Dear Editor,
On Rohingya refugees the first question we need to answer is ~ can it be practical for a country to compromise its national security? No, it can never be. It has got to be alert not only in the matter of dealing with refugees but in other areas as well. However, we must keep it in mind that India cannot abandon her age – old reputation of living up to the ideals of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” meaning “the whole world is one family” which is a Sanskrit phrase found in the Maha Upanishad. Never has India deviated from this great tradition and has been giving refuge to different races and religions across the world from Aryans to Tibetan Buddhists to Afghan Muslims to Hindus from Bangladesh. This is what India has always stood for. Indeed, Swami Vivekananda spoke highly of this great tradition of India in his memorable Chicago speech 125 years ago and Rabindranath Tagore in his famous poem, “Bharat-tirtha”.
Yours,
Sujit De, Kolkata