Pre-modern Hindu mind

Refer to ‘Pak metaphor the new pivot’ (Nous Indica, Jan 4); in order to be new and modern, we have to rein in our religious and communal angularities. We should stop pandering to tribal prejudices. The concept of ‘pre-modern Hindu mind’ requires a democratic and inclusive debate in order to arrive at rational and logical inferences. Going through the ancient, medieval and modern phases of our history, I feel that Indians are not very religion-conscious. In the ‘pre-industrial’ society, we were guided by our religious scriptures, including Manu Smriti and Vedas. We became more conscious of our religious identity only after Prithviraj Chauhan’s defeat at the hands of Muhammad Ghori. It was a serious cut-off date in our medieval history. Saints like Kabir and Guru Nanak taught us to be kind and liberal towards people practising alien creeds. As a student of philosophy, the concern about our collective welfare is genuine, when the writer cautions us about the ramifications of communal politics — ‘It cuts deeply, creating dangerous fault-lines within society.’

RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, Fatehabad

End Manu-vad first

Apropos the article ‘Pak metaphor the new pivot’ (Nous Indica, Jan 4), Manu-vad is more dangerous than mulla-vad and padri-vad. The Hindu orthodox society wants it to be such, in the name of Hindutva. It has already weakened the roots of our society. For India to be new and modern in the real sense, the worst system should be destroyed first.

Om Parkash Sandhu, Naya Nangal

Restructure healthcare

The editorial ‘Infant deaths in Kota’ (Jan 4) forcefully stresses on the need for strengthening public healthcare. The road map for public and primary healthcare was ready in 1946, with the Bhore Committee recommendations, but those were slowly and steadily diluted under the influence of commercialisation and privatisation, so much so that India is now facing a virtual collapse of public and primary healthcare. The much-glorified Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme is a camouflaged medium to transfer public money to private hands, otherwise why can’t the same money be used to strengthen our public health institutions for providing the same facilities given by the insurance companies? As a health and rights activist, I believe that such tragedies can only be prevented by strengthening the public healthcare institutions and increasing the health budget to at least 2.5% of the GDP, along with radical reforms in medical education. The stress must be on quality rather than quantity. The blame game has to stop, and the Centre as well as state governments need to work together to provide affordable, equitable and universal healthcare to all, irrespective of caste and creed.

Vitull K Gupta, BATHINDA

Overhaul judicial system

Refer to ‘HC reopens with pendency of 5 lakh cases’ (Jan 2); justice delivery is the basic ingredient of a civilised society, but it seems to have collapsed in our case. This is the root cause of evils like increased crime rate and corruption. Unfortunately, the government and judiciary are indifferent to the situation. Most civil cases are against the government, its agencies and corporate houses, who do not even file reply to the complaints for years together. Courts remain mute spectators and allow adjournment after adjournment without any consideration for the sufferings of petitioners. There are multiple agencies like courts, consumer forums, PLAs, ombudsman, etc., for civil cases, but none is delivering because of the absence of accountability, adequate manpower and infrastructure. The system needs to be dismantled and recreated. Let there be unified forums at district and state levels, with specialists in seat and accountability, to decide the complaints within a stipulated time frame. Adjournments should not be allowed in routine. Appeals of these forums may lie with HCs, but should be carefully scrutinised at the filing stage itself.

Pradeep Gur, Hisar

Reckless driving

Apropos the editorial ‘Another bus tragedy’ (Jan 4), once again a private bus driver ignored safety rules that led to a tragic accident, killing nine passengers. The blame squarely lies on the driver who was talking on the phone while negotiating a curve. Agreed that the authorities concerned adopt a chalta hai attitude and overlook overloaded buses, but we, too, have the responsibility to adhere to driving rules. Self-precaution is the key to safe driving and avoiding tragedies. So, let’s be sensible and strictly follow the rules of safe driving for our own safety and of others on the road.

RK KAPOOR, CHANDIGARH

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