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Beyond the moon landing

In his front-page editorial, “Peeping into the future: Beyond the moon landing” (Nov 16), H.K. Dua has aptly emphasised the need for a cooperative regime among the superpowers for sharing of cost and space technology as well as the benefits. He has also drawn attention to the consequences of not doing this. When Neil Armstrong, American astronaut, first landed on the moon on July 21, 1969, he described it as “one small step for man, but a giant leap for mankind”. His achievement was hailed all over the world.

Mr Dua has rightly pointed out that space should be regarded as a common heritage of mankind. Hence the future issues like territorial claims, the right to extract minerals on the moon and other contentions issues must be sorted out well in advance before problems crop up. An international agency such as the UN should play an important role in this regard.

Despite numerous handicaps, India has gone far ahead in space science and technology, but we should not sit on our laurels. The government should provide scientists the requisite world-class infrastructure, conducive environment, reasonable autonomy and fair remuneration. The level of engineering education in India should also be raised, besides developing scientific temper among the masses.

CHITRANJAN SHARMA, Chandigarh

II

Indeed, it is an achievement of ISRO scientists. In China, there is a saying that the longest journey starts with a short step and ISRO, too, has taken this step to explore what is in on the moon and beyond.

The universe is vast beyond one’s imagination and man has to know more about the resources, especially energy, for his own quest as well as for the benefit of humanity. Thus, keeping aside the habitual critics, the programmes of our scientists to solve the celestial mysteries must never be thwarted at any cost.

R.K. MALHOTRA, Chandigarh

III

Cooperation is required not only among space powers for sharing of cost, space technology and benefits thereof but also for a co-operative regime on Mother earth for economic revival, poverty eradication, tackling terror, environmental protection and so on.

The leaders at the helm, cutting across party lines, should deliberate on working out a policy for strengthening the cooperative regime internationally, nationally and at the local level to solve problems.

Once the people taste the fruits of cooperation on the earth, the day is not far when the dream of millions to go to the moon will come true. Let us pray to God to give them wisdom to think beyond boundaries, religion, caste, colour and creed.

SUDHIR KATOCH, Shimla

IV

As revealed by Mr Dua, earthly gains from moon landing would help in more ways than one in the solution of the issues mankind is confronted with on the ground. It is to be hoped that we the people wouldn’t divide the moon as we divided the good earth.

Surely, the race for space should not take the form of arms race, else it would ring the death-knell of the human race.

Indeed, the choice is between co-existence or non-existence. Let space remain an area of common heritage of mankind, as aptly suggested by Mr Dua.

K.J.S. AHLUWALIA, Amritsar

V

The lurking fear that space powers may take their local jealousies and rivalries into space is true. When most countries cannot live peacefully on this big, bright and beautiful earth, their living together on a satellite (moon) in space is doubtful.

To avoid the conflicting situation, Mr Dua’s suggestion to go in for a cooperative regime is in order. For this, statesman of the space powers should join hands to turn the dream of a tension-free space into reality. Mr Dua has rightly remarked: “Space should be regarded as a common heritage of mankind.”

IQBAL SINGH, Bijhari (Hamirpur)

VI

India’s spectacular success in space science is a matter of pride. Every spiritual revelation has helped to transform human beings into harmonious social beings with a moral code suited to their social ethos. Similarly, every scientific achievement has helped to enhance the limited physical and mental capacity of humans to the vast horizons of Nature.

One should not look at successes from immediate material, mineral or fiscal gains. Humanity is on the move and our Indian scientific society is moving with gusto. Every change has its own revolutions as well as revelations. Congrats to all Indian scientists.

Dr HARI GOPAL GUPTA, Barnala

Interests of the jobless

Inadvertently, a “0” was missing in my article, “Interests of the jobless”, that appeared in The Tribune on Nov 20. The sentence in the second last para should have been: “That is why the poor are not getting help with their houses, or General Motors is not getting $25 billion while AIG has got $150 billion.”

ARUN KUMAR, New Delhi

Falling standards The falling standard of education in Punjab is cause for concern for all right-thinking people. The government should take steps to make the obsolete education system job-oriented. We must impart the right type of education to our young boys and girls, help them try challenging job opportunities and reduce unemployment. To achieve this goal, services of eminent educationists and jurists can be utilised. To begin with, the government must ban the use of loudspeakers in all the religious places so that the students can study, especially during the examination time. If we honestly want Punjab to grow, we will have to change our mindset and adopt a scientific approach to tackle our problems, social evils and imbalances. MEHAR CHAND, Bagli Kalan (Ludhiana)