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L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R

Scientific research needs right environment

The editorial, “Reverse brain-drain” (November 2), is timely. Yes, India can become a superpower in the field of science. This is possible if Indian scientists, who want to come back from abroad, don’t have to face red tapism and are given a congenial working environment to pursue research. There is still plenty of scope for research in agriculture, medical and engineering fields. The economic slowdown in the US seems to have proved a blessing in disguise for India. The Department of Science and Technology should be congratulated for proposing a ‘Start-up-grant’ to lure Indian scientists working abroad.

Dr V K ANAND, Bathinda

VIP treatment

It is shameful that politicians who are in jails indulge in asserting their authority over the prison staff (editorial, “Prison brawls: Anyone assaulted in jail deserves some answers”, November 2). The action of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, who is in jail and is said to have given the prison staff a hard time demanding special food every day, is unjustified.

The politicians are given special treatment in jails also. This is really embarrassing. Why should they be treated as special prisoners in jails? They should be treated like any other prisoner. And the use of items like drugs, mobile phones and weapons in jails should be curbed. But in India no one cares about such matters, whether inside a jail or outside. The assault on Koda and others in the prison should be investigated. The guilty should be punished and steps should also be taken to deny VIP treatment to politicians.

R K KAPOOR, Chandigarh

India-England ODIs

India routed their opponents ruthlessly in the ODI series winning convincingly all five matches (editorial, “India decimate England”, October 28). They outclassed their rivals in all departments of the game. Consequently, all the ODIs, except the one at Mohali, proved to be lopsided ones. For that credit goes to the young Indian side which annihilated their counterparts without compassion. Their performance cannot be belittled by any means. Rather they deserve accolades for whitewashing England and reestablishing their battered reputation. Their feat becomes all the more important because they played without the likes of Sachin, Yuvraj and Sehwag in their ranks.

But there is no need of going gaga over the 5-0 triumph against England. It has been rightly pointed out in the editorial that their litmus test will be the Australia away series beginning in December. So the team should gird up its loins to take on the Aussies in their own den. For that planning and training should begin right from now.

India have called back Sachin, Dravid and Laxman to play against the West Indies, which is no longer a force to reckon with. The team that did duty in ODIs against England should have been given the opportunity to lock horns with the Windies. That would have given the youngsters much needed exposure and the chance to learn the nitty-gritty of Test cricket.

TARSEM S BUMRAH, Batala

Travel advisories

I read with interest your thought-provoking editorial ”Unrealistic advisories: India cannot take the issue lightly” (October 28), castigating the US, the UK, Australia and Canada for issuing advisories to their citizens for travel to India between October 2011 and Januray 2012.

Describing the guidelines on the subject as mere scare-mongering, the editorial asks the countries involved in the matter to withdraw them forthwith.

To my mind, the editorial seems to have overreacted to the issue which should well have been ignored. The countries mentioned above have the inherent right to issue advisories to their citizens which they think are in their national interest. India would be well-advised to take the pertinent matter in its normal stride; overreaction would adversely affect its national interests.

TARA CHAND, Ambota (Una)

Secret of real happiness
According to Hardy, “Happiness is but an occasional episode in the general drama of life.” Happiness is a great gift of God. Blessed are the people, who always remain cheerful and also keep others happy (middle, “People of cheer”, October 28). People having no sense of humour cannot be cheerful. Humour oils the wheels of life. It reduces tension. Thackeray called it a “mixture of love and wit”. My Mathematics teacher always remained grave and morose. The staff members said that he was born under the influence of Saturn. During his period a gloomy silence prevailed. But when the bubbly Persian teacher stepped into the classroom with a cheerful smile, the atmosphere became very interesting. His sidesplitting comments amused the students.
Cheerful people do not lose their temper easily. Happiness nourishes the heart. Melancholy corrodes it. For being cheerful one must have a tranquil mind. Happiness does not come with power or pelf. Most of the people, who wield immense influence and have oodles of money, do not have real happiness, as they purchase their “pleasures” with the “tears of the poor”. Can those, who spoil the happiness of others, enjoy celestial bliss? An Urdu bard has rightly said: Hanso ke aaj hansi kee bahot zaroorat hai/ Magar kisee key labon sey na chheen kar laao.
BHAGWAN SINGH, Qadian