Writers in Asian Voice (18-10-2014) lamented that Gandhiji was not awarded with Noble Prize. They forget that India was under British yoke. Gandhiji’s activities were anti British. Awarding prize to Gandhiji would have been slap to Britain.
Western culture considered India backward, land of snake-charmers, suttees, untouchables and pagans. Thus, any dark, western oriented gentlemen were incapable of any noble act therefore unworthy of elite award. Awarding Noble prize to Gandhiji would have been a slap to the western culture. Due to this bias, Gandhiji is not awarded posthumously.
Blinkered attitude is displayed towards scientist Satyendrakumar Bose, father of “God particle”. Today, credit goes to R. Higgs by naming “God’s particle”, Higgs Bosun.
Other anomalies: lumping of India and Pakistan. This suggests that India must share guilt of hostility and cold war with Pakistan. It white washes Pakistan’s 66 years of aggression causing deaths of thousands of Indian soldiers/ civilians. Pakistan can’t guarantee foolproof security to Malala but Satyarthi is safe in India.
Award under Hindu and Muslim banner is unfair when awards are given as per nationality and not religions.
It is unfair to judge 4 years career of Malala Yusufzai with 30 years career of Kailash Satyarthi.
Ramesh Jhalla
By email.
