M A I L B A G

Dandi march as a photo opportunity

IN his article “Dandi march reduced to a photo opportunity” (Perspective, April 10), G.S. Bhargava has highlighted the evolving national trends. He has tried to analyse the mindset before and after Independence.

By and large, realities are being replaced by rituals. Spirit is slowly but surely slipping out. One-third of our population is still living below the poverty line. It speaks volumes about our promises of providing food, clothing and shelter.

Politicians, public servants, businessman have exploited even the right of equality to vote to undesirable selfish ends with fair or foul means. This does not augur well for our parliamentary democracy.

It is time the nation revived the pre-Independence spirit of patriotism and oneness. In the context, Gandhiji and Nehru are still relevant. The former for his principles of truth and non-violence to fight out the evils, and the latter for his commitment to be the first servant (Prime Minister) of the Indian people.

“Salt Satyagraha” was/is symbolic of a great philosophy of human relationship — a commitment, a determination to fight the human frailties but without malice.

SHANTI SWAROOP SHARMA, Dharamshala (HP)

II

The article was bold with courageous comments on our Congress leaders and their culture in contrast to the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji’s main goal was to get rid of the foreign rule.

Gandhiji was freedom hungry and not a photo opportunist. He was simple and straight in his life, wearing minimum clothes and living in huts with the poorest of the poor.

Even Jawaharlal Nehru would have condemned the actions of fake Gandhis taking part in Dandi march for the sake of camera flashes and publicity. Mr Bhargava rightly said that at least Mr Pranab Mukherjee could have put his foot down on the re-enactment of the Dandi march.

MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Jalari-Hamirpur (HP)

Surjeet’s leadership

I agree with Harihar Swarup’s core observation that Harkishan Singh Surjeet has become a legend in his own lifetime (“Surjeet: A legend in his lifetime”, Sunday Oped, April 10). This soft-spoken Marxist leader is immensely popular in the entire Hindi belt as a great Communist who always kept himself away from the corridors of power and inspired thousands of talented youngmen to join the Left parties.

Surjeet has been the single Marxist leader from the North India to have been elected as the Politburo member and the General Secretary of the CPM since 1964. He has always been accessible to his party cadres and his clarity of thoughts impressed even his political adversaries.

He was always highly sensible towards his own colleagues and even ordinary party members. He really practised what he preached. He had the razor-like sharpness even in his soft speeches which were full of references to our glorious freedom struggle. I wish him constant good health.

RAJ BAHADUR YADAV DEHATI, Fatehabad

Threat to ecosystem I READ Dr J.S. Samra’s interview “We cannot tamper with our eco-system any more” (Perspective, April 10). It is due to man’s selfishness that the danger of natural calamities is lurking all the time. Man has always been exploiting natural resources in the name of modernity and development knowingly unaware of the consequences that tempering with eco-system, of any kind, will lead to devastation as this tampering has rendered our country sensitively vulnerable to natural disasters. The onus for the subsequent perdition lies on the people inhabiting the land. Today it seems we are felling the same branch of the tree we perch on. It is time we perceived the warning and save our ecosystem by acting more judiciously and sensibly so that the coming generations may lead a healthy and peaceful life. Dr VINOD K. CHOPRA, Hamirpur (HP)

Doctors’ dilemma

This refers to “Doctor-Test thyself” by Vibha Sharma (Spectrum, April 17). The intention behind re-registration is to periodically test the professional ability of the doctors necessitated due to the evolution in medicine.

Surprisingly, except for the defence service officers, there is no such test for IAS or IPS officers. The government should take care of quacks who not only play with the lives of innocent people but also prefix ‘doctor’ to their names. To book these self-made ‘doctors’, a law should be enacted.

NARINDER SINGH JALLO, Mohali

II

The Union Health Ministry’s proposal for mandatory test for re-registration and re-validation of their registration with the Medical Council of India (MCI) and/or state medical councils (SMCs) every five years is not practicable. It may create chaos among the medical professionals, thereby affecting the primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare delivery.

Attending specified hours of continuing medical education (CME) on the Internet or through lectures, workshops and refresher courses can be introduced. Effective steps to eradicate quackery are the need of the hour. Lakhs of unqualified and unregistered persons are practising modern scientific medicine, unchecked. The Government has failed to check the interdisciplinary practice by doctors despite the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Dr RAMAN K. AGGARWAL Chairman, Action Committee, IMA (Punjab)

III

The problem with compulsory education for doctors is that it might compel many brilliant aspirants to shift to other professions. For any doctor, his patient is the best judge. If a doctor is competent, he attracts more patients while his incompetence makes him idle.

In private practice, most doctors are abreast of the new advancements in medicine. In teaching institutes, it is obligatory on the part of the teachers to be in touch with the latest information on CME programmes, which should be patronised. These programmes should be made compulsory for government doctors while private practitioners can exercise the voluntary option.

Dr ANUP K. GAKKHAR, Dayanand Ayurvedic College, Jalandhar