Pissed at Sen
Published by Yazad Jal November 20th, 2002 in GeneralWas pissed enough at Sen to send the Times of India a letter to the editor. Here it is:
November 20, 2002
To
The Resident Editor
Times of India
Mumbai
Madam:
There is a strong discrepancy between what Prof. Amartya Sen writes in the esteemed columns of the Times of India and what he writes in an introduction to the Pratichi Trust’s report on education in West Bengal. In his lead edit on November 19 (Disquieting Picture), Prof. Sen contends that “Nowhere did I argue that ‘private tuitions must be banned because they give the rich an edge’.”
I am surprised as the third point in the Policy Modifications Section of Prof. Sen’s introduction to the Pratichi Report contains these two statements: (1) “The evil of private tuition must be uncompromisingly overcome.” And (2) “Perhaps the strongest argument for banning private tuition lies in the recognition that its presence makes the more influential - and richer - parents less concerned about the quality of normal schooling.” The introduction is on the Internet at www.amartyasen.net/pratichi.htm for those who wish to double check.
Mr. Aiyar seems to be spot on when he derides Prof. Sen’s double standards (Lion’s Looks, Rabbit’s Liver, Nov 2). Empty protests notwithstanding, I wonder how Prof. Sen intends to sort out his conflicting statements.
Sincerely,
Yazad Jal