In his column "The Fool Constant" (Line and Length, December 6), T C A Srinivasa-Raghavan defines a fool as someone who lacks good judgement and thus minimises his or her self-interest. He included Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, a minister of state in the central government, in this category. But how has she risked her self-interest? Her ministership is safe, her portfolio remains unchanged, she would continue to address public meetings and the prime minister has defended her detestable comments because of her background and being new to the job. This is despite the fact that her action has caused considerable collateral damage to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reputation as a promoter of "sabka vikas, sabke saath". The PM knew that she would be protected by her mentors (read Vishva Hindu Parishad) as long as she delivered their agenda.
She is not a fool then. Foolishness implies ignorance about the consequences of bad judgement on others' and one's own self-interest. A person who inflicts physical or mental injury to others without suffering any harm herself is shrewd or cunning. Even if we have one per cent of them in the three organs of the government - legislative, executive and judiciary - they can cause irreparable damage to the country.
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She is not a fool then. Foolishness implies ignorance about the consequences of bad judgement on others' and one's own self-interest. A person who inflicts physical or mental injury to others without suffering any harm herself is shrewd or cunning. Even if we have one per cent of them in the three organs of the government - legislative, executive and judiciary - they can cause irreparable damage to the country.
Y G Chouksey Pune
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number