EDITORIAL.

                                            INDIA IS A TOLERANT COUNTRY.
                                            INDIA WILL REMAIN A TOLERANT COUNTRY.

           India is more than 5000 years old and one of the oldest civilisations in the 
           world.Earlier,we were practising Sanathana Dharma which is an universal 
           Law as there were  not many religions that time  as we have today.We had 
           only one mantra"Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavanthu" meaning every one  
           must live happily & also "Vasudeva Kutumbakam" meaning the world is one 
           big family.Hence how can India  be an intolerant country?

           We are a tolerant country that is why we were invaded  by Greeks, and  
           by  foreign muslim rulers. We were also ruled by Portuguese (in Goa),French 
           in Pondicherry,Karaikal & Mahe, Mulim rulers and by British. No other 
          country  in the world history  were ruled by so many foreigners as was in India.
          I donot know whether to call this as tolerant or our surrender,or we were weak.

          Now, coming to intolerance as made out to be by the writers, scientists &
          intelllectuals who are surrendering the awards as mark  of protest.Here.I would
          like to ask how many Scientists,Writers,& intellectuals voiced or surrendered
          their awards when the freedom of Speech was curtailed for 18 months during
          emergency or when Sikh riots took place in 1984 in Delhi,or even when 
          Kashmiri Pandits were thrown out of  Kashmir?.The awards were given by the 
          country & not by any government  for their valuable contributions in their 
          respective fields.Hence, if there are any feelings to be expressed,let us not 
         return the awards,instead use  many other forums to express the feelings 
         or anguish.