Opinion Nobel opponent
The UPA has claimed as its own a high profile Modi critic Amartya Sen (I dont want Narendra Modi as my PM: Amartya Sen,IE,July 22)
Nobel opponent
* The UPA has claimed as its own a high profile Modi critic Amartya Sen (I dont want Narendra Modi as my PM: Amartya Sen,IE,July 22). Sen,a Bharat Ratna,is a giant in the field of economics. Most of us know him as one of Indias few Nobel laureates. I cannot understand how an economist of such standing could ignore the development that Modi has brought to Gujarat. Other economists,notably,Jagdish Bhagwati and Arvind Panagariya,have been particularly complementary towards the Gujarat story. Sen also seems blind to Modis leadership qualities and his immense popularity. Given the job that our PM,another apparently brilliant economist,has done,perhaps we shouldnt be taking brilliant economists so seriously anyway.
Bhavesh Jani
Nala Sopara
Quality is key
* STUNG by the searing articles by Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Shekhar Gupta,the Union human resource development minister of state,Shashi Tharoor,let loose a barrage of statistics that completely missed the mark (Note to UPA-bashers by Shashi Tharoor,IE,July 23). Tharoor claims,Literacy rates have risen to 74 per cent; more than 75,000 schools were opened… One wonders what these schools and its infrastructure are like. The tragedy of the Bihar school,where so many children died from eating poisoned food is still fresh in peoples minds. That school didnt even have the infrastructure to support the midday meal scheme. Also,the quality of instruction and learning is abysmal. Given the ridiculously low,manipulable standards for being recognised as literate,the claim that 74 per cent of the population is literate is quite hollow. The ministers article isnt fooling anyone.
V.B. Ganatra
New York
Language politics
* THIS refers to Spectre mongering (IE,July 22). Before Rajnath Singh attacks the English language,and attempts to prevent its penetration in the country,he might like to investigate the educational antecedents of some of his partys leading lights. L.K. Advani studied not just English,but also Latin,at St Patricks High School in Karachi. Similarly,Arun Jaitley was educated at St Xaviers School in Delhi,also an English language medium school. Being conversant in English gives these leaders the ability to engage a much wider audience. Singh risks alienating a huge section of potential BJP voters,who are young and upwardly mobile,by passing such remarks. This section recognises the value of English for the immense opportunities it opens up.
Suren Abreu
Shot in the arm
* THE start of the Indian badminton league will be a shot in the arm for the sport. India has always had great badminton players. While some,like Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand,went on to shine on the international stage,others have struggled and stopped playing too soon. Hopefully,the IBL will encourage more players to stick with the sport.
Ganpathi Bhat
Akola
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