With Sri Jayendra Saraswathi’s passing away, the nation has lost a great saint (“Kanchi pontiff Jayendra Saraswathi no more”, March 1). He leaves behind a mixed legacy. Though the Sankararaman murder case cast a shadow on his image in his later years, the pontiff will be largely remembered for his commiseration for the poor. He started educational institutions and hospitals for their welfare, actions that may have been seen as contentious as they were outside the domain of the strict religious practices of the mutt. Nevertheless, it is admirable that he had the courage and conviction to do this.
R. Sivakumar,
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Chennai
It was not easy for a mutt that is rooted in Agama Shastras to thrive in a State dominated by Dravidian politics. Sri Jayendra Saraswathi attempted a marked departure from the traditional path, taking initiatives to promote social causes without making any compromises on the core principles on which the mutt stood. Education and health care received a new impetus during his tenure. Temple renovations received a boost. Above all, he was inclusive, visiting slums and Dalit colonies. He also visited the Sringeri Sankara Mutt, which surprised many.
V. Subramanian,
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Chennai
Exam anxiety
Students in India dread examinations. It is not the tough nature of exams that makes them fearful, it is that exams are considered “sacred” in our culture and any failure in exams is frowned upon (“Halving the syllabus, squaring knowledge”, March 1). Apart from introducing other forms of learning in our education system, teachers should be trained about the psychology of students, and parents should learn that exams aren’t the be all and end all of life.
Prashant Mishra,
New Delhi
ISRO’s struggles
The last 50 years have not been so easy for the Indian Space Research Organisation. Being a scientist at ISRO and posted at the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station, I would like to point out a few challenges (“Fifty years of TERLS”, March 1). One, the brain drain from India has been a major setback for all research and development institutions. Two, the attrition rate of employees is very high at ISRO. Three, stringent embargoes have been imposed by developed countries on ISRO, which prohibit it from procuring advanced machinery and instruments. As a result, a lot of time, money and manpower is spent on developing those instruments in-house. Four, there is also political interference. However, despite all these problems, it is indisputable that ISRO is the best-performing government body in India.
Anurag Kamal,
Thiruvananthapuram
Aadhaar ads
It is intriguing to see the UIDAI publish advertisements glorifying Aadhaar. It is noteworthy that it did not feel the need to reach out to the public before the Supreme Court started its final hearing in the case. As for the specific claim of reuniting missing children through Aadhaar, it does not prove that children did not get reunited in the pre-Aadhaar era. Nor does it show why everyone should register for Aadhaar, sometimes against their choice. One hopes that the UIDAI will educate people as to how Aadhaar ensures the security of data, improves access to welfare schemes, and how nobody can be denied her due rights for not having an Aadhaar?
Firoz Ahmad,
Delhi