Perspective on India

India Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, left, takes part in a South Asia seminar at Cornell's Einaudi Center for International Studies in Uris Hall, Oct. 1. Cornell Professor Emeritus Gil Levine, acting director of the Einaudi Center, is at his right. Sorabjee spoke about some of the problems his country faces and some of its strengths. Problems, he said, include an unchecked population explosion -- now at more than 1 billion -- widespread corruption, vast disparities of wealth and ethnic strife that has given rise to internal terrorism. Strengths he pointed to are India's constitution, bill of rights, free press and independent judiciary. A new Prevention of Terrorism Act helps protect against terrorist acts, such as the attack on India's Parliament last December, while at the same time people's basic human rights and freedoms are protected, Sorabjee said. His talk was sponsored by Cornell's South Asia Program, Center for the Environment, Peace Studies Program and Department of Government. Frank DiMeo/University Photography