Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Serious offence

Literature, believed to be the mirror of society, has been taken for granted by writers such as Kaavya Viswanathan. By opening another episode on plagiarism, the Havard sophomore of Indian origin has brought shame to the country.

Did she learn nothing from great Indian writers such as R.K. Narayan, Raja Rao, Mulk Raj Anand, Amrita Pritam, and Ashapurna Devi?

True, influence is an essential part of literary writing. But plagiarism is a serious offence.

Arunima Mishra,
Cuttack, Orissa

Plagiarism is nothing short of theft. It cannot be unintentional and unconscious. Publisher Little, Brown & Co. did the right thing by withdrawing Kaavya's novel and cancelling her two-book deal. She deserves it. The incident should be an eye-opener to all aspiring plagiarists.

G. Manohar Gandhi,
Guntur, A.P.

The plight of Kaavya is frightful indeed. Time was when penury was defined with sarcasm as wages of the pen. Kaavya's experience should serve as a lesson to the misguided youths who yearn to bask in the literary limelight through shortcuts.

R. Ramachandra Rao,
Hyderabad

The story of how Kaavya got inspired, plagiarised, and was caught is interesting. Ever since she signed a contract with her publishers, the teenager has been enjoying celebrity status as a young prodigy. Her it-was-unintentional line has been thoroughly exposed.

D.P. Deepraj,
New Delhi

Budding talent should be groomed well before it can be made known to the world. Plagiarism and fraudulence need to be condemned and not the people who commit it. Such charges should not lead to the undermining of young talent.

Renjith P. George,
Chennai

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