Jnanpith winner, Padma Bhushan, Rajyothsava awardee… the well-deserved honours that came in search of Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy were many, as were the many facets of the life of this scholar, writer and academic extraordinaire (Aug. 23). But the State government’s decision to declare a day’s holiday for educational institutions was perhaps out of step with his own belief systems. A greater honour would have been bestowed on him by organising discussions about him and his works in institutions so that students would get an opportunity to share their knowledge of the great man and silently pray for him. Secondly, some people were bursting crackers and celebrating his death. Such jubilation was unwarranted, and only showed how narrow-minded people could become. We must set an example to the world as the most assimilative, liberal and free-thinking democracy, and not indulge in such acts.
S. Rajesh,Bangalore
