Abolish Padmas

There are definitely many heroes who stand taller than the Bharat Ratna awardees and they do not require the conferment of any title or award. The likes of Subhash Chander Bose, Sardar Bhagat Singh, Chander Shekhar Azad and their comrades are much taller than the awards and shall continue to be ‘manav ratnas’ and inspire mankind. However, if the awards are to continue, Sam Maneckshaw deserves it the most. The petty-mindedness of politicians has undermined the prestige of the award. Cricket, which has become a circus and almost a gambling den, should not have been placed on the same pedestal with Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru etc. The great harm already done cannot be undone. Incidentally, the writer has mentioned the year of martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev as 1930. It is 1931.

Surinderjit Singh Sandhu, Amritsar

Politics of awards

Rajinder Sachar’s article “Abolish Padma awards” (August 23) rightly asserts the need for an open debate on the assumptions and actuality in giving national awards for exceptional service towards the advancement of art, literature and sciences and in recognition of public service of the highest order. There is need to bring in more transparency and rationality in the process of selection and check undue interference by the powerful in order to maintain their credibility and encourage people to higher levels of achievement in their endeavours.

Jagvinder Singh Brar, Patiala

Ovarian cancer

Instead of updating my knowledge on the subject, the Health Oped article “Dealing with ovarian cancer” (August 14), seemed to be incomplete and haphazardly written. It is well known that ovarian cancer has close genetic links. BRCA1 and 2 make it a condition similar to breast cancer due not only with its association but also because it is commonly seen in families.

But there is no mention of this important fact. Also, how can the role of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in treatment be completely left out? Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women. It is a supremely chemosensitive disease and in this era of multimodal therapy, a majority of the patients are given chemotherapy even in the pre-op phase. And while dealing with open surgery, the important step of total removal of greater omentum has been completely left out.

The Tribune health articles have always been a source of information and education not only to the common people but also to doctors and medical students. I am disappointed by this one.

Dr Ashok Gupta, Chandigarh

Lying on oath

Why do our courts fail to take action against a witness who evidently lies on oath?

Ramesh Berry, Dehradun

Dissection of animals

The news item “UGC decision on animals promotes modern teaching” (August 8) makes interesting reading. Models, computer-based simulators and virtual laboratories are modern methods of teaching. But zoology as a subject demands close contact with animal life.

A celebrated science teacher when questioned by his students regarding the study of physiology of animals said that whatever is done in quest of knowledge is no sin. As the UGC has banned dissection of animals, the zoology syllabus shall have to be reconstructed. The bio-sciences syllabus should be allowed to include project work on animals which are easily available. Zoology is a vast subject and there is much that remains to be known. Its knowledge has a direct effect on the health of man and livestock, ecosystem, agriculture, forestry and human economy.

Anmol Singh, Jammu