The comments made by Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Satyapal Singh on Darwin’s theory of evolution are over the top. He clearly does not have any idea about what the ‘Theory of Evolution’ is. Science is always open to correction if there is authentic evidence, but there appears to be a sad trend nowadays of people who are grossly unaware of the basics making loose statements.
Sruthi M.S.,
Kollam, Kerala
The Minister’s statement is amusing. Science is not absolute and scientific theories are always open to being challenged and proven wrong. But the process of approving or disapproving some theory should follow the principles of research, and in a methodical way. The Minister cannot come up with half-baked statements against a scientific theory especially as he has a constitutional duty to spread a scientific temper among people. After the discovery of DNA, the theory of evolution has received more endorsements than contestations.
Dr. D.V.G. Sankararao,
Nellimarla, Andhra Pradesh
The Minister’s statement is only the culmination of the dangerous tendency, demonstrated of late, of living under the past glory of the Indian civilisation. Almost all scriptures were written not more than a couple of thousands of years ago. Evolution, on the other hand, is a process that operates over millions of years and is difficult to perceive.
It is deeply problematic for a Minister to expect textbooks to be rewritten according to his personal beliefs. Governance must be constitutional and in the interest of the public, and not according to the ideological codes of any political party (“Scientists ‘deeply pained’ by Minister’s claim”, January 22).
Sanchary G.,
Bengaluru
