I am afraid that Samar Verma and Anshu Bharadwaj are missing the point in their article “ >Less activism, more research ” (July 12). NGOs are voluntary organisations and have been started by different kinds of people: those driven by extreme Marxists, those with Gandhian philosophies, those with religious motivations such as conversion... Till the 1970s, they were driven by patriotism too. They held certain ideal values — at least those who initiated them dealt with people at the grassroots level and found humanitarian, developmental and change-oriented responses to problems. Think tanks also upheld similar values. But several think tanks have lost their ground and function after imbibing corporate- style modes and luxury. They no longer represent the ground reality in many cases. Despite their good work, it is true that NGOs have become corrupt. Instead of raising a hue and cry, there is a need for them to reflect on this. These organisations should introspect and improve, if not change.
V.B. Chandrasekaran,
Khammam
The common man, such as the one protesting against the Kudankulam nuclear project, hardly understands the nuances of the core issue in the project and is instead carried away by some generalisations and misconceptions. NGOs must not only spread awareness about these issues but also provide feasible alternatives. It’s high time think tanks engaged in research on subjects of national importance.
Subapriyaswamy,
Nagercoil
