Got this link from a friend. Amartya Sen, the Nobel Prize-winning communist’s heart is still–despite his age and experience–with, and in China: to be precise, with Comrade Mao. This academician couldn’t hold back his gushing praise and promptly put his foot… where else?
In Hong Kong last week it was Nobel Prize economist Amartya Sen doing the sounding off, praising the state medical system in China under the Cultural Revolution. Mr. Sen asserted that Maoist China had actually made great strides in medicine, bringing down child mortality rates and prolonging life expectancy. Moving to a privatized system was making the system less fair and efficient…
And got caught when somebody who had lived through that remarkable era pointed to the contrary.
But, alas, there was someone in the audience who actually had lived through the Cultural Revolution in China, and had been one of Mao’s “barefoot doctors.” He didn’t see things quite the same way as Mr. Sen. In fact, he said the comments had quite surprised him.”I observed with my own eyes the total absence of medicine in some parts of China. The system was totally unsustainable. We used to admire India,” said Weijian Shan, now a banker in Hong Kong.
Tch tch! Sen should learn to rest on his laurels: enjoy his prize and all the perks that are associated with it–free trips, lunches, the works–and he must give that occasional talk but learn that knowledge is not the academician’s preserve alone. In case the learned Professor doesn’t know or has forgotten the accurate story of the Cultural Revolution, he can start at Wikipedia.
7 Comments on “Nobel Prize-Winning Marxist puts Foot in Mouth”
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There is a serious need to idenfify these communists disguised as normal human beings.
http://communismwatch.blogspot.com
Posted on April 6, 2005 at 2:03 AM.
There’s no need, Hammer_Sickle, they’ve already been unmasked for what they stand for. The only task that remains is to make sure they fade into obscurity, which I don’t see happening in the near future.
Posted on April 6, 2005 at 7:40 PM.
varnam says:
Muslims (which leaves Muslim women at the mercy of inequitable rules on divorce and inheritance) merely because the Hindu right campaigns for a uniform civil code for all Indian citizens, irrespective of religion.See Also: What Argumentative Indian?,Nobel Prize-Winning Marxist puts Foot in Mouth
Posted on April 26, 2006 at 10:45 PM.
Seriously Sandeep » Reconstructing Nalanda says:
[...] It is headed by Amartya Sen, known for his communist slant. His Argumentative Indian wholly ignores the rich tradition of debate that existed in Hindu philosophical schools of thought and instead, concentrates on the Buddhist tradition of argumentation. The latter pales in comparison in terms of breadth, scope, modes, style, and techniques of debate. Sen’s essays and speeches condemning Indian nuclear tests, and his support of the Chinese Cultural Revolution also blunt his credentials in heading a project of this magnitude. [...]
Posted on July 9, 2007 at 1:40 AM.
Sandeep,
I do visit your blog regularly and like your presentation of information. Talking about academics and considering the fact that you review books, I would suggest that you take a look at this book.. Its path breaking in its scope and content , unless you have read it already.. It discusses these very issues that you have raised.
http://www.invadingthesacred.com/
Posted on July 9, 2007 at 7:18 AM.
INI Signal - » Reconstructing Nalanda says:
[...] It is headed by Amartya Sen, known for his communist slant. His Argumentative Indian wholly ignores the rich tradition of debate that existed in Hindu philosophical schools of thought and instead, concentrates on the Buddhist tradition of argumentation. The latter pales in comparison in terms of breadth, scope, modes, style, and techniques of debate. Sen’s essays and speeches condemning Indian nuclear tests, and his support of the Chinese Cultural Revolution also blunt his credentials in heading a project of this magnitude. [...]
Posted on July 9, 2007 at 9:59 PM.
Premio Nóbel culpa a “los cristianos†de la persecución de Maimónides por los musulmanes | La Yijad en Eurabia says:
[...] Aquà nos siguen contando que Sen ha alabado también la sanidad china en tiempos de la Revolución cultural, y aquà nos explican que su comportamiento es el tÃpico de la izquierda india, dedicada a defender a la minorÃa musulmana de su propio paÃs. Como la izquierda judÃa en Europa… y la “cristianaâ€, va de suyo. [...]
Posted on March 8, 2008 at 2:14 PM.