Lifting - Asianage

Sir, It is frustrating to note that a budding teenager from a renowned university like Harvard has resorted to plagiarism (Publisher says no to apology by Kaavya, April 26). Third generation Indian-Americans are making great strides in the United States because of their intelligence, discipline, decorum and perseverance. And they deserve the respect of the country they live in. This is not the way that they should be hitting headlines. While it is true that to be influenced by a work of art, a story, a novel, a song, is a natural phenomenon, one must realise that there is a difference between "influence" and what is nothing but "lifting." Kaavya is a teenager, and has a long way to go. So it is sad that in pursuit of fame and money she has set such a bad example and brought shame to the Indian community based in the US.

Yasmin Banu
Abu Dhabi, UAE