It takes only a teacher to make a point come across effectively. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen took an hour long lecture on ‘Demands of Social Justice’ in the Central Hall of the Indian Parliament, and of his own admission was a wee bit “frightened” to be there. But Sen was in an unsparing mood as he took on to the political class of India for quietly accepting consistent deprivations such as the shocking levels of under-nourishment among children, absence of opportunity for basic schooling and the lack of medical attention. Talking about the recent agitations against hike in fuel prices and the India U.S. nuclear deal, he said that it is way too easy to worry about new problems that generate immediate and vocal discontent.
Discussing the distinction between ‘nyaya’ and ‘niti’—both of which stand for justice in Sanskrit, Professor Sen said that justice demands that we identify the overwhelming priorities that have to be confronted with total urgency. That was not all because Sen very soon took on the PM as well. Sharing his apprehensions about the recent trust vote debate in Lok Sabha, Sen shared, “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a colleague at the Delhi School of Economics had an easier time lecturing students.” Wow, shouldn’t we have more leaders like this man who are educated, honest and brave enough to speak up.
Via http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/12/stories/2008081259611100.htm
Tags: amartya sen, central hall, Delhi School of Economics, economy, India, lecture, lok sabha, manmohan singh, nobel laureate, parlimament, PM, political class, social justice, U.S nuclear deal