MUMBAI: This is with reference to Aakar Patel’s article “Edhi, Gandhi and the Nobel Committee” (May 26). I think Mahatma Gandhi not being awarded the Nobel peace prize does not bring down the great man’s status. It is more an issue of credibility of the Nobel Committee.
I have been reading about Abdul Sattar Edhi for a long time in the Pakistani media, though it is after reading this article that I understand the scope of the work he has done. In this case, an acknowledgement will be welcome but I do not think he really needs a certification from anyone. His work — and the lasting impact it has created — will be a far greater tribute than a medal or a certification. In any case, the Nobel peace prize does not seem to be as credible as some other global prizes — with laureates like Barack Obama (perhaps awarded for not being George Bush?), Henry Kissinger (I guess they were grateful that he retired) and Yasser Arafat (he promised to stop hijacking aircraft).
Amit Bhandari
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2013.
