalib
Just not cricket
* Justice Markandey Katju makes a case for Bharat Ratna for Ghalib (Bharat Ratna Ghalib,IE,December 20). He claims that the poet,a herald of modernity,is closer to us in chronology than Rama or Buddha. But what about the multitude of others after Ghalib or even his contemporaries? If Ghalib,then why not Premchand? And if being a spokesperson of the future is a criterion for Bharat Ratna,then why not Ram Mohan Roy? This can be an endless cycle. I further disagree with Justice Katjus insinuation that our appreciation for films and cricket shows our low cultural level. Regarding the former,should we then revoke the Bharat Ratna awarded to Satyajit Ray? As for the latter,I think it reflects nothing more than a personal bias.
Gurpreet S. Goraya,Mohali
* Justice Katjus advocacy is welcome. However,calling the entire younger generation de-cultured,if they havent read Ghalib or Sarat Chandra,is not right. Team Indias rise has raised the morale of its followers,and similarly filmstars have helped,among other things,to highlight contemporary issues. These are part of the countrys transition from the feudal to the modern age. We should learn from our past,not become prisoners of it.
Swapnil Bhaskar,Jaipur
* Justice Katju doesnt elaborate how cricketers and filmstars are socially irrelevant. Films educate and entertain as much as writers and poets do. Cinema is also a powerful medium to communicate social messages like V. Shantarams Padosi for communal harmony. Films also popularise literary works. Many people may not have read Ghalib or Sarat Chandra but films made by Sohrab Modi and Bimal Roy have brought them closer to the general populace. Sport is essential for physical and mental fitness and theres no point in singling out cricket. The success of Sachin Tendulkar has inspired many youngsters to think big.
Y.G. Chouksey,Pune
Grains & losses
* The food security bill introduced by the UPA is a recipe for failure (Welfare wisdom,IE,December 20). As the editorial points out,theres no system in place to identify and segregate the population into priority and general categories for targeted distribution. If only the UPA could learn a lesson from Tamil Nadu! The state has thrown out the very concept of segregating the population for distribution of grain/sugar under the PDS. Instead,Tamil Nadu is successfully implementing a system of universal access in which every family in the state has a colour-coded card that entitles it to draw rice under PDS with a provision that those under the needy category get a larger amount than others. The state has strengthened this simple but effective scheme by putting in place a highly efficient supply-side management system,including GPS-tracking of trucks transporting grain.
R.P. Subramanian,Delhi
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