This refers to the article, “Two men adored by three generations” (November 25) by Ninad D Sheth. Though the contributions of Amitabh Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar are indisputable, there are still questions on whether they are the country's real icons who have contributed to the betterment of society.
The writer has admitted that “both have always shied away from taking a stand on controversial issues and they believe that they are not here to change the world”. What then are they icons forIJ
The Bharat Ratna should go to Dashrath Majhi of Bihar who died of cancer, unsung and unknown in penury a few years back. This man was a simple labourer who, single-handedly, by sheer grit and iron-will, constructed a tunnel through a mountain in 22 years. He thus reduced the travelling distance for the village folk to reach the nearest hospital. He did all this without any remuneration or award. And there are many more Dashrath Majhis in the country.