SCIENCE NEEDS DUE RESPECT

Apropos ‘Blue skies research will pay rich dividends (HT Comment, February 28)’, the author K Vijayraghavan is right in flagging the need for science leadership that is ambitious and creative. In fact, the country must mark, celebrate and observe the national science day to make sure that we come on a par with developed countries like US, Israel and Russia. Each citizen must realise that today, life is incomplete without science. The ubiquitous internet and the communication revolution are proof of how science transforms life. The Indian Constitution also talks of developing scientific temper among citizens. We now have an average life expectancy of 67 against 25in 1920 — all due to miracles of science. We must increase allocation for research and development. Young Indians must come forward and demand the inculcation of scientific temper.

Simi Gandhi, Amritsar well. Of 500 killed in the most recent bombing, 150 were children. The hopeless situation gets worse when one hears that aid or medical evacuation is non-existent. The humanity still left in the authorities there must come to fore. The war must end and this indiscriminate killing of people must stop. The local population there deserves to be saved.

Megha Kochhar, Mohali in television, have behaved indiscreetly in their coverage of actor Sridevi’s death. They floated conspiracy theories, even when the Dubai police were in the process of completing its protocol. In addition to a movie star, Sridevi was also a mother and a wife. The family should have been left alone to grieve and overcome the shock of the loss.

Rajendra Aneja