Opinion Mumbai rectitude?
Its a matter of shame that a few sentences or paragraphs in Rohinton Mistrys Such a Long Journey on the Shiv Sena invited the ire of Sena
Its a matter of shame that a few sentences or paragraphs in Rohinton Mistrys Such a Long Journey on the Shiv Sena invited the ire of Sena supremo Bal Thackerays grandson Aditya and,wonder of wonders,Vice-Chancellor Rajan Welukar of Mumbai University and Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan in quick time toed the line to drop the book from the universitys syllabus (Muting Maharashtra,IE,October 20). Not long ago,James Laines book on Shivaji met with a similar fate from the self-appointed guardians of intellect and moral rectitude. Mumbai University carved a niche out for itself long ago in Indias academic world. Indias first woman barrister,Cornelia Sorabji,passed out of the portals of this very university just one random example of the universitys credits.
John Alexander
Nagpur
The instance of banning Rohinton Mistrys novel,under threat from Bal Thackerays progeny,is a microcosm of whats happening in most state government financed universities in India. In most cases,their vice-chancellors are political appointees or weak-kneed,and they dont mind toeing the line of their benefactors or bullies. Its a pity that instead of being the last refuge of scholarship,our educational institutions have no qualms about compromising. As the editorial Muting Maharashtra argued,whats worse and even more worrying is that most parties,mainstream or regional,dont dare take on the self-styled guardians of culture,who are now also the arbiters of university syllabi.
Tarsem Singh
New Delhi
Focusing the probe
The editorial Games we play (IE,October 20) justifiably called for confining the ongoing probe undertaken by various investigating agencies into allegations of corruption,etc,during the CWG,within the parameters of our democratic set-up. The spirit behind this exercise should be to unravel the truth and punish the real culprits (irrespective of their social/ bureaucratic/ political status),without resorting to any witch-hunt. In fact,the focus of the probe ought to be identifying the grey areas so that due care is taken whenever international events of such a magnitude are held here in future.
S.K. Gupta
By the law
A big debate is going on in the media about the allegations of corruption during the CWG. A number of agencies are now engaged in finding out who did what. However,the history of Indian politics says that first some individuals will be suspended,then a political spokesperson,perhaps of the ruling Congress,will set the law on its course. One wishes someone would tell all Indian citizens what,under the law of the land,is the right punishment for people who bring shame to the nation. One can be sure that there will be no answer.
A.S. Kanal
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